Sprint launches Premier program for insanely loyal customers and big spenders
By Chris Ziegler 
posted February 3rd 2009 9:06AM
posted February 3rd 2009 9:06AM
Many carriers have informal, rarely-discussed policies in place for sliding goodies under the table to their most valuable, longest-tenured customers, but Sprint's taking it to the next level with its new Premier program. Designed to dispense "perks, privileges and discounts that drive higher satisfaction," Premier automatically kicks in after 10 -- yes, ten -- years of loyal Sprint service and includes new customer handset pricing once per year, special offers on trips and tickets to events, free gifts on their service anniversary, early access to new devices, and discounts on accessories. All told, it's a nice little package -- but considering that you need a full 120 months of paid Sprint bills under your belt before this materializes [Via Phone Scoop]
Update: You need to be a customer for ten years, or you need to be on an individual line of $69.99 or higher or a family line of $99.99 or higher for at least three months. Makes it a little more palatable, eh? Thanks, everyone!
You did not read the news release in its entirety. Had you done so, you would have noticed that the 10 year requirement only applies if your single line plan is lower than $69.99 or your family plan is lower than $99.99. Otherwise, you are eligible after 3 months.
From the read link:
1) For three consecutive months, consumer customers must be on an individual wireless plan of at least $69.99 per month or spend at least $99.99 per month on a plan that shares minutes'
OR
2) they must have been a Sprint wireless customer for at least 10 years.
So 3 months on a $69.99 plan OR 10 years on any plan gets you in.
Yes can someone please update this missed info on the post. The person that wrote this may need a editor in the future
I am the editor, so the buck stops here - and I definitely dropped the ball with this one. The post has been updated; sorry for the confusion.
Why not update the body of the article, Chris? Why leave your typical anti-Sprint FUD in the post when it's wrong? The Edit: is appropriate, but it makes the original paragraph seem that much more petty and adds fuel to the fire that you're not as rigorous as you ought to be.
Also 1 in 5 Sprint customers will be part of the Premier program. So this really WILL affect quite a few of Sprint's 50+ million subscribers
So basically verizon is gonna start giving it in the butt in regards to upgrades and then sprint will come kiss that butt after to make it feel better?
Until recently wasn't it 8 years to be in the Premier program?
I'll have to let my mom know. She's been with Sprint for 12 years. I am just a couple of months out from my 10 year with them.
Props to your avatar. Greatest television show to ever air, in my opinion.
Um...Sprint is doing something not so bad.
I think it should be mentioned, that the "free" perks they give out, are actually free to EVERYONE under the Digital Lounge - Sprint advertises "free ringers, screensavers, music" as one of the free perks - but yeah, its free to everyone.
The discounts and VIP perks are kinda bogus 10% off this and that, for SPORTS things only, nothing that majority of Sprint users could or want to use.
But the key here is UPGRADE PRICING after ONE YEAR, instead of TWO. Although, Sprint looks to have billing errors for this, or "upgrade eligibility errors" I should say, since Ive already got a new phone price, then upgraded 4 months later, and not even a full 1 year in, they are giving me the NEW customer price again.... interesante`.
The free perks are not the free things that are available to everyone. You are offered things like bonus minutes, anniversary downloads, etc. These things are in addition to any promo codes or freebies offered on sprint.com's digital lounge.
My mother has been with sprint since 96" and ive been under her plan since 01 Im sure she'll be happy to hear this. My thing is shes had a business acct with Sprint. Meaning if she wants a new phone she cant go into a sprint store and get it she has to Call it in.
And by doing that, she also is able to get a new phone for either of us Up to 2 weeks ahead if its release in stores(I recieved my touch Diamond 8 days early) So what kind of "Early access" are they talkin about? If its a phone like the Pre i can get that a week early already so show me sumthin and let me get it a month in advance.....
And to the guy ahead..Of course sprint already has free ringers, themes, etc...but their POINT is to give you ringers that you would normally have to pay for for free. Cuz the free stuff already isnt that great.
I've been a "Premier" member for about 6 months now. Completely useless to me, as I am trying NOT to get locked into an addiitonal 2 years on any of my 4 Sprint numbers. Easier and cheaper in the long run to buy the phone I want thru Craigslist...
Same here...I've been a member awhile and most of the perks aren't that big of a deal. The upgrade thing's cool but I upgrade like every 6 months, so that won't work! I give Sprint an "A" for effort though.
Call in and ask if you are able to get any bonus minutes for being loyal and part of the premier program.
aw man i have a SERO plan lol
Looks like I am a premier member and never noticed. I've had sprint since 13-June-2007 wonder where my "spontaneous special offers" have been hiding.
I like this idea. VZW is lowing their loyal customer discount and Sprint is coming up with a nice loyal customer discount... come Big Red, way to drop the ball.
Please, Verizon has been doing this for years. If the cust is on a plan 69.99 or higher... guess what, they get the phone at the 2 year contract price after a year. If they wait til the time they would have been actually able to upgrade..... they would get an extra 100 bucks off the device. That's only one small thing they do. So the fact that spring is FINALLY offering the same type of incentive..... wow, all I can say is it's about time.
I've been receiving these "Premier" things for months.
Nothing special really but I did get a Touch Pro on my 1 year anniversary, had to extended the contract, and got 25% off a T505, which I could've grabbed online for quite a bit cheaper still.
I wonder if the upgrade pricing affects all the phones in my family plan. It's a $150/month plan with 3 phones, will all three receive upgrade pricing? My sister would love to upgrade to a smartphone.
How does one go about getting this setup? What department do we ask for when calling sprint? I qualify and want to get this going as soon as possible.
Call customer care and ask if you are eligible to be a premier customer. They will know what you are talking about.
I saw this when I logged into the website. My anniversary bonus was an extra 25 minutes. It wasn't clear if it was one time or recurring though.
I can't believe its really been 10 years for me.
yeah its only good for the main line so it means you can only get a discount for one line in a shared plan
the good thing is that i have the main line
am getting the palm pre (iphone killer)