Sprint Premier changes will wipe out existing one-year upgrades after March 31 180
Tue, 15 Feb 2011 5:28 pm EST
We told you that you wouldn’t like the changes coming to Sprint Premier, and you’re about to like them even less if you’re on a contract that was signed after Sunday, May 31, 2009. You see, on the 31st of March the Premier program changes and those with the old one year upgrade that don’t qualify under the new system will automatically lose it if they haven’t taken it.
So yes, you’re being put under the gun here if you’re itching for an upgrade right now. It’s especially painful for those of you that are just over a year into their contract and were expecting an upgrade nowish, but instead will have to wait until the end of 2011 to qualify for discounted pricing on a new device. If you bought your last contract-discounted phone before May 31, 2009, you’re essentially sneaking in under the deadline, with your qualification for the 22-month discount coming up before your 12-month discount expires.
Unless you bought your Sprint Palm Pre off-contract, this applies to every webOS user on Sprint. If you were planning on using that discount to upgrade to a new webOS device later this year on Sprint (assuming one even comes to Sprint), you’ll have to wait for your 22-month discount to kick in. Even then you’ll still be subjected to Sprint’s new $10/month Premium Data package. Yay.
Source: PreCentral Forums; Thanks to all that sent this in.
180 Comments
Well FUCK.
Damn! This is old news. I knew about this about a month ago. Still, it doesn't change how crappy the change is. I know Sprint is hurting for money, but this is not the best way to do it.
Fortunately I went and got my Evo last Saturday.
So HP will now have a couple years to offer a 4" or greater screen phone and convince me that I should get over being screwed by them.
I'm in the same boat. I really wouldn't buy another phone with a physical qwerty keyboard. There is no need for them anymore.
"There is no need for them anymore."
Stop acting like you're the only customer in the world - there are LITERALLY hundreds of thousands of people who disagree with you - myself included. You might not want/need one, but that's your personal opinion and i'll be here all day telling you're dead wrong - which is my opinion.
+10000000
seriously...how can people just assume no one wants a physical keyboard?? it's one of the main reasons im still on the pre; i can whip out text messages like a machine.
I recently bought an LG Optimus S Off Contract to give myself something new until a new webos devices comes. Now I am carrying a Palm Pixi Plus tethered to the LG Optimus S because I am much quicker responding to emails with a physical keyboard. That $50 deal saved my productivity.
You forgot to add that your productivity savings was then quickly negated by the reality of carrying two phones around...
Same here, I dispise physical keyboards. I bought the pre for webos. Now I see why your comment got down ranked to death, because pretty much everyone who bought a pre was to get away/ or not have to use an iPhone because of the virtual keyboard. Physical keyboards where the thing when the pre came out. And everyone who bought a pre were the real keyboard fans. But I found that I can't type nearly as fast on a physical keyboard as a virtual one. I think it's because of it taking more power of your fingers to press a button than tapping glass.
I picked up the Epic on Friday. I wanted the physical keyboard, but not I don't know. I used the virtual one all the time now. May trade in for the EVO, but I like Samsung.
I debated which to get, but the Evo really is about the same size as the Epic despite the bigger screen and I was not happy with how Samsung has handled the rollout of 2.2, which is to say it still hasn't.
I actually called about this today, and from a rep who had a Pre and knew what she was talking about, she told me we will not lose what we are already entitled to, and she said Sprint expects the Pre3, they just don't have a date yet. She actually had an internal Sprint email saying they couldn't go into details, but that there will be a Pre3 on Sprint.... So hang in there everyone.
Its really this type of rumor-mill stuff that people are so frustrated now.
oh really? and how is it a rumor when I called back and got the same story from another rep? Word for word without giving him my Sprint number... Sounds real to me.
No, it's actually still a rumor because why would a Sprint rep share with you on the phone something that they are told to keep internal when their calls are recorded.
It will be real when Sprint issues a statement on Sprint letterhead.
ok well how about a Palm rep yesterday telling me the same knowledge... one that even admitted to using Homebrew himself. People don't care about that little recording issue... if they don't say more than the one little tidbit, they won't get fired... Don't be naive.
This is incorrect. If you're eligible for upgrade now and don't upgrade before 4/1 your eligibility reverts back to the original purchase date of your device. So for us who bought Pre Minus on or around launch (I got mine at the end of July of '09) it'll be 22 months from then. So May of 2011 before you would be eligible for anything. I bought my wife a Pre for Valentines last year so for her she won't be eligible for an update until December of this year. Yeah, we're shopping around now.
Actually I got a letter in the snail mail that says that there are now 2 tiers of Sprint Premier. Silver and Gold (link below).
The only benefit difference is the annual upgrade. Premier Gold get annual, Premier Silver is standard 22 month. All other Premier perks are the same.
"Gold customers" -- with a base plan $89.99 or more single line, or $169.99 or more shared plans, OR customers for 10 or more years.
"Silver customers" -- with a base plan $69.99 - $89.98 for single OR $99.99-$169.98 shared plan.
http://premier.sprint.com/premierupdate/index.php
Our plan is the family data plan with 2 lines added. That comes in at a whopping 169.97. They sure planned this thing to screw over everybody and save them the most money. I don't blame them. It's a business and I don't want them do go out of business. Sprint has come a long way from when I hopped on board.
