upgrade fee....
can someone please educate me why when one of our existing customers want to go from their old GSM phn to a new GSM and sign a new 2 year agreement we charge them an $18 fee to show our thanks? the other company charges less for an activation on a new 2-year agreement so the kiosk down the hall tends to steal quite a few of these people.......maybe im just ignorant but i also heard the other company doesnt charge this fee to their customers and they also GIVE them a $100 credit of the price of a new phn( not the retail price either the 2-year contract pricing). im glad that at least 1/2 of our customers dont do any home work at all and they just think our practices are normal.....end
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you also have to remeber that cingular shows the 18 fee aside from price of phones other companies such as verizon include this fee alreade on price if the phone
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How do you figure that Verizon incorporates any kind of fee into the price of their phones when considering an upgrage? The prices are the same, if not better, for returning customers than new customers on upgrades. Verizon does NOT charge its customers a fee for upgrading their phone; that's just plain stupid.
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Customers hate this. That is why when we launched truth in wireless we started charging the upgrading customers the same price as we charge new customers. It has done wonders for our business and our customer's attitudes.
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At least in our market 2 year upgrades and 2 year new was the same handset pricing.
Oh and Verizon is $100 off the non-contract price, not an additional $100 off the already discounted price.
Again, at least in this market (Central Region)
Oh and Verizon is $100 off the non-contract price, not an additional $100 off the already discounted price.
Again, at least in this market (Central Region)
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i'd rather pay the 18 dollar upgrade fee than have to extend my contract every time i want to take advantage of a new plan like verizon makes you do.
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Why is that greed? It's simple supply and demand. Cingular's demanding it, and people are willing to supply it. If they weren't willing, Cingular would cease to have new activations and market pressures would force the activation fee down or out completely. There's no greed in there at all.
By the way, define greed.
By the way, define greed.
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Greed (gree'd)
1.To obtain money or vaulables that are not neccesarly needed for the sole purpose of selfishness and wanting to have more than anybody else.
2. See Cingular wireless. 🤣
1.To obtain money or vaulables that are not neccesarly needed for the sole purpose of selfishness and wanting to have more than anybody else.
2. See Cingular wireless. 🤣
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It's not just Cingular. try being an existing cust with T-Mobile, you won't get a free phone, it will be 19.99. Sprint as well. Verizon I don't know about, but those two for sure.
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Hello Moto said:
It's not just Cingular. try being an existing cust with T-Mobile, you won't get a free phone, it will be 19.99. Sprint as well. Verizon I don't know about, but those two for sure.
Don't forget the MIR, though, which brings the phones down to free...
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The thing that really sucks though, is that customers expect to get a phone for free on an upgrade a lot of the time. I had a little incident this morning involving a customer who was promised a year ago that when she upgraded her phone in a year that she would get a free phone (something that I never tell my customers - I tell them that they will get a discounted price on a phone and that in SOME cases that it may be enough for the phone to be free, esp. after rebates).
She was absolutely insistent that we should give her a free phone because and agent from down the road (who is no longer in business) promised her that she would get a free upgrade after a year. She didn't understand that he was a third party dealer, and I'm a third p...
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She was absolutely insistent that we should give her a free phone because and agent from down the road (who is no longer in business) promised her that she would get a free upgrade after a year. She didn't understand that he was a third party dealer, and I'm a third p...
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That sucks... i upgraded twice and got both 'free' phones that were listed on teh website for 19.99. blah...
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It's the same with anything. Nothing's free. Where I work, right now, you can buy a package of fully cooked hamburgers and a bag of lettuce and get a bunch of stuff free (hamburger buns, drink, chips, mayo, and 2 other items, I forget). Those items aren't free. The company's paying for them. Same for the cell phones. They're not free, someone somewhere is paying for them. And the upgrade/activation/processing/whatever fee is part of the costs.
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So, after the end of the month, if I have $1.00 left over, after everything's paid for, I'm greedy? I'd have money that wasn't neccesarly needed, since I ate and paid the bills that month. Do you give all of your extra money away? If not, then wouldn't you be considered greedy? And what's wrong with having more than anybody else? If I work 70 hours a week, I'll have more money than the person working 10 hours a week. If I keep that money, am I then greedy? So hard work equals greed, huh?
