vB Easy Archive - Cingulars 10 big 'secret' changes for 2007.

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Cingulars 10 big 'secret' changes for 2007.
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Posted by: Cingular13

Cingular has finally realized that its customer service reputation 'on the street' and 'on the newsgroups' is declining rapidly. They hope that this new year will be the year that they finally lead the pack in customer satisfaction.
Consumer reports and other groups may finally stop the endless praise for the 'other carrier that starts with a V'.

In an effort to meet or excede all of your expectations from your wireless provider, Cingular (and the new ATT) will be implementing the following changes effective Jan 1, 2007:

1. Free incoming text messaging for all postpaid accounts (Blue customers will actually get a 5 cent bill credit for each incoming text message).

2. The 2007 Cingular website will be user friendly, continuously updated nationwide, and offer instant and accurate online account access to your account(s). In-store pricing will always match web pricing.

3. All customer service reps will be forbidden to read from any script. All answers will be tailored to the individual customer and their needs.

4. New insurance policy: All phones will now be insurabale but the deductable will vary based on the value of the handset. All replacement phones will be new stock, not refurbished.

5. No more upgrade fees. Existing customers will now receive a bill credit - $2 credit/year based on the nubmer of years you have been a customer. Customers with over 5 years of loyalty will recieve a free Jack bobblehead. Note: Jack bobblehead to be replaced by white 'all around the world' ATT globe thingy.

6. Unlimited data including tethering on any handset for $24.99/month. No more smartphone, pda connect, media max, etc.

7. Free phone unlocking and sim cards at all Cingular stores. $50.00 bill credit if you supply your own phone and sign a 1+ year contract.

8. New pricing plans starting at $19.99/month and a new unlimited airtime plan for $99.99/month. Also, a new North America plan will be announced along with free push to talk for anyone unfortunate enought to have a PTT handset.

9. New 'release date guarantee' policy. If a new handset is not released on the date it was scheduled to be approved and available, you will get a 25% discount on the 'no committment' price of the phone when it finally comes out.

10. Free coffee and orange glazed donuts (blue donuts after ATT name change) available at all Cingular stores and dealers daily. *Note: National retail to recieve water in orange cups and free mints.

.....and last but not least,

11. A speical new toll free 'BLUE IS YOU' phone number for all Blue customers. Call it and you will get everything you use to have, everything you currently have, AND everything you ever wanted - and you will get it all for FREE!

Posted by: NukuCamui

Is this what youre hoping for? Cause, I dont see hardly any of those happening. In fact, I see the coffee and donuts happening before free incoming text for postpaid accounts.

Posted by: MrAlifEkin

you predicted 11...not 10

Posted by: Cingular13

Sorry man, Corporate came down with #11 last minute. Must be a lot of heads rolling over all the irritated blue holdouts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrAlifEkin

you predicted 11...not 10

Posted by: ivwshane

Lol

I was reading this, thinking that its about time but then I read further down the list and realized you must be high

Posted by: Mattb2005

dude, thats a nice christmas list, but i dont think santa will do that...

seriously though, if you say this is true, then where did you get your info?

cause i work for cingular well (at&t) now , but i have not heard any of this....

Posted by: gregsmith59

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivwshane

Lol

I was reading this, thinking that its about time but then I read further down the list and realized you must be high

Halfway through item 1 where Blue users get a $0.05 incoming SMS credit I knew he was smoking something.

If anyone was still believing it by the time they got through item 3 then they've been drinking too much of the Cingular Kool Aid.

Posted by: ~X~

Hey, well... one can dream, right? Haha

Posted by: ivwshane

While we are dreaming, if you could fix one thing with cingular this year what would it be?

For me I wish we could fix all the misinformation/miscommunication that goes around.

Posted by: ascalon

Quote:

6. Unlimited data including tethering on any handset for $24.99/month. No more smartphone, pda connect, media max, etc.

God man, I was so happy when I read that, til I found out this was all BS. (edit)

Posted by: TxTwin

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivwshane

While we are dreaming, if you could fix one thing with cingular this year what would it be?