I work at Sprint and doubled checked on this. If a customer qualified with the correct plan before this change and still have these plans and no disconnects due to payment they still have there upgrade eligibility. Just new customers are getting shorted.
DITTO!
Noway...
No, not Norway. Overland Park, KS.
This applies to every WebOS user that has NOT been with Sprint for 10+ years.
10 years with Sprint = Gold Premier plan
Gold Premier plan essentially means that this change is minimal and doesn't force you to upgrade before March 31st.
No it doesn't... It applies to every webOS user that has NOT been with Sprint for 10+ years and has made every payment on time.
Every payment on time? Did I miss that fine print somewhere? I've been late many, many times in my years with Sprint and it doesn't affect my Gold Premier status.
Me too.. Am A GOLD SP,so dosn`t effecting me at all..............................
I've been with Sprint for 15-years yet they are saying I am only eligible for Silver because of my MRC. Not happy.
what's MRC?
Montreal Rowing Club
Monthly Reoccurring Charge, sorry.
Other acronyms/Terms:
Churn- Percentage of subscribers that leave a provider in a given time (IE without a new webOS device and changes to the Sprint Premier program the churn on Sprint will go up)
PCMCIA
People can't memorize computer industry acronyms
Well the hardware delay HPalm put out suddenly doesnt matter with this garbage now.
Im off contract but then cannot upgrade my Sprint Pre this is EOL and cannot get another repalcement through them? I guess I'll be making a call to their retention dept when the Pre3 comes.
Hahahaha well this just keeps getting better and better.....
This sucks, although the blow is lessened in the fact my 2 year upgrade is in June due to buying the pre 2 years ago, so by the time the Pre3 comes out I should be able to get it, or at least move to a different carrier without an ETF.
So, instead of me giving them more money this December when my annual upgrade would have applied to replace my EVO (which I'm enjoying quite nicely) with perhaps an EVO2 or a Pre3...I'm basically forced to do nothing and pay them nothing (hardware-wise) and sit on my EVO until 22 months arrives. Good one, Sprint.
Of course, with them pondering a switch to LTE, I suppose they'll just tell me (a long-stnading Premier member who was forced to go to Verizon for 2 years during a move because Sprint had no service in my prior neighborhood a few years ago, so I'm SOL on the 10-year grandfather too) that my EVO won't work on their new LTE network and I will have to replace it.
Is it me or is Sprint stirring up their loyal customer base into a frenzy lately?? I wonder when class-action lawyers will start sending us opportunities, 'cause it sure feels like it's going that way.
That's the thing. When you buy a product on contract, they are actually losing money initially but gain it back eventually through your monthly bill. Buy doing this, Sprint will be making the same amount of money but their costs will go down because people won't be able to get a discounted phone. Sad, but its something Sprint "has to" do to start making money. They haven't had a quarterly profit in years...
But wouldn't you rather have me get a new phone every year that also resets my contract date for the following 2 years? Instead, they basically push me to wait until 22 months, obviously just 2 months shy of being able to easily leave for another carrier. The way it is now with me paying them around $150 every year for a phone upgrade, they keep me in the contract cycle.
I realize that everyone doesn't get a new top end phone like I (most of us) do each year with the $150 discount instead of choosing a free lower end one, but we're on a 1500 min unlimited data family plan with a Pre/EVO, so they're making good money on us each month.
Waiting 22 months will sure make us consider switching carriers more than we do now.
I assume that would mean it takes them longer than a year of monthly payments to recoop costs and turn a profit.
@dtreo I wouldn't worry about LTE, Sprint is most likely going to adopt LTE soon also. From what I understand there is not a lot of work for them to make the update.
Man, Sprint Pre users getting shit on left and right. When will it end? Do I burn my upgrade now and ride Android until HP gets their act together (hopefully within 2 years), or do I hold my year old original Pre for another 11 months and hope it stays together?... Dilemma city, population every Sprint Pre user...
If HP were goinf to bring 2.0 to the Pre I would say hold it. But stuck with a Pre- AND 1.4? Hell no.
Well if this is "getting shit on" then I dont want to know what you'd call the AT&T folks who've had the iPhone the past 4 years...
Not the same thing. AT&T users actually had a phone that worked well, and they enjoyed.
You could try calling them, but it might drop before you finish your conversation.
Sprint must really need to push their current phone line up. Makes you wonder if sales are down or if they are trying to clear out some space to store all those Kyocera Echo they aren't going to be selling.
yeah, last week I was on the phone w/ a CS rep and she pretty much told be to cheat the system. My 1yr upgrade, which I have been elligible for since Sept '10, will be gone as of April 1st, but my 22 month upgrade kix in in July. She just said fight it and I'll get it sooner since I'd be so close to July anyway.
i talked with a CS Rep, and ive been with Sprint for 10 years come september 2011, and i asked them the question would i lose my availability to upgrade for both lines, and they told me that i would lose the premier status for both lines but wouldnt lose the upgrades, and then when september roles back around i would gain the premier status back. this was like 2 weeks ago...