Sorry guy, you'll have to try again.
Sorry guy, you'll have to try again.
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you have to remember that when someone were to order a phone ovethe phone it would cost the customer 24.95 the only reason so many complaints right now is that cingular is so stiff for crdt
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With Verizon *cough* (were we not allowed to mention that), you do get $100 credit towards the purchase of a new phone when you previously signed a 2 year contract, and when your contract is up for renewal, you get the credit as long as you resign for another 2 years.
No they do not recharge activation fees. They are a one time fee. $20 for 2 years, and $35 for 1 year. Only when you sign up
No they do not recharge activation fees. They are a one time fee. $20 for 2 years, and $35 for 1 year. Only when you sign up
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$18.00 on a 2 year contract... so we have you spending 0.75 for every month of the contact while the company discounts the phone down by $100, tosses in a SIM upgrade and every opportunity to help a lcient during those two years?
Am I the only rep that gets customers actually stating the fee is more than worth the trade for our continued help?
Am I the only rep that gets customers actually stating the fee is more than worth the trade for our continued help?
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Copernicus said:
Am I the only rep that gets customers actually stating the fee is more than worth the trade for our continued help?
Yes, you are, and i'd LOVE to get your customers...
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This should be done at no cost to the customers. That is what the phone company owes its customers. Customer service like that should be provided at no cost.
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I've asked about this several times, and I was told that it covers the cost of activation for the new equipment. Apparently, that "OK" we click on the screen to send the OTA costs the company such-and-such dollars, and thats their way of recovering some of the costs.
Like I care, we're all working for the devil anyway, this company can burn in hell 🙄
Like I care, we're all working for the devil anyway, this company can burn in hell 🙄
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Yes, it's true that it's a way for icreased revenue...but it's consistent with the market. All national carriers charge a similar fee. Whatever the market will bear.
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Untrue....Most carriers DO NOT charge an upgrade "FEE"In fact just the opposite, the loyal customers gets a great deal on new equip and is not charged a fee hidden or otherwise.
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In my experience, you may want to double check with your provider...cingular is the only company I've found that's up front about the charge.
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RX240 said:
In my experience, you may want to double check with your provider...cingular is the only company I've found that's up front about the charge.
Well, T-Mobile I can say for a fact does not charge an upgrade fee. For qualifying customers, it's a "same as new customer" pricing, and in some cases, that means a FREE handset. Where is a hidden "upgrade fee" in a phone that costs $0.00 and $0.00 to ship (unless the cust is in a hurry and wants expedited shipping, then that's $15)
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LilShorty said:RX240 said:
In my experience, you may want to double check with your provider...cingular is the only company I've found that's up front about the charge.
Well, T-Mobile I can say for a fact does not charge an upgrade fee. For qualifying customers, it's a "same as new customer" pricing, and in some cases, that means a FREE handset. Where is a hidden "upgrade fee" in a phone that costs $0.00 and $0.00 to ship (unless the cust is in a hurry and wants expedited shipping, then that's $15)
Actually, back in the day, one of the upgrade forms did actually state that the price included an upgrade fee which was factored into the price of the phone and which we were...
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Aleq said:
Actually, back in the day, one of the upgrade forms did actually state that the price included an upgrade fee which was factored into the price of the phone and which we were not to mention to customers, so technically there is one, it's just that it's become so integrated into the pricing matrix that it might as well not exist...
Well, on the free phones, it really DOESN'T exist...at all. T-Mobile may have in the past charged an upgrade fee, but all indications are now that we don't.
