AT&T is just not trying when it comes to keeping customers

[iMikeT]

Way to rant and go off-topic in your own thread, BTW.

I didn't start it. Someone else cried free market first and I simply replied. But it's cool.

Right wing and fascist? Are you sure. That's almost dividing by zero.

Fascism is a far left ideology. Anarchy is a far right ideology.

And ATT just saved me about $30 a month with their new share plan, so I like them just fine right now.

Fascism/totalitarianism/dictatorships are political leanings of the right. Progressivism/true socialism are political leanings of the left. The stuff they taught you in school about fascism and socialism being one in the same back in grade school wasn't entirely true. It might do you well to relearn these things so you know what you're talking about in the future.

The shared plan doesn't work for all people but if it works for you, great.

You might want to take a look at a poli-sci book, I'm pretty sure you have those reversed.

Oh you know that's not possible, the lords don't want the serfs to be educated. The lords need an obedient, unquestioning, and ignorant workforce.

To the OP, I don't know why you would expect anything though. We were customers for 5 years and I don't expect a discounted service, ect.

I don't see how you were mistreated and why you deserve special treatment

AT&T changing their service in the middle of the agreed upon contract between their customers and themselves without the customer's consent and writing that into their contract and saying "tough s***" when the customer is unhappy is mistreatment.

Do you think it's right when AT&T changes their service by doing away with less expensive SMS/MMS plans and forcing customers to more expensive unlimited plans or throttling 3G data to near unusable speeds?

 

[Applejuiced]

Yep, seems like they try to piss off their longtime customers.
Those with unlimited plans that have been around supporting them for years since the original iphone came out.
Not cool IMO.

 

[irDigital0l]

AT&T is clearly trying to win the 'how can we piss off our customers the most' contest.

 

[Want300]

do they give coupons for completely free items with no further purchase? I think not.....

They give you a coupon bc you go in and spend more money

One time I went to the local grocery store to buy strawberries for a pie my girlfriend wanted to make. I bought them... and then the cashier handed me a 24 pack of bottled water with my bag. Apparently there was a coupon for it... I didn't have it. I asked him what the deal was with the water (so he instantly knew I had no idea about the coupon)... I got free bottled water.

That's pretty much where the lords want the rest of us. They want us to be mindless and obedient serfs to bend at their very will. It's all fine and dandy for them.

What's even more sad is that so many people are foolish enough to fall for that garbage.

I get your point... but I have AT&T for personal and Sprint for work... I hate sprints service. It is horrible. I have unlimited internet on my work phone... yet I never use it.

My problem, is that any other carrier that actually has LTE is more expensive because the company I used to work for got me a FAN discount. So my plan is still cheaper than VZW and Sprint (which I will never have for personal use) by a huge margin.

Also, 6 months of free texting is $120... Thats not bad when you think about it. Assuming you are paying for texting now.

Yep, seems like they try to piss off their longtime customers.
Those with unlimited plans that have been around supporting them for years since the original iphone came out.
Not cool IMO.

I just think the prices are OUTRAGEOUS... and they are getting worse. I pay $82 per month after taxes and fees for 450 minutes, unlimited texting, 2 GB Data. A similar plan with VZW will be at like $90 - $100 before taxes and fees. So $20 to $30 more a month.

I have thought about taking my phone bill to Verizon and saying if you can beat/match this monthly price without me sacrificing any features, I will port my number today.

AT&T gave me a $50 credit the other day when I mentioned looking at my options when the new iPhone comes out.

 

[Vegastouch]

I have been an AT&T customer for the past 10 years, since the Cingular days. My contract for my iPhone 4 is officially up tomorrow. I just got off the phone with AT&T to ask what they are going to do to keep me as a customer and everyone I spoke to just didn't try.

I mentioned over and over that my biggest disappointment was in regards to the "unlimited" data plan that I am currently on and two of the reps I spoke to put me on hold to verify this with their supervisor. Seriously, how can anyone working for them not know about this? I was then told that I could switch to a tiered plan at full speed..... yeah right.

After being passed around from rep to rep, the best offer I received was 6 months of free unlimited texting, that's it. Anything else was just a sales pitch for something I didn't want or need.

An experience like mine is why AT&T is going to lose customers like me when the next iPhone is released.

What do you want them to do? I can see them maybe giving you a better deal than usual on a new phone, maybe give you a little break on data price, but really, what do ou want from them?

Seems like you expect something unrealistic by asking that ridiculous question. Maybe it is the way you came off that made them not willing to deal with you.

I called DirecTV and said i knew they were giving NFL Season Ticket to new customers for FREE( and i have never had it) so i asked how much it was going for now for existing customers. I knew it was $199 but after i said that was still too high, i was HOPING she would offer it to me for $99. I didnt call and say " hey , ive been with you for many years, what are you going to do for me"?

