Yesterday, I got a chance to see my first PPC-6700 in action, and I
instantly wanted one. I checked one out at the Sprint Store at
Maplewood Mall on the way home, and learned that I was only eligible
for a $75.00 mail-in rebate on it, due to only having my RL-4920 for
just over 18 months. This would make my out-the-door price $525.00 or
so, plus tax; I would then get $75.00 back by mail - I also managed to
convince Sprint to add on a $75.00 credit for being such a loyal
customer...

I then did what any respectable bargain hunting geek would do - I
checked out eBay! I found several legitimate listings where, if you
were either starting a new line, adding a line to a Sprint account, or
transferring a number from another provider (except Sprint or Nextel),
they would sell you the same damn phone, for $119.99, with no
activation fees, free overnight shipping, and the one stipulation that
you pay at least one month at a $60/mo. rate, after which you can
switch at no cost to one that better suits your needs.

  Amazed at the vast discrepancy, I asked to speak with Account
Services; after about 24 minutes with 3 different people, I finally got
them on the line - only to be hung up on within a few minutes. I
immediately called back, explained what happened, and was told,
literally, that maybe I should just wait until my contract was up, and
buy the phone then, at the big discount. This, of course, isn't an
acceptable idea - I want it now!!! Besides, I *could* buy it at the
cheaper price now, wait for 30 days, change it to an add-on line @
$10/mo., pay the bill for the extra ten bucks for the next 5.5 months,
and, when the contract expires, simply cancel the RL-4920, and just use
the new number for myself. Doing it this way *should* give me what I
want, without any extra unneeded loyalty penalties, right? How could
they charge me any more than this?

My real question is this - Why make me go through all these hoops for a
great new phone, when I'm one of their happiest customers in the state
of Minnesota?!? I have no intention of leaving. I actually enjoy Sprint
and their services. I wouldn't have switched to them over 5 years ago
(from T-Mobile), and stayed with them, if I didn't like how they were
treating me.
After this highly frustrating experiece, though, things 6 months from
now might be a totally different story. -Bob S.

P.S. If any Sprint reps read this, and you can actually do something
about it, my address is saltydogmn at gmail dot com. (This is my
throwaway account, btw.)