Sprint Modem Offer :-(
Stan Hall
everything up.
I switched two of my personal phone line to Sprint for this modem
offer. When the word came down that the modem was only to be a
2400bps with 9600/4800 FAX internal I resigned myself to accept the
offer despite what the sales droids had said. They sent me two
Foncards for one line instead of one for each line. They billed
seperately instead of on my regular phone bill. They attempted to
call my Data line by voice to contact me about the Windows/DOS
software and disk size.
So what is the latest bit of stupidity on Sprint's part you ask? It
seems that since they couldn't reach me on my Data line that they sent
me a letter about two weeks ago asking me to please tell them via mail
or phone which software that I would like for my modem. So last night
I finally found some time to sit down and call the number that Ms.
Worthy had given me and left a message telling her what software I
wanted for each of my two modems. I get a call this morning from Ms.
Worthy telling me that I am only to receive one modem and asking what
software I would like for that modem. When I argued with her that I
wanted both of the modems I had been promised she told me that the
offer was limited one per household. Everytime I tried to discuss
this with her she asked me what software I would like for my *modem*.
I gave in and told her, hoping that I will receive somthing from
Sprint (besides a bill).
Has anyone else actually received more than one modem at one residence?
Needless to say as soon as I get my modem (or confirmation that I am
not to get a thing) I am running from Sprint as far and as fast as
possible. Not that they are concerned with my low long distance
usage. Though I *will* cost them as much as possible via word of
mouth.
Is anyone interested in getting together to visit the Sprint office in
Kansas City, MO and Ms. Worthy?
Stan Hall [Unhappy (soon to be former) Sprint Customer]
kil...@wuntvor.pillar.com (Stan Hall)
The Eternal Apprentice BBS, Oklahoma City, OK -- +1 405 942 8794
[Moderator's Note: *Who* told you that you would get two modems? Really,
I can't see what your beef is about. 'One per household' is one of the
most common phrases in business promotional offers I have ever heard.
Time and again you hear it, 'one per household, not good when combined
with other offers or special promotions, etc ...' I got my modem
several days ago. It installed easily and is working fine for sending
faxes from my 386. If you honestly think you are going to get two
modems, you are quite mistaken. Diane Worthy has done a great job of
getting this mess straightened out; I'm sure she is sorry Sprint even
decided to have such a generous promotion. PAT]
Gregory Youngblood
> Diane Worthy has done a great job of getting this mess straightened
> out; I'm sure she is sorry Sprint even decided to have such a generous
> promotion. PAT]
Generous? It isn't really. I bet they didn't pay more then 20 to 30
for these modems. A lot cheaper than these 50 and 75 dollar checks
you see others talking about.
Generous would have been a v.32 9600 at about $100 per unit.
I have long ago left Sprint and MCI. You know the story, AT&T drums
it into everyone's head on TV/radio spots. They didn't save me any
money. In fact they cost me money. And MCI had problems.
These are just my opinions though. I'll stick with AT&T and may try
others, but it's going to have to be a good deal for me to switch
around. These modems weren't.
Greg
The Complete Solution BBS Allfiles List: Anonymous UUCP Calls Accepted
707-459-9058 (24hrs, v.32) ~/tcsbbs.lst Login: nuucp Password: nuucp
Telemate Distribution Site ze...@tcscs.com Cellular Telephony Groups
[Moderator's Note: Well, we know that Sprint/MCI are no bargains;
their rates at best work out to AT&T's in the long run; here and there
they are less expensive and sometimes they are more expensive, etc.