Yeah, I got the same news today. See my reply above.
How is this not a change of terms? This upgrade policy was in place when I renewed.
Don't be surprised that they can change the terms at any time just like every other company does because somewhere in the fine print of what you have to sign to be a customer you agreed to accept that they have the power and you only have the power of your dollar. This is not unusual, just part of life.
Fortunately, since I bought a Pre Minus on day one, I will be eligible for an upgrade when the new product rolls out. By the way, my Pre is in great shape (missing charger flap) and is a day one original.
I just received my notification from Sprint yesterday and I will remain a GOLD MEMBER under my current plan based on the dollar amount. I have only been a Sprint customer for about 6 years.
Looking forward to the new HP products this summer.
Hope everyone enjoyed the lovely day in the Georgia area today - felt like Spring !
Yes, the south Ga weather was nice today.
My understanding is that they are allowed to change terms any time. If you want to get out without paying the ETF though, the change has to have a "materially adverse effect" on you. What they are changing does not change your monthly bill, so you probably won't have luck with that.
When you renew your contract, you'll also be agreeing to the new terms of their extra $10 "Premium Data fee". Just be careful and I don't think there's much we can do on Sprint to get around this. The best way to send them the message that you are upset is of course to vote with your wallet and take your business elsewhere. I really wish T-Mobile will get the Pre3 to make this easier for me!
It is hard for me to believe an attorney could not argue this is a materially adverse change. The upgrade policy change is financially significant.
Well... the problem is, nobody is forcing you to upgrade. And when you can/do upgrade, you'll be agreeing to their new fees :(
But they are changing the terms for which you had been told you could upgrade to a new phone at a discounted cost, so that is financially significant. I'm sure there is a legal argument here on both sides that Sprint lawyers thought about for some time before this was cleared, but there must be an opposing legal position of some sort.
I'm not a lawyer, but I met one once in a Denny's.
It is not a change in terms because the Sprint Premier program is not part of your contract. It is a "customer loyalty" program much like frequent flyer programs for airlines. I am trying to find their original announcement on web.archive.org, but I bet that it says that the program can change at any time.
Thankfully they gave us several months notice and didn't just drop this on us the last week of March!
So basically what Sprint is saying is they really don't care if I stay or not. The main reason I've been with them this long is because of the Premier program. Without that, other carriers (and phones) look a lot more attractive.
Well if you have been with them for more than 10 years this doesn't effect you. If not, then you really haven't been with them that "long".
Just so everyone knows, Verizon is doing the same thing so go ahead and jump ship... you'll definitely be paying for it.
I've been with them for 7 years. I'm sure I'm not the only person that feels this way. I spoke with a few Sprint buddies at work about this. 1 said he was going to look at Tmo and the other said he'll look at anything besides AT&T.
I have a feeling Sprint is a little drunk off of the Evo sales and the people that have been signing up because of the Premier plan. I also have a feeling their customer base is once again going to migrate to other carriers that have more attractive phones.
I'm feeling the same way since I'm a 12 year customer, but I had to switch to Verizon during a move for 2 years in 2005 since Sprint told me my neighborhood at that time had no service and was not planned for at least a year. This of course interrupted my 12 year span, so I'm dumped into Silver.
As ticked off as a lot of us are, I really think that we'll hear some news from them in the next couple of weeks about current Pre/Pixi owners and we'll also get rumors about an EVO2.
To clarify, all people who bought their Pre's on June 6th 2009 are fine when/if the Pre3 comes out...right??
Pretty much.
You might want to edit the post to reflect that. There are going to be a lot of howls about how exiting Pre owners aren't going to be able to upgrade to the Pre 3 if it comes out on Sprint, when in reality, the vast majority should be fine.
You basically told everyone that they would have to wait until December, which is not true. At least, that is how your post reads.
Derek, you are incorrect in your math in the article. If you purchased anytime in June 2009 you will not be affected. Your upgrade eligibility date is 22 months from the date of upgrade and then reset to the beginning of that month. So, if you purchased any time in June of 2009, your 22 month upgrade eligibility date would be April 1st, 2011. It is the people who purchased after June 30th, 2009 who will be impacted. Only people who purchased July 1st, 2009 to February 28th, 2010 will be impacted as their upgrade eligibility date would be extended the number of months after July 1st, 2009 by the same number of months after April 1st, 2011. For instance, I purchased my Pre- in the middle of Sept. 2009, if I do not upgrade by March 31st, 2011, I will have to wait until July 1st, 2011. In other words I purchased 3 months after July 1st, 2009, so my eligibility will be 3 months after April 1st, 2011.
I too think you should update the article.
Just got off the phone with Sprint CS and was told that since i'll be in my 22nd contract month with Sprint, I will be able to keep the $150 upgrade credit. If the Pre 3 arrives at Sprint in this summer, i'll be able to apply the upgrade credit towards the Pre 3... I signed a new 2yr contract with original Pre so anyone that is on the same contract will be able to keep the credit.
