Sprint's upgrade eligibility and customer-retention

[Chief85]

We recently had to switch over from our old legacy plan with 7 lines on it because one of the lines wanted to get a Pre. So of course, we had to get TWO plans because you can only put 5 lines on a plan. Needless to say, this was not a happy discovery. We did it anyway, and yesterday I called and got transferred to customer retention because I said the magic words ("verizon or at&t") to express my displeasure. I indicated that I would be placated if I received upgrade eligibility on my line, which wouldn't be eligible for the full thing for another 1.5 years. I was told by a couple reps that this was literally impossible to do. I persisted and yelled a bit, but they wouldn't budge. Eventually I had to leave the office so I hung up on them.

Is it worth pushing this further? Or is it literally impossible as they said to reset the upgrade eligibility on my line simply because I'm an unhappy customer (who's been with Sprint for > 10 years)?

[ldostang]

Originally Posted by Chief85

We recently had to switch over from our old legacy plan with 7 lines on it because one of the lines wanted to get a Pre. So of course, we had to get TWO plans because you can only put 5 lines on a plan. Needless to say, this was not a happy discovery. We did it anyway, and yesterday I called and got transferred to customer retention because I said the magic words ("verizon or at&t") to express my displeasure. I indicated that I would be placated if I received upgrade eligibility on my line, which wouldn't be eligible for the full thing for another 1.5 years. I was told by a couple reps that this was literally impossible to do. I persisted and yelled a bit, but they wouldn't budge. Eventually I had to leave the office so I hung up on them.

Is it worth pushing this further? Or is it literally impossible as they said to reset the upgrade eligibility on my line simply because I'm an unhappy customer (who's been with Sprint for > 10 years)?

they didnt budge with me either. i spoke to different csr's and nothing. they basically told me the same thing. i decided not push further cause i have 4 phones and one of the lines is upgrade eligible but not the line i want to upgrade. but i decided to just use the line with the upgrade eligible and then swap the phones. that is until i get the pre (still havent been able to get one)

but im thinking since its new and popular at the moment, they dont want to budge. basically they know people will buy it anyway or wait for it. did you mention you wanted to get the pre? i wonder if just mentioning you want to buy a new phone (not mention the pre at all), they wont be as harsh.

edit: i forgot to mention, im only 3 months away from upgrade eligibility for 22 months and they still wouldnt budge.

[Chief85]

Originally Posted by ldostang

they didnt budge with me either. i spoke to different csr's and nothing. they basically told me the same thing. i decided not push further cause i have 4 phones and one of the lines is upgrade eligible but not the line i want to upgrade. but i decided to just use the line with the upgrade eligible and then swap the phones. that is until i get the pre (still havent been able to get one)

but im thinking since its new and popular at the moment, they dont want to budge. basically they know people will buy it anyway or wait for it. did you mention you wanted to get the pre? i wonder if just mentioning you want to buy a new phone (not mention the pre at all), they wont be as harsh.

edit: i forgot to mention, im only 3 months away from upgrade eligibility for 22 months and they still wouldnt budge.

I didn't mention the pre. One more question though:

I was told that a phone purchased on a line eleigible for an upgrade had to stay on that line for at least 30 days. Is that true? We do have one line eligible for an upgrade so if you can just swap immediately I might just do that rather than fight them.

Thanks for all the replies!

[CozBoogie]

Originally Posted by Chief85

I didn't mention the pre. One more question though:

I was told that a phone purchased on a line eleigible for an upgrade had to stay on that line for at least 30 days. Is that true? We do have one line eligible for an upgrade so if you can just swap immediately I might just do that rather than fight them.

Thanks for all the replies!

Yes, it's best to not switch things around for 30 days...otherwise you risk not getting any rebates, etc.

late,
Coz

[ldostang]

Originally Posted by cozboogie

Yes, it's best to not switch things around for 30 days...otherwise you risk not getting any rebates, etc.

late,
Coz

whats the etc?

[sp0nge]

Originally Posted by cozboogie

Yes, it's best to not switch things around for 30 days...otherwise you risk not getting any rebates, etc.

late,
Coz

Correct you will loooose your rebate.

[ldostang]

Originally Posted by Chief85

I didn't mention the pre. One more question though:

I was told that a phone purchased on a line eleigible for an upgrade had to stay on that line for at least 30 days. Is that true? We do have one line eligible for an upgrade so if you can just swap immediately I might just do that rather than fight them.

Thanks for all the replies!

maybe somebody has a different answer but i was told if i did it the swap, it will affect the mail in rebate. so thats why im waiting to buy it from best buy. i have previously purchased phones and did the swap that same day.

[Chief85]

Originally Posted by ldostang

maybe somebody has a different answer but i was told if i did it the swap, it will affect the mail in rebate. so thats why im waiting to buy it from best buy. i have previously purchased phones and did the swap that same day.

Ah, so if you buy from Best Buy you can swap immediately?

[ldostang]

Originally Posted by Chief85

Ah, so if you buy from Best Buy you can swap immediately?

i dont know for sure. the reason im going through best buy is cause they give you the instant rebate instead of mail in like sprint. so im thinking it wont harm anything but i may be wrong.

edit: well finally got the call from best buy that they have the pre. im excited to get it. hopefully the whole swap thing doesnt screw up anything.

[Khaler]

I went into my local Sprint store about 2 weeks before the Pre release. I was 7 months out from being eligible for the full discount swap.

I gave the usual request, "make me eligible or it's iPhone time" and they did it. They marked my account and then come release day I got my Pre without any hassle and the full 2 year discount.