I may call again and try another rep as some are more willing but if not, im ok. They are still a better bargain than Cox Cable.

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

Here's what you do, go check Sprint, Verizon, and compare them to ATT in terms of service vs. cost. If one gives you more for you money, switch. How difficult is it? My guess is you don't want to lose your unlimited data and that's what's causing you to get frustrated with ATT because they won't reward you. They want you to go, lose your unlimited data, and then come back when you see how horrid Sprint coverage is. They aren't stupid, they realize people are holding on the their unlimited plans for dear life.

I recently called AT&T and voiced my displeasure with the cost of my Uverse service when new subscribers were getting the same service I had for $60 less a month. I asked the CS rep if your willing to give new subscribers that price, how about throwing some appreciation to someone who's been with you for 3 yrs (using Uverse). He dropped my bill down the $60/month as was extremely nice. It's all in how you ask and how compelling you can be. Having the right attitude and being pleasant does more than calling like some spoiled entitled brat. "Hi my names Mike and I've been with you for 10yrs and I'm special so what are you going to do to keep my awesome self as your customer?" I don't call companies and demand they give me something special or else. They've been giving you a product, you weren't just giving away your money and getting nothing in return.

 

[Applejuiced]

I just think the prices are OUTRAGEOUS... and they are getting worse. I pay $82 per month after taxes and fees for 450 minutes, unlimited texting, 2 GB Data. A similar plan with VZW will be at like $90 - $100 before taxes and fees. So $20 to $30 more a month.

I have thought about taking my phone bill to Verizon and saying if you can beat/match this monthly price without me sacrificing any features, I will port my number today.

AT&T gave me a $50 credit the other day when I mentioned looking at my options when the new iPhone comes out.

I agree, the prices are up there.
I also get a FAN discount with AT&T and if I didnt I'd be spending way more per month.
$100 per month for an iphone with minutes, text and 2GB of data in todays economy is a luxury to most.
You can try bringing up the amount you pay now to VZW but I doubt they will match it and let you keep paying that price.
Maybe give you a 6 month promotion for so much of your regural bill but I dont even think they will do that. They will tell you these are our plans, if you want to switch to our great, superior, Godly network that's how much it is

 

[Want300]

I agree, the prices are up there.
I also get a FAN discount with AT&T and if I didnt I'd be spending way more per month.
$100 per month for an iphone with minutes, text and 2GB of data in todays economy is a luxury to most.
You can try bringing up the amount you pay now to VZW but I doubt they will match it and let you keep paying that price.
Maybe give you a 6 month promotion for so much of your regural bill but I dont even think they will do that. They will tell you these are our plans, if you want to switch to our great, superior, Godly network that's how much it is

AT&T has LTE in my area, and pretty strong coverage. So I am not gonna pay more to switch. So it will be they do it, or I don't sign. Simple. They probably won't, but it does not hurt to try.

 

[Applejuiced]

AT&T has LTE in my area, and pretty strong coverage. So I am not gonna pay more to switch. So it will be they do it, or I don't sign. Simple. They probably won't, but it does not hurt to try.

True.
If everything goes well and the next iphone is LTE and I get to keep my unlimited with an LTE iphone and bump my 3GB softcap to 5GB with even faster speeds I dont see a reason to switch.
And with my FAN discount Im staying unless Tmobile kicks up their 3G to be compatible with the iphone and then hooks it up with those $40 or $50 unlimited all plans.

 

[cableguy619]

I won't because Sprint's speed is the same, throttled or not!

lol yes dirt slow!!! I cannot wait to leave them.. I have been so frustrated thi spast yr. only left so My kids could have unlimited data...

For them it works, I actually stoppe dusing my phone about 4 months ago. Sits right next to me as a paper weight.

 

[iMikeT]

Also, 6 months of free texting is $120... Thats not bad when you think about it. Assuming you are paying for texting now

You're right, it's not bad until the end of the six months, assuming that I stay with AT&T. At which point, I'd be forced to keep the unwanted/unneeded unlimited SMS/MMS plan because they "no longer offer a tiered plan (at the moment)".

Currently, I'm paying for a less expensive tiered SMS/MMS plan after being grandfathered into it. The reason why I kept this plan is because when I found out about iMessage in iOS 5 I realized that I wouldn't have the need for a carrier's unlimited texting plan. And since most of the people I text with have iPhones with iOS 5, texting is free. In the occasion that I need to text outside of iMessage, my less expensive tiered plan is there for me.

On top of that, there are free texting apps in the App Store. The ones that I use generate a real phone number that I give to heavy texters or girls that I have no intention of pursuing a serious relationship with.

