[wmdunn]

Originally Posted by Silent Assasin

I'm not whining about saving money. The simple fact is that an I.T. put me on to the plan. They work with phones and he had a hookup. Technically, you could say it was a referral, just like the plan was created for.

Granted, Sprint didn't advertise the plan, but they did open it to the public for a period of time. They also ADVERTISE about paying people who refer new customers to Sprint, via $25 and up to $50 debit/credit cards. So they are getting something out of it, free advertisement.

I did not say I would immediately jump ship, I did infer I would have to consider it. As a consumer I have that right. I was with Sprint when they were providing the home service and got 10% cash back for every $100 spent at the end of the year in the late '80s. I am not trying to get anything more than what was advertised and contractually agreed upon by Sprint to provide me.

The fact that they are excluding long time customers from being able to access new phones or features, w/out paying for upgrade or new plan is what I have a problem with. As long as I don't change my plan, it should be grandfathered in. I know relatives who had accounts (customers with AT&T since the 70's-Back then I believe they were Bell) where they were paying 25 cents a minute for phone calls. They were old and set in their ways so they never changed the plan. I didn't see the phone company call them and say, you are giving us too much money. You may want to sign up for this cheaper plan. Obviously, if they had called, they would've qualified to receive the lower cost, but where is the loyalty of the company, to look out for their customers. Oh yeah, they are in the business of MAKING MONEY.

I agree their is something to be said for loyalty, companies such as Sprint should also have the same mentality rewarding long term customers, i.e. Retention department giving crazy discounts for "Loyal cusotmers". They should actively look for customers such as the above example I provided to reward customers who have been with them instead of if they don't contact us, we'll keep taking more money then they have to spend. I know this will not happen becasue they would have to provide employees to search for these customers, which puts more of a financial strain on their company.

My point was if I wanted to buy a new phone, Sprint should not exclude me from doing so. Lets face it, I am not asking for a free phone. I am willing to buy the phone, at a reduced cost of course, with the understanding that they have me locked in as a paying cusotmer for another 2 years.

Well said ...