Samsung galaxy S3 for HMP Customers... Wind listen up.

[torontocolin]

I don't get what all the fuss is about. We have a legacy plan folks, that's the way these things work. It's no different from the people in the early days who would "promo hop" (port out and back in to take advantage of the temporary credits). Wind's business model with the HMP didn't factor in WindTabs, and if they can't offer you both and still turn a profit, they're not going to do it anyway just because you're a "loyal customer". Guess what, they're probably not going to give us LTE access either.

It seems half the people here are crying about how they can't have the tab, and how Wind gives tab and postpaid customers preference, and how outright prices are higher now. But two years ago, half the people here were crying about how Wind didn't have any device subsidies, and $600 was too much for a phone, and they should get a tab like Koodo.

Here's the thing folks: Wind is not your friend. They are here to make money. They didn't invest a billion dollars in spectrum and network build-out costs because they wanted to help you out. The sooner you accept that, the better off you'll be. They have invested a lot of money, and now they need to make it back. They will change their business plan as they go to make as much money as they can. Nobody was complaining when that meant dropping the cost of unlimited talk, text, and data from $80, as it was when they launched, to $40. But it's a two way street, and now they're going the other way.

So don't feel betrayed when they try and push you into a postpaid commitment or a new plan. Don't feel betrayed when they give new people a better promo than they gave you. They were never your friends, you are just a number to them (just like every single other wireless carrier), and they "owe" you nothing that isn't in writing. If you can find a better deal, take it. If not, suck it up and accept that Wind offers the best value for you, for now, and stop whining that you can't get even more.

[OCZ]

I don't get what all the fuss is about. We have a legacy plan folks, that's the way these things work. It's no different from the people in the early days who would "promo hop" (port out and back in to take advantage of the temporary credits). Wind's business model with the HMP didn't factor in WindTabs, and if they can't offer you both and still turn a profit, they're not going to do it anyway just because you're a "loyal customer". Guess what, they're probably not going to give us LTE access either.

It seems half the people here are crying about how they can't have the tab, and how Wind gives tab and postpaid customers preference, and how outright prices are higher now. But two years ago, half the people here were crying about how Wind didn't have any device subsidies, and $600 was too much for a phone, and they should get a tab like Koodo.

Here's the thing folks: Wind is not your friend. They are here to make money. They didn't invest a billion dollars in spectrum and network build-out costs because they wanted to help you out. The sooner you accept that, the better off you'll be. They have invested a lot of money, and now they need to make it back. They will change their business plan as they go to make as much money as they can. Nobody was complaining when that meant dropping the cost of unlimited talk, text, and data from $80, as it was when they launched, to $40. But it's a two way street, and now they're going the other way.

So don't feel betrayed when they try and push you into a postpaid commitment or a new plan. Don't feel betrayed when they give new people a better promo than they gave you. They were never your friends, you are just a number to them (just like every single other wireless carrier), and they "owe" you nothing that isn't in writing. If you can find a better deal, take it. If not, suck it up and accept that Wind offers the best value for you, for now, and stop whining that you can't get even more.

couldn't have said it better! kudos to you sir!

[QS2k5]

Amen he hit the nail on the head
Sent from my Lumia 710 via the HowardForums WP7 App

[Fortissimo]

I got the (not original, but later) Holiday Miracle Plan by changing to it when it was briefly available. However, I changed it from the $29. for first year promo plan (basically a Super Smart w/ discount for 1 year), and yet it doesn't affect my Tab+ status as I had Tab+ for the LG Optimus 2x I got w/ the line. So for me, I have both Tab+ and HMP at the same time now, and since it's $40. it qualifies for Tab+.

As for renewing Tab+ in order to get the SIII? In my case, not even worth it. My Tab+ has still about $310. left on the Tab, and since I have to pay it out before I can renew, it'd be $300. + $310, which is already more than the phone's cost itself (at $600. at Mobi). Not to mention that I have to extend the Tab+ expiration for another 10 months (which I have been on). Definitely a poor value proposal, especially compared to the Early Upgrade for iPhone on various Big 3 providers in the past. Those are unbeatable upgrade policies! WIND doesn't have nearly as good but makes it up in plan value.