I asked if I could talk to the CEO and she said, "No". It was worth the try.
for a carrier who continues to lose customers they get worse and worse, im thinking boost mobile 60 unlimited everything and its 3g, that 4g is unpredictable and worthless unless your standing still and using it, im almost 10yrs in oct but im eligible in june under the current premier, if they dont upgrade me in june im taking my 5 lines to boost and say goodbye to the continuing ups on prices from sprint, and before anyone says boost is owned by sprint i know that, its just better deal for my money and no contract
10 years. Dang! I wish I had that under my belt so I could upgrade every year...
Isn't Boost Mobile run by Sprint?
Any body think that sprint is going to delay any phone launches of highend smartphones till after april 1st.???
I feel double screwed, I was forced off my SERO plan to get a webos phone, which basically more than doubled my monthly bill. and then they allow they bring in sero premium 4 months later.
when i switched from my sero plan, i opted to go with the $69.99 regular plan instead of the ERP plan of $59.99 so that I can get the best price upgrade after one year, instead of only $75 of the full MSRP... and now on april 1st, my exact 1 year date they are taking that away. WTF>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Let me add this, if you replace your current phone with one you already have you will be forced to pay the $10 for "premium data". My brother just replaced his old blackberry with the blackberry my mom used to have. Sprint told her that she would have to agree to the $10 a month before they could switch the phone.
Sprint might see another loss in customers after having their first quarterly customer gain in more than three years. They are either starting to get greedy, or just too eager after their first costumer gain.
Wait, so if we purchased the Pre on launch day June 6, 2009 and haven't used any upgrades since, we'll be okay in June for a Pre3 if they get one? Or we won't be okay and will be screwed? This is starting to be made more confusing than I think it should be..
not sure but i think you're screwed
If you didn't use your upgrade then you are fine. If you did use your upgrade to get a different phone after one year, then you'll have to wait till 2012.
On a family shared minute plan, only one primary line is currently entitled to the $150 upgrade after 12 months. For all other lines on the shared plan, it is currently 22 months to get $150 off. So this isn't a change except for the primary line, and then only if your plan is below the $ threshold or you have been with Sprint fewer than 10 years.
Glad I am Gold 12+ years. I knew I should have stuck with the EVO, but returned it because of Palm rumors. Been sitting on a upgrade since last June.
I got a personalized premier letter that listed my two phones. My main one says GOLD, my second line says silver 22 mos for upgrade. I think is came on friday.
Well after being a Verizon customer since forever I knew I would eventually be back. Looks like that time is about here, after just being with Sprint for a less than a year. Maybe I will just go with an iphone and be done with all this stupidity....now with a Verizon iphone, like the commercial says the best network now has the best phone....and they are the best anyone thinking otherwise is just fooling themselves. I don't care if webOS makes gold fall from the sky, everything about it, the phones that have it, to the companies that run it sucks to a degree unseen since the dawn of the first cell phone. I have had cell phones way back since my $4000.00 Motorola Dynatac 8000 Brick, never have I seen so much bullshit and such shitty hardware and poor support as I have been subjected to with this Sprint/Palm deal. 8 replacements and counting in less than a year....still no Flash.
plus motherfucking one!
And with all that enthusiasm, you didn't have the gumption to actually click the "mother---king" plus sign... sigh
The changes are in line with Sprint regaining it's financial health, they had to pull subscribers into the fold, and they did in fact do that, I wonder if they will alienate more than they pull in, in the current quarter with this change... we will see.... :D
At the rate of iPhones which ARENT selling on Verizon, I'm pretty sure we'll see a Sprint iPhone very very soon here. :D
This article is confusing at best.
"Unless you bought your Sprint Palm Pre off-contract, this applies to every webOS user on Sprint. If you were planning on using that discount to upgrade to a new webOS device later this year on Sprint (assuming one even comes to Sprint), you’ll have to wait for your 22-month discount to kick in."
So for people that have had a Pre since launch day (and got it from Sprint) what happens after April 1st if you're on the Silver plan? Do you have to wait an additional 22mos (which doesn't make sense)?
I think there's very little impact to launch day people. If you bought on 6/6/09, your 22-month date is 4/6/11. So if they pull the plug on 3/31, maybe there's a week between those two events where technically you don't qualify for the upgrade but otherwise you should be fine.
This sucks, I've been eligible since Oct. 2010. I was holding out for a new webOS device because I simply hate Android, but there won't be one out (except maybe the Veer, which I sure as shit won't get) before March 31st. Looks like I'm stuck waiting until August.
Lol, funny that you posted this. I called Sprint (in anger) after receiving my letter in the mail (last Friday) that told me that I was being demoted to Silver Status and that I would no longer receive my yearly upgrade... You see, I convinced my fiance to move her line over to Sprint (family plan) and I resigned a contract instead of me switching to AT&T (which has better service where we are) because of those yearly upgrades. Well, now I am no longer going to receive those and have to pay $380 to cancel both lines.
