Orange Retention Offers

smartcrab2000

RokkaMan wrote: »

Today was the first day of my upgrade priod, having just entered the 16th month of my 18 month contract. Having kept a studious eye out on the offers people were offering me, I phoned up, hoping to score the HTC Desire for £10/month for 24 monhs that some people reported as getting (on HUKD).

The only thing I needed was unlimited texts. As I send over 1000 a month (I treat it like MSN) it was the only "must" for me.

Attempt #1
Long story short, offered me a Desire for something like £17 a month. Plan included 500mb of internet I didn't need (I have £15/month 15GB MiFi on a rolling one month contract from 3). I asked if I could get it cheaper without the net, she claimed that it wouldn't have made the plan any cheaper(?). I had gone through the "thinking of leaving us" option, despite having 3 months left, and was very vocal of my genuine intentions of switching to vodafone, but she was unmoved.

This is where the funny starts.
Told her that, while I desired to stay with Orange, the Vodafone deals were better and was hoping she'd match them. I explained that, going through a cashback site such as Quidco would give me £150 cashback for a contract or £100 for contract sim-only. She tried to tell me that I wouldn't be the one receiving the cash! (what?!) Then, having been completely unimpressed with her handset offer (and not believing for a second that it was "the best we could do"), I asked her about sim only deals. She offered unlimited texts and 200 minutes for £10.50 or something a month. Again, mentioned vodafone, and she basically dictated to me that other providers wouldn't do unlimited texts on £10 a month! (?!?) (Voda offer £50 cashback on a 12 month £10/month contract with 300 mins and unlimited texts, and I made it clear that I knew this). In an attempt of pure bluntness, I quoted people's final deals posted on this forum. She said she had been looking at them, and told me I shouldn't believe what I read on the internet, and that the people were literally making them up. Really. She said that. At this point, I had had enough, laughed, told her "thanks anyway" and hung up.

Attempt #2

HTC Desire HD
100 minutes
Unlimited texts
80MB internet (with max 60p/day charge if I go over)

£15 a month, 24 months with £50 up front.

That was my first offer given, from a really lovely girl. If at first, you don't succeed!

I would say wait till you reach the last month of your contract and deals might get better. This is not a surety though.. So if u get a good deal before that which suits you, go for it. The deal you have mentioned is also nice. You could though easily push for more mins.. As currently orange are doubling up the mins on all contracts -- upgrade or new offered on phone.

RokkaMan

smartcrab2000 wrote: »

I would say wait till you reach the last month of your contract and deals might get better. This is not a surety though.. So if u get a good deal before that which suits you, go for it. The deal you have mentioned is also nice. You could though easily push for more mins.. As currently orange are doubling up the mins on all contracts -- upgrade or new offered on phone.

I have 400 mins at the minute and I don't use 100 of them anyway. Wasn't too fussed to be honest. I've gotten the phone just to sell on (I have an iPhone 4 atm) but I was expecting to end up with a Desire, not a Desire HD, so I'll have to give a bit of thought as to what one I keep. Either way, the value of either phone would have dropped quite a bit in three months, so I was happy to deal now.

roddy1_2

Called again and they were willing to match a current offer to new customers (1400 mins, UL texts, 500mb internet, free Bold 9780 for £33 PM 24 month contract).

Tried ringing few more times to see if they could at beat it considering im upgrading but they wont do it, ive spoken to at least 3 different people (male/female) all with the same result.

Deal is pretty good but for an existing customer, id expect a little extra at least.

smartcrab2000

roddy1 wrote: »

Called again and they were willing to match a current offer to new customers (1400 mins, UL texts, 500mb internet, free Bold 9780 for £33 PM 24 month contract).

Tried ringing few more times to see if they could at beat it considering im upgrading but they wont do it, ive spoken to at least 3 different people (male/female) all with the same result.

Deal is pretty good but for an existing customer, id expect a little extra at least.

I think you should ask them what loyalty discount are they giving you for being their old customer. Ask what in lieu of loyalty points you have built up over the duration of your contract.
Also, go to retentions in case you have not already. They generally give better deals.. But as seen on these forums, high paying customers are not being offered good deals unfortunately

roddy1_2

smartcrab2000 wrote: »

I think you should ask them what loyalty discount are they giving you for being their old customer. Ask what in lieu of loyalty points you have built up over the duration of your contract.
Also, go to retentions in case you have not already. They generally give better deals.. But as seen on these forums, high paying customers are not being offered good deals unfortunately

It was the retentions department that matched the deal for new people. I did mention all that loyalty stuff but all them keep saying 'the system wont let him/her add more minutes or texts' one of them even spoke to his team manager and came back and said he cant beat the offer mentioned.

Despite this, what do you guys think of the offer mentioned?

smartcrab2000

roddy1 wrote: »

It was the retentions department that matched the deal for new people. I did mention all that loyalty stuff but all them keep saying 'the system wont let him/her add more minutes or texts' one of them even spoke to his team manager and came back and said he cant beat the offer mentioned.

Despite this, what do you guys think of the offer mentioned?

As such offer is good!

roddy1_2

cool, i may just go for it. i dont think im going to find any better.

still strange though that with all the loyalty points i have (plus being band 5) they wont/cant beat an offer for new customers.

smartcrab2000

roddy1 wrote: »

cool, i may just go for it. i dont think im going to find any better.

still strange though that with all the loyalty points i have (plus being band 5) they wont/cant beat an offer for new customers.

If you have time left on your contract, go and try in high street shops. They might offer u a better upgrade deal on orange only or other company if interested!

roddy1_2

smartcrab2000 wrote: »

If you have time left on your contract, go and try in high street shops. They might offer u a better upgrade deal on orange only or other company if interested!

yeah ill give it a go on monday and see what happens. thanks for help

Ayelet

I am amazed because I thought this was a money saving website. Just spent a good hour reading through this thread to see people opting for more expensive 18 month contracts when the 24month is cheaper.

People need to smell the coffee that smartphones come at a higher price.

Rule of thumb to remember is that if an 18 month contract is the same price as a 24 month contract then of course that latter would be cheaper because for those 6 months you would get the line rental paid for. It's such a false economy to think that paying for a lesser contract would equal better value because it simply doesn't, as after the 18months people will then take out another contract at a higher fee.

anyways....

I am out of contract with 3 because of poor coverage. Managed to get hold of an orange staff discount code for a blackberry 9780 for under £20 a month....cheaper than a sim only.