For me I wish we could fix all the misinformation/miscommunication that goes around.

Naw, that will never happen. The SPLAT's middle name is miscommunication! Well, maybe if at&t finds some old MA BELL guy from the old days to handle communications....wait...are any of them still alive?

Posted by: Sincere759

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivwshane

Lol

I was reading this, thinking that its about time but then I read further down the list and realized you must be high

That must be some good the stuff the op is smoking he needs to share lol ...

*To any of my managers or bosses reading this i do not smoke and if i did i didnt inhale nor do i condon the op smoking!*

Posted by: CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattb2005

dude, thats a nice christmas list, but i dont think santa will do that...

seriously though, if you say this is true, then where did you get your info?

cause i work for cingular well (at&t) now , but i have not heard any of this....

It's in CSP, but you need a blue login...they start with the letters att and go down to the C's!

Posted by: cuidinsider

it is in csp lol i like this finally i can txt my heart out

Posted by: elushon

Why do I see someone seeing this post and tossing it up on some site somewhere as legitimat news and all kinds of comedy ensuing?

Posted by: lowegg

Right..........................

And we're all getting raises and going to get Brand new Red Dodge Vipers...

as well as the newest phones out....

Dream on....

Posted by: holaDude

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowegg

Right..........................

And we're all getting raises and going to get Brand new Red Dodge Vipers...

as well as the newest phones out....

Dream on....

You mean the union lied to us??!!? Darn them, next time I see them, they get the vertical smile.

I saw this post and just cracked up at the list. Script? What script, I make up almost everything I tell customers, with very few exception.

Posted by: Cingular13

You make up everything, thats classic. Maybe I need to switch to CSR, sounds like fun. I tried to compile the list based on every common complaint people have with Cingular on Hofo. I never thought anyone would actually take it seriously.

Quote:

Originally Posted by holaDude

You mean the union lied to us??!!? Darn them, next time I see them, they get the vertical smile.

I saw this post and just cracked up at the list. Script? What script, I make up almost everything I tell customers, with very few exception.

Posted by: MiKESTERR

aaaaahahahaha. that's the funniest thing i've heard all week.

Posted by: AG8000

2007 will have unlocked, unbranded handsets sold by the manufactuers and SIM cards sold by the carriers. CDMA carriers will do the same with RUIM cards and a dual mode GSM/CDMA handset will be produced.

Posted by: cingtd

Don't forget, Cingular will pay you to use their mobile phones.

Posted by: jakrox

I think some of these ideas have merit...

Remember,

Jakrox

Posted by: Ced91071

Actually, just about ALL of them have merit.....................

Posted by: anubis9278

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cingular13

I tried to compile the list based on every common complaint people have with Cingular on Hofo. I never thought anyone would actually take it seriously.

roflmao...you just made 2006 memorable.

Posted by: Jairzinho

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakrox

I think some of these ideas have merit...

Remember,

Jakrox

Agree. Not only that but also many of them make a lot of business sense if you only do it for an increased revenue (forget for now customer satisfaction). Problem is that you'll need execs at Cingular with a least a 3-digit IQ to realize that and recognize the long term benefits; Good kuck with that! They are too busy trying to figure out the lastest scheme to squeeze some extra nickel and dime from the customers for Cingular's short term "benefit".

Posted by: 3rdCoastGSM

A TeleCommunications Utopia. Yea, Right !!!

Posted by: impyman

dont count on it.......

Posted by: DSpectre

Hey dudes, wassup this is my third month working for the company and from what I see, they are out to bleed custies dry..... I have doubts that anything on that list is even possible...

Posted by: cingtd

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSpectre

Hey dudes, wassup this is my third month working for the company and from what I see, they are out to bleed custies dry..... I have doubts that anything on that list is even possible...

Of course not, that is the point.

Posted by: ivwshane

One more thing was added to the list on csp tonight.

12. Working and reliable computer systems for all reps.

Posted by: SoCal91302

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSpectre

Hey dudes, wassup this is my third month working for the company and from what I see, they are out to bleed custies dry..... I have doubts that anything on that list is even possible...

