rocket finance

Sprint finally threw me a bone

I have used Sprint as my mobile carrier since 2001. Not because they have the strongest coverage, the coolest phones or the greatest customer service. .  .  They had a couple of features that I liked, the price was right, I became a customer and have remained too lazy to find a new company ever since. In 2001, I was not nearly the discriminating customer that a limited budget has made me.

Lately, our mobile bills were starting to get out of control. We were being charged “per text” and we regularly exceeded our anytime minutes. We have a family plan with two phones and we do not have a traditional home phone. My job requires me to deal with college and high school age individuals on a regular basis and so I can’t simply refuse to text – texting is the only form of communication for some kids. I have tried to switch to the SERO plan, but there was no way to do it without changing my number. In November, I called Sprint and tried to “badger” my way into a better deal. The best that they could do was 300 free texts a month. . . I was inclined to take the deal, but wanted to check out some other options.

So I waited until my contract ended this month and after reading Hustler’s strategy to get a $70 statement credit, I called Sprint again, determined to make them give me a good deal.

I think they saw me coming because I called, waited for a customer service rep and simply said, “Make me an offer to stay with Sprint.” I fully expected to bargain back an forth, but he immediately offered:

• 500 free texts a month

• $70 statement credit (for both my wife and I)

• $150 toward a new phone (x2)

I saw no reason to quibble – it was a better deal than I had found anywhere else. We are planning to pick up our new phones tomorrow.

Feel free to text me anytime.