FYI - Don't always believe everything Sprint tells you.

[unwallflower]

This isn't meant to be a Sprint-bash thread, I just wanted to warn everyone (because I know there are other people who did/are going to use the upgrade from someone else's line to get the Evo on their own line).

I wanted to use the upgrade for a different line to put the Evo on my line. I knew this voids the rebate (if you buy straight from Sprint), so I got on Sprint chat last Wednesday to see if there was any way they could override that. The man that helped me said no problem, he would just put a note in my account to have the person that activated my phone manually apply the rebate (basically just give me a $100 credit on my account).

Well, I got to the store on Friday and the employee told me he couldn't do that. I bought the phone anyway thinking that since they told me they would give me a credit they would have to honor it if I called in.

Yesterday I called Sprint customer service to talk to them about it. The first person told me that they don't give any credit for the Evo. I asked to speak to her supervisor, and he told me the same thing. They all said they could see the note in the account that said to give me a credit, but "we don't do that." Asked to speak to his manager... same thing! He said "yes, I see the note here, but we don't do that. You should have never been told that. Sorry, but there's nothing we can do." REALLY, Sprint? Sorry, it's not MY problem that you don't train your representitives, that's YOUR problem. You can't just tell someone one thing and then say "oh, just kidding!"

I eventually hung up on them... and someone new called me back and apologized and said they would give me the credit. It's like they were trying to bully me into giving in. It took almost an hour and a half of fighting on the phone!

Anyway, all turned out fine, obviously... just an FYI to everyone. Sprint is great, but they have consistency issues between employees. This isn't the first time I've been told one thing only to be told later that they "don't do that."

 

[RiverOfIce]

Just want to be clear here, you tried to play the middle and got caught? I used to do that all the time,when I was 7 years old. Mom, dad said I could... Sprint chat is still horrible. But you knew it was impossible, but tried to play chat off from store and then off from phone. And got upset when they called you on it? Why not just call one person or ask them in store?
This is the classic demanding something for nothing.

 

[Mastermind]

So, we shouldn't trust Sprint when we already know that there's something they can't do even though one of their employees says otherwise when we try to pursue our impossible goal?

 

[unwallflower]

No, that wasn't it at all. I figured talking to someone on Sprint chat would be the same as going into the store or calling customer service. I thought they were all Sprint employees and would have the same information. Guess I was wrong. I had no idea sprint chat was "horrible."

It's not that I tried to play anyone. I could have very well gone to best buy and bought the phone for $199 up front, without a rebate. I just wanted to make sure that I was 100% clear with Sprint's rebate policy before I did that, because the nearest Best Buy is pretty far from my work (whereas there are 3 Sprint stores within 5 blocks). It was purely a convenience thing. When I got on Sprint chat it was more of a "This is what I want to do. This is how I understand your policy. Am I correct?" He offered up the solution. At no time did I EVER say, "How can I get around your policy?"

I was totally prepared to go to Best Buy to buy the phone if he told me I was correct about their mail in rebate policy (that I would void the rebate if I switched the phone). HE offered the solution. It didn't seem to me like it was playing anyone... it seemed to me that Sprint was trying to give great customer service.

 

[unwallflower]

So, we shouldn't trust Sprint when we already know that there's something they can't do even though one of their employees says otherwise when we try to pursue our impossible goal?

I'm not sure why everyone on this forum is so high and mighty.

I didn't know they absolutely 100% could not work around this policy. It wasn't an "impossible goal"... I could have waltzed into a Best Buy or Radio Shack and bought the phone for $199, it's not like I was trying to do something illegal. I figured maybe they had a little bit of leeway because of this price difference from Best Buy and Radio Shack.

 

[unwallflower]

Why not just call one person or ask them in store?

The store has done the same thing to me before.

Before I ever knew about the mail in rebate policy, I went into the store to get rid of a phone I hated and buy a new one. I was going to pay full price because I wasn't due for an upgrade. While the employee was ringing me up, I said something about it being a bummer I wasn't due for an upgrade, but I just couldn't deal with my current phone any longer. I was just trying to make conversation.

The employee said, no problem, he would just open up a new line on the account, use that upgrade, and transfer it to my line. He said that he "does it all the time."

Well, he did it and the mail in rebate was denied. Obviously. It was really the employee's place to know that I can't transfer the phone without voiding the rebate. I had no idea at that point.