You think?

Posted by: holaDude

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivwshane

One more thing was added to the list on csp tonight.

12. Working and reliable computer systems for all reps.

I like my new flat screen compy better than my old crt compy. It actually works much better and is faster.

Now if they could add a few more hamsters to certain systems, I'd be much happier.

Posted by: LUNDiS

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivwshane

Lol

I was reading this, thinking that its about time but then I read further down the list and realized you must be high

same here...i read the first few and went FINALLY!!! THANK GOD!!! care reps who actually know...price matching internet prices...holy crap att is using logic? but my joy was shortlived...damn you!

Posted by: Midnite_809

For a short time, you actually made me regret walking out of the Cingular call center. Not cool.

Posted by: mulletwireless

with the new Cingular... AT&T will get rid of the useless sales kids yes I mean kids who dont have any idea what customer service is...Hire real sales professionals which used to be the mold for most AT&T/ AT&T wireless people. They need to get rid of stores that are not making money. Cut the overhead, and stop cherry picking markets for upgrades. Just how bad have thing become from AWE to Cingular? A NCR a National Account Rep under AWE made base 50K plus 45-50 at risk for commissions... Under the Cingular times the same NCR made 40K with 20-25K at risk for commisson.

Posted by: ivwshane

They definitely need to get rid of unproductive stores! Under 200 acts a month is ridiculous!!

Posted by: LUNDiS

how about getting rid of all the 3rd party guys...we have so many corporate stores now...theres always a 3rd party guy (at least on long island) within 1/4-1/2 mile... this cannot be, and they gotta get rid of them!!

Posted by: mulletwireless

you need the 3rd parties due to the fact some have really powerful community networking and the ones that stand the test of time come from working directly from the wireless business, but the 3rd party guys risk a heck of a lot more!

Posted by: roygbv

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3rdCoastGSM

A TeleCommunications Utopia. Yea, Right !!!

It was pretty damn good when Ma Bell was king (queen?).

Posted by: drewyehboi

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulletwireless

you need the 3rd parties due to the fact some have really powerful community networking and the ones that stand the test of time come from working directly from the wireless business, but the 3rd party guys risk a heck of a lot more!

If COR in store phone prices were decent there would be no more agent stores.

Posted by: Mazzel

I'd be happy if that unlimited data at 24.99 came true, that would make me happy enough.

Posted by: LUNDiS

why would you want that? you make a percentage of the monthly price...

Posted by: savinggrace

I asked Cingular's HR person if we were a drug-free work place at orientation. She turned blood red and said, "No, but we're thinking about it." Imagine that. Cingular is the druggy worker's haven. Smoke up my little co-workers. Our managers approve.

Posted by: anubis9278

Quote:

Originally Posted by savinggrace

I asked Cingular's HR person if we were a drug-free work place at orientation. She turned blood red and said, "No, but we're thinking about it." Imagine that. Cingular is the druggy worker's haven. Smoke up my little co-workers. Our managers approve.

wait, you mean i can smoke weed on my break and not get fired....

....hell yeaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Posted by: CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by savinggrace

It's all about the Kool aid! Drink it and they make you King(ED).

Steal once and they put you in jail, steal many times and they make you King!

Posted by: savinggrace

That's right. One guy in the class was freeked out and started yelling at her about some stoner he worked with. She said it is not against the company policy to do dope. Just pass the test when you are hired and that's it. You'll never see signs that say "Drug Free Work Place". They never random test. That's why some contracts Cingular never will get, can't even apply for.

Posted by: xj911

You know some of those are actually really good ideas, if Cingular weren't already bloated with SBC/AT&T's Money and customers, than I would see them looking into it. Otherwise enjoy the crumbs from Stan Sigman's gold plated donuts.

Posted by: ADSisson

I say forward the list to at&t/cingular. Tell them that we, as cutomers, want and need this. Think they'd do that for us?