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Ever notice that the "free" phones are always 19.99 with a 20.00 MIR? Ever wonder why? 😉
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Aleq said:
Ever notice that the "free" phones are always 19.99 with a 20.00 MIR? Ever wonder why? 😉
Ok, so we keep their money a little bit longer and make a little more interest on it...but it's still not a "fee". They get the money back. 😛
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Sure, and so do we--through the contract. That free phone will be anything from 39.99-99.99 without a contract, so we recoup the upgrade fee the same way we do the rest of the handset subsidy. Also, there will always be a percentage of customers who can't get it together to handle the MIR so on some of them we keep the twenty bucks as well. 😉
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do you give them the taxes back? probably not! do all customers send in the rebate? probably not! do all customers fill out the rebate form correctly? probably not!
moral of the story... the cellular industry as a whole, rapes its customers (and most rape employees even more). some more than others. you are on the cingular forum so that's why u only hear cingular horror stories. im sure if we went to the T-Mo forum we would here just as many gripes from customers as well as employees. one in particular is the terrible COVERAGE THAT T-Mo offers.
just my e-pinion. no response required.
moral of the story... the cellular industry as a whole, rapes its customers (and most rape employees even more). some more than others. you are on the cingular forum so that's why u only hear cingular horror stories. im sure if we went to the T-Mo forum we would here just as many gripes from customers as well as employees. one in particular is the terrible COVERAGE THAT T-Mo offers.
just my e-pinion. no response required.
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Hey, you're more than welcome to go on over and check us out, and I think you'll be disappointed to find that we're pretty much a sedate and cheerful bunch.
Oh, and where I live Cingular has nothing but old ATT coverage, it's a mess and a nightmare and your customers are bailing out like rats off a sinking ship due to the sillyass migration rules. TMo coverage, on the other hand, is quite nice, extensive and pretty much trouble free, so there you go... 🙄
Oh, and where I live Cingular has nothing but old ATT coverage, it's a mess and a nightmare and your customers are bailing out like rats off a sinking ship due to the sillyass migration rules. TMo coverage, on the other hand, is quite nice, extensive and pretty much trouble free, so there you go... 🙄
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I never got tired of listening to whiny children.Listen those phones are discounted, so where do you think that discount comes from, up cingular's butt, no those upgrade fees are how we as a company can afford to give discounts
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its great to hear some of these company H@rd-ons that are so anti-customer service. we are the only Major, National Cell company in the USA that charge a fee for customers to upgrade....other companies dont include this in the cost of new phones on upgrades. the other company gives free phones on upgrades. so where is the fee hidden if the phone is free???? I have yet to get that customer that THANKS me for them getting charged this fee as well. i only get dirty looks when i tell them this. maybe i need to relocate to that magical fairy land where people thank me for making their pocket book that much lighter.....
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cingsales9090 said:
maybe i need to relocate to that magical fairy land where people thank me for making their pocket book that much lighter.....
Perhaps a change of vocation is in order--hookers quite often get thanked for making wallets lighter! 😳
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Aleq said:cingsales9090 said:
maybe i need to relocate to that magical fairy land where people thank me for making their pocket book that much lighter.....
Perhaps a change of vocation is in order--hookers quite often get thanked for making wallets lighter! 😳
He could come work for me at Circuit City, home of broken dreams and wood trolls.
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We who work for cingular know as well as I do: upgrade fees, activation fees, regulatory cost recovery fees, and federal universal service charges suck...a lot. They suck really, really hard. But, it's our job to explain to customers why their getting charged for them. It's not an easy job...but at least we're not the people that get to tell mothers that their kids were killed in Iraq or something. If I had my way, bad news would never exist. 🙂
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stop whining and go work for nextel if you dont like it, and if you're a customer, go get service with sprint and we'll see you back in about a year...
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Good one i see u only mention the companies we have better service than.....
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well people who complain about a $9.00 a year charge would probably make the mistake in going to one of those companies and signing a new 2 year service with an even larger activation fee, and then realize that they are idiots and come back to cingular and pay another $36 dollar fee to resign, my hats off to you smart consumers.
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verizon $20 act fee on 2yr agreemant.
when customer wants to upgrade:
NO upgrade fee.
$100 credit towards any new phone they want.
Credit off already reduced 2-yr pricing.
Cingular $36 act fee on 2yr.
when customer wants to upgrade.
pays for phone. no credit towards new equipment.
$18 upgrade fee.
when customer wants to upgrade:
NO upgrade fee.
$100 credit towards any new phone they want.
Credit off already reduced 2-yr pricing.
Cingular $36 act fee on 2yr.
when customer wants to upgrade.
pays for phone. no credit towards new equipment.
$18 upgrade fee.