 

[Ceviche Lover]

Here's what you do, go check Sprint, Verizon, and compare them to ATT in terms of service vs. cost. If one gives you more for you money, switch. How difficult is it? My guess is you don't want to lose your unlimited data and that's what's causing you to get frustrated with ATT because they won't reward you. They want you to go, lose your unlimited data, and then come back when you see how horrid Sprint coverage is. They aren't stupid, they realize people are holding on the their unlimited plans for dear life.

Right on the money. OP I DARE you to go to Sprint. I guarantee you would come crawling back to a tiered data plan on ATT. You want to know how they can offer unlimited data and low price? Cuz their network is garbage. That's why I laugh when I see people saying they're going to Sprint. I routinely get anywhere between 20-500Kb download speeds. I've only gotten over 1.5Mb on 3G once in the whole year and I live in LA. I can't wait to dump this crap data service and go with Verizon.


http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=230436

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229003

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229973

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=228237

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=230061

Good luck with Sprint

 

[mpossoff]

I have been an AT&T customer for the past 10 years, since the Cingular days. My contract for my iPhone 4 is officially up tomorrow. I just got off the phone with AT&T to ask what they are going to do to keep me as a customer and everyone I spoke to just didn't try.

I mentioned over and over that my biggest disappointment was in regards to the "unlimited" data plan that I am currently on and two of the reps I spoke to put me on hold to verify this with their supervisor. Seriously, how can anyone working for them not know about this? I was then told that I could switch to a tiered plan at full speed..... yeah right.

After being passed around from rep to rep, the best offer I received was 6 months of free unlimited texting, that's it. Anything else was just a sales pitch for something I didn't want or need.

An experience like mine is why AT&T is going to lose customers like me when the next iPhone is released.

Is the issue being capped with unlimited? If so there's nothing that AT&T can do. Everyone who has unlimited data is in the same boat.

----------

Most people don't know any better and think it is normal to drop a call every 10 minutes.

The topic is unlimited data not voice.

----------

True.
If everything goes well and the next iphone is LTE and I get to keep my unlimited with an LTE iphone and bump my 3GB softcap to 5GB with even faster speeds I dont see a reason to switch.
And with my FAN discount Im staying unless Tmobile kicks up their 3G to be compatible with the iphone and then hooks it up with those $40 or $50 unlimited all plans.

Same here I see no reason to switch. I never been throttled anyway and I use 4GB + per month.

 

[Bobby Corwen]

Maybe years ago you could threaten your way to discounts but now everything is more monopolized. The cell companies aren't in a state of growth and customer-hoarding like in 2005 or something.

You're jus one in a million. You think everyone can just bargain?

Pay your phone bill and the continuous service you're getting.

I mean the device is connecting to the air and the skies!!!! (*louis Ck voice)

 

[Want300]

You're right, it's not bad until the end of the six months, assuming that I stay with AT&T. At which point, I'd be forced to keep the unwanted/unneeded unlimited SMS/MMS plan because they "no longer offer a tiered plan (at the moment)".

Currently, I'm paying for a less expensive tiered SMS/MMS plan after being grandfathered into it. The reason why I kept this plan is because when I found out about iMessage in iOS 5 I realized that I wouldn't have the need for a carrier's unlimited texting plan. And since most of the people I text with have iPhones with iOS 5, texting is free. In the occasion that I need to text outside of iMessage, my less expensive tiered plan is there for me.

On top of that, there are free texting apps in the App Store. The ones that I use generate a real phone number that I give to heavy texters or girls that I have no intention of pursuing a serious relationship with.

Gotta love Google Voice... Well played. Yea, keeping your tiered plan would be smart. That makes more sense.

 

[BFizzzle]

I won't because Sprint's speed is the same, throttled or not!

hehe



i had my friend with his sprint iphone 4s do a speed test last night to see if their network has improved since launch.. (i got it on launch and switched back to att) he was getting .2-3 mbps down and .1-2 up lololol

so no real improvement sprint. whenever they get LTE ill be on board to switch.

 

[ephemeralreason]

The middle path is best

How am I supporting Fascism? Less regulation and promoting more growth in privately owned businesses goes directly against Fascism.

Fascism in the sense that AT&T (or any other capable corporation) would not permit competition threatening their profits out of adherence to the ideology of the free market. Not a chance. AT&T would squash competition in an unregulated market, and that runs directly in line with fascism simply by substituting coroporations for government.

In all there is a balance to be struck, and idea unfortunately lost in today's political climate. No regulation is just as problematic as too much regulation, and we most certainly do not have too much regulation at the moment.