And yes, that was IN STORE. In a corporate store.

 

[MsRandall]

Been with Sprint years...never go to the store to do upgrades...especially if you are using anothers line upgrade...why not go to BB or RS??? Instant rebate and the reps will even switch device to the line you want...I used my airaves upgrade for my husbands evo...I was done in 20 minutes.

 

[unwallflower]

Been with Sprint years...never go to the store to do upgrades...especially if you are using anothers line upgrade...why not go to BB or RS??? Instant rebate and the reps will even switch device to the line you want...I used my airaves upgrade for my husbands evo...I was done in 20 minutes.

Next time this is definitely what I will do.

This time it was a convenience thing. I was prepared to go to Best Buy, but if I could get the same price at the store which was much closer... why not? Now I know why not, lol.

 

[alan2nice]

I have done an upgrade through sprint.com then activated the phone on another line and still got the rebate. I have a family plan though so maybe that is why. I also activated the new phone over the phone with someone in account services because the normal rep couldn't get my phone to activate. The person in account services informed me I need to put the number of the line the phone is being used on not the line that was eligible for the upgrade when I fill out the rebate.

Edit: Im curious what line number did you put on the rebate unwallflower?

 

[seretogis]

...

 

[Deleted User]

Lesson here is if you are using an upgrade from another line, do it at best buy or RS where the rebate is instant otherwise you are only looking for issues. Plain and simple. Stick to that, and you won't run into issues like this.

 

[jcthorne]

Years ago when we applied a corporate discount from my wife's company, the primary and secondary lines got switched. Ever since, our upgrades have been out os sync. IE I use the the upgrade due on her line and activate on mine. She does the same. This has been going on for years and quite a number of rebates. Sometimes they are denied but a quick phone call clears it up. Usually the rebate is processed normally.

We did the same on Friday with the EVO. Used the upgrade from the wife's line and activated my EVO. Sent in the rebate form. Sprint store saw no problem with it. Same as has been done many times. The upgrade and the activation are on the same account. Its the same contract that gets extended so why should it even matter? This time I finally gave up my Free and Clear plan for an everything data plan at a $30 a month increase so sprint should be happy. If they deny the promised rebate, they might get the EVO back along with the new contract.....at least thats the thought. I'll get the rebate, not really worried.

 

[Deleted User]

We did the same on Friday with the EVO. Used the upgrade from the wife's line and activated my EVO. Sent in the rebate form. Sprint store saw no problem with it. Same as has been done many times. The upgrade and the activation are on the same account. Its the same contract that gets extended so why should it even matter? This time I finally gave up my Free and Clear plan for an everything data plan at a $30 a month increase so sprint should be happy. If they deny the promised rebate, they might get the EVO back along with the new contract.....at least thats the thought. I'll get the rebate, not really worried.

Because the fine print on the rebate says the phone has to be activated on the line for 30-days. I tried it once and read the fine print a different way and when it got denied I fought it and did end up getting my rebate, but it was a hassle and time on my part. For me, I'll just save the frustration by purchasing at a 3rd party that does instant rebates if I do swapping like that again. Then I don't have to question whether I'm going to get the rebate.

 

[KING!!!]

Actually had the almost same thing happen to me. Only difference is the supervisor I spoke with actually put the credit on . I checked on Wednesday and that Friday am when I purchased .
Sprint cs has always bee suspect @ best. sometimes it's the luck of the draw

 

[Oridus]

This isn't meant to be a Sprint-bash thread, I just wanted to warn everyone (because I know there are other people who did/are going to use the upgrade from someone else's line to get the Evo on their own line).

I wanted to use the upgrade for a different line to put the Evo on my line. I knew this voids the rebate (if you buy straight from Sprint), so I got on Sprint chat last Wednesday to see if there was any way they could override that. The man that helped me said no problem, he would just put a note in my account to have the person that activated my phone manually apply the rebate (basically just give me a $100 credit on my account).

Well, I got to the store on Friday and the employee told me he couldn't do that. I bought the phone anyway thinking that since they told me they would give me a credit they would have to honor it if I called in.

Yesterday I called Sprint customer service to talk to them about it. The first person told me that they don't give any credit for the Evo. I asked to speak to her supervisor, and he told me the same thing. They all said they could see the note in the account that said to give me a credit, but "we don't do that." Asked to speak to his manager... same thing! He said "yes, I see the note here, but we don't do that. You should have never been told that. Sorry, but there's nothing we can do." REALLY, Sprint? Sorry, it's not MY problem that you don't train your representitives, that's YOUR problem. You can't just tell someone one thing and then say "oh, just kidding!"

