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Sprint Jumps the Marketing and Sales Shark, and I'm getting an Evo® anyway!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Realty Arts NC Broker License #235526

I got this hankering for an HTC Evo.  4G and all, you know?  So, I went to Best Buy last night, and they were too busy to talk to me.

And I went across the street to my local Sprint Company Store, the nice folks who have accepted about $2000 from me in the last 16 months.

"The Closer" loitering up front had to put out his cigarette and slouch into the store to speak with me, so I guess that aggravated him.

I said, "I'm here for two HTC Evo's."

The (C)loser: "Nope. Not until June 4th."

Me: "I guess I need to go back over to Best Buy."

The (C)loser: "No, they won't have them either."

Me: "They will on June 4th, right?"

The (C)loser: "No. Don't believe them. No one will have them before we do."

Me: "I hear you folks might have one that a guy could play with?"

The (C)loser: "No, not until next week."

 

The (C)loser doesn't know if I am a current Sprint customer, a vagrant, or a new prospective customer who might be hoping to sign up a family plan. He doesn't care. His job is to say "No" as many times as it takes to drive people out of the store.

And, they got that there labor-saving auto-mashon at Sprint for him. The door closed itself as I left, allowing him to remain leaning insouciantly on the "Customer No-Service Podium."

 

So... Off to Radio Shack this evening.  Morrisville, NC.  "Paul" is the man!  That's where I got to play with a dummy Evo.

And, I pre-ordered, and have an Evo coming, with an appointment to collect it at 10:00AM, 6/4/2010.

And a $20 coupon for an additional charger, or other accessory.

$199.00, and no rebate to fuss with.

And I met a respectful commissioned salesperson who conversed with me, and who will reap future business, and who will be selling his services long after the (C)Loser is a journeyman windshield buffer at the local carwash.

I am pumped about that phone, so the ball is in the Shack's, and Sprint's, and HTC's, and Google's hands. I hope no one fumbles.

Posted by

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Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to Email MeQR CodeMike Jaquish, REALTOR®

919-880-2769 www.RealtyArts.com

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Independent Broker/Owner, Realty Arts

130 Towerview Court,

Cary, NC

Comments (20)

Robert The Earl of Real Estate
St Pete LUXE Living Group - Saint Petersburg, FL
The Earl of Real Estate

Way to get what you want.  I hope you enjoy the phone and look forward to your review of the newphone.

Robert Earl

May 25, 2010 03:24 PM
William James Walton Sr.
WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group - Waterbury, CT
Greater Waterbury Real Estate

Say word. You can't beat that at all.

May 25, 2010 03:24 PM
Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

Robert,

Thanks.  I haven't seen the actual phone, so I HOPE I am getting what I want.

William,

It's a hot little item. Paul at the Shack told me they have never done preorder before, and I was their 9th customer to slap down a deposit.

May 26, 2010 01:01 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

I don't want to give Sprint an EXTRA $10 a month for 4G when there is no 4G in our market...  Are you one of the 32 4G  markets? 

It just has the touch screen keyboard doesn't it?

May 26, 2010 01:20 AM
Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

Maureen,

I'm not crazy about the $10 either, but at least the Raleigh-Cary market is current 4G territory.  And KW gets me an 18% service discount on my monthly bill.  I'm about equally concerned with the $30/month to use the phone as a hot spot.

I haven't used a virtual keyboard before, so will give it a go.  At least on a 4.3" screen it may be friendlier for my big hands.

I am SO OVER Windows Mobile.  Too, too buggy, and way too cumbersome. So, one time, I am getting in front of the curve, instead of waiting for many others to be the test pilots.  I don't drink the Google Kool-Aid, but I hear good things about Android.

May 26, 2010 01:34 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

It's bigness is another concern for me...  not that it is a big deal... I just read this morning how big it is...   I  play occasionally on an iPhone and don't like that touch screen.  

I believe I am going to do an Android but go with the Samsung Moment because it has a keyboard as well as touch screen...  

May 26, 2010 01:49 AM
Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

I want it largely because of the size.

I have high hopes for a better experience with the 4.3" screen.

