Every so often, an American wireless carrier will toss out a no-holds-barred 15 or 30-day money back guarantee, likely initiated to spur customer walk-ins, and in turn, boost the adoption rate.
Sprint, however, is sick and tired (but mostly tired) of playing such games, and it has today announced a new "Satisfaction Guaranteed or Money-Back" program that it has no
current intentions of ever nixing. We spoke to Sprint this morning regarding the news, and a spokesperson affirmed that it will be in place for the foreseeable future, with no expiration date already dialed up in the background. The new deal (which starts tomorrow, all kidding aside) enables any customer to open up a new line of Sprint service for 30 days; if they aren't feeling it, they'll get "reimbursed for the device purchase and activation fee, get the early termination fee waived, get a full refund for service plan monthly recurring charges incurred and get all associated taxes and Sprint surcharges associated with these charges waived." We'll confess -- that's pretty darn thorough, but do you seriously expect to return that
EVO 4G? No, no you don't.
posted March 31st 2010 12:48PM
What Mavericks they are!
@Joe the Plumber
A-men! You go Dan@Sprint!
Not many people are going to take advantage of this when they buy the HTC EVO :D
@Joe the Plumber
Looking forward to become a new Sprint customer.
EVO 4G... here I COME!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
SEND ALL EVO 4G RETURNS TO ME.
@Joe the Plumber
I've said it before and I'll say it again...
Hear me now and listen to me later...Sprint is the best kept secret in wireless. They may have lost some market share in the past but that's just it...the past.
@treats
Oh, I don't know about that. From the reviews I've read, a lot of people are complaining about poor 4G reception when moving. I wouldn't be surprised if a number of people discover that having a *mobile* device that can't be moved without losing the signal might be a bit of a bummer.
Way to Go Sprint!
Cell Phone company is doing what's right and logical? Large Hadron Collier must've really did punch a hole in space time continuum.
@DaveBach I appreciate your enthusiam and you can say it as many times as you want, but Sprint coverage around here is beyond atrocious. Their customer service (from all anecdotal accounts that I've heard in person) are probably even worse. That's what it boils down to for most people. Otherwise the Evo 4G with a $70-$80 unlimited everything plan would be the absolute most amazing setup possible.
@Photon
Sprint's customer service was lousy 5 years ago, and most of the bad impressions people have come from that period. I worked for iPCS (Sprint affiliate) about a year ago, and 90% of my interatcions with customer service were positive. Today I'm still a customer & my experiences have been even better. The last several times I've had to call I've been in touch with a helpful human being within 2 minutes.
By contrast, I've had nightmarish experiences with AT&T (for DSL - maybe cell phone customer service is different). Their IVR is arcane and complex, hold times are long, I never end up in the right department and have to be cold transferred multiple times per call (which means explaining the same thing to three different people). On top of that, they charged me $60 after the rep specifically said she was putting the charge on hold. When I called back to complain one of the reps had the gall to try to sell me cell phone service before resolving my issue. I had to ask to be transferred 3 times before he let up.
/rant
Anyway, Sprint rocks, and I'm not going anywhere. Hopefully innovative changes like this one will encourage more people to stop rewarding the big guys for price gouging.
Wow. Go, Sprint. Raising the bar and actually giving a crap about the consumer.
I don't care what anyone says about you - you're tops as a carrier. The red, blue, and magenta guys could learn a few things from you.
@whySoSerious I whole heartedly agree. I went from T-Mobile to Sprint about a year ago and I couldn't be happier with the switch. There isn't a single complaint I have as of yet(fingers crossed). They're leavin' the other three top carriers in the dust! But hopefully this inspires everyone else to come up with something just as competitive. Nothing wrong with keeping everyone happy, right?
P.S. Those last two lines got me excited for the EVO all over again.
@whySoSerious
Just wondering, would Sprint still be so great if their roaming agreements with Verizon suddenly disappeared?
@Evan
Yes. Next question?
@Evan
Don't quote me as an expert, but I don't think that can happen after the Alltel merger agreement...
Or I might have completely misinterpreted whatever I read back when that happened.
@whySoSerious
Yeah, I agree. I don't know why Sprint gets such a bad rep (still) for customer service. I've been with them for 5 years and have always loved their customer service. They're willing to work with you whereas other companies couldn't care less. When I left Verizon to go to Sprint (because Sprint was cheaper and had 3G in my area a year before VZ) I told VZ that I was leaving to see if they would give me any perks or reason to stay. The retentions rep gave me the "we have good customer service" line, and that was it. They sure like to throw those words around. Anyways, because of their "good customer service", I've been with Sprint ever since, and couldn't be happier. I've received real perks from Sprint just for calling, even when I didn't plan on leaving! Sprint FTW!
As someone whose used both Verizon and Sprint,I can assure you there's no comparison in customer service between them. With Verizon, you're calling the USA. With Sprint, you're calling India.