So anyway, I called Sprint on Friday to complain (im really not normally a complainer, all these changes are just pressing my buttons). I was very polite and the representative offered to "bump up" my upgrade from August as long as I used it before April 1st. I told him that I would have to see if there were any phones I would want to upgrade to (seeing how there arent any HP phones expected before April) and would call him back. He said ok.
On Sunday, I called back to take Sprint up on the offer (figured id at least give Android a try) and was told (by a different CSR) that the first representative was incorrect and that "No, i would not be losing my upgrade in August". He said he was marking the account to make sure that there no problems in August. Oookay.. conflicting information.
Being weary of being "mis-told", I emailed customer service so I could get a response in writing. I was told that "I would not receive an upgrade in August" (like the original CSR said) and that I would have to contact the 1800 number to get them to "bump" the upgrade to before April. UGH!
My last call to Customer service was yesterday. I spoke to the gentleman several times throughout the day (he would have to check with supervisor and call me back) and finally concluded that "Yes, they would allow me to upgrade in August" and that he was marking my account (again?). However, I asked him to email me so I would have written proof... so far, no email (he did say it could take 48-72 hours)...
I dont know how Sprint messed this all up so bad, but even their CSRs are confused. We will see what comes of this mess....
I hope Sprint Doesn't Start "Donald Ducking" On new WebOS Phones
I actually don't care. I'm a Pre minus owner and my contract ends in July. They can't keep their $150, I'll buy the phone @ it's regular price and not be forced to pay $80/month for 24 months.. It's a no brainer
With the new smartphone fee my 25% discount is losing it's effect on Sprint being the cheapest for me. The more that gap closes from btwn othwr carriers the more liable I am of jumping carriers..
JUst ordered my Epic! Love webos but tired of the freaking waiting with this new phone/software. Have been sitting on my upgrade since last June decided to use it and say goodbye to HP/Palm.
sprint can say what they want. i've already prepared to just pay my etf and leave.
amen. Unless a Pre 3 falls into the Sprint inventory I'm gone to at&t etf be damned.
And I can just buy a new phone when I want without all this carp they are playing.
This is horrible... imo, yearly upgrades were one of the best/better things that Sprint offered. I understand they are tight for money, but how is this going to bring in more subs???
Here's hint. IT ISN'T.
Ok so I spoke with Sprint and this is how it's going to work (this scenario is for Sprint Pre users who got their Pre on launch day, June 6th 2009 and have not upgraded since):
If you fall into the silver plan on April 1st, you will get $75.00 off a new device after April 1st. So if you're waiting for the Veer or Pre3 and you're a silver plan member, you can only get 75.00 off.
If you want the full 150.00 off, you'll have to wait an additional 22months starting on April 1st, 2011 to get that full benefit.
If you're a Gold Premier member on April 1st (and you haven't upgraded or you're waiting for the new HP Veer or Pre3), you get the full benefit of 150.00 off of your new device.
I have found potential loop holes though. Still looking at them....
So you're saying that a launch-day Pre owner would have to wait 44 months (or 3 years and 6 months) to get $150 off?
That seems unlikely to me.
Yes that is exactly the scenario according to the local office here in Houston and the call rep and her supervisor that I spoke with. This only applies if you're a Silver plan member after April 1st and you don't upgrade before March 31st.
You will still get 75.00 off if you're waiting.
The way it is written on the premier website and the way the average 3month period that is stated in their new policy does back up this claim (along with the 3 different reps I spoke with). That is why this article on the policy change is making such a huge wave.
His post is misleading. If you're a launch day Pre owner, and didn't use an upgrade after one year, then you will be able to upgrade now or after March 31. These new terms basically say, if you haven't been with Sprint 10 years or don't pay the base plan of $89 on a single plan or $169 for a family plan, you have to wait 22 months for your upgrade from the time you signed a contract.
So those that signed contracts with the release day Pres, which was 06/09, you will be eligable on 04/11, this April. Basically, this doesn't affect your eligibilty.
Actually, no the post is clear. It all depends on which plan you fall under on April 1st. I know it seems ludicrous but this is exactly the information that I've already confirmed with three different sources and the the Premier website.
So those that signed a contract with the release day Pre, which was 6/09, AND YOU FALL INTO THE GOLD PREMIER PLAN, this doesn't affect your eligibility.
However, if you signed a contract with the release day Pre, which was 6/09 AND YOU FALL INTO THE SILVER PREMIER PLAN, you can only get 75.00. This is why the article is claiming that if you don't upgrade by March 31st, you will lost out on the 150.00 because of the new policy. And according to the sources (which I'm still not sold on) the new 22month period starts on April 1st (but according to the Premier site, I think it actually starts on Jan 1st 2011. I'm still confirming the start date if you don't upgrade by March 31st.
The post is clear but it is flawed. On April 1st, anyone who is Sprint Silver Premier will revert to their 22 month upgrade window. You WILL NOT have to wait 22 months from April 1st, 2011. The only way you will have to wait 22 months from April 1st, 2011 is if you use your upgrade during the month of April 2011.
Take for example if you used your last upgrade on September 1st, 2009. With the previous premier plan you were eligible after a year, so September 1, 2010. If you do not upgrade by March 31st, 2011, your upgrade eligible date will move to July 1st, 2011 (which is 22 months since September 1st, 2009).
