Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (
More info?)
"John Richards" <supportdesk70-NO-SPAM@NO.SPAM.sbcglobal.net> wrote in
message news:W3jlc.671$dd.534@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
>
> But the rebate qualification rules have changed. You're (deliberately?)
> ignoring one important factor:
> Those who pay for occasional Vision use (a la carte rather than a pack)
> will be excluded from getting a handset rebate that they qualified for
> under the previous upgrade rules. This affects me very materially.
>
> --
>
I understand that, John, and I find the policy to be very customer
unfriendly, at best. As I stated in another thread, this may be the
beginning of the end for subsidized phones. For everybody except AT&T, WNLP
has not had a material effect on bottom line business. Networks are much
more mature than they were even twoyears ago, and in the next couple of
years, network coverage will be differentiated only by rural coverage.
Except for AT&T, pricing has stabilized, and the entire industry is soon
facing total saturation for postpay users. In short, many of the reasons
for subsidizing phones in the past are rapidly disappearing.
I look at this group as a good example of the maturation process. Eight
months ago, financial stability, coverage, customer service and WNLP were
the main topics of conversation, with customer service being the number on
complaint. Look at it today- phone functionality questions, phone
comparisons and pricing complaints. The others are only mentioned by one
troll, and it has been quite some time since Customer Service was a truly
hot topic around here.
I guess my point is- where is the need for subsidizing phones? Coverages
are close, pricing is about the same and others are already playing hardball
in different areas. It would appear that Verizon has tightened up their
credit requirements to a level never seen in this industry, in an attempt to
push many customers to prepay. Is that any less customer friendly? Not in
my mind.
I understand your concern, and don't mean to belittle it at all. But the
troll is misstating when he says it is a price increase. That was all my
post was pointing out.