I eventually hung up on them... and someone new called me back and apologized and said they would give me the credit. It's like they were trying to bully me into giving in. It took almost an hour and a half of fighting on the phone!

Anyway, all turned out fine, obviously... just an FYI to everyone. Sprint is great, but they have consistency issues between employees. This isn't the first time I've been told one thing only to be told later that they "don't do that."

Trying to cheat the system only nets results sometimes.

Sent from my HTC Evo 4G using Tapatalk.

 

[unwallflower]

Trying to cheat the system only nets results sometimes.

Sent from my HTC Evo 4G using Tapatalk.

I'm really not sure at ALL why you guys think I was trying to cheat the system. I could have bought the phone at best buy for $199 and switched it onto another line. I was even told this by the Sprint rep I talked to about applying the rebate after I had already bought the phone. They don't view it as cheating.

I signed onto Sprint chat and said "I understand your mail in rebate works like this. Am I correct? I just want to make sure before I drive much further to buy this phone, rather than walk two blocks down the street." Sprint rep said "Actually, we can manually apply the rebate. I'll put a note in your account."

What about that is cheating?

I learned my lesson and now I REALLY understand how their rebate system works. From now on I will be upgrading at Best Buy. I just have spent a lot of time at the Sprint store a couple of blocks from my work and the employees know me well, so it made sense to me to upgrade there IF it was possible. I was told it was, so that's what I did. I'm not sure what part of that is "cheating" or being sneaky.

 

[Deleted User]

Trying to cheat the system only nets results sometimes.

Sent from my HTC Evo 4G using Tapatalk.

The OP wasnt really cheating the system, they just did something that would invalidate the mail-in rebate.

 

[Oridus]

The OP wasnt really cheating the system, they just did something that would invalidate the mail-in rebate.

Right, and by invalidating the MIR and then getting Sprint to give him a $100 pity credit is cheating the system IMO.

Granted, he got it to work and grats for him, but still cheating the system.

P.S. I'm not trying to bash him or anything like that. My definition of "cheating the system", is getting something out of the normal way. Like I said, grats to him.

The normal way of getting the MIR is just that, mailing it in.

Best Buy forgoes the rebate on your side by doing the rebates themselves.

This gent got a $100 credit on his account in place of sending a MIR. This is not using the intended system or process, therefor has just cheated it.

 

[unwallflower]

Right, and by invalidating the MIR and then getting Sprint to give him a $100 pity credit is cheating the system IMO.

Granted, he got it to work and grats for him, but still cheating the system.

P.S. I'm not trying to bash him or anything like that. My definition of "cheating the system", is getting something out of the normal way. Like I said, grats to him.

The normal way of getting the MIR is just that, mailing it in.

Best Buy forgoes the rebate on your side by doing the rebates themselves.

This gent got a $100 credit on his account in place of sending a MIR. This is not using the intended system or process, therefor has just cheated it.

Lady, not a gent

I see where you're coming from. Like I said, though... I didn't ASK for them to give me a credit. They said they could without any prompting from me. Had the guy originally said "no, sorry, you would void the mail in rebate and there is nothing I can do about that," I would have gone merrily on my way to Best Buy.

I understand that I didn't follow the typical rules... but I only did that because I was told - without any negotiating from me - that they could easily do this. All I did was ask them to honor what they told me they could do. I don't see that as cheating... I see that as asking them to the RIGHT thing on their end. I understand they aren't supposed to do it. I will never, ever try to do it again because now I know better. I truly didn't know before, I was just going off of what the employee told me. I don't feel like asking them to honor their word is cheating at all... in fact, it seems that if they had told me I would receive a credit on my account (and I did have proof he said that in the account notes), and then DIDN'T give me that credit, it would have been THEM cheating ME.

I truly didn't want this to seem like I was bashing Sprint. I have been a customer of theirs for a very long time and I am very happy with them despite the several customer service hiccups I have had. I meant for this to be a PSA for people because I didn't want anyone to end up in the same situation I was.

 

[muncher]

hey OP, ignore these haters. Same crap happened to me with sprint on a couple of different occasions. One rep promises you something and then no one else seems to want to honor it.