Sprint axes Premier program, no more annual upgrades for Gold customers

Major Payne · 09/15/2011, 03:39 PM

In 1 week, Sprint has basically transformed itself into Verizon. This doesn't even include the rumors that Sprint is going to axe their employee discounts to family plans (although single lines will still receive discounts just like AT&T and Verizon) and that they will introduce data throttling (a la T-mobile) this fall. If these are true, Sprint will end up being even worse than Verizon and AT&T....

Syndil · 09/15/2011, 03:48 PM

Still cheapest.

Orion Antares · 09/15/2011, 03:52 PM

US Cellular still allows yearly upgrades!

KevMeister · 09/16/2011, 01:22 AM

Detailed news here:

Sprint Canceling Premier Program; Is the iPhone 5 to Blame? [Sprint Rumored to Make More Changes That May be Explained by the Arrival of Apple

prolongexistence · 09/16/2011, 02:13 AM

So..... If I'm reading this correctly, Gold customers get screwed. They have to wait 20 months instead of 12 months. But, Silver customers get a bonus, they have to wait 20 months instead of 22 months.

Right?

j_grouchy · 09/16/2011, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prolongexistence

So..... If I'm reading this correctly, Gold customers get screwed. They have to wait 20 months instead of 12 months. But, Silver customers get a bonus, they have to wait 20 months instead of 22 months.

Right?

Yep.
Looks like you'll get to use your 12 month upgrade one more time before it's gone.

Shame...'cause we only got bumped up to gold last month.

DJeremyC · 11:21 AM

W T F ?!?

Anyone see a common trend in the world here. Everything involving Apple, Apple touches, becomes over-priced and over-rated. EX: $1500-$3000 for a MacBook - are you serious?!?

Sprint gets iPhone - no annual upgrade, no premier rewards, no discounts, and failry soon no unlimited data (they didnt want to spring too much on ya now) as soon as the cult jumps on board.

HOLY CR@P!!!

11years with Sprint just went down the crapple!
Thats 2 kicks in the nuts now...first HP Palm, now Sprint

cjstealth · 09/16/2011, 12:50 PM

I just logged onto my account and clicked on the Premier Program link and it is confirmed. Check it out yourself. This sucks!

GTAFan9999 · 09/16/2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJeremyC

W T F ?!?

Anyone see a common trend in the world here. Everything involving Apple, Apple touches, becomes over-priced and over-rated. EX: $1500-$3000 for a MacBook - are you serious?!?

Sprint gets iPhone - no annual upgrade, no premier rewards, no discounts, and failry soon no unlimited data (they didnt want to spring too much on ya now) as soon as the cult jumps on board.

HOLY CR@P!!!

11years with Sprint just went down the crapple!
Thats 2 kicks in the nuts now...first HP Palm, now Sprint

And this is exactly why I didn't want the iphone on sprint. There was no problem with internet data with Android, BB, and webOS. iOS needs to die down before they deplete all of the world's resources.

angiest · 09/19/2011, 12:38 PM

Premier didn't do me much good, but the fact that Apple essentially gets to dictate TOS to non-Apple customers by their very existence just sucks.

Syndil · 09/19/2011, 06:56 PM

I think blaming this on Apple is a stretch.

barrysanders20 · 09/19/2011, 08:48 PM

In 2004 - 2006, Sprint had a downturn in service. This was mainly due to the Nextel merger. They only responded was users started leaving. They turned things around. Now they are eroding any gains they've made.

spudland · 09/19/2011, 09:44 PM

Glad I locked in unlimited data with Verizon the day before the option went away. Just upgraded to Droid Bionic last week and after a week I must say I miss cards...but that's about it! This phone has a much steeper learning curve than my Pre- had, but once you learn how it works it's pretty awesome.

j_grouchy · 09/20/2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndil

I think blaming this on Apple is a stretch.

I don't blame Apple...I blame the fanaticism that Apple seems to inspire. Like it or not, iPhone attracts people who had never before considered really buying into smartphones. Verizon getting it didn't see the huge influx that folks expected...and I suspect that Sprint will see an even smaller bump. There are only so many iPhone users out there...and plenty who are invested in Android through brand/platform loyalty and the amount of money they've put into buying apps. If anything, I figure the iPhone will bring over a good portion of the webOS hold-outs...the ones left waiting for new HP hardware. Them and the folks who were fence-sitters in the smart v. dumb phone decision.

davidra · 10/03/2011, 11:47 AM

OK....so seeing as I've been on Sprint forever, and I wouldn't mind moving to Verizon given these changes as their network is better, can someone summarize the differences between Sprint and Verizon plans for a single user? Does Verizon have an unlimited call/text to any carrier plan? What are other differences, for those that have switched....

angiest · 10/03/2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidra

OK....so seeing as I've been on Sprint forever, and I wouldn't mind moving to Verizon given these changes as their network is better, can someone summarize the differences between Sprint and Verizon plans for a single user? Does Verizon have an unlimited call/text to any carrier plan? What are other differences, for those that have switched....

