WTF Sprint? “Simply Unlimited” is Limited to Exclude BlackBerries?
Oh Sprint… Just when we think we can say something nice about you, you turn around and slap us in the face. Yesterday we told you about Sprint’s new Simply Unlimited plan which is still the best unlimited plan on paper when it comes to the big four’s unlimited war. In a comment this morning from BGR reader redsoxnation, we learned that he tried to apply this plan to his account and was told that Sprint’s new unlimited offering could not be applied to Blackberrys! Excuse me? The terms on Sprint’s Simply Unlimited page clearly state:
E-mail includes use of ActiveSync, MICROSOFT Windows Mobile with Direct Push™, Versamail, IBM Lotus Notes Traveler® or BlackBerry® Internet Service (BIS).
According to customer service however, Sprint’s Simply Unlimited plan can be used with any Sprint-offered handset… other than BlackBerrys. Brilliant! Feel free to use unlimited BIS people, just not with a BlackBerry. We called Sprint customer service ourselves to confirm and sure enough, we were told the same thing. No BlackBerry love. Is this a case of false advertising or just another snafu from poorly trained customer service representatives? Either way Sprint, get your act together.
UPDATE: Here is a lose transcript of our conversation with Sprint customer care:
- Us: I want to get a BlackBerry 8830 with the Simply Unlimited plan.
- Lady: I’m sorry, Simply Unlimited isn’t available with BlackBerry devices.
- Us: But the site says "unlimited BIS" and even pictures an 8830 in the Simply Unlimited ad!
- Lady: It must be a mistake. We do offer very competative BlackBerry plans though, would you like me to tell you about them?
- Us: No.
UPDATE 2: Sprint hit us up to let us know that the BlackBerry plan (BIS only) is included in the Simply Unlimited plan. And just are our readers pointed out, the BES package is an additional $20/month. Sprint is in the process of "training" customer service reps. Apparently a few of them didn’t get the email.
On Feb 29, 2008 @ 2:28 pm, redsoxnation Said:
NOT false. I called this morning and sprint said NO! NO! NO! NO! what part of that dont you understand? OH then BG called and they were told NO! NO! NO! you think we are just making this up? So sprint is either not offering this or there customer service reps have no idea what is going on. Either way Sprint once again SUCKS!
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 2:29 pm, Nathan Said:
No it’s more like WTF @ in store or call only to get the unlimited plan? Jesus I don’t think Sprint can tell their elbow from their asshole sometimes.
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 3:07 pm, edward Said:
i just changed my plan and in BGR defence the first rep i talked to didnt know anything about the plan (also outside the US) the second rep i talked to set me up in less then 5 min (located in the US) sprint CRS problem wont go away until they stop outsourcing REPS
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 3:22 pm, Chris Said:
How much additional to tether for PC access?
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 3:44 pm, RaggedEdge Said:
Tethering is included in the BES plan
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 4:17 pm, edward Said:
i just changed my plan on a 8830 and to BGR defense the first rep i talked to didnt know about the plan (also located outside the us) the second rep (located in the united states) changed my plan in 5 min heres the break down BES is a $20 option $ PAM is a $15 option
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 4:47 pm, NuShrike Said:
Left hand, right hand, and still totally blind. Another great job Sprint Engineer!
Even after you successfully signed up, do you trust Sprint to properly bill you too?
15 foot pole action!
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 4:48 pm, redsoxnation Said:
Called again. Sprint REP said they have been getting complants all day! Now offering this for BB! Looks like someone at Sprint reads BG!
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 4:50 pm, Paul Said:
Paul If I want to get the new $99 Unlimited plan, can I use it with a Blackberry?
Paul hello???
Alexsandria One moment.
Alexsandria You are able to have the Simply Everything Plan if you have Blackberry.
Paul so it DOES include BIS?
Alexsandria Do you mean BES?
Paul no BIS, you should know what BIS is
Paul …Blackberry Internet Service…
Alexsandria Internet is included with the Simply Everything Plan.
Paul yes but BIS is often not. I want your assurance that BIS is included in the plan
Paul from your site: “E-mail includes use of ActiveSync, MICROSOFT Windows Mobile with Direct Push™, Versamail, IBM Lotus Notes Traveler® or BlackBerry® Internet Service (BIS)”.
Alexsandria For clarification on that you will need to contact Telesales at 800 Sprint 1.
Paul You should be better informed…disappointing..but hey, you do work for Sprint. I should have figured.
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 5:17 pm, Frank Said:
Why should he have to? It’s a pretty telling experience.
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 5:42 pm, boomboom Said:
well Cliff, people trust this BGR, if they are going to put stuff on there website that isn’t true, than they are making this blog a joke. Time to take this stupid blog down (just this story) and next time, don’t call once, call again and get your facts straight before you blog. Just doesn’t make any sense, sure maybe the title should be “CSR do not know what they are talking about, they misinformed, but not that Sprint doesn’t offer it.