@KidRobotXXIV Agreed. I reluctantly went over to Sprint from Verizon (over many dire warnings about service from friends - even iPhone/AT&T folk) just for the Pre when it was first released. I have no regrets - their service, both customer and phone, are fantastic.
@whySoSerious
SERO FTW!
@Elranzer
List of Sprint Call Centers:
* Sacramento, CA
* Denver, CO
* Altamonte Springs, FL
* Charlotte, NC
* Rio Rancho, NM
* Elmsford, NY
* Oklahoma City, OK
* Fort Worth, TX
* Temple, TX
* Bristol, VA
* Hampton, VA
Hmm...I guess they forgot to mention the one in India.
@Elranzer Not true. I have been with Sprint for 7 years and have been speaking to American-accented customer service reps 100% of the time for the last 2 years, and 90% of the time for the 5 years before that.
@Elranzer
that's odd cause I have had Sprint for 5 years and have always gotten an American. I don't remember ever getting someone overseas.
@WestCoastG
Is India a city in the Midwest?...because every Sprint rep I've talked to over the past decade sounds American. I wouldn't be surprised however if AT&T or Verizon had call centers in India though because companies tend to do that when their only focus is on the bottom line...and based on how AT&T and Verizon overcharge their customers it's obvious the bottom line is exactly what they care about.
Wow. Go sprint!
@thorataz
Because, apparently, you think like me, I have to give you the obligatory uprank. ;)
Go, Team Yellow!
Sprint looks serious this time around to get to the top!
All the right moves!
Sprint steps up, others fail.
Sprint isn't playing around. Even MORE incentive for me to go out and get the EVO.
@GadgetMadness Thats what I'm thinking. IF they offer to reimburse my ETF from my other carrier, I would have no reason not to.
EVO 4G!
@BoozeRob
They aren't reimbursing the ETF of other carriers. I think the article just meant that, since you signed the contract when you opened your line of service; you don't have to pay Sprint's ETF for canceling within 30 days. That is part of the normal return policy all the other carriers have.
Sprint just took this further by refunding your month of service and waiving the restocking fee.
@BoozeRob
I have never heard a carrier offering that service. I want to move From Att with an iPhone 3gs for the EVO but my ETF from ATT is high. I was also thinking of just getting the HTC HD2 NextG and use with my existing account.
Go Sprint..but don't get too successful, otherwise these kinds of offers and the hunger to acquire customers will go away. :)
Looks like I get a month of free service then? :D
@Mmmm Donuts
Yeah, if you're willing to release the EVO (or whatever non-gimped phone), low pricing, fast network, 7pm N&W, and free ANY mobile to mobile from your grip. I think they're banking on not too many people cashing in on that once they step foot in the promised land.
And people wonder why there's a bunch of Sprint supporters. :D
Go Sprint!
@AKBlade13
Lmao only on Engadget.
In the real world people are leaving them in DROVES....for verizon, at&t and heck even t-mobile. Prob even these pay as you go places...
So yeah Sprint is a decent carrier but it's only get love online.
@TheLondonExchange
Leaving Sprint in droves? to T-mobile? lmao! T-mobile is dead last of the 4 carriers... I don't think they are getting ANY "droves".
Sprint been shooting for the stars with hollow tips lately.
Looking forward to seeing Dan Hesse sticking it to ATT, Verizon and T-mobile in a new ad.!
Now, if their customer service would improve...
@WC066 Have you called cust serv lately? I was a sprint customer when it was terrible and I can say it is night and day compared to now.
@mgene63 I woudl say it still has its faults at times, but It is vastly improved from 5-6 years ago (when i first started with them)
Seriously, as soon as my remaining VerizonAlltel contract is up, I'm switching to Sprint. Verizon ran Alltel into the ground.
This is great news. Now I just have to wait for my contract with AT&T to expire then I'm switching to Sprint for the EVO!
As long as Sprint doesn't sell the EVO 4G in areas that don't have 4G, I don't think returning an EVO 4G will be an issue :)
@TheDigeratiDude
You make it sound like Sprint's 3G network is lacking. I've got three EVDO Rev A (3G) phones and two AirCards with Sprint and I've been very satisfied with my data services. I've compared my data speeds on the AirCards with others on the Verizon, AT&T, U.S. Cellular, and CricKet offerings and EVERY time my Sprint speeds have won. I mean EVERY time on download speeds, upload speeds, and latency ping speed results. I realize that results will vary by markets so be aware the my results have taken place in Milwaukee, WI, Madison, WI, Chicago, IL, Naples, FL, and Beverly Hills, CA.
@DaveBach I agree, I am very happy with 3G speeds. I would still get this phone on 3G, assuming it worked on both 3G and 4G of course.
No. Never again. Not even if it were a 730 day money back guarantee.
my contract with VZW can't end soon enough. come on november, my switch to sprint, and real phones with a truly competitive pricing scheme!
@willowtwf
Well Verizon does prorate your ETF. So if you cancel when you only have a few months left on your contract, you'll probably less than $100.