You can get unlimited text, IIRC they don't offer an unlimitted calling plan (but I may be mistaken). If you don't wish to care about your data usage then Sprint still has that advantage, for the time being.

When I thought I was going to move to VZW for the Pre 3, I went through this exercise several times. It always wound up giving me less than I have on Sprint but I found ways to make it acceptable.

But, it is nice not having to worry about my monthly usage.

j_grouchy · 10/03/2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidra

OK....so seeing as I've been on Sprint forever, and I wouldn't mind moving to Verizon given these changes as their network is better, can someone summarize the differences between Sprint and Verizon plans for a single user? Does Verizon have an unlimited call/text to any carrier plan? What are other differences, for those that have switched....

several months back i did a side-by-side comparison, trying to find a verizon plan as close to what i am getting with my unlimited data family plan with 2 phones. i think the monthly price on verizon came in roughly around 40 bucks more.

link to my post about it: http://forums.precentral.net/cdma-no...ml#post2891464

Granted, Verizon has made some changes since that time...

sinsin07 · 10/03/2011, 05:00 PM

WSJ: Sprint places $20 billion order for next iPhone, hinges company future on Apple's handset?

ikirumata · 10/07/2011, 03:24 PM

So, I decided to upgrade my wife's phone on sprint. We have a $150 upgrade bonus as we are Silver members. Here are my results:

Without the Silver Member discount

iPhone 4S 16GB Preorder
Color:
Regular price
$649.99
2-yr Agreement

Instant Savings
- $450.00

Your price:
$199.99

----------------------------------------------------

WITH Silver Premier Dicount

iPhone 4S 16GB Preorder
Color:
Regular price
$649.99
2-yr Agreement

Upgrade Discount
- $150.00

Instant Savings
- $300.00

Your price:
$199.99

so...the whole Premier program is a scam anyway. Good riddenz!

OldSkoolVWLover · 10/08/2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidra

OK....so seeing as I've been on Sprint forever, and I wouldn't mind moving to Verizon given these changes as their network is better, can someone summarize the differences between Sprint and Verizon plans for a single user? Does Verizon have an unlimited call/text to any carrier plan? What are other differences, for those that have switched....

Not VZW, but ATT you can get unlimited text and calling any mobile to any mobile. If you aren't one that is super anti ATT, you might want to look into plan prices.

When the wife and I priced out all of the big 3 carriers to our usage, they were all within the 170 range, with the potential to slice off 20 or more on ATT after we bank some rollover minutes to make sure we don't have to watch our minutes to closely (going to go to a cheaper per month plan and drop any mobile to any mobile, will still get ATT to ATT which is where most of our minutes will be used any ways).

With all the unlocked webOS phones out there it has been great for us. For less than anything we would have gotten from Sprint we have 2 Veers and 2 Pre2's, with the option to pick up Pre3's if we want to drop the money.

Very happy with life on GSM, was a Sprint customer for a decade, the $10 per line charge bumped them up to the level where ATT and VZW could compete... Now reading this 3 months after leaving Sprint, even happier we did. Data on ATT has been much faster too.

09/15/2011, 03:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
Major Payne Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 970 Likes Received: 58 Thanks: 223 Thanked 115 Times in 88 Posts	Sprint axes Premier program, no more annual upgrades for Gold customers In 1 week, Sprint has basically transformed itself into Verizon. This doesn't even include the rumors that Sprint is going to axe their employee discounts to family plans (although single lines will still receive discounts just like AT&T and Verizon) and that they will introduce data throttling (a la T-mobile) this fall. If these are true, Sprint will end up being even worse than Verizon and AT&T.... __________________ In a world of droid, Pre does it better. Shouldn't we treat this world like the Garden of Eden and avoid the apple at all costs?
	Liked by

09/15/2011, 03:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Syndil Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Jeffersonville, IN Posts: 1,393 Likes Received: 86 Thanks: 47 Thanked 242 Times in 161 Posts	Still cheapest. __________________ Touchscreens are a fad.
	Liked by

09/15/2011, 03:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Orion Antares Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Alaska Posts: 1,617 Likes Received: 105 Thanks: 67 Thanked 304 Times in 227 Posts	US Cellular still allows yearly upgrades! __________________ Sign up for SugerSync Get and Give 500MB of extra space Sign up for DropBox Get and Give 250MB of extra space Sign up for Memopal Get and Give 500MB of extra space GoAruna is a cloud service with a webOS app maintained by the company and referral bonuses
	Liked by

09/16/2011, 01:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
KevMeister Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sunnyvale, CA Posts: 1,713 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 86 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Detailed news here: Sprint Canceling Premier Program; Is the iPhone 5 to Blame? [Sprint Rumored to Make More Changes That May be Explained by the Arrival of Apple
	Liked by