Way back in 1974-76 when MCI was first in the business with their
service called 'Execunet' I was telling people there were no savings
to be had. Yes MCI charged less for the long distance part of the
haul, but they failed to tell people they were paying local call
charges to reach the MCI switch. MCI threatened to sue me for slander
and libel after a series of complaints I filed against them with the
FCC and an article I wrote for {Telephony Magazine} describing how I
got them several Execunet subscribers they never did pay me my comm-
ission on. They really got sore when I talked about them on the radio
one night. We get KOA out of Denver like gangbusters here in Chicago
some nights; I used to call in to a talk show they ran late in the
evening. KOA had me talk about the FCC complaints I filed against
MCI; Mr. Bill McGowan's attorney called me the next day to moan and
complain. I told him what I'd do for him was file another commission
complaint if he liked. :) Ah, MCI's early days! What history! PAT]
Kevin Wang
> So what is the latest bit of stupidity on Sprint's part you ask? It
> seems that since they couldn't reach me on my Data line that they sent
> me a letter about two weeks ago asking me to please tell them via mail
> or phone which software that I would like for my modem. So last night
> I finally found some time to sit down and call the number that Ms.
> Worthy had given me and left a message telling her what software I
> wanted for each of my two modems. I get a call this morning from Ms.
> Worthy telling me that I am only to receive one modem and asking what
> software I would like for that modem. When I argued with her that I
> wanted both of the modems I had been promised she told me that the
> offer was limited one per household. Everytime I tried to discuss
> this with her she asked me what software I would like for my *modem*.
> I gave in and told her, hoping that I will receive somthing from
> Sprint (besides a bill).
> Has anyone else actually received more than one modem at one residence?
Yes, I received my one modem, and my housemate (Chris Ambler) received
three of his five modems. All this despite the fact that we specifi-
cally declined both the modems and the $50 offer.
I remember quite distinctly listening to Chris as he talked to the sales
droid and made sure that he was getting oen modem per line. They did
say, however, that phone lines that were on the same bill would be only
given one modem. (He has seven lines, and two groups of two = five modems).
This might be your case ...
kevin Wang
[Moderator's Note: By the way, did you *sign* for the packages they
sent you? Have you opened the packages and installed/used the modems?
Sorry to make it rough for you guys, but under the Uniform Commercial
Code -- which will be the prevailing law -- you may have waived any
further claims. You may have accepted Sprint's offer, or settlement
or whatever. If you refused to accept the packages, or lacking the
ability to refuse (i.e. you came home and found them by your door)
have kept the sealed packages in your safekeeping waiting for Sprint
or the modem factory to pick them up or authorize their return, then
you may still have a more solid case ... maybe ... but that isn't what
happened, is it? <big grin> ... you eagerly ripped open the boxes with
your new toys as soon as they arrived; you have played with them
frequently since that time and now Sprint does not have to take the
'incorrect merchandise' back. In summary, if you fellows have been
playing with your new toys and have them installed in your computers
then you haven't helped your case any, and may have damaged it. PAT]
Don Davis
> Well it seems that every step of the way Sprint has screwing
> everything up.
[description of difficulties omitted]
> So last night I finally found some time to sit down and call the
> number that Ms. Worthy had given me and left a message telling her
> what software I wanted for each of my two modems. I get a call this
> morning from Ms. Worthy telling me that I am only to receive one
> modem and asking what software I would like for that modem. When I
>argued with her that I wanted both of the modems I had been promised
> she told me that the offer was limited one per household.
[more omitted - bandwidth conserved]
> [Moderator's Note: *Who* told you that you would get two modems? Really,
> I can't see what your beef is about. 'One per household' is one of the
> most common phrases in business promotional offers I have ever heard.
> Time and again you hear it, 'one per household, not good when combined
> with other offers or special promotions, etc ...'
Probably a U.S. Sprint sales or customer service representative told
him.
The U.S. Sprint sales representative I spoke with told me almost
exactly what Mr. Hall indicated: that if I switched several different
lines, I could receive several modems. As I recall, she had to go ask
her supervisor, but that's what she told me. I did not see the
televised advertisements, and I said as much to the sales rep. I
never heard the words "one per household" uttered by any Sprint
representative, but they offered to switch all four of my lines in
exchange for four modems. I declined, saying that I'd like to see how
it goes with just one line using Sprint.
If that restriction wasn't made clear to Mr. Hall at the time he
placed his order, then it looks as if U.S. Sprint is taking the
position that it can obtain relief in consumer disputes by asserting
that the weasel words were simply spoken elsewhere, perhaps out of Mr.
Hall's hearing.