Yes, I finally stopped depending on Sprint reps (3 different ones) and I found it on the Sprint Premier website. 22months retroactive from your last upgrade so all launch day Pre owners who have not upgraded ARE safe after April 1st, 2011. :)
This can not be the case. Launch-day owner's contracts expire on June 6th 2011.
If that was the case...bye bye sprint :(
That cannot be true, because we would have already waited 22 months comes June 6, 2011 which is what Silver requires for full $150. Double check your information please, I think/hope you misunderstood!
Yes I understand this but starting April 1st, that doesn't matter because of the new changes. That is exactly what this article is stating. If you don't upgrade by April 1st, you will lose out on the 150.00 because of the new policy.
And, you won't be at 22months BEFORE April 1st (which is the key here).
Now when the new 22month period begins (especially for Launch day Pre owners) is still up for debate because I still don't believe that they'll make you wait another 22months to get the full 150.00 off IF you're a Silver Premier member.
I'm not surprised Sprint reps are confused but it makes no sense at all that the clock would start over just because you dropped one level in the Premier pyramid.
Think about it for 10 seconds. This changes your Premier status but it doesn't alter your contract which expires in June. Why would you wait another 20 months beyond that when you are already out of contract?
Thats exactly what I said down lower.. Our 2 year will be up, so if they don't offer us a phone upgrade, its off to new carriers we'll go.. can't see how that would be a good thing for them..
You don't have to wait. You just don't get the full 150.00 off of the new device. You'll only get 75.00.
For some reason, Sprint believes that the other benefits from the Silver Premier Plan are enough to keep customers (per the Sprint Premier Website FAQ).
You'll get the "full 150.00" at your normal 22-month, not 22-months after April 1st. You know how I know? Because if not, you could simply cancel your contract when it expires, and then call back and say, I wants a new contract. And then you qualify. To even suggest for 1 second that you'd have to wait 22 months AFTER April 1st, for a total of 44 months out of a 24 month contract is supremely ludicrous. If you are certain that is what you were told, then call them back, because they were wrong.
Yes, finally found it on the Sprint Premier website in writing. Launch day Pre owners ARE safe after April 1st. It is 22months retroactive from your last upgrade. :)
that's dumb cause by that time i think you can get out of the contract for like $50.
Meh... I will purchase my next phone at full price in October. If it is a webos device, great. If not, something else that will have WiMax on it. I'm not gonna limit myself to EV-DO only.
If you have Sprint Premier Gold then nothing changes.
S|P Gold Customers:
Maintain a 3-month average of at least $89.99 for individual plans, or
Maintain a 3-month average of at least $169.99 for shared plans, or
Have been a Sprint customer for 10 years or more.
WAIT WAIT WAIT RIGHT THERE.
I've had an eligible upgrade for about 6 months now, waiting for the next Sprint Palm (or HP) phone, and you're telling me it's going to get wiped?!
This depends on your status after April 1st. Do you know if you're going to fall into the Silver Premier or Gold Premier plan?
I know I've been with sprint for appx 7 years now, and I've noted that Gold Premier is 10 years (from an earlier comment by whomever), therefore I must be Silver?
And shall lose my upgrade eligibility?
Which plan are you using? 10 years is only one way of qualifying for Gold Premier.
Family everything plan/data plan or whatever it's called.
Will I lose my upgrade??
As long as you maintain a 3-month average of at least $169.99 for shared plans, you will qualify for the Gold Premier which means you will NOT lose the full upgrade of 150.00.
even still you will only lose $75 dollars in the change, everyone is acting like they lose a whole free phone.
Yea the loss of $75 bucks stinks but its still cheaper than Verison
With the full upgrade, you are eligible for all of the instant discounts and MIR along with your upgrade credit whereas with the $75 yearly credit, all you get is $75. Phones that usually cost $550 outright are usually brought down to $200 with your $150 upgrade and other instant and mail in discounts. With the yearly upgrade, it would only come down to $475.
Luckily I am Gold Premier. But it may not be of any consequence if they do not offer the Pre3 on their network. I will leave for Verizon or even AT&T.
hah, when i got my pre during the bestbuy price mistake my eligibility was supposed to have been used for the discounted price, but it wasn't, and ive been eligible for an upgrade before/since i got my pre :)
how is it that you lose your upgrade in april if you can upgrade 2 month before your contract expires. If you can upgrade at month 22 that should be, april 6.
one step forward 3 steps back.
One things for sure, if they try to tell those of us day 1 Pre owners who haven't used any upgrades, that we don't get the full $150 come June, our 2 year contract will be up which means they get the middle finger and off to another carrier!
100% agree. I still don't understand what is going to happen. On June 6th 2011 I will officially have had no upgrades for 24 months. If I don't get a full $150 credit I'm hoping to sit on a month-to-month contract while iPhone 5 comes out for VZW. Friggin hate Android.
edit: spoke with a rep, from what he says day 1 Pre owners (who havent upgraded yet)are fine.
