6 Confessions Of A Former Sprint Sales Rep

[Amosrock]

Looks like someone from just about ever carrier has come out with there own tips...Personally i don't agree with a few...like the ESRP thing...it works great if the phone is just broken...but if you buy a phone that has any sign of water damage at all...you void ESRP.

And the buying the phones at the end of the month thing...i don't know about other areas but i know the store a few miles from us is always so busy its damn near impossible not to hit quota...and as for my store...we're slow all the time...so the end of the month is no different than the beginning or the middle to me...its not car sales...

Otherwise...that moving to the desert thing i have seen work many times. The rentention thing is always great...retention will do just about anything. And the corporate discounts kick ass (but i don't think it goes up to 28%...i think 25 is the max and thats boeing)

Sprint has joined the ranks of cell phone providers whose former (and current) sales reps are beating down the Consumerist's door, eager to tell all. Let us move without delay to the confessions of a former Sprint sales rep:

•Get the Sprint Employee Referral Offer: "Get on the SERO plan! Sprint Employee Referral Offer. It's a nice little plan designed specifically for friends and family of Sprint employees. They require that you have an email address of a Sprint employee, but that's simple to get. Remember that business card the sales rep gave you, or should have given you if they're were good. Take that name and use it, john.x.doe@sprint.com. To see the plans themselves or sign up, go to www.sprint.com/sero ($50/1250 minutes/7pm nights/unlimited vision)"

•Play the Extended Service and Repair Program Game: If you've lost your phone or dropped it in water, you can buy a new "broken" phone on ebay, activate it, and take that one into the store for ESRP benefits, according to our tipster. "Phone doesn't work? Water damage? What are you to do! Buy a phone on ebay, it doesn't have to work so long as it hasn't been flagged as lost or stolen. Get the phone activated and take it into the store. They'll fix or replace it usually on the spot because you have ESRP. Now keep in mind, if you do this excessive times, we'll refuse to service you (the system counts how many times you've had a phone replaced/serviced)." (This might be illegal somehow, we don't really know.)

•Buy your phone at the end of the month when the reps are desperate for commission on activations. " Reps will always discount phones, they don't make commission on the price of the phone, they make it on everything else. They're also desperate for activations (best time to go activate is near the end of the month when they're truly desperate). Add a few accessories or get that 2nd line, just return them later, you still get the awesome deal on the phone.

•Cancel without ETF By "moving" to the middle of the desert: This is an old trick, but the tipster says it works with Sprint. "Want to cancel but are stuck in a contract and don't care about keeping your number? Change your billing to e-billing (to avoid a paper statement), call customer care and have them change your address to an address not covered by the network (go on the website, find a hole, do a google earth search and find an address around there). Then say, "oh my, well if you can't provide service to me there, I'll have to cancel." Sprint is now obligated to cancel your contract without a termination fee because if they can't service you, how can they charge you for service? Usually they want to cancel your number, but you might be able to convince them that Company B has coverage and you would like to port.

•Retention Specialists have power: Cancel everything that's not required in your contract. There's a retention offer waiting for you. Example: "there are retention offers for things such as text messaging (unlimited for $10 I believe), plans, services, etc. Just ask! "

•Get a big discount for working for a big company (or saying that you do): "Get a discount because you work for the man! Are you an employee of a major organization? Tell Sprint you work for them then! You'll get anywhere from 7-28% off of your monthly bill. Tip, Chase bank employees get the highest discount (I believe it was 28%). Even if you don't work there, they don't ask for proof that you do. "

Thanks to the Sprint Guy for these excellent tips! Where are you Alltel? U.S. Cellular? We're listening if you want to confess... tips [at] consumerist [dot] com.—MEGHANN MARCO

[DKJones96]

I like the moving one to get out of the ETF I think I'll use that one lol

[Duke4062]

Amosrock, could you answer this question? I ordered a moto krzr from sero site because q was out of stock. Then my friend (sprint mgr.) a few days later exchanged it for a Q in store. Printed me a exchange receipt and everything. Some people in the sero forum say I might have to pay a $250 fee to sero for not keeping the original phone they sent me. Is this true? Thanks.

[Amosrock]

I haven't used the sero program yet...but i highly doubt that would be the case...the only time you're ever charged for not keeping the original phone is if you sign a secondary security agreement which is never done by corporate stores. Its done by indirect dealers to cover their costs in case you cancel or default on your contract within the first 6 months.

All in all...i'm 99% positive that will not happen...I have never once seen anybody get charged for not keeping the same phone...

[loveshinesthru]

interesting

[looney702]

i like that one especcially because im wanting to cancel can someone please help me find an adress that sprint doesnt cover?

[indyx]

Originally Posted by Duke4062

Amosrock, could you answer this question? I ordered a moto krzr from sero site because q was out of stock. Then my friend (sprint mgr.) a few days later exchanged it for a Q in store. Printed me a exchange receipt and everything. Some people in the sero forum say I might have to pay a $250 fee to sero for not keeping the original phone they sent me. Is this true? Thanks.

I guess you don't trust you friend the Sprint Manager to know wtf they're talking about? lol

What makes you think he knows more then a Sprint Manager? i don't think he even works at Sprint? It looks like he's just reposting someone else's tips that he thought would be helpful.

[cwitt]

The call retention thing is the best, that's how I got my Q. The guy at the sprint store told me to call Sprint and ask for Call Retention. I told them I was gonna cancel my account, and they gave me the Q for $100.

[blackcavi786]

I wanna get the discount on my bill could someone help me out?

[HoosierHero]

How about paying for what you want and not trying to rip Sprint or any other company off... If you can't afford text messaging or whatever- maybe you shouldn't have it!