Comments on: Why Advertising Still Doesn't Work: Sprint Tries Its Hardest To Sell Me an iPhone

By: stacy scott

stacy scott — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:33:03 +0000

I am still confused why Sprint is advertising a product you can’t get! Why waste the money. I have been waiting for years for Sprint to get a decent phone. Finally I think they do but I can’t find one. Now I read reviews that maybe its not that great- hot battery cracked screen the cloud is wierd. Tried one last time finally found one but I was not in the stores CSA so they would not sell to me. Hey My contact is up and I am going to AT&T. Now I am the proud owner of a new I phone 3gS!

By: Justin Goldsborough

Justin Goldsborough — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:42:18 +0000

Hey, all. I’m Justin Goldsborough, communications manager at Sprint. So I know by social media terms I’m way late to the party, but Peter, I wanted to reach out and let you know we value you as a customer and would be happy to answer any questions you have a bout the Pre or any other of our devices.

In addition, I can see your point…an e-mail about Katana when we’re just off launching the most influential device in our company’s history — of course I mean the Pre — does seem misplaced. I don’t work in Marketing, but happy to relay the feedback.

As far as marketing in general goes, this is just one person’s opinion, but the most effective marketing (if you want to call it that) I see at Sprint or from any company lately is listening and engaging directly with customers via Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels. Traditional online marketing is too one-way, IMO, and often leaves the customer wanting more, like an answer to their specific account or device question.

You and your readers can reach out to me/us anytime to discuss Sprint issues or questions. Nothing is out of bounds. And thanks for the feedback. I think we all know that very few people, if any, would choose a Katana over an iPhone if the device itself was the only factor being considered .

Thanks,

Justin Goldsborough
justin dot goldsborough at sprint dot com
http://www.twitter.com/jgoldsborough

By: Mac Beach

Mac Beach — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:54:26 +0000

Sprint was very courteous and helpful when I called to cancel my service.

Can’t say that about just any company!

By: Michael McMullan

Michael McMullan — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:51:16 +0000

I’m surprised you are giving them a second chance…I will be a free agent in October — and at this point, I’m definitely getting the iphone as im not sure the Pre or Tour can compete.

By: Conrad Sands

Conrad Sands — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:17:34 +0000

Yea, they should have marketed you the Pre. I have one and it’s terrific. Sprint Marketing has always been on of the weakest parts of the company for some odd reason. I don’t think they’re hiring enough people who have studied some of the newer textbooks on the finer points of marketing in this day and age. My guess is that they’ll see your post and reach out to you.

By: Why Advertising Still Doesn’t Work: Sprint Tries Its Hardest To Sell Me an iPhone [MediaMemo] | techclack.com

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:00:11 +0000

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By: David Higgs

David Higgs — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:58:20 +0000

The real potential iPhone killer is the Panasonic Viera which, unfortunately, is available only in Japan – where they can’t give away iPhones because the Viera is just that superior. If Sprint really wants to keep your business they’ll change that.

By: christian hudson

christian hudson — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:36:13 +0000

Peter,
Large companies still have little to no idea how to market off of the data they already have. Other life examples are my mortgage co. they know my rate, my house, my credit and Cablevision who reward my long standing good customer status by raising my rates and pushing me to Fios. Who basically get me for the same rate that Cablevision just tried to change me off of. It’s mindless stupidity.

Unless of course nobody makes money off the product and now that they have your information (where the real money is?) the goal is to churn you so you stop costing them.

By: Peter Kafka

Peter Kafka — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:09:33 +0000

But that’s what I was getting at. Web ad guys try to “targeted” advertising based on my browsing history, and they don’t have much to go on and there’s a lot of potential blowback for them, to boot. But I already have a relationship with Sprint that is fairly involved. And it will be much more expensive to replace me than it would be to spend a little time and money trying to keep me. You’d think they would be better at this in 2009.

By: Bjorn Tipling

Bjorn Tipling — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:53:59 +0000

Maybe it’s good that they’re dumb about our personal tastes. I’d be nice to get advertisement that understood me, but Minority Report like ads are creepy.

By: Dave Barnes

Dave Barnes — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:27:33 +0000

Peter,

You delusional fool. You actually think that Sprint wants your business. They don’t.

None of the phone companies want your business. They just expect it.

,dave