Posted by: DonaldMick

They'll implement that shortly after Verizon goes GSM.

Posted by: Cingular13

'The list is life'

...but if it ever gets fowarded to anyone important, you can count on it being laughed at and then destroyed.

Posted by: speedtec11s

So this is true? I wanna see it..but don't have a blue login to CSP!

Posted by: Cingular13

You must have missed the 2 big UPS shipments of the Blue CSP login decoder rings, they were sent twice - 1 English version & 1 Spanish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedtec11s

So this is true? I wanna see it..but don't have a blue login to CSP!

Posted by: CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cingular13

You must have missed the 2 big UPS shipments of the Blue CSP login decoder rings, they were sent twice - 1 English version & 1 Spanish.

I hope you guy's aren't referring to my little joke that I made up! Ahh...I think I was high at the time.

Quote:

It's in CSP, but you need a blue login...they start with the letters att and go down to the C's!

Posted by: speedtec11s

Its called a lot of sarcasm and humor....I keep my blue decoder ring right next to over ride button on my sales station.

Posted by: cingtd

Or you could just get an "Easy Button" from Staples.

Posted by: anubis9278

Quote:

Originally Posted by cingtd

Or you could just get an "Easy Button" from Staples.

i bought one of those...the wife hates it. something about pushing the wrong button.

Posted by: CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by anubis9278

i bought one of those...the wife hates it. something about pushing the wrong button.

It says easy button not idiot husband button there's her problem, or so I'm told over and over again!

Posted by: anubis9278

hey since we are talking about change and i didnt want to start a pointless thread.

anybody get the email about keeping the orange color. if not i didnt post it below.

CINGULAR IS NOW THE NEW AT&T

Advertising, Re-Branding Efforts Begin,
Will Continue Throughout 2007

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 12, 2007 – AT&T, the standard bearer of communications excellence for more than a century, is getting younger on Monday, when the company folds the six year-old Cingular wireless name into the iconic AT&T brand.

Starting Monday, Jan. 15, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is launching a new multi-media campaign to begin transitioning the Cingular brand to AT&T in advertising and customer communications, throughout Web sites and nationwide retail stores, and on company buildings and vehicles.

“Around the world, our customers recognize the AT&T brand for meaningful innovation, a commitment to customer service, high quality and exceptional reliability,” said Edward E. Whitacre Jr., chairman and CEO of AT&T. “AT&T, BellSouth and Cingular are now one company, and going to market with our services under one brand is the right thing to do.”

“Services are converging and the lines between wireless and wireline are increasingly blurred,” said Boyd Peterson, analyst, Yankee Group. “Customers want simplification. By uniting the three company names into one, AT&T has simplified its message to the marketplace.”

While the AT&T logo will be prominent in all advertising and communications, the ads will initially include a transitional graphic with both the AT&T and Cingular logos. The co-branded element will help underscore the association of the two companies and transfer Cingular’s strong brand equity to the new AT&T. During the transition, the campaign will integrate popular imagery, phrases and icons from Cingular’s traditional advertising, including the “raising the bar” tag line, the “Jack” character and the color orange.

(more)

Cingular is now the new AT&T/add one

Each transition campaign element will conclude with the Cingular and AT&T logos coming together while an announcer states that “Cingular is now the new AT&T.” The broadcast spots will conclude with an animation in which the “Jack” character appears to “skywrite” the AT&T globe.

The campaign will kick off with several creative executions called “Raising It Higher,” which morphs Cingular’s familiar “raising the bar” tag line and imagery into the AT&T globe. The first version of this creative execution is called “Grain,” which shows a combine harvesting wheat and appears to be drawing the Cingular five bars, but as the picture zooms out, the AT&T globe comes into focus. Both broadcast TV and print executions are scheduled to start the week of Jan. 15.

Additional spots called “Jets” and “Cars” will start appearing in the coming weeks. Additionally, over the coming months, AT&T will add new creative executions. The brand ads will be complemented soon by call-to-action product ads that will carry similar transitional branding elements.

