A GOOD wireless purchasing experience.

Ghoulish Delight · 11-20-2005, 05:55 PM

Today we switched cell providers, and it honestly could not have gone better.

We wanted to find a new provider because the service around our home with Cingular is spotty. So, based on prices and recommendation from Motorboatcrusier, we were looking at Sprint. We shopped online, found the plan and phones we wanted and were ready to go, but to transfer our phone numbers, we apparantly had to either call or go into a store. Can't do it online.

I hate doing this kind of thing over the phone, so we made a trip to our local store. Now, 2 years ago, we went through hell trying to renew our overage and upgrade our phones. Conflicting information combined with crappy customer service policies mean having to cheat the system (not my doing, they gave me wrong info, and therefore they had to honor what they told me) to get a decent deal. So I was prepared for the worst.

Miraculously, this was painless. Perhaps because we came prepared. We had printed out the exact details of the plan, phones, and options we had selected online, along with the prices. So we walked in and showed the sales rep what we had picked out. They didn't carry the phone we wanted. Damn. But, a manager immediately took a look at it and said, "Well, okay, we can give you this upgraded phone for less instead." Hmmm, that might be good, but part of the reason we liked this phone was that it was compatible with the accessories (namely car charger) of our old phone. No problem, we'll take 50% off the car chargers.

Wow. Well, we saw that the plan we wanted was $10 more per month than quoted on the web (or, rather, they didn't have the plan we wanted listed as one of their options in-store). No problem, they gave us the plan we had selected.

This happened 3 or 4 times. We just said, "We can get it on the web for X", and, with absolutely no argument, they said, "Okay, you can have it for X". Down to waiving the activation fee. Everything was explained in detail to us and given in writing. And we walked out with 2, free, camera phones ready to go. I knew we had done well when the sales clerk went to ring up the final sale and had to have a manager come over to ener his authorization code to allow the discounts we were getting. And within an hour, our old service was automatically canceled, and the new service working.

So, for customer service alone, I highly recommend Sprint if you're looking. I never expected such a painless, friendly process from a cell company. Good for Sprint. But I do also know that part of the reason it was so painless was that we went in there educated. We knew exacly what we wanted, and exactly what we should be paying for it. The best favor you can do yourself if you're going the in-store route and know as much as you can beforehand and bring it in writing. They want those in-store sales and WILL work with you to get it.

Motorboat Cruiser · 11-20-2005, 06:36 PM

I'm glad to hear that it went well for the both of you. Matthew and I are very happy with our service. Granted, we've never really needed to call customer support for anything so I don't know how good/evil they are.

Did you get the sprint to sprint service? That saves us a lot of money due to the fact that we call each other frequently. Also, having the free minutes start at 7pm rather than 9 probably has saved us a bundle as well.

Of course the best part is that now we can call you for free.

Motorboat Cruiser · 11-20-2005, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

So, based on prices and recommendation from Motorboatcrusier, we were looking at Sprint.

Now with extra cruisy!

Ghoulish Delight · 11-20-2005, 07:20 PM

We got a family plan, includes mobile-to-mobile to any Sprint customer.

We didn't get the extended night and weekend times simply because we never come anywhere close to using all of our minutes. Not worth it for us.

Mousey Girl · 11-20-2005, 07:51 PM

Make sure you call Cingular and tell them they need to stop billing you asap.

Mousey Girl · 11-20-2005, 07:51 PM

oops.

Alex · 11-20-2005, 09:41 PM

We've only had good experienced with the Sprint customer service. Unfortunately, I've not had very good experience with the quality of their phones or the consistency of service.

But we have a decent plan and I don't really use my phone much so I just muddle through with it.

Ghoulish Delight · 11-21-2005, 11:36 AM

Son of a...

Well, I'll get to find out first-hand how good their customer service is.

See, when we went in, we explained that our service contract wasn't quite up yet with our old provider, so we were either just shopping, or we'd buy the phones but delay activating them for the 2 weeks until our contract was up. But they said no need, there's a 30 day grace period.

Well, I just logged into Cingular's site to check the status of the account...we've been charged the $350 early termination penalty.

Guess who gets to sit on hold at lunch today!

Cadaverous Pallor · 11-21-2005, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Guess who gets to sit on hold at lunch today!

Actually, I'd contact the Sprint Store we dealt with. They should have to deal with that.