BTW: I hate Sprint, I had them for a while, there customer service is horrendous. So while I do despise Sprint, I don’t like reading about something that isn’t true.
At least The Onion puts humor into fake stories.
On Feb 29, 2008 @ 1:37 pm, Cliff Said:
BoomBoom - not sure if you posted that before or after they added the transcript with a Sprint rep. but you know that there are always different stories from each rep. someone talks to - with all carriers. They might have followed it up (as you question) and got that same response (as they posted). Be easy. I know it wouldn’t be the first time I personally was told something one way by a CSR and found out it was incorrect from a different CSR (happened just this morning in fact with AmEx).
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 6:04 pm, redsoxnation Said:
BoomBoom your an Idiot! Not only did BG call but four other people and were told NO! Read the thread befor you start taking. So not only wee the facts checked but they were check by four people that got the same answer! The only thing that happend is some over paid sprint PR guy was running his ass off today sceaming “how could this happen” fix it, FIX IT! So the report was right on!
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 7:27 pm, Jeff B. Said:
Sprint has been damned ever since they tried to do real cellular phone service. The only way they’re gonna go is down, at least after losing $6 billion in one quarter there is no way they can ever get back in the game.
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 7:46 pm, b.N Said:
“# Lady: It must be a mistake. We do offer very competative BlackBerry plans though, would you like me to tell you about them?
# Us: No.”
LOL!!
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 7:51 pm, EA Said:
I got that plan this morning for my 8830 and i have yet to receive any emails yet. I called CS and they said it will take up to 24 hrs till you get ur emails WTF is going on??
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On Feb 29, 2008 @ 9:46 pm, cman Said:
Thanks to the sprint engineer for clarifying. I think some of you just want to complain. This issue was borught up, it was clarified, let it go. I have been a sprint nextel customer for six years, and have fought with them a lot but they have always had the best plans, and still do.
However, to the sprint staff, the training of your customer service workers is horrible. i always have to be transfered several times to get real help.
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On Mar 1, 2008 @ 2:22 am, glenn Said:
if you can’t understand why blackberry enterprise and tethering are not included in a plan that costs 99.99 then you don’t even deserve to be alive.
and anyway who said you couldn’t tether wthout the plan?
cmon I’ve seen iphone users with 900mb+ data transfer a month…people are tetering with an iphone using edge.
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On Mar 1, 2008 @ 10:08 am, Xenoman Said:
So I spoke with my friend who works in Sprint CS via text message, this is how it went.
Me:Does Sprint’s Simply Everything plan include BIS for Blackberries? Bit of confusion online aboutthis, BGR was told no by a Sprint Rep.
Her: I think no. I’ll double check when I get to work.
Me: Ah, the ad for it has an 8830 on it and states BIS, but reps are telling some people it’s not included.
Her: Hmmm, most likely hasn’t come out yet, but if it does have a BIS version it can’t be shared. They won’t let BIS account share on a plan like that.
Me: I know it doesn’t share, and I’m not talking about shared plans. The $99 Unlimited plan is available, people are already getting it. I’m curious about BIS support, and I know BES costs extra.
Her: Oh, I thought you meant shared on BIS because sharing is the main reason the plan was made. I’ll check with my supervisor.
Her: Yes we have BIS for Blackberry but the reason people said no today is people wanted to share it with other devices or blackberries when it has to have it’s own plan.
BIS is for sharing? WTF?
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On Mar 1, 2008 @ 10:33 am, backbeat Said:
Looks like BG needs to pinkslip Zach where Blackberry is concerned and leave the real Blackberry blogging to Jibi, where it belongs.
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On Mar 1, 2008 @ 12:01 pm, json Said:
Sprint f-ing people? how about less then the competition. most of you guys here at BG are half readers and half stupid. sprint gives the most to customers. with all thats going on with them customers are in the best seat. you wanna b!tch and complain about what? having to pay $20 more for BES. your stupid go to V where you’ll pay .49 cents for going over 5G. anywhere else and forget about web unless your on vacation cause itll take you a day to just
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On Mar 1, 2008 @ 12:03 pm, json Said:
to get to your home page. quit being stupid lets act like we know a little about what we are talking about. you guys did put together this site right? k just checking. dumb a$$
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On Mar 1, 2008 @ 9:35 pm, boomboom Said:
nah, I am not an idiot Redsoxnation, keep the personal insults to yourself. The title of this should be “CSR don’t know what they are talking about” or “Training should be done at sprint”
No, BGR only called once. Then the title of this post was (Excludes Blackberries?) Anyway, BGR has a new blog post up. They should do more research, call again. Call a contact at Sprint. And they didn’t.
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On Mar 2, 2008 @ 9:04 am, redsoxnation Said:
BoomBoom I know its our fault. When dealing with Sprint we should at least call 100 times to clarify oh and then call again because that doesnt ennsure you will get someone who actually knows what their talking about. We should know better!
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On Mar 3, 2008 @ 11:49 am, backbeat Said:
@ RSN: Why, yes. Yes, you should.
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