To paraphrase Sean Slatter, who has also posted to Usenet on this
issue, Sprint is expending a very valuable commodity on this issue:
the good will of the consumer base.
Don Davis | Internet: dgdhome!dda...@meaddata.com | Tel: 513-235-0096
Chris Ambler - Fubar
> sent you? Have you opened the packages and installed/used the modems?
> Sorry to make it rough for you guys, but under the Uniform Commercial
> Code -- which will be the prevailing law -- you may have waived any
> further claims. You may have accepted Sprint's offer, or settlement
> or whatever. If you refused to accept the packages, or lacking the
> ability to refuse (i.e. you came home and found them by your door)
> have kept the sealed packages in your safekeeping waiting for Sprint
> or the modem factory to pick them up or authorize their return, then
> you may still have a more solid case ... maybe ... but that isn't what
> happened, is it? <big grin> ... you eagerly ripped open the boxes with
> your new toys as soon as they arrived; you have played with them
> frequently since that time and now Sprint does not have to take the
> 'incorrect merchandise' back. In summary, if you fellows have been
> playing with your new toys and have them installed in your computers
> then you haven't helped your case any, and may have damaged it. PAT]
Actually, Pat, No. And I'm surprised at you for thinking so. The boxes
were signed for by another housemate who did not know what they were
(there was no identification on the package at all). We opened the big
boxes, saw that they were the modems, did a count of the modem boxes,
and immediately re-sealed the box. The modems have never been removed
from their individual boxes.
And yes, Sprint guys reading this, this is not my opinion, this is the
cold hard facts.
I'd be happy to ship it right on back, but the only address on the box
is Best Products, and I have a feeling they wouldn't know what was
going on. I'm bringing them with me to my court date to surrender them
to the Sprint rep.
++Christopher(); // All original text is strictly the opinion of the poster
Christopher J. Ambler, Author, FSUUCP 1.41, FSVMP 1.0, ch...@toys.fubarsys.com
[Moderator's Note: Very good, Christopher. You've done the right thing
so far. You are holding the merchandise aside out of general use and
protecting it/keeping it safe for its owner, who you contend is Sprint
and/or Best Products and not yourselves. Very good. Keep us posted
as this progresses. You are smart; maybe you will win this. PAT]
Stan Hall
> with other offers or special promotions, etc ...'
I should have been informed of this when I called to switch my second
line not 1.5 months later. The first thing I heard about it was from
Ms. Worthy.
When I called Sprint, I told them that I had heard about the Dvorak
offer, that it was supposed to be for a free modem, that was all I
knew and could I have more information. I was then told that the
modem was a 9600 baud* modem with FAX. I asked if it was internal or
external and was told external. I was also told that they would pay
for my switchover and that I would receive certificates in 60 days.
Well this wasn't quite true, the certificates they sent paid for about
45% of my switchover fee and when I called about that they gave me a
credit and it appears that they will pay 85% of the switchover fee.
* [This should have given me a clue that the rep didn't have any clue,
but even though *baud* is incorrect, it does seem to common usage.]
From what I have seen posted here it seems that the orginal radio
commercial was reasonably clear as to what the offer was. If the
Sprint rep had a copy of the orginal promo and read it verbatim it
seems that there would not be a problem. At least in my case.
I guess if I have any further dealings with Sprint that I will need to
ask for a copy of the details of the offer in writing for our mutual
protection.
> I got my modem several days ago. It installed easily and is working
> fine for sending faxes from my 386. If you honestly think you are
> going to get two modems, you are quite mistaken.
At least their are some people coming out of this offer with what was
expected and are happy with it. I am quite glad.
I switched each of my lines for this offer so I should receive the
modems. Other readers have posted that Sprint told them that the
offer was good for more than one line. The certificate for the
switchover fee is good for up to ten lines (though not with any other
offer?) so why not with this offer.
> Diane Worthy has done a great job of getting this mess straightened
> out; I'm sure she is sorry Sprint even decided to have such a generous
> promotion. PAT]
I am sure she is sorry. Though, my guess is that she is trying to
cover someone's backside for not working out the details of this
promotion before it exploded in their face (IMHO of course).