As part of the re-branding initiative, approximately 2,000 nationwide company-owned wireless retail outlets and store kiosks will be transitioned over the coming year with AT&T-branded signage. Additionally, the approximately 15,000 personnel in these stores and kiosks will begin wearing AT&T-branded apparel in the coming months.

Callers will begin to hear the AT&T name mentioned on Cingular voice greetings in the coming weeks. Merger-transition messages will be placed on envelopes with customer billing starting in the coming weeks, and communications and the AT&T logo will begin to appear on customer bills starting in the coming months. Customers should watch the “remit to” line for when to make checks out to AT&T; those customers who pay their bills electronically or via credit card deduction will be notified as procedures change.

Customers will continue to see existing Cingular product and service names until all necessary legal and regulatory name-change filings are complete. The use of the AT&T and Cingular co-branded graphic will continue until customer awareness levels that Cingular has joined with AT&T are high. Once the transition ends, the color orange will continue to be associated with AT&T’s wireless services, while the Cingular brand will be phased out.

(more)

Cingular is now the new AT&T/add two

AT&T estimates that 20 percent of the operating expense savings from the AT&T-BellSouth merger will come from advertising, as all operations are moved under a single brand. Previously, the three companies each supported distinct brands with three separate advertising campaigns.

AT&T is not disclosing the amount of the brand-transition campaign or media buy.

AT&T Emerging Media Retail Experience

Parallel with its re-branding efforts, AT&T is expanding its retail strategy to take advantage of Cingular’s significant retail presence; thousands of stores nationwide are visited by millions of customers each month.

AT&T is creating an in-store “emerging media experience” where consumers can experience products and services before they purchase. Knowledgeable store personnel will be available to guide consumers through product trials and purchasing decisions.

AT&T has expanded its reach in its 13-state pre-merger local service territory, installing AT&T-branded media centers at more than 375 wireless stores. At these centers consumers can learn about, see live demonstrations and order AT&T Yahoo!® High Speed Internet and, where available, AT&T U-verseSM TV or AT&T HomezoneSM.

To help customers in many of these stores, AT&T will hire approximately 400 new sales representatives; many are in place today. These “home solutions consultants” will help customers learn about a range of AT&T wireline services that they can bundle with their wireless services. Additionally, customers today can arrange for a combined bill for wireline and wireless services and order AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet service as well as other key services.

In addition, AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet service is available through more than 750 agent-owned wireless locations, which also will have AT&T-branded signage. Through these additional locations, customers can order broadband and soon, other services.

Posted by: anubis9278

agents read that last line carefully.

Posted by: iam4161987

See that last line is what i feared most. I dont want to sell landlines and cable TV... IM IN WIRELESS!!! i sell CELLPHONES!!!! UGH!!!!!!

Posted by: Cingular13

Ironic - After years of telling people that they don't need their landline phone anymore (get a wireless!), now you get to sell them!

Quote:

Originally Posted by iam4161987

See that last line is what i feared most. I dont want to sell landlines and cable TV... IM IN WIRELESS!!! i sell CELLPHONES!!!! UGH!!!!!!

Posted by: mulletwireless

you'd be shocked how many customer older people 50 and older still use a land line and it makes good sense to focus on that keymarkets... a big pots line push will be business that need to be connected by a direct land line connection mostly security services... some medical equpiment.. as this nation gets older land lines will not gain much, and they will not lose many, you could say a leveling off. And business always need telephones too!

Posted by: CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulletwireless

you'd be shocked how many customer older people 50 and older still use a land line and it makes good sense to focus on that keymarkets... a big pots line push will be business that need to be connected by a direct land line connection mostly security services... some medical equpiment.. as this nation gets older land lines will not gain much, and they will not lose many, you could say a leveling off. And business always need telephones too!

With age sometimes wisdom follows! I find it difficult to see all the kids swapping spit over a poor( in quality) voice service!

Posted by: nastyknate

so why the hell doesnt any one send this to coporate? If someone can post an address, and we send them TONS of this, im sure they would consider making a few changes. Right now, one of you little sh*ts have to have a corporate address. Post it and print the " list" then send it NOW !

