After using the same crappy old Sprint PCS phone for almost 3 years I finally caved in and got a new one. Of course Sprint didn't make it easy for me:
New customers can get a $150 instant rebate, existing customers who have owned their phone for 18 months (even if they are still under a 2 year subscription agreement) can get a $150 instant rebate, should have been easy for me, right?
Wrong!. Because I had cancelled my account 18 months ago (because work provided me with a free phone) and then got a new account 12 months ago (when I left that job) Sprint counted my phone as being only 12 months old (even though the phone was physically 3 years old and was a model they hadn't sold in 2 years).... so I was refused the rebate.
Let me say that again: A new customer could get a rebate, a customer still under a subscription agreement could get a rebate, but a customer (me) with a 3 year old phone and no subscription agreement couldn't get a rebate.
Even crazier: I could get a rebate by going to one of their competitors as a new customer, but I couldn't cancel my current Sprint account and get a new Sprint account. I wanted to sign a 2 year agreement, I wanted to buy a $280 (before rebate) phone, but they wouldn't let me!
In the end the phone agent suggested I go to a Sprint PCS store, and after arguing my case with the store manager he relented and gave me a $75 instant rebate and a $75 mail-in rebate.
So, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth I am the proud owner of a cute little Sanyo PM-8200, it takes photos, I have put peoples pictures on there and created unique ring tones, I have downloaded games, created my own screensaver, I can even remember my new phone number!
Wow. I can really understand where you are comming from on sprint and this whole rebate issue. I have only beeen with sprint for 12 months now and do not qualify for a the rebate program. So my issue a little different. However my Sanyo scp-8100 is on its last leg as the lcd is ready to come off. I have recently found out that there are several sprint customers with the same problem.
I called sprint just to verify that I would not be eligible but to at least see if maybe I could pay full price to get it repaired since I didnt purchase insurance when I first signed up for service. Of course they told me that I was not eligible and that I could not pay to have it fixed. Never-the-less, I know as well as any that if you call in enough times you will get what you want.
I really wasnt trying to be sneaky but I was looking to purchase a new phone and wanted all the info. I purchased a temporary phone from ebay ( sanyo 5300 which I dont feel is worth it's salt ) and the cust solutions rep asked me why I wanted to change my phone number over. So I told her and she suggested that I go look for a refurb etc. I wanted new, so finally she says we will give you a pro-rated rebate since you are almost to 18 months anway. It wont be the full rebate, but at least you can get a discount. So Im thinking great!! I can get my new sanyo 8200 (which looks so nifty) and get some money back too! NOTHING is ever as easy as it seems...
So I asked what I had to do and she said to call Tele-Sales who told me that they could not help me and that they only deal with new service. I called cust solutions again who said "Oh we cant help you need to call the rebate number" I called that number and they said "No we only deal with customers who have sent in thier rebate and you will need to call the sprint store" We might as well call this story pass the buck.
So I just got off the phone with the sprint store who told me at first that there was no rebate in the system for me as my phone had not reached 18 months. I told them that I was aware but that I was offered a diminished rebate. She apparently was only looking at one day at a time as she then found the notes from four days ago and had to put me on hold. When she returned she finally told me that she did see that the notes were in the account and that with a 1yr svc agreement I would recv a $100 mail-in-rebate and $150 for a 2 yr agreement.
I certainly hope that my sanyo 8200 will be worth all of the effort put out for it, that it dosnt have the same defect that the 8100 did and I am defiantely getting the $4 per month insurance...
Sprint and rebates are nuttie.
I have been with Sprint nonstop since October 2001 - 2 years and about 8 months. I easily qualify for an upograde rebate, except...there really isn't a rebate for me!
If I come in off the street and get a new Sprint phone and sign a 2 year contract, I get $ 150 off. No problem - my $280 phone becomes only $130 or so.
If I come in and want to upgrade, I need to sign a 2 year agreement, get my neat new $ 280 phone and.....get a $150 rebate.
I ask, so wait, I am getting the same deal as anybody else signing a 2 year deal. Where is the rebate (any amount) for upgrading the phone?
The $ 150, they tell me.
Yea, but EVERYBODY who signs for 2 years gets the $ 150 rebate. So basicaly I get the same deal as everyone else. I don't get it.
I like the phone a lot.
i can understand what all of you are talkig about
i have had my sprint pcs agreement plan for 4 years now when it was 2 & a half years old i added a line and upgraded on the phone.So about 6 months later the phone i got added to my account the screen blacked out i called sprint to see if i could get a new one they said no so i bought one now it has been 18 months since i got the phone added but only 12 months since i bought the new phone now their telling me i have to wait 6 more months until i can get the phone i want i am still trying to get the phone the phone i have is destroyed if it goes dead anymore i think it won't come back on.
What is with the bear on my screen? I looked on my manual and it says nothing about it.