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Sprint Revising 'Premier' Upgrade Program April 1

Jan 21, 2011, 1:19 PM by Eric M. Zeman

Sprint has confirmed that it is making some adjustments to the handset upgrade policies it has in place for its Premier customers. Starting April 1, Premier customers will be broken into two tiers: Gold and Silver. Those who spend more than $89.99 for an individual line or more than $169.99 for a family line will qualify as Gold Premier customers. Customers who've been with Sprint for 10 years are automatically Gold Premier members. The chief benefit of being in the Gold Premier group will come in the form of device upgrades. They will be able to upgrade their device at the subsidized price after 12 months of service. Gold Premier customers will also receive other perks, such as discounts on accessories. Sprint will lump most other customers into the Silver Premier level. This group will not be able to upgrade handsets at 12 months (they'll have to wait 22 months to get discounted pricing), but will have the same perks. These changes do not impact Sprint's "New For You" $75 discount program. Sprint Roni Singleton said to Fierce Wireless, "Because it's common for rewards programs to have levels of benefits that provide more to customers who spend more or have more tenure, Sprint decided to update the program for 2011. Premier has grown significantly in the two years since we launched it. It's now large enough that having two levels of benefits makes sense. Our Premier customers have told us that it's only fair that we recognize those Premier customers who spend more or have shown us their loyalty by being with us longer."

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Comments

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This forum is closed.

daxdcagain

Jan 22, 2011, 6:13 PM

Perception

It's interesting, Verizon completely removes annual upgrades for two year pricing, and its viewed as a "great move", and "necessary to shut customers up", and "smart business". Their reputation helps this.

Sprint makes a similar move, but just removes the annual upgrades for lower tiered plans, and it is seen as "another reason why Sprint customer service sucks" and it is "a sinking ship"

So, Sprint's upgrade program is better than Verizon's (as far as benefit to the customer), but because of the past, they will never be able to make a move thats seen as positive unless it is something that gives away the farm. Heck, even when they came out with anymobile, anytime, it wasnt treated as "Hey! That's great that Sprint offers that!" It was...
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Pimptopian

Amen!!

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Menno

Verizon changed their plans an an overwhelming majority of people commenting on it are complaining about it.

Sprint changes their plans and an overwhelming majority of people commenting on it are defending the change.

I'm not really getting wher...
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DiamondPro

Even if Sprint makes changes in favor of customers there will still be haters. Sprint has proven they offer the best value but most people are to scared to admit it. 😎

...

Dollgrin

Jan 22, 2011, 4:58 PM

People complain...

so much about getting something for nothing, when in all honesty they shouldn't have just been giving everything away in the first place. This has been a discussion in several other threads, but it's the biggest problem in my opinion. If customer weren't set up to expect everything to be handed to them in the first place, they wouldn't be asking for it now.

Here's a thought too. You are ALWAYS able to buy a new phone. You can buy a new one every month if you wanted to, you just don't get the discounted price. So what, buy the phone full price and at the same time saving yourself from having to extend your contract another 2 years and having to "wait" to get a new phone. I don't care if anyone's response is "but ____ is too much to pay for...
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MissSLM07

I agree with you 100%. I think only twice in all the years Ive had a cell phone I actually waited until the the upgrade date. Most of the time if something is released and I really want I just paid the full retail price for it.

mbrenner

Jan 24, 2011, 7:23 PM

Very Disappointing (bait and switch) but the "spin" is even more insulting

'It's now large enough that having two levels of benefits makes sense. Our Premier customers have told us that it's only fair that we recognize those Premier customers who spend more or have shown us their loyalty by being with us longer."

I think that I can say without any reservations that any Premier customers who told them to have better perks for those who spend more and have been loyal longer, didn't request that the recognition be accomplished by screwing existing Premier members out of benefits that they were told they were going to get when they renewed their contracts last time. I'll bet 2x my ETF that the intent was to create a new tier with extra benefits, not remove existing ones from others. "Hey I would feel more spe...
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landmarkcm

Jan 21, 2011, 3:50 PM

Not good things from them again lately!!

This change is not a good thing making people mad esp when this comes at the same time that they really are breaching contracts. It is a material change when they say im free to swap phone online free & now if I do after the 30th even to the same! backup preowned device Im slammed with the 10.00 extra charge per month. Stupid Sprint they better have a good announcement coming or it's only a matter of time before Tmobile surpasses them!!

serendair

Go reread the ToSaA?

It says flat out in the contract you sign that the policies can change without any warning or notice. I've my copy when I first signed up with them, should I dig further, Verizon's says the same thing/is paraphrased as well.

...
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Ashke13

Obviously landmarkcm doesnt read clearly, the Premier program that Sprint offers is not part of the contract it's something they chose to offer that should be considered a bebefit. as for swapping online clearly you again dont read things and comprehe...
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PhoneCrusher

Jan 21, 2011, 3:03 PM

Bout Time

It should have been like that from the beginning

landmarkcm

um ok ?? this change is not a good thing im assuming you mean if it was like that from the beginning they wouldnt be making people mad esp when this comes a the same time that they really are breaching contracts. It is a material change when they say ...
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trojandrew

Jan 21, 2011, 2:59 PM

it was probably going to happen but...

but this is the most disengenious statement in the whole article

"Our Premier customers have told us that it's only fair that we recognize those Premier customers who spend more or have shown us their loyalty by being with us longer."

cstone

Lol this just makes me think of all the customers calling in 1 month after they just upgraded complaining that they have been with us for 15 years or that they spend $250 on their phone bill every month and they deserve the early upgrade. Congrats cus...
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AustinPaul

Jan 21, 2011, 5:31 PM

No Worries Here

I really don't have any problem with this. I think their phones hang well with the best and there's more coming. I believe Sprint will turn this giant ship around, but it will take time.

ghepau

good thinking AustinPaul.. looks like your the only person with positive thinking..
there should be more like you..not cheap
cheers!!

SprintGuy23

No offense, but I've been hearing now for about 5 years that, "it will take time, but they will turn it around"

When is this going to happen? I just don't see it. I used to be the biggest supporter of them and was a customer for over 10 years and ...
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Pimptopian

Jan 21, 2011, 3:24 PM

3 Months and Done

So the way around this is to upgrade your price plan for 3 months on y our 12 month mark and then go and upgrade. I have an Evo and they are doing this convienantly 2 months before evo people hit their 12 month mark. So before April first i will change my pp to the data 900 and when my 12 motnhs hit i can upgrade. And hopefully my internet does not work so I can call and compalin and get a 20 dollar credit,lol

crammy1

Pimptopian said:
And hopefully my internet does not work so I can call and compalin and get a 20 dollar credit,lol

nice ...i like it =))))

electronet

Jan 21, 2011, 2:46 PM

had to

It was only a matter of time..they couldn't keep giving it away..

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