Sprint loses $384m, 257k subscribers in first quarter of Pre availability

The Pre might have slowed the drain at Sprint but it hasn't managed to turn things around completely -- America's number three carrier posted a second-quarter loss of $384m as it lost another 257,000 subscribers. That just continues Sprint's trend of bleeding customers to the competition, and we doubt this balance sheet will turn around anytime soon -- not only will next quarter reflect the $483m purchase of Virgin Mobile USA, it's pretty clear that Verizon will get the Pre and AT&T will carry another webOS handset, leaving Mr. Hesse and crew without their shiny halo device to lure new subs to the fold. We'll see what Sprint does to turn this all around -- did someone say they need a Hero?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 2:02PM]

Sprint will never have my business again. I was a subscriber from 2004 - 2006. During this time I lived in both Greensboro, NC and Knoxville, TN for my job. In both places, their service was absolutely atrocious. I switched to Verizon in March 2006, and have enjoyed their service. I get great 3g signal everywhere I go now, and very rarely drop a call. I would like to get an iPhone, but am too scared to make the switch due to all the reports I read about how bad AT&T's service is. I do not want to repeat the experience I had with Sprint.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:07PM]

Humm....thats funny, I live in Knoxville and I get great voice and data from Sprint....much better than Verizon, and worlds better than AT&T

[tonybaloney Posted Jul 29th 2009 4:26PM]

On a side note, what's up with the freaky PRE commercials? They don't really make me want one, just give me a fear of the future.

[Masterface7 Posted Aug 4th 2009 9:41AM]

They may get new customers from the pre but sprint effectively gave all their old customers the finger with forced plan re-contracting bs thus negating any gain they could have gotten from the pre. If sprint sails off into the void maybe Verizon will switch to gsm?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 2:27PM]

Just got my Palm Pre yesterday and its F'n awesome. My first cellphone, somehow i managed to not get a cellphone until the age of 23.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 3:04PM]

@Look_Around_You

You say: "I would think that you would actually recognize this idiot as being a pest to everyone on this site."

I don't think Paul Chapel is a pest. So that disproves your point right there.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 3:10PM]

I am a sprint customer, i been wanting to leave but the prices of the plans keep me, though their phones might make me leave! I am patiently waiting for the Touch Pro 2 or an Android Device. I went down and played with the Pre it was very nice, until i tried to use the keyboard. As with the later Palms they keyboard is to small for me. I used an iPhone keyboard and had no problems. I have had ATT and Verizon and Sprint, and Sprint works fine for me, but it would be nice if they had a smart phone worth buying. Also with Sprint their support is clueless to anything you have to call the cancellation department to get anyone that knows what they are doing. Seems like ever since they took over Nextel they have gone to hell. Of all the subscribers leaving I wonder what percentage of those are th iDEN network people? I would like to see a separate Trial Balance for sprint and the iDEN networks i bet most of this is Nextel's problem, what moron thought they would be a good company to buy when its not compatible with your network?

[Ciconia Ciconia Posted Jul 29th 2009 4:10PM]

I've been with Sprint for a few years now, and every time I have to deal with customer service, either on the phone, chat or in person, I just want to run away screaming. However, I get a 23% discount through my employer and honestly, I doubt customer service at any cell company is any better.

As much as I love new gadgets, I wish these companies would spend less of their time focussing on sexy new handsets and more time offering the best customer experience. If Sprint could distinguish themselves as an ethical company that offers no-hassles and a Web site that actually works, they might not lose so many customers. But that has not been my experience with them and I can't wait until my current contract is up.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 4:54PM]

Paul Chapel, even though I think you're a douche, you should write a book "How to win enemies and piss off people". Seriously, recently most of the time your posts are not trolling (most of the time, mind you), but people still see red because they remember some earlier trollpost you made.

Anyway, what I mean is you have mastered the art of angering people without actually doing much.

[Tsing Tao Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:08PM]

Man its getting deep on this site. Is it ok to comment here if you don't hate apple?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:10PM]

I didn't want to leave (after being with Sprint for 12 years), but between the Pre and the iPhone 3Gs I had to go with Apple (I'm a mac computer user, but previous generations of the iPhone had serious issues for me). As much as I dislike AT&T, the device finally reached a point where it was nearly perfect for my use. And I'm relieved to say I am quite satisfied, thus far, even though I'm paying much more for it.
~Trav

[ChewChewTrain Posted Jul 29th 2009 7:09PM]

BIG MYSTERY: How the heck can you lose money being a cellphone service provider? Not counting the gov't, how lame can one be?

[gerrrg Posted Jul 29th 2009 7:16PM]

Mr. Hesse,

You made yourself look like a fool for pursuing the Pre, and shortchanging the Android platform.