I think the issue everyone is confused about is if the upgrade is not used by April 1st will the "22 month counter" reset on 4-1? It doesnt. In April all Silver Premium day1 Pre owners will be on 22 months of their new contract anyhow and can wait until the Pre3 comes out to use the $150 credit.
Thank so much for confirming this.. what a much needed relief! :P
I got my pre in Feb of last year, sad to say I got an Evo sunday just couldn't see letting an upgrade go to waste. If palm and HP get there sh!t more together ill get back on the bandwagon in a year or so. After I picked up the evo I promised my wife no more contracts. So my next phone is full price regardless. Hardware on evo is nice but I'm missing the multitasking and cards.
i'm kinda glad I had to burn my $150 discount last year to replace my Pre minus after the dog ate it. (literally. A new puppy at the time had a taste for all things plastic and cracked the screen)
now I won't have to think twice before switching to a new carrier and a windows7 phone.
Lets gain a little perspective, the current loyalty plan offers a $150 credit at one year. The new plan offers a $75 credit at one year. Paying the $75 difference and even the new 10 data fee is still going to be cheaper than the competition.
Yea it stinks, but sprint is still one of the most economical options.
The $150 credit is just a formality. The $75 credit is just that: $75 off full-price (which is usually obnoxiously inflated). The $150 credit is $150 off full-price (which is still obnoxiously inflated) PLUS all of the discounts, savings, and rebates, essentially "new customer" pricing. So your $75 difference ends up being about a $275-$425 difference. But tack on that 10 data fee, and you still end up cheaper than anybody else, because they have the same upgrade policies (or worse). So I disagree with some of your logic, but your sticking point is spot-on.
well I guess it is good thing that I still have my upgrade left for both my phones from when I was forced to switch from an employee plan to the Sero. Gonna save it and cross my fingers that the Pre3 is coming to Sprint.
And yes I already called and confirmed that this change will not cause me to lose the upgrades that I am already eligible for.
I will be using my premier upgrade if sprint gets a webos phone before the end of April. As a customer has a 30-day exchange. :)
I bought my Pixi in April of 2010. Can I still get my upgrade this April? I've got that plan where you get an upgrade every year.
If your plan is $89.99+/month, then yes. Otherwise, no.
and from what the lady told me on the phone if you become eligible for an upgrade before the change date you will not lose any upgrades earned before the change, your next upgrade will just be at whatever status level that you qualify for after the change date. She lead me to believe that this was for every plan, not just the Sero
Does this still appy to a change of agreement???
http://www.precentral.net/sprint-changing-contract-terms-january-small-o...
so I called CS to see how this plays out for me. The rep tells me that when the Premiere change happens, I would be silver and only get a $75 discount. My $150 upgrade availability is set to expire in April. When I pressed, she put me on hold to talk to a supervisor. When she came back, she said I would be allowed to use the full $150 discount as long as I used it this year, even if it was after my April expiration date. So I think if people press it with them, they will yield on this.
This is definitely worth a try. Nothing to lose by pressing them on the issue. :)
As someone mentioned before I to have been watching this for a month. I already burned my upgrade last July when my Pre couldn't take it anymore. Fig'd i'd wait it out with the Evo for the year. Now I find out just as i was thinking that I might go back to palm with a new phone. Sprint pulls this baloney.
Thankfully the Evo itself has been a champ. Still must have PALLLM... Wha ok back. So it's another year with it and then we will see. Was with Tmo for years (Voicestream anyone) so they might be in my future.
I can see the reports now. Sprint Q1 up 10% Q2,3,4 down 150% and falling fast.
AT&T is looking better and better. Maybe Big Red will grab lots of the Apple syncophants. Just activated my Pre 2 for development purposes, but Pre 3 (or something else) is the eventual goal.
Okay, here's my comment. Those of us who received a launch day Pre, will have already waited 24 months to upgrade when the Pre 3 comes out. If we try to get the Pre 3 and they say our contract is extended another 2 years before we can upgrade, we simply walk. No carrier makes us wait more than 24 months to upgrade and there is no way we're going to get four years out of our launch day Pres.
In addition, instead of being able to pay for unlimited data, we will now have to pay a $10 data fee for each smart device and still pay for unlimited data service in order to connect the device.
On the second part, I'll do some checking, but I think all carriers are doing that now. If my fee starts getting close to what it costs me on the other networks, then I'll simply ask the family which carrier do they want to be with.
I just got the EVO using my 12 month upgrade (though I waited a little more than 12 months)
I got a letter in the mail today saying the changes. Its funny how that trying to spin it as a positive lol.
In any event Im glad I used it before they went to 22 months, because this "coming this summer" stuff from hp is too late for me. I been waiting too long with an aging Pre.
But i bought the Evo thinking maybe HP will have its stuff together and have a great device in a yr that would interest me, now i'm locked into android for the next 22 months...may not necessarily be a bad thing but I made the purchase thinking I had options in the not so distant future. Sprint is slowly moving in the direction of Verizon and Att...not in a good way.
Sprint isn't as desperate to keep customers anymore it seems. The success of the Evo, and Epic has put them in a better position.
Sprints struggles were great for me as a customer lol..