Posted by: walkguru

i call, bs.

Posted by: josue68684

ooooooooooooooh, i like doughnuts!

Posted by: YF 19 AVF

Zang! Does this mean that ANS is going to be rep 3 again and get a $5 an hour raise too?

Maybe I should forward this list on to my TM so we can get the ball rolling.

Posted by: Cingular13

They should get the ball rolling on the insurance, or switch to a new insurance carrier that can offer more plans. T-mobile has some good insurance options.

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/addons...pmentProtection

Quote:

Originally Posted by YF 19 AVF

Zang! Does this mean that ANS is going to be rep 3 again and get a $5 an hour raise too?

Maybe I should forward this list on to my TM so we can get the ball rolling.

Posted by: cingulargal

I have read the 10 big changes list everyday since it was posted... and it still makes me laugh out loud.

Posted by: Cingular13

I'm flattered. If none of these changes come about by June, I may have to revise the list for amusement sake.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cingulargal

I have read the 10 big changes list everyday since it was posted... and it still makes me laugh out loud.

Posted by: cingman66

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cingular13

2. The 2007 Cingular website will be user friendly, continuously updated nationwide, and offer instant and accurate online account access to your account(s). In-store pricing will always match web pricing.

4. New insurance policy: All phones will now be insurabale but the deductable will vary based on the value of the handset. All replacement phones will be new stock, not refurbished.

Just a couple of comments:

2. There is a reason that in-store pricing will never match web pricing...and it seems like many employees in this forum just do not get it. If Cingular wants to give every phone away for free, I say Great!...just compensate us to do it. The problem is that they don't. They continuously drop prices on the phones without dropping the costs to the agents. So, in order for us to stay competitive with what Cingular is advertising on the web, we have to drop our prices to match; but this kills our profit. So instead, we have to charge more than the web just to make money. Everyone always thinks that when the phone pricing drops it is a good thing...that customers will see the drop and flock to the stores. But agents HATE it when the price drops because we know that we are going to get screwed by Cingular--because we know they are not dropping our cost to buy the phone (from THEM because we have no other choice) so we are going to make less profit. It would be great if we all got paid the same, regardless of what we charged for the phones...but this is not reality. This is sales, and we get paid on commission. And every time the advertised prices go down, we get a little less commission. (perfect example--V3 used to be advertised at $79.99 after rebate, then changed to $29.99 after rebate...our cost only came down $15, so we now lose $35 every time we sell a V3). This has been happening since the beginning of Cellular time, so it's nothing new, but I just wanted to try and explain why stores charge more than on-line--it's like buying gas at a self-serve station (on-line), or a full-serve station (retail store).

4. As for the insurance dilemma...this is something that has been brought up on many, many conference calls, and unfortunately there is never an answer to the problem. New phone models can't be insured because there is not enough seed stock to cover replacements...Data devices can't be covered because the cost is too high...blah, blah, blah. All they would have to do is offer an insurance option with a higher premium and deductible to cover the data devices, and as for new phone models they could just offer insurance after there is enough seed stock in place...say 60-90 days after launch. The problem there is that we can no longer add insurance to an account after the first 30 days. There are solutions to this problem, Cingular just chooses to ignore them.

Posted by: strickzilla

Quote:

Originally Posted by cingman66

Just a couple of comments:

4. As for the insurance dilemma...this is something that has been brought up on many, many conference calls, and unfortunately there is never an answer to the problem. New phone models can't be insured because there is not enough seed stock to cover replacements...Data devices can't be covered because the cost is too high...blah, blah, blah. All they would have to do is offer an insurance option with a higher premium and deductible to cover the data devices, and as for new phone models they could just offer insurance after there is enough seed stock in place...say 60-90 days after launch. The problem there is that we can no longer add insurance to an account after the first 30 days. There are solutions to this problem, Cingular just chooses to ignore them.

very true at company XXXXXX thy offer insurance on new phones from day one liek the new XXXXXXXX3