Back in 2006-2007, I heard good things about Cricket, but it wasn't available in my area(Massachusetts). Apparently it is now, and I'm considering switching over to them.
Right now I'm on Virgin Mobile, and am paying $25 for unlimited web, text, and 300 minutes. For $10 more on Cricket, I can get 1000 minutes, AND their phones seem pretty nice and reasonably priced.
I rarely have any issues with Virgin Mobile, but I'd like to hear opinions from you Cricket customers. What are the things you like most about Cricket, and what do you dislike? I want to weigh out my options.
Only reason I haven't already switched is because the commercials in my area are horrible. They're worse than the Metro PCS commercials. They aim directly at the urban type, which -without trying to sound ignorant- usually means cheap phones, crappy customer service, and bad reception(at least that's what I hear from Metro users). So any opinions would be appreciated.
When I had Cricket, about 2 years ago, they were great. CS, Reception and the Phone was awesome, no complaints what so ever. Except one mildy annoying thing, texts sometimes for what ever reason would be delivered late. I contribute that to the fact, Cricket had just started building the network in my area (Chicagoland), it was brand new market for them. So they where was bound to have some growing pains.
So what part MA do you live (zipcode), I'm wondering if this a Cricket/Sprint Market or a Cricket Market.
Double check your zip code and make sure you aren't in one of their sprint roaming areas. (Which gives them 'nationwide' coverage.) If you are, pretty sure you're going to have to get on the $55 "unlimited" Android plan which gives you 1000 minutes and up to 500mb of 3g data.
Best Buy has a great deal on the Samsung Vitality right now - the phone, a bluetooth speaker, and a $55 cricket card for $79.99.
I activated Cricket a week or so ago and still haven't been able to get voice mail. (I'm on the $55 plan - which is the only option I have being in a non-cricket area.) Cricket CS must be closed on weekends too.. but last week the 15 or so outsourced reps I spoke with none of them could solve my voice mail issue. I was told to go drive around until I got full bars, to "visit a corporate store" but still no luck.
Since Virgin Mobile and Cricket both run off of Sprint 3G, I'd stick with VM and save some money. I was on the $25 VM plan, but got tired of the poor sprint 3g speeds, so I ported over to T-Mobile and got great 4G speeds. I was originally planning on going prepaid as my credit is shot, but they convinced me to run it anyway so went ahead, and was approved for 2 lines with a $100 deposit on each. (On the "Value" plan.) Even though my voice line is $25 more than VM was, I get 500 mins (plus m2m) unlimited text and 2gb of "real data" - and then can use any GSM phone I want.
Being able to swap sim cards out whenever you want to a different phone is something I"m not used having been with Sprint so long.
So far, my experience with Cricket has been pretty bad. No CS on weekends, and even when you do get them during the week, it's always outsourced and their scripts aren't going to help solve real world problems. I asked to have my voicemail issue escalated to a higher department and they said they could only do that until they ran the steps with me first - I said I had been through that with the last 10 people, it's time to escalate it. Finally the lady says even if she could escalate it, it would take 7-14 days for someone to be able to help with it.
I finally gave up and my cricket number is in the process of being ported back to T-Mobile. Unfortunately has to wait until monday as cricket is off for the weekend.
Stay with VM or go to T-Mobile.. but in the end, Cricket has a long way to go before I'd ever even consider looking at them again, and it has to start with their poor outsourced customer service.
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Why not get Boost? Cricket coverage is smaller than Sprint's. When you leave Cricket's native towers you roam onto Sprint. So, in a nutshell, Cricket's covergae is identical to Boost's. The only advantage is that Cricket can roam on Verizon if there is no Cricket or Sprint signal, but you have to pay extra for it. Boost is $50 for unlimited everything and after 18 months of service the price drops to $35 with their Shrinkage promotion. It's a great deal.
Agreed. Boost has more 3G coverage than Cricket. But Cricket has more roaming partners than just Sprint I believe, at least on 1X.
Cricket doesn't run on Sprints 3G, Cricket has its own 3G network.
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Lincoln, NE @ on Samsung Transform Ultra for Sprint.
Thanks people. I'll probably just stick with VM based on your replies.
Originally Posted by djjim
Why not get Boost? Cricket coverage is smaller than Sprint's. When you leave Cricket's native towers you roam onto Sprint. So, in a nutshell, Cricket's covergae is identical to Boost's. The only advantage is that Cricket can roam on Verizon if there is no Cricket or Sprint signal, but you have to pay extra for it. Boost is $50 for unlimited everything and after 18 months of service the price drops to $35 with their Shrinkage promotion. It's a great deal.
I've been considering Boost as well. It's almost identical to Virgin Mobile, and they're getting a better selection of phones. So that's probably my next option.
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Originally Posted by djjim
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