(i'd do it myself but you're the primary)

Ghoulish Delight · 11-21-2005, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Actually, I'd contact the Sprint Store we dealt with. They should have to deal with that.

(i'd do it myself but you're the primary)

Yeah, that's who I was actually planning to call.

11-20-2005, 05:55 PM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	A GOOD wireless purchasing experience. Today we switched cell providers, and it honestly could not have gone better. We wanted to find a new provider because the service around our home with Cingular is spotty. So, based on prices and recommendation from Motorboatcrusier, we were looking at Sprint. We shopped online, found the plan and phones we wanted and were ready to go, but to transfer our phone numbers, we apparantly had to either call or go into a store. Can't do it online. I hate doing this kind of thing over the phone, so we made a trip to our local store. Now, 2 years ago, we went through hell trying to renew our overage and upgrade our phones. Conflicting information combined with crappy customer service policies mean having to cheat the system (not my doing, they gave me wrong info, and therefore they had to honor what they told me) to get a decent deal. So I was prepared for the worst. Miraculously, this was painless. Perhaps because we came prepared. We had printed out the exact details of the plan, phones, and options we had selected online, along with the prices. So we walked in and showed the sales rep what we had picked out. They didn't carry the phone we wanted. Damn. But, a manager immediately took a look at it and said, "Well, okay, we can give you this upgraded phone for less instead." Hmmm, that might be good, but part of the reason we liked this phone was that it was compatible with the accessories (namely car charger) of our old phone. No problem, we'll take 50% off the car chargers. Wow. Well, we saw that the plan we wanted was $10 more per month than quoted on the web (or, rather, they didn't have the plan we wanted listed as one of their options in-store). No problem, they gave us the plan we had selected. This happened 3 or 4 times. We just said, "We can get it on the web for X", and, with absolutely no argument, they said, "Okay, you can have it for X". Down to waiving the activation fee. Everything was explained in detail to us and given in writing. And we walked out with 2, free, camera phones ready to go. I knew we had done well when the sales clerk went to ring up the final sale and had to have a manager come over to ener his authorization code to allow the discounts we were getting. And within an hour, our old service was automatically canceled, and the new service working. So, for customer service alone, I highly recommend Sprint if you're looking. I never expected such a painless, friendly process from a cell company. Good for Sprint. But I do also know that part of the reason it was so painless was that we went in there educated. We knew exacly what we wanted, and exactly what we should be paying for it. The best favor you can do yourself if you're going the in-store route and know as much as you can beforehand and bring it in writing. They want those in-store sales and WILL work with you to get it. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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11-20-2005, 06:36 PM	#2
Motorboat Cruiser Cruiser of Motorboats Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 3,665	I'm glad to hear that it went well for the both of you. Matthew and I are very happy with our service. Granted, we've never really needed to call customer support for anything so I don't know how good/evil they are. Did you get the sprint to sprint service? That saves us a lot of money due to the fact that we call each other frequently. Also, having the free minutes start at 7pm rather than 9 probably has saved us a bundle as well. Of course the best part is that now we can call you for free.
	Submit to Quotes

11-20-2005, 07:20 PM	#4
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	We got a family plan, includes mobile-to-mobile to any Sprint customer. We didn't get the extended night and weekend times simply because we never come anywhere close to using all of our minutes. Not worth it for us. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

11-20-2005, 07:51 PM	#5
Mousey Girl Just Me Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In The Flagon With The Dragon Posts: 2,437	Make sure you call Cingular and tell them they need to stop billing you asap.
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11-20-2005, 07:51 PM	#6
Mousey Girl Just Me Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In The Flagon With The Dragon Posts: 2,437	oops.
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11-20-2005, 09:41 PM	#7
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	We've only had good experienced with the Sprint customer service. Unfortunately, I've not had very good experience with the quality of their phones or the consistency of service. But we have a decent plan and I don't really use my phone much so I just muddle through with it.
	Submit to Quotes

11-21-2005, 11:36 AM	#8
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Son of a... Well, I'll get to find out first-hand how good their customer service is. See, when we went in, we explained that our service contract wasn't quite up yet with our old provider, so we were either just shopping, or we'd buy the phones but delay activating them for the 2 weeks until our contract was up. But they said no need, there's a 30 day grace period. Well, I just logged into Cingular's site to check the status of the account...we've been charged the $350 early termination penalty. Guess who gets to sit on hold at lunch today! __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes