According to a WMExperts article, Sprint has just launched its Sprint Premier program in which Sprint says it's "rewarding its most loyal and high-value consumer customers with perks, privileges and discounts that drive higher satisfaction."
Sprint's press release states that the eligibility requirements for Sprint Premier are:
- For three consecutive months, consumer customers must be on an individual wireless plan of at least $69.99 per month or spend at least $99.99 per month on a plan that shares minutes, Or...
- They must have been a Sprint wireless customer for at least 10 years.
That sounds pretty simple, huh? And get this; WebOS Arena points out that one of the perks to being in the Sprint Premier program is being able to get cool phones before others. Hmmm, would the Palm Pre be one of those cool phones that you could get before other people?
Sure looks that way according to one of the perks that Sprint lists:
- First to Know/First to Buy: Longstanding customers get an exclusive first peek at new products and services such as the upcoming Palm Pre™, and then are among the first with opportunities to purchase when they become available.
So, does that mean that if you qualify as a Premier customer, Sprint is going to send you an email with some exclusive details on the Palm Pre before the Pre is released? "An exclusive first peek... such as the upcoming Palm Pre..." sure makes it sound that way. That would be awesome!
Below are the other benefits Sprint Premier customers will receive:
- Early Upgrades: After only one year customers can receive our new customer price on a new handset. That's almost a year sooner than other customers. For accounts sharing minutes, the early upgrade applies to the primary line. A new two-year agreement is required.
- “Just Because” Perks: Spontaneous special offers for trips, tickets to shows and sporting events -- just to say thanks.
- Accessory Discounts: A once-a-year discount on accessories at participating Sprint stores.
- Courtesy Plan Check: For customers who haven’t changed their plan in six months, Sprint will notify them for a “Plan Check” to make sure they are getting the most value out of their device.
You can read more about the Sprint Premier program here.
What about you? Are you qualified to be a Premier customer? If so, and you happen to get some first peek juiciness on the Pre, how about sharing with us? I wonder if Sprint might possibly send out some first peek Palm Pre info to their Sprint Premier customers on say, hmmm.... I don't know, February 15 seems to come to mind. That date is still stuck in our minds as something, so who knows?
I see that there is already some discussion going on over in the TreoCentral forums regarding the Sprint Premier progam in this thread.
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Is it also going to reward customers with the correct spelling of privilege?
It doesn't sound like this will be the most exclusive of clubs, but I do expect to be in its ranks. I'm starting to doubt whether the Pre is for me (at least until more developers get the access they'll need to create the programs that *I* "need"), but I'll still be following Pre news very closely and would be happy to share some tidbits (if I'm lucky enough to stumble across any).
I have been a Premier customer for months, as well as EVP. I have heard through both Premier, as well as EVP, that the phone will be released much later than we are hoping...
Later part of Q2 is closer to what I've heard.
Not sure why they said Premier just started--since I've been a member for months. Been a customer for 10 years, uninterrupted, and I also met all the other criteria.
Didn't think it was a very special 'club' though.
I've been a Premier member for a while. When I logged on to their site and checked my premier benefits there was a link to sign up to find out about the Pre. When I clicked on the link it took me to the same page where I signed up on the first day, which is accessible to everyone.
I know I've also been a premier member for a while too but I have no idea where on the site it shows that. Or was I supposed to do something when I got that packet...hrm.
Just log on your account at Sprint's site and below your primary phone it will say Premier status if you have it.
I am apparently completely blind. I never noticed it til you told me that's where it was!
Thank you!
Typical of my last X years with Sprint, their inconsistency is astounding! When I call to ask about this Premier club they send me back to the website assuring me that there is a link directly in the open. And that I will need to fill out a survey and submit it to become accepted. While I have not looked very deep on my account website, this link is not "right in the open" as the customer support individual claimed. They also asked me if I wanted to agree to staying on with Sprint and that doing so I would receive $75 in credit to my account and would instantly be re-activated for the $150 refund on any new phones. The catch she didn't say? Verbally accepting is signing on for another 2 year contract.
When I tried to get more information about the Premium account she stated that I would have to be a customer since 2005 (which seems a bit short on the 10 years of service) and mentioned nothing on the amount of money I've spent monthly.
Dear Sprint: If the Pre sucks... you'll never get another dime out of me! Ever! If it doesn't.... you've baited me in once again with something shiny~!
Hmm, apparently I'm a Premier customer myself, just for having the Everything 450 plan. I've also been a customer for six years, but I guess since it hasn't been ten its just because of the price of my plan.
An expansion of this plan - access to the latest phones, some other perks - might help dislodge some of the super-discount (SERO) customers currently paying very little and reward those of us paying close(r) to the full price. But it would have to have some real benefits, not just a twice a year email spam suggesting that you change plans.
What I read when I was looking at the benefits page that might do that:
"As a Sprint Premier customer, we’ll recognize your yearly anniversary with a special gift of extra bonus minutes or a free ringer."
Screw the free ringer, but if every year they give maybe an extra 50 minutes a month or something, then that could reward loyalty very well for those who don't have the SERO plan. But it could also just be a one time extra minutes thing for one month. Who knows.
9 years... argh! lol!
they never call me for anything! come on sprint hook up a poor brother wit free incoming! ive been down wit sprint since "99"! wheres the love sprint?
I've been a premier member since last summer. I'm not sure why they are trying to make it sound like a new thing?
It would be nice to make hyperlinks open a new browser. I would rather stay on your page and have a new browser open up when I click a link to read another part of a story.
everytime i talk to a rep i always get a idiot! times arent that hard that sprint cant hire some competent people to work for em!
Don't be so sure.
I just received a full-color, customized flyer in the mail yesterday for being a Premier member. It advertised a bunch of old phones and plans... but it didn't have even so much as a teaser for the Pre. *sigh*
10 years AND spending at least $99.99 per month on a plan that shares minutes.
Where's my Premier Club sandwich, Sprint? Anything positive toward mitigating the stress of dealing with your representatives for the past decade is welcome.
Sprint does not recognize time spent as a Nextel customer prior to the merger. Because of this, I do not qualify for "Premier customer" status. My email on this issue was returned with a canned phone message as to why I don't qualify. I have over 10 years combined with Nextel/Sprint, but not 10 years with Sprint. My monthly bill for my 3 lines is under the $99.00 cap. It is unfortunate to me, when a new program like this comes out, but manages to piss off long term customers like me. Yes, I very badly want a new Pre to replace my 755p, but if I really have to wait inline until after the "premier customers" get theirs, I may just wait longer until another carrier has it. Dan Hesse can talk all he wants about customer service, but he has really pissed me off with this one. Note: I am not currently under contract.
I just chatted with a Sprint rep to learn when my account opened. Though I've been with Sprint for over 13 years, I opened my personal account with them 7.5 years ago. :( I've also always had a lower cost plan (Fair & Flexible 300) since I'm not on the phone that much and was freshly out of college (i.e., broke).
Anyway, I don't qualify because I'm just short of the 10 year mark and have had lower cost plans. It angers me that a "new" customer can qualify for the premier club by just paying $69.99 for three months, when I've been a loyal customer for almost 8 years. Where's the fairness in that? I really want the Pre, but my contract isn't up until July. I can't wait that long! I want to upgrade early! *pout*
Loyalty at low prices means you are exactly the customer they are not interested in rewarding.
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