Why do cell phone carriers not offer customers with expired contracts the same incentive to rejoin as they?

Question

would to brand new customers? Especially when you can port your existing number to a new carrier.

Answer 1

I know isn't that bullshit. It's just another way to make the $$!! I have been with my company for 4 yrs thats 2 contracts and you would think they would try to give me an iccentive to stay... This time I'm changing cell providers!!!

Answer 2

Verizon gave me incentive. After my two year contract expired, they gave me $200 towards a new phone, and the two year contract agreement price. I could have gotten a blackberry for free but thats too much phone for me.

If you go in to the store, and tell them you are thinking about switching carriers, they will listen to you and give you some incentive. Just mean business and they will bend. You are the customer, and they are not going to less 2 years of $40/month+ payment over a $100 phone.

As for plans, just use the same logic, i got unlimited text, video and picture messaging for three months free by doing that.

Answer 3

It's not all carriers. GSM carriers T-Mobile and Cingular work slightly harder to retain customers since you can just pop a new SIM card into your phone. It's still not as good as it is in say, Europe, since only two GSM providers exist in the U.S.

With CDMA carriers Verizon, Sprint, etc. you have to use your phone on their network so porting your existing number is at a loss to you unless you sell the phone on eBay.

The thing is, it usually costs less for companies to sucker a new customer in with those 2 year agreements than to retain an old one. That's the way the business is run but in turn, it's also sad that loyalty is worth virtually nothing in comparison to the almighty dollar.

Answer 4

I know that Sprint does offer incentives. They tie a "new phone" instant rebate to the life of a customer's existing handset. If you start with a phone, and keep it through the 2 yrs of your contract, you will be eligible for another "free" or well-discounted phone, as your contract expires.

Even after ONE year of service, most people qualify of half the rebate ($75.00).... Either the full or partial rebate will renew the customer's contract for a new term.

The problem some people encounter is this.. People who "need" the newest, hottest phone will buy a new phone at full price, if they are not yet eligible for a rebate. Since the rebate program counts the AGE of the phone on your account, this makes you have to wait 2 years for rebate assistance from the company. I always advise my customers of these requirements/risks.

Answer 5

I know this is a major ripoff! New customers can get free phones that I can't, yet I've been a customer for over 2 years now with T-mobile. I should just drop my service, wait a month, and then I'll be a new customer again. I think they force you to cheat the system in order to get good deals. Europeans don't pay for incoming calls like Americans do, we need to stand up and get the same rights as Europeans on this matter as well.

Answer 6

It's the same way with most things of that nature. I know Internet and Cable do the same thing. Although there is no ending of a contract with those really. A lot of times you can get your incentives by just telling them you are planning on changing. Then maybe they will try to "sweeten" the deal to keep you around. Bu tthey figure after 2 years, if you liked their service they don't exactly need to keep giving you free stuff.