So for me, I'll forget for any upgrades w/ WIND until they wipe my Tab clean, and that'd be another 2 years and 2 months. I will wait and in the mean time I'd just buy phones outright. I just won't buy from WIND anymore only because they provide no OS upgrades on 2 of the phones I own from them: Optimus 2x and Nokia 5230, while both phones from other providers have received newer updates long time ago. WIND bad bad.

[ijcy]

OCZ I disagree that they are trying to get people off.
On the other hand I totally agree that it is not worth buying the phone from Wind.
Actually with Wind's new warranty policy I don't see myself ever buying a phone from a Wind.

[OCZ]

OCZ I disagree that they are trying to get people off.
On the other hand I totally agree that it is not worth buying the phone from Wind.
Actually with Wind's new warranty policy I don't see myself ever buying a phone from a Wind.

well they are actually ... by implementing such a policy with the SG3 and eventually the note (tmobile edition) or any high end phone ...

sooner or later they might add LTE or 4G or whatever and do the same thing, if you want faster speeds you need to switch to x plan

the new plans have the same ARPU but it cost them (wind) much cheaper to operate than the unlimited everything!

[LDN2012]

I don't get what all the fuss is about. We have a legacy plan folks, that's the way these things work. It's no different from the people in the early days who would "promo hop" (port out and back in to take advantage of the temporary credits). Wind's business model with the HMP didn't factor in WindTabs, and if they can't offer you both and still turn a profit, they're not going to do it anyway just because you're a "loyal customer". Guess what, they're probably not going to give us LTE access either.

It seems half the people here are crying about how they can't have the tab, and how Wind gives tab and postpaid customers preference, and how outright prices are higher now. But two years ago, half the people here were crying about how Wind didn't have any device subsidies, and $600 was too much for a phone, and they should get a tab like Koodo.

Here's the thing folks: Wind is not your friend. They are here to make money. They didn't invest a billion dollars in spectrum and network build-out costs because they wanted to help you out. The sooner you accept that, the better off you'll be. They have invested a lot of money, and now they need to make it back. They will change their business plan as they go to make as much money as they can. Nobody was complaining when that meant dropping the cost of unlimited talk, text, and data from $80, as it was when they launched, to $40. But it's a two way street, and now they're going the other way.

So don't feel betrayed when they try and push you into a postpaid commitment or a new plan. Don't feel betrayed when they give new people a better promo than they gave you. They were never your friends, you are just a number to them (just like every single other wireless carrier), and they "owe" you nothing that isn't in writing. If you can find a better deal, take it. If not, suck it up and accept that Wind offers the best value for you, for now, and stop whining that you can't get even more.

Very well said.

The only thing I think Wind should do is still allow the outright sale of the S3 to customers. There are too many conflicting policies all over the place for the different plans.

[killer007]

that is why i said before...
they are doing business and not doing it for charity...

[SharpieFiend]

I don't get what all the fuss is about. We have a legacy plan folks, that's the way these things work. It's no different from the people in the early days who would "promo hop" (port out and back in to take advantage of the temporary credits). Wind's business model with the HMP didn't factor in WindTabs, and if they can't offer you both and still turn a profit, they're not going to do it anyway just because you're a "loyal customer". Guess what, they're probably not going to give us LTE access either.

It seems half the people here are crying about how they can't have the tab, and how Wind gives tab and postpaid customers preference, and how outright prices are higher now. But two years ago, half the people here were crying about how Wind didn't have any device subsidies, and $600 was too much for a phone, and they should get a tab like Koodo.

Here's the thing folks: Wind is not your friend. They are here to make money. They didn't invest a billion dollars in spectrum and network build-out costs because they wanted to help you out. The sooner you accept that, the better off you'll be. They have invested a lot of money, and now they need to make it back. They will change their business plan as they go to make as much money as they can. Nobody was complaining when that meant dropping the cost of unlimited talk, text, and data from $80, as it was when they launched, to $40. But it's a two way street, and now they're going the other way.

So don't feel betrayed when they try and push you into a postpaid commitment or a new plan. Don't feel betrayed when they give new people a better promo than they gave you. They were never your friends, you are just a number to them (just like every single other wireless carrier), and they "owe" you nothing that isn't in writing. If you can find a better deal, take it. If not, suck it up and accept that Wind offers the best value for you, for now, and stop whining that you can't get even more.

All I want is to buy the freaking phone already. In my opinion it's unethical to deny existing customers the phone because they want to get people on newer, lesser plans. I understand why they want to move people to postpaid plans, but they very happily sold me my prepaid plan and they should support that. I would be willing to move my plan to postpaid and set automatic payments on my credit card with them, but since I'm on the HMP they won't allow it.

What bothers me most is the talking points that senior management have given the salespeople when a customer confronts them. "Everyone else restricts hot new phones to new activations, so there's nothing wrong with us doing it. It's the industry." Which, of course, is a lie. Nobody in Canada restricted GS3 sales to new customers, other than Wind. I had a friend who bought one from Rogers outright on the day of release. There's one thing to be unethical, but to lie to your customers like that is a new low.

As for Wind not owing me anything, that's where you're completely wrong. Customers deserve to be treated with respect, expecting anything else is asinine. Wind has not given me their customers the respect that they deserve, because they know that a shiny new toy will get people to do things they normally wouldn't. I would understand their restrictions if there was a supply shortage, but there isn't. I feel that their preregistration program was so successful that they decided it was a good way to screw customers out of their existing plans. To me, that's the opposite of respect and demonstrates a level of contempt for their customers.

So, what am I going to do about it? The HMP is a great deal and I'd be a fool to give it up, so I'm not. However, I have decided to stop recommending their service to others, and tell this story as often as possible (which, of course, most people find reprehensible). This is the most damaging thing to them that I can realistically do. It's a shame that they allowed this to happen.

[torontocolin]

All I want is to buy the freaking phone already.

So buy it! If Wind won't sell it to you outright, I'm sure someone else will. As you said, Rogers will sell them outright, so just go there.

Which, of course, is a lie. Nobody in Canada restricted GS3 sales to new customers, other than Wind.

Maybe nobody else was restricting outright sales but Wind on this particular device, but that doesn't mean nobody does it. The most recent example I can think of is the Galaxy Nexus; Bell/Virgin wouldn't sell them outright initially. It has happened on other devices too.

Customers deserve to be treated with respect, expecting anything else is asinine.

Were they rude to you? Did they hurt your feelings? You pay them money for a service. As long as they provide that service without issue then that's all you can expect. Stop acting like they should care about anything more than your money. They're a business first and foremost, and this was a business decision.

I would understand their restrictions if there was a supply shortage, but there isn't.

What, you think they were just doing this out of spite? They can only order so many devices, and they can only keep so many in the stores at once. They need to control supply flow, and this is how they chose to do it.

and tell this story as often as possible (which, of course, most people find reprehensible).

Then "most people" are naive fools.

Again, if you're not getting a tab anyway, then just get the damn phone elsewhere. If you were really so offended by this, then you should leave. Clearly you believe that the HMP offers you more value than you could possibly get elsewhere. So stop acting like you're entitled to more than the incredibly low cost service you pay for.

[AMRivlin]

So, what am I going to do about it? The HMP is a great deal and I'd be a fool to give it up, so I'm not. However, I have decided to stop recommending their service to others, and tell this story as often as possible (which, of course, most people find reprehensible). This is the most damaging thing to them that I can realistically do. It's a shame that they allowed this to happen.

Sharpie,

I am completely in line with you. I loved Wind, mostly for their HMP (I am on the 2011 Unbreakable $40 HMP look alike) I find coverage to be decent, and their roaming fees for USA and Canada are so low it doesn't bother me to talk as much as I like.

But after their antics with $30 Facebook Credit, and artificially limiting SGS3 and sending out bogus "exclusive offer emails" I am done recommending Wind.

I think Rogers and Telus have their own issues and should be avoided if at all possible, but Wind no longer has the "angel in distress" image I once gave it.

Now that Wind and Mobi are big players (haha, I jest) can we get a new mobile start up!?

[z24gta]

Wait I am confused, wind is running a business? I thought wind was a consumers best friend, and that postpaid and prepaid didn't matter; now it does. Robellus is evil and wind is the new robellus, anyone who thinks wind is a charity is sadly mistaken. It makes me laugh, because all the customers think there entitled to loyalty, in the end your just a account receivable as is with all companies.

[SomethingMore]

I don't get what all the fuss is about.

I won't quote your whole post, but I actually agree with all of it. My issues with WIND are twofold:

1. How they handled the pre-registration for the SGS3. Instead of splitting it between "new" and "existing" customers, they should have based it on the order in which people pre-registered, irregardless of their status. Every other carrier/retailer did it this way. Then, when someone is contacted, they would either put the phone on a tab (with an eligible plan only, of course), or buy the phone outright (with any existing plan or a new account, but no option for "just buy the phone and leave").
In other words, when your number is up, you have a few options:
a) If you're a New Customer, you can buy the phone on WindTab for $299 and $40/month plan, OR
b) If you're a New Customer, you can buy the phone for $649 and $40/month plan
c) If you're an Existing Customer, you can buy the phone on WindTab for $299 IF YOUR PLAN QUALIFIES, OR
d) If you're an Existing Customer, you can buy the phone for $649 without having to change your plan.
That's how it should have been handled.

2. They told existing customers that they would get an "exclusive offer" when the phones were available. That exclusive offer turned out to be the exact opposite of exclusive. If they weren't going to offer something unique, they shouldn't have said they would. My belief is that they only used the word "exclusive" to stop people from buying directly from Mobilicity.
In my opinion, the exclusive offer for existing customers should have been:
a) Buy the phone on WindTab for $199 IF YOUR PLAN QUALIFIES, OR
b) Buy the phone for $549 without having to change your plan.

I know, that contradicts my suggested options from #1, but that's only because they had to throw the word "exclusive" out there. If they had followed the options I laid out in #1, then there'd be no need for anything "exclusive" at all. I'd have been GLAD to pay them $649 if they handled the pre-registration list in the order in which they were received. But they didn't. They opted to create a distinct line between the two groups (new and existing customers), and THEY said they'd make it up to existing customers later; but they didn't.

[SharpieFiend]

Again, if you're not getting a tab anyway, then just get the damn phone elsewhere. If you were really so offended by this, then you should leave. Clearly you believe that the HMP offers you more value than you could possibly get elsewhere. So stop acting like you're entitled to more than the incredibly low cost service you pay for.

For me it boils down to respect. If Wind chooses to treat some of their customers better then others (ie. how is my $40/month somehow worse then your $40/month?) then what are they going to do later? I shudder to think what tricks they're going to play when they turn on an LTE network and want to make everyone pay $60 instead of $40. You have to treat your customers fairly or one day you'll discover that you don't have any customers at all.

I easily qualify for the tab, so why not let me transfer my HMP to postpaid? Their advertising says that a $40 plan is the requirement, and my plan is $40. This would be agreeable to me, but Wind wants me to bend over, grab my ankles and accept the hard truth of a new, smaller plan. I could be more disappointed about this then being denied the phone, which is a definite customer respect issue to me.

[killer007]

For me it boils down to respect. If Wind chooses to treat some of their customers better then others (ie. how is my $40/month somehow worse then your $40/month?) then what are they going to do later? I shudder to think what tricks they're going to play when they turn on an LTE network and want to make everyone pay $60 instead of $40. You have to treat your customers fairly or one day you'll discover that you don't have any customers at all.

I easily qualify for the tab, so why not let me transfer my HMP to postpaid? Their advertising says that a $40 plan is the requirement, and my plan is $40. This would be agreeable to me, but Wind wants me to bend over, grab my ankles and accept the hard truth of a new, smaller plan. I could be more disappointed about this then being denied the phone, which is a definite customer respect issue to me.

like this already discussed long time in december when the HMP plan for 2011 is there...
ppl already said you can't get a tab or tab+ if you are a prepaid customer, only postpaid, that is why it was important to set the account up to postpaid cuz the HMP plan won't be available in the system

and now this happens....