 

[iMikeT]

Right on the money. OP I DARE you to go to Sprint. I guarantee you would come crawling back to a tiered data plan on ATT. You want to know how they can offer unlimited data and low price? Cuz their network is garbage. That's why I laugh when I see people saying they're going to Sprint. I routinely get anywhere between 20-500Kb download speeds. I've only gotten over 1.5Mb on 3G once in the whole year and I live in LA. I can't wait to dump this crap data service and go with Verizon.


http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=230436

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229003

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229973

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=228237

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=230061

Good luck with Sprint

Challenge accepted. And I'll treat this like past relationships, once I'm gone, I'm gone for good.

hehe



i had my friend with his sprint iphone 4s do a speed test last night to see if their network has improved since launch.. (i got it on launch and switched back to att) he was getting .2-3 mbps down and .1-2 up lololol

so no real improvement sprint. whenever they get LTE ill be on board to switch.

I'm pretty much on board for Sprint's LTE network. They began rolling it out in major cities in the past year so I'm sure they'll have it ready in the near future. I'm confident that the next iPhone will have true LTE so being prepared isn't a bad idea.

Is the issue being capped with unlimited? If so there's nothing that AT&T can do. Everyone who has unlimited data is in the same boat.

Same here I see no reason to switch. I never been throttled anyway and I use 4GB + per month.

Actually, AT&T can do a lot about it, like offer it to customers without restrictions. Everyone I know who has "unlimited" data has cried foul with the way AT&T has botched the entire issue. But no matter how much their base complains, they do nothing about it. That's why I'm done with them.

As far as throttling goes, I'm being throttled right now with over 4GB this month. I used to average over 10GB before the throttling and when I found out that they were going to do that, I really stuck it to them and went to 25GB for two or three months in a row!

I tried to explain this to the customer service people when I called and told them that this is not a realistic way to handle the situation. I continuously asked how AT&T can solve these issues in the future and was told, "switch to wifi" or "buy a tiered plan". That's it, an over simplistic plan to switch to wifi and a sales pitch? What if wifi isn't available to me and if I don't want the tiered plan? That's how they lost me.

 

[Applejuiced]

The ones that I use generate a real phone number that I give to heavy texters or girls that I have no intention of pursuing a serious relationship with.

I like that last part.
Smart thinking

 

[Boiler]

You are not special.

If someone told me they are on the verge of stopping to pay me $120+/mo for 24 mos or life, I think I'd step up to plate with more than offering a worse data plan or short run free texts.

 

[iMikeT]

I like that last part.
Smart thinking

As I always say, leave no evidence, especially the morning after.

----------

If someone told me they are on the verge of stopping to pay me $120+/mo for 24 mos or life, I think I'd step up to plate with more than offering a worse data plan or short run free texts.

That's what I'm talking about. Companies need to know how to treat their customers better, never bite the hand that feeds you.

 

[lordofthereef]

AT&T wouldn't be around if they didn't have customers paying for the service they provide. They need us more than we need them.

Very true. If there is a mass exodus, you can bet AT&T will change things to keep their customers. Right now their numbers are rising quarterly, not dropping, so they have no incentive to bend over backwards for them. FWIW, I have heard a similar argument (not necessarily regarding unlimited data) about every carrier. At the end of the day they figure they will replace you with another customer if you leave (and with current trends, they will). You are a statistic, not a person. You don't matter.

 

[vastoholic]

Oh you know that's not possible, the lords don't want the serfs to be educated. The lords need an obedient, unquestioning, and ignorant workforce.

Jesus you sound like the truther people commenting about 9/11 on YouTube. You sound exactly like the type of person who thinks they deserve everything in life and throw a temper tantrum when they don't get it. I hate when threads go political, but do you really think the left cares about you or anyone else either. Both parties are equally corrupt and only looking out for what's best for them and what will line their pockets more to secure their future. Why does anyone do anything? A majority of the time it's for personal gain, not to be nice to someone else. So please drop it with this left vs right ranting.

Back to the topic: My family has been on Cingular/AT&T for many years as well. I have no idea if they ever received any special offers as we've usually always had a family plan and then I started my own. AT&T is great out where I live except for long stretches of road between small towns. There's virtually no service almost. My parents switched to Verizon because the salesman promised that their coverage map included the area my dad farms in. He is constantly dropping calls (non smart phone) while driving and even while standing still. He will switch between extended service and verizon service and that causes him to drop the call. Even though my coverage out there isn't the best it usually is just enough to make a phone call and I haven't dropped one out there.

 

[thekb]

I can't get over you guys busting OP's chops for asking for some kind of retention incentive. They offer the moon to "new" customers, but tell long time customers to pound sand.

As long as they all do it that way, I as the customer, am able, nay am entitled, to play one company against the others to get the best deal for me. I AM special, because I have the money they want. If they don't like the game, they shouldn't have established the rules. They have no one to blame but themselves.

And I think calling and asking for an incentive is darn nice of the OP. He could just switch companies without any warning to his provider. He's at least giving them a chance to compete for his business. Hey, capitalism's a bitch.

 

[ixodes]

A large scale enterprise like AT&T is never going to keep everyone happy.