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why do you keep saying "no credit?" last time i checked cingular customers can upgrade and get the full discount price on any phone. In some cases giving them a $250 credit if not more, so if they want to complain about an $18 charge, they probably have 2 or 3 months left on there $29.99 contract and they can go sign up with verizon and pay $2 more dollars like you say and get super analog service.
WOOHOO
WOOHOO
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i can tell your a company man. by "credit" i mean additional discount on an already reduced price point. yes we do discount phones on upgrades....but imagine this.....rewarding those people who are up grading by reducing that reduced price by an extra $ 100 for signing a new 2-yr agreement just to say thanks. analog service? do u know anything about anyother carrier besides cingular? almost all verizons phone offerings dont have analog capabilities....wonder why that is? cause they work off of an almost all digital network just like our company.
in addition be a free thinker dont accept everything a company puts in front of u to be the best out there. i love cingular( believe it or not) but in the day in age where networks will be built o...
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in addition be a free thinker dont accept everything a company puts in front of u to be the best out there. i love cingular( believe it or not) but in the day in age where networks will be built o...
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TMo--35.00 activation fee, one year contract, full discount toward a new handset every 11 months, no upgrade fee.
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its so nice to see people back up the company they work for, theres no contract on your employment status, go work for Mcdonalds if you dont like it.
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s710aSE said:
its so nice to see people back up the company they work for, theres no contract on your employment status, go work for Mcdonalds if you dont like it.
Well THAT made sense... 😕
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Aleq said:s710aSE said:
its so nice to see people back up the company they work for, theres no contract on your employment status, go work for Mcdonalds if you dont like it.
Well THAT made sense... 😕
McDonald's DOES have good fries.
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And the only reason i mention these practices is because we want to be # 1 in customer service....that will never happen if all we think about is R@ping every loyal customer we have.....
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$18 upgrade fee covers some of the cost of providing equipment to customers.
Remember that Cingular is a wireless SERVICE provider not a Wireless PHONE provider. Nokia is the wireless PHONE provider.
As a courtesy (And other reasons) Cingular acts as a middle man with the manufactures and the customers to make it easier for customers to get a new phone. Cingular still has to pay retail price for the phones, Plus S&H most likely. Plus they have to keep stock on hand. Which means warehouses, and extra employess to handle that stock. Leases on the buildings, S&H to send the phones to the stores or customers.
There are so many extra costs for making it easier on the customer to get a phone.
Cingular charges $18 on a upgrade...
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Remember that Cingular is a wireless SERVICE provider not a Wireless PHONE provider. Nokia is the wireless PHONE provider.
As a courtesy (And other reasons) Cingular acts as a middle man with the manufactures and the customers to make it easier for customers to get a new phone. Cingular still has to pay retail price for the phones, Plus S&H most likely. Plus they have to keep stock on hand. Which means warehouses, and extra employess to handle that stock. Leases on the buildings, S&H to send the phones to the stores or customers.
There are so many extra costs for making it easier on the customer to get a phone.
Cingular charges $18 on a upgrade...
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according to csp we explain it like this 🙄 :
"I can understand your frustration on being charged a one-time fee of $18.00 for an upgrade, and I am sorry for your frustration. The reasons we charge this one-time fee for an upgrade are:
We substantially reduce the price of the phone for our existing customers who want to upgrade, compared to the original cost of the phone.
The fee covers the costs for marketing, sales, and operation expenses to process the upgrade.
We allow our customers to upgrade their phones even before their original contract date has expired; in some cases with as long as eight months left on their contract.
If we did not charge the upgrade fee, the cost of the phones would be higher.
The upgrade fee is ...
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"I can understand your frustration on being charged a one-time fee of $18.00 for an upgrade, and I am sorry for your frustration. The reasons we charge this one-time fee for an upgrade are:
We substantially reduce the price of the phone for our existing customers who want to upgrade, compared to the original cost of the phone.
The fee covers the costs for marketing, sales, and operation expenses to process the upgrade.
We allow our customers to upgrade their phones even before their original contract date has expired; in some cases with as long as eight months left on their contract.
If we did not charge the upgrade fee, the cost of the phones would be higher.
The upgrade fee is ...
(continues)
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