Sincerely,

Someone that switched from Sprint years ago, and currently owns a G1.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 9:03PM]

As a "former" Sprint employee who labored in one of their call centers, I would like to give you all my prospective on this company, if I may. I was a "Technical Support Rep" and went thru their customary training regimen. Among the many items I had to learn was their inefficient and numerous billing systems and so called "Tech Tools". And my favorite tool; CST. This was a decision tree app that the TSR's were supposed to use on every call. Good idea, BAD IMPLEMENTATION! The so called decision tree ws barly ready for production. It simply did NOT WORK! We were constantly reminded by our so called Team Leads to keep the phone calls quick and to always remember to deescalate the callers frustrations when it came to wanting to speak to a supervisor because in all honesty the TCR's were left dealing with pissed off customers, management did not want to deal with issues. Priceless! Try dealing with some old senior who always paid her bills on time and was angry about receiving a premium charge for Lava Life texting package she never ordered and never wanted. Billing issues, come on, theye were REGULAR occurances!

On taking so called tech related calls from customers, this usually meant taking calls from low class, low income douches who wanted you to assist them in ripping off the company by saying bla, bla, bla about their Touch Diamond Pro's not living up to their expectations and after exceeding the 30 day exchange period they wanted you to get them whatever phone they liked regardless of company policy or they would throw a damn fit. Cost, OK, let's talk about cost. These scam artists that get away with there games and order bla, bla, bla phones and then turn around and sell these on eBay cost Sprint a lot.

The main issue with poor Sprint is they started and currently have one of the lowest credit scoring requirements in order to establish service. In doing so they have the largest majority of scum for a customer base, period. AT&T doesn’t play. If your credit score is bad they DO NOT WANT YOU!

While employed at Sprint I found it quite funny that I decided to keep my AT&T 3G iPhone because it simply works! I can tell ya that Blackberry is crap. ALWAYS service alerts in the queue for one problem or another. My boss asked me one time while I did not sign up for the employee free cell service and my answer was simple. After working as a TSR and taking millions of calls from pissed off humans because their web "experience" was down, Sprint TV was down, could not get their phone to make or receive calls I wondered that since I've had my iPhone for 2 years I HAVE NEVER and I repeat NEVER HAD TO CALL AT&T CUSTOMER OR TECHNICAL SUPPORT PERIOD. THE DAMN PHONE JUST WORKS!!!!

As far as does Sprint need a hero? They need a buyout, LOL!

Thank GOD I no longer work for Sprint. I liken the whole misery as swimming in a vat of cold, aborted fetuses, eeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!



L8tr in Oakgrowsomeahoma

[VanillaSpice Posted Jul 29th 2009 11:45PM]

It's the old question, isn't it? Is any response to a troll, itself a case of trolling? Aristotle wrestled with this conundrum for many years. It sent Kant mad. (Well, madder, you know; this is Kant we're talking about, after all).

And am I alone in being disappointed with the continual shadow-boxing between PAC and LAY ? I mean, they keep looking like they're going to have an all-out fight, but it never develops into much. Anyone else want to see it finished in a no-holds-barred, nine rounds, rumble-in-the-jungle type affair?

I am offering odds:

PAC to win by KO or DQ - (1st 3 rounds) $28, (rounds 4-6) $23, (rounds 7-9) $18
LAY to win by KO or DQ - (1st 3 rounds) $25, (rounds 4-6) $22, (rounds 7-9) $20
Points win - (PAC) $11, (LAY) $10, (no decision) $50

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 30th 2009 12:23AM]

I'm pretty sure this is a lagging indicator. They have pretty competitive rates now and at least one very good phone in its lineup. I say give it some time,

[Surrealchemist Posted Jul 30th 2009 9:22AM]

I love how people expect 3 weeks of Palm Pre sales during an entire quarter to carry an entire company.

[BdgBill1 Posted Jul 30th 2009 9:31AM]

I cannot imagine a phone good enough to convince me to return to Sprint.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 30th 2009 10:07AM]

Let's just say your early works of trolling are enough for a lifetime. Your nickname is tarnished. If you're really serious about "spreading the truth", then make a new account with another name.

Or you could just troll on.

[Kid Red Posted Jul 30th 2009 11:07AM]

So much for the Pre being an iPhone-killer, huh? More like a Sprint Killer.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 2nd 2009 4:59PM]

I have an Helio Ocean II, I can make a case it is a better phone then most, but I am friggin pissed off at Helio selling to Virgin selling to Sprint!. Why Helio? They had the 1st $99 everythng plan when I went to them a couple years ago - and that was a saving of $700 a year from what my AT&T bill was. The phone does great on e-mail and has GPS mapping. The fact is most of these phones are functionally the same to me. You get e-mail - you get phone calls - what is the big deal? I am afraid the brand loyalty does not make a lot of sense to me. The iPhone people pay premium price and premium rates for a phone that does no more then anyone elses - all to carry around a status symbol in your pocket.

[Sinick Posted Aug 9th 2009 7:26PM]

What a shame. I defected to T-Mobile to get a hot Bluetooth phone a couple of years ago and was really sorry that I left Sprint. I went back to them out of necessity and am totally satisfied, particularly with their customer service.

Please don't go away! I'm saving my pennies for a Pre and I want to stay with you for the duratiion.