Mobile Retentions deals for new customers

LDR28

Hello from a Newbie!

We all know that there are some decent retentions deals to be had for mobile phone customers - a way for a provider to 'sweeten the pill' and keep an existing customer - but what kind of negotiated/haggled offers can a new customer get?

My own situation (purely as an example): My Virgin contract ends next month and I'm looking at switching to a tariff on 3 (HTC Wildfire, £20pm, 24 month contract, 500 mins., 5000 texts, 1gb interweb). Not a terrible offer...however after reading the various "Retentions" threads on this site, a number of people have written about retentions deals they've been offered (from various providers) for cheaper monthly costs...more mins./texts...more internet...shorter contracts...and so on.

So my question is this: How much bartering room is there for the average new customer going to a provider for the first time? Are there deals to be had? Is there room for negotiation and compromise? Are providers responsive to this kind of approach? And, of course...what kind of offers have you, the MSE Masses, managed to secure in the recent past?

Guys_Dad

Retentions are supposed to encourage existing, profitable users to keep spending with the current network. If you have no history with them, then I would be very surprised if you could screw a better deal from a network direct and the "retention" equivalent for new subscribers are cashback and similar offers from dealers (CPW/Phones4U/etc).

However - and there is a thread running on cancelling a contract early currently - do make sure that you get good reception with the chosen handset and network in your area before agreeing any contract.

You mention going to Three. Read their returns policy here http://ask3.three.co.uk/SRVS/Data/Hutch/KnowledgeBases/Ask3/document/web/retail1.htm.

If you take the sim out of the packet, put it in the phone, you have waived your right to return it. You have no rights of return other than faulty goods if you buy in store, of course.

Not all networks are like this. I believe Voda give you 14 days without strings and there may be others - do your own research.

I have never used Three, but I do read this forum. From what I have read - I never will regardless of how good a deal you can get. Getting free from one of their contracts is akin to trying to get superglued chewing gum off your shoe it seems.

But - it's up to you in the end.

LDR28

Thanks Guy's Dad,

Although I gave my own personal situation as an example, my intention was to start a more general discussion about this topic - not so much an appraisal of any particular network or their performance, more a place for Forum Users to share their experiences and successes of bartering with the network providers.

Of course, I understand that retentions deals will often be based on a particular customer's usage history with a company, but that's not to say that providers would be completely unshakable in the deals they offer to new customers.

4013TheTune

Just ask them to price match...find out what a network is offering, then go to anothe rnetwork and ask if they would do a better deal, I managed to get 900 mins, ultd texts and i think 3gb of date on t-mobile..for £15, and that was just because i lied and said vodafone offered 600 mins on the same price!

Haggling always works and you've got nothing to lose

LDR28

ShahinTehShiz wrote: »

Haggling always works and you've got nothing to lose

MSE could adopt this as their official motto!

Will definitely be giving that a go when I come to renew/upgrade in 4 weeks time. Plenty of time to do some research and find a few tasty offers as ammunition