And it will tend to sit upright in my shirt pocket and not slip sideways.  Not a huge consideration...

May 26, 2010 02:00 AM
Jim Paulson
Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info - Boise, ID
Owner,Broker

I will also be getting the new EVO ASAP as well.  Keep in mind that NAR has a great parnership with Sprint and I get a 25% discount on my phone service as a result (except on the everything included plan that is at $99 a month).  I have not heard of what the new fees will be on this.

May 26, 2010 05:44 AM
Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

Jim,

I have the Everything plan and get an 18% discount.  I can live with that.

May 26, 2010 06:15 AM
Jim O'Donnell
Raleigh Cary Realty - Fuquay Varina, NC

So I need to go to the shack, huh...

May 26, 2010 07:06 AM
Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

Sure, Jim.

 

The Shack.  In Morrisville.  Tell Paul I sent you...

May 26, 2010 07:28 AM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

I get great, great, great support at my Sprint store. Sorry you are not.

I am leading towards the Iphone4G, although I will play with the Evo first.Too many apps on Iphone to ignore anymore for RE.

Radio Shack does have great support too.

Let us know how you like it.

May 27, 2010 12:13 AM
Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

Missy,

Truthfully, overall my experience hasn't been that negative.  But it was stunning in how negative it was.

I also thought of the Iphone, but I didn't want to buy out the remainder of my Sprint commitment, and I'm not crazy about AT&T's local service area and pricing.

May 27, 2010 12:26 AM
Linda Jandura
Raleigh Cary Realty - Apex, NC
Realtor, North Carolina Buyer & Seller Specialist

I have the "competitor's" xPhone, and love it, but this looks even cooler. Unfortunately, I still have another year on that darn 2 year contract they make you sign.

BTW, just proves that commissioned people will always give you better service, and most of the time, for no extra dollars. Think Nordstrom, and Real Estate Agents!

Have a wonderful long weekend!

May 28, 2010 12:27 PM
Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

Linda,

You know, I bet the kid at Sprint is commission-compensated, too.

Probably disgusted with the consumer world because he isn't making any money...

Oh, and I am pumped about the Evo.  WinMobileNoMo!!

I'm pulling CAT6 wire through the house, i.e., the attics and crawlspace, this weekend.  Can't get done with that fast enough.

May 28, 2010 12:37 PM
Linda Jandura
Raleigh Cary Realty - Apex, NC
Realtor, North Carolina Buyer & Seller Specialist

Mike- good thing you took that sweetie to Boston recently , as you've got such an exciting weekend planned with her this weekend! Nothing like watching your hubbie rewire the house so he can play with his new tech toy, lol

May 28, 2010 12:42 PM
John Novak
Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

Just when I think I'll wait a couple of weeks for the iPhone 4G, you throw the Evo into the mix. Time for a little more online research.

May 28, 2010 12:53 PM
Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

Jhn,

I've been waffling myself on the iPhoneHD, but I would have to buy out the balance of two lines on Sprint, and so far, I really don't have any gripes with Sprint.

Decisions.... Decisions...

May 28, 2010 01:43 PM
SarahGray Lamm
Allen Tate Realtors Chapel Hill, NC 919-819-8199 - Chapel Hill, NC
Realtor - 100K Hours of NC Real Estate Experience

Too funny! Kind of come-uppance for every time I've ever smiled at a store clerk and gotten a vacant, 'I SO can't see you' look back from them...and they said us old fogies who value customer service were old news...now that somebody is going to have to learn to give in order to get....who's the monkey now? ;-)

Jun 04, 2010 05:22 AM
Mike Jaquish
Realty Arts - Cary, NC
919-880-2769 Cary, NC, Real Estate

SaraGray,

And, Sprint's computers were not able to handle the volume this morning, and I do not have the phone yet. 

Then the very helpful (seriously, she was very good) Customer Service rep, April, could have handled the update over the phone, but they are having problems getting voicemails to convey over, so I just came home to transcribe the gist of voicemails rather than risk losing a few very important ones.

What fun!

Jun 04, 2010 05:42 AM