09/16/2011, 02:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
prolongexistence Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: NJ, US Posts: 356 Likes Received: 2 Thanks: 16 Thanked 38 Times in 32 Posts	So..... If I'm reading this correctly, Gold customers get screwed. They have to wait 20 months instead of 12 months. But, Silver customers get a bonus, they have to wait 20 months instead of 22 months. Right? __________________ Mine-Sprint Motorola Admiral Sprint Pre, 1.4.5 overclocked with F102A Delta Dagger - retired 12-18-11 Wife's- Sprint Pre, 1.4.5 overclocked with F102A Delta Dagger R.I.P. - My Launch day Pre - 06-06-09--04-18-11 Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. -Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of The US (1809 - 1865) Never trust a computer (or phone) named after a fruit.
	Liked by

09/16/2011, 11:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
DJeremyC Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: TX Posts: 759 Likes Received: 17 Thanks: 486 Thanked 157 Times in 126 Posts	W T F ?!? Anyone see a common trend in the world here. Everything involving Apple, Apple touches, becomes over-priced and over-rated. EX: $1500-$3000 for a MacBook - are you serious?!? Sprint gets iPhone - no annual upgrade, no premier rewards, no discounts, and failry soon no unlimited data (they didnt want to spring too much on ya now) as soon as the cult jumps on board. HOLY CR@P!!! 11years with Sprint just went down the crapple! Thats 2 kicks in the nuts now...first HP Palm, now Sprint __________________ Nokia (red phone) --> Denso TouchPoint TP2200 --> Samsung SPH-N400 --> (Palm VII) --> Sanyo 5150 --> Palm Treo 650 --> Palm Pre --> Sprint FrankenPre 2 --> (HP TouchPad) Last edited by DJeremyC; 09/16/2011 at 11:21 AM.
	Liked by

09/16/2011, 12:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
cjstealth Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chesterfield, VA Posts: 36 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 21 Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts	I just logged onto my account and clicked on the Premier Program link and it is confirmed. Check it out yourself. This sucks!
	Liked by

09/19/2011, 12:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
angiest Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 933 Likes Received: 27 Thanks: 152 Thanked 88 Times in 70 Posts	Premier didn't do me much good, but the fact that Apple essentially gets to dictate TOS to non-Apple customers by their very existence just sucks.
	Liked by

09/19/2011, 06:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
Syndil Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Jeffersonville, IN Posts: 1,393 Likes Received: 86 Thanks: 47 Thanked 242 Times in 161 Posts	I think blaming this on Apple is a stretch. __________________ Touchscreens are a fad.
	Liked by

09/19/2011, 08:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
barrysanders20 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 519 Likes Received: 34 Thanks: 0 Thanked 52 Times in 36 Posts	In 2004 - 2006, Sprint had a downturn in service. This was mainly due to the Nextel merger. They only responded was users started leaving. They turned things around. Now they are eroding any gains they've made.
	Liked by

09/19/2011, 09:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
spudland Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 814 Likes Received: 11 Thanks: 595 Thanked 141 Times in 107 Posts	Glad I locked in unlimited data with Verizon the day before the option went away. Just upgraded to Droid Bionic last week and after a week I must say I miss cards...but that's about it! This phone has a much steeper learning curve than my Pre- had, but once you learn how it works it's pretty awesome. __________________ If "If's" and "But's" were candy and nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas!
	Liked by

10/03/2011, 11:47 AM	#15 (permalink)
davidra Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,020 Likes Received: 12 Thanks: 814 Thanked 353 Times in 273 Posts	OK....so seeing as I've been on Sprint forever, and I wouldn't mind moving to Verizon given these changes as their network is better, can someone summarize the differences between Sprint and Verizon plans for a single user? Does Verizon have an unlimited call/text to any carrier plan? What are other differences, for those that have switched....
	Liked by

10/03/2011, 05:00 PM	#18 (permalink)
sinsin07 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,057 Likes Received: 73 Thanks: 331 Thanked 113 Times in 82 Posts	I guess this is the new poster boy P\|C members will be trashing. WSJ: Sprint places $20 billion order for next iPhone, hinges company future on Apple's handset?
	Liked by

10/07/2011, 03:24 PM	#19 (permalink)
ikirumata Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 32 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 2 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	So, I decided to upgrade my wife's phone on sprint. We have a $150 upgrade bonus as we are Silver members. Here are my results: Without the Silver Member discount iPhone 4S 16GB Preorder Color: Regular price $649.99 2-yr Agreement Instant Savings - $450.00 Your price: $199.99 ---------------------------------------------------- WITH Silver Premier Dicount iPhone 4S 16GB Preorder Color: Regular price $649.99 2-yr Agreement Upgrade Discount - $150.00 Instant Savings - $300.00 Your price: $199.99 so...the whole Premier program is a scam anyway. Good riddenz!
	Liked by

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode