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7 Confessions of a Cingular Sales Rep - Consumerist

The need for cell phone sales reps to cleanse themselves in the healing waters of the Consumerist is nearing an all-time high. Reps from all over the cell phone universe are flooding the tip line, a tidal wave of lost souls begging for redemption... Ok, not really, but a guy who works at Cingular just wrote us with some tips for the readers. Why should Verizon have all the damn fun?

• Avoid contract extensions by changing your rate plan at a store. "If you want to change your rate plan, do it in a retail store instead of on-line or over the phone. Officially after 1/2 of your contract is over a rate plan change results in a contract extension, but I've never once seen that rule enforced in the store."

• Features are your friends. "You can just about get about get a rep to do anything you want if you offer to get a text package or a data package, and they can be cancelled on-line or over the phone the second you leave the store. The same goes for accessories. Offer to get accessories if it will get you a deal, they can be returned no questions asked within 30 days. (Let me put it this way, if a customer came in looking to get a treo w/the data package and accessories I would have sold a Treo 750 for $100 after rebate)"

• Upgrade more often with a higher priced rate plan. "[Cingular's] upgrade policies are similar to Verizon's, if someone's rate plan has been 75 dollars or higher (including features, but excluding taxes) for the last three months, they can upgrade 1/2 way through their contract."

• Get the rebate in the store, and at home. "Try to get the rep to give you the rebate in the store, they'll be likely to do this if you agree to get accessories. You can get go on-
line and print out the rebate form from Cell phones and cell phone plans from Cingular Wireless and send it in anyway."

• Make the store compete with the website. "Remember that the retail stores can match prices for the cingular website, so check those prices before you go into a store."

• Get credit for your mistakes. "If you go way over on your text messaging one month, go into a store and ask if they can credit you the difference if you sign up for a bigger text package. They should be able to do this, and you can always drop your text back down after you've gotten your credit."

• Use the internet for $20. "Also, regardless of what kind of phone you have a $20 mediaMAX data package will give you unlimted access to the web that will not use your minutes, whether you're using a phone, a PDA, or even a laptop card."

Thank you, Cingular Guy! You make Cingular look slightly less evil. Not an easy task. If you work at Sprint or T-Mobile and would like to offer some tips for our readers, write to us at tips [at] consumerist [dot] com.—MEGHANN MARCO

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nice post! Diggin it!

Nwahs

Very awesome post! This will help a lot of people out I'm sure.

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Cell phone contest!!!!!!!

paddyoc_aka_godofsales

How does that work with family plans? More specifically, a 700 min fam plan with internet and features that total $110 with 3 lines?

cingular53dp

ya know most of this is true cause they have pushed us so hard on acc and feature sales...but reducing phone prices in my market has stopped. they now have a weekly report that they email everyone with everyones name and exactly how much you reduce a phone and if you are below what they want you have to be on call with the vp and explain why and your action plan to stop so this rep just added $20 bucks to each phone sale so i can keep my job...oh wait if i dont sell anything i wont have one either...hhhmmmm.

chokaay

I've got to say that this is the MOST INFORMATIVE article I've read about Cingular/AT&T thusfar! Great insight on the innerworkings of "the system". :Dr_Evil: :hypo:

PixieBaby473

Not quite as interesting as Verizon's, but still good. Thanks again!

BabaBooey

Visiting my local store this week and will attempt this.

cingular53dp

this last weekend my boss told me anything can be discounted for new customers as long as they get features and accessories no deal walks...if you want a kickin phone tell them you want at least a plan 59.99 or higher...$80 in features and $30 in features and you can get alot off of a phone and tell them to waive the act fees....push it....you didnt hear that from me though. you can always move your plan down return the accessories and change the features!! the problem is mainly just new customers though they will accomadate existings too.