The Sprint (business) rep I got on the phone had to be reminded several times that the Premier plan is changing soon - he kept telling me that I was good for the extra discount. After asking several times when I joined Sprint, he finally put me on hold to find out. I've got until Dec. 2012....
My bonus upgrade has been available since last Oct. but I've been waiting for a new Palm (HP now??) My only hope is that HP does something very nice for us Pre minus owners when the Pre 3 comes out. In the time till then, I'll be looking at other phones and providers
does this apply to the SERO plan? or the F&F500?
Part of the first post by Achill3s, above, is simply WRONG. The only benefit that MIGHT be lost is the one-year upgrade benefit, if you were previously Premier but now will be only Silver Premier. The 22-month upgrade benefit (which is part of both the current Premier and the new Silver Premier) does NOT start over, and you will NOT have to wait up to 44 months.
Whether Achill3s' post was bad information from the Sprint rep, or a misunderstanding on his part, I don't know. But here is a quote from Sprint's web site (the key part regarding this point is the second paragraph under "Effective 4/1/11"):
#
# Q:How is my upgrade eligibility impacted?
# A:Now through March 31, 2011:
* Customers who meet the Premier 3-month average* of at least $69.99 for individual plans or $99.99 for shared plans, or accounts that have 10+ years service are eligible for one annual upgrade:
o For customers who qualify due to their plan, the annual upgrade benefit generally goes to the Primary line on that plan
o For customers who qualify due to years of service, the annual upgrade benefit generally goes to the Primary line on the account
o To confirm which line(s) on your account qualify for the annual upgrade benefit, simply log on to sprint.com/upgrade and look for the lines on your account that are upgrade eligible at 12 months.
o All other lines on a Premier account are eligible to upgrade every 22 months under Sprint's New For You upgrade program.
Effective 4/1/11:
* Sprint Premier Gold accounts will continue to receive the annual upgrade benefit based on maintaining a 3-month average of $89.99* for individual plans or $169.99 for shared plans, or for 10+ years service. Gold accounts will receive one annual upgrade per qualifying plan.
* Sprint Premier Silver accounts:
o If the line qualifying for an annual upgrade is 22 months from the last upgrade, there is no impact. The line would continue to be eligible for an upgrade under Sprint's New For You upgrade program, which allows eligible customers to upgrade every 22 months.
o If the line qualifying for an annual upgrade is 12-21 months from the last upgrade, the upgrade must be used by March, 31, 2011. Otherwise, effective April 1, 2011, the upgrade eligibility on that line will be changed to 22 months.
o If the line qualifying for an annual upgrade is less than 12 months from the last upgrade, their upgrade eligibility will be changed to 22 months.
o To check your upgrade eligibility go to www.sprint.com/upgrade.
Read the above yourself at: http://premier.sprint.com/premierupdate/faq.html (scroll down the page a ways)
Yes I found that same part on the website. That is correct. The 3 different Sprint reps I spoke with were incorrect or didn't understand the entire concept of the new policy.
you can buy a phone online and activate it with sorint. I started out with an htc hero. Then when my 30 days were up. I went on ebay and bought a palm pre. They activates it with no problem!
Just got off the phone with a Sprint rep. I'm on the Simply Everything plan, paying for two lines. Even if I dropped one line, I'd still have the annual upgrade, i.e., nothing is changing for me.
He also said unequivocally: Sprint is getting the PRE 3, the Veer, and the TOUCHPAD. He said he was looking as information on his computer that said this was the case.
Why would he lie to me about that?! I'm keyed up for summer! :-)
I can't imagine that Sprint would require your 22 month contract period to start in 04/2011 if you didn't sign your contract in 04/2011. That wouldn't be worth the trouble. Either people would pay the ETF and leave or wait until their contract was up and go to a different carrier.
Regardless, Everyone who came to Sprint for the Pre is in no worse a situation now then they were before this announcement. As a die-hard webOS fan I've already decided it's worth waiting for the Pre 3/touchpad combo which should launch very close to when I would qualify for the 22 month upgrade if it's based on when I originally signed on (june 2009). If that's not the case, we already know the Pre 3 and Touchpad are coming to Verizon around the time our original contract ends (june 2011) so we can just get the sign on deal with Verizon and not pay the early termination fee with Sprint because our contracts are up anyway.
For those of us who aren't ready to bail for a different OS now, this creates a little leverage to stay with Sprint just about long enough to wait for the new HP devices and a Sprint upgrade. If Sprint goes the route of starting the 22 month period in April of 2011, well you can't get the new webOS devices before your initial contract runs out in June of 2011 anyway so just wait it out and go to Verizon...
I just don't see how this changes the situation for launch day Pre holders all that much...
OK, I have confirmed multiple times that if you have an available upgrade BEFORE the change deadline you will not lose it. All that happens is when you DO upgrade, whatever status you fall under with determine how long you have to wait for your NEXT upgrade.
But in the end if I have been lied to then seeing as I am on the Sero plan then I just walk, I'm not in a contract and only have to sign one if I upgrade my phone, if they screw me out of the upgrade like they say they won't then I just go somewhere else.