Sprint once again shows why they can’t sell Windows Phone devices

posted on Mar 17th 2014 by Joe Fedewa

The first Windows Phone device that Sprint carried was the HTC Arrive. This device did not sell very well for Sprint, which led them to eventually cancel the device. The problem, however, was not in the device. It was in Sprint themselves. The Arrive was never advertised, never put out in front for display, and never suggested by Sprint retail associates. Sprint never gave the phone a chance.

Because of that “failure” they took a long time to get on-board with Windows Phone 8. Now they have the HTC 8XT and Samsung ATIV S Neo. We don’t know sales numbers for these devices, but advertising and in-store marketing has been about the same as the Arrive. This is very apparent in one store where the HTC 8XT is displayed among their “basic phones.”

Instead of being out by the Samsung Galaxy S4 or iPhone 5S, they have the 8XT out with the Samsung Array and Kyocera DuraCore. These are devices that most people call “dumb phones.” We’re going to wager that Sprint is once again not doing so well with Windows Phone 8 devices. AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile continue to offer new and exciting devices. They also actually advertise and promote these devices. Sprint does none of this and expects the devices to sell.

Do you have a Sprint Windows Phone device? Have you ever tried to buy one in a store?

[via Reddit]

Ben Schoon

Last time I was at a Sprint store I saw a section specifically for the 8XT.
Joe Fedewa

Really? Where was that at?
justd80010

A few things I’ve noticed that may indicate uptake of the platform: WP is listed besides Android and iPhone with used phone buyback vendors now. Windows phone is appearing in major contemporary media such as Kevin Spacey’s House of Cards, and I got a postcard from a pre-paid service in the mail and although there were multiple devices on the front side, only the Lumina 521 appeared on the reverse.

Proof of nothing, but this wasn’t happening 18 months ago.
jhtanglewood

Redmond, Washington probably.
jhtanglewood

I’d be interested in what percentage of Sprint users have smartphones. I haven’t seen/known a single Sprint customer since the days when ‘push to talk’ was new and was their bread & butter.
John Ross

Im a Sprint employee in Tampa, FL. and WPs have a specific area for them. We tell people about them but customers that have iOS or Android get turned off by the fact that it doesnt have the many applications they are used to getting. The customers that usually get them are first time smartphone users, someone that has a Windows tablet, or someone that has/had the WP.
John Ross

Im a Sprint employee in Tampa, FL. and WPs have a specific area for them. We tell people about them but customers that have iOS or Android get turned off by the fact that it doesnt have the many applications they are used to getting. The customers that usually get them are first time smartphone users, someone that has a Windows tablet, or someone that has/had the WP.
Pedro Weekes

Why would this surprise anyone?? If you do a shit job of advertising you would obviously get a shit job of returns on the product. For a country that prides itself in Advertising this article is a rap on the knuckles for those in charge at sprint seeing that if they depend on advertising of smartphones to sell to gain revenue then how do they accept people who’s costing them the same revenue they expect to get by putting high-end smartphones on the same shelf as phones people buy today and throw away tomorrow.
Ben Schoon

Winston-Salem NC
Next time my friend goes I’ll ask him to see if it’s still there and if he can take a pic.
AaronVanCleave

Every time I have tried to buy a windows phone in a Sprint Store I’m told by the sales person that Sprint doesn’t sell Windows Phones. They always say the same thing when I point out the Windows Phone(s) in their display, “That’s a Windows Phone?” So when the Sprint employee’s don’t even know what a Windows Phone is, it seems like they might have a hard time talking about their capabilities…
AaronVanCleave

And, they have a No-Talent-Ass-Clown as a CEO.
Ben Schoon

I found a picture of it that I took!
Guy

One of the issues with Windows Phone, in general, is the no need for in-store technical support. If you go to any brick and mortar store to buy a phone, the “technical” staff are required to assist you. They assist in transfering files, contacts, music, whatever. There are usually some cryptic settings required for activation. This is the norm for iOS and Android phones.
This is not required for any Windows Phone. In fact, in the last four years of using Windows Phones from Sprint, I have had to teach Sprint employees how to “activate” the device. Which consists of turning the phone on, logging in with your Microsoft ID, performing a PRL update, switching to Wi-Fi, performing an OS update (which can take awhile), and you are done. I recommend WP to any Windows 8 user. There are a thousand reasons why this combination works better.
For me, a Windows users, everything work better and synchronizes better. The SkyDriveOneDrive integration between all my devices and systems. If you own a Mac, get an iOS phone, and if you own a Chromebook, get an Adnroid phone. Your user experience will better if you stick to one platform. I happen to prefer Windows and need it for work.
Some others have mentioned the lack of apps for Windows. I will simply state that I don’t know what I am missing, because I can do everything I want to do on a WP and several things that can’t be done on any other platform.
Sprint keeps me as a customer because of unlimited data. Otherwise, I would have jumped ship some time ago Mostly because of a lack of support for any of their products. Softbank needs to acquire T-Mobile as quickly as possible and then start fixing the problems with both carriers.
Joe Fedewa

Thanks!
Jay

When I bought my Samsung ATIV S Neo that Sprint was not going to update it to GDR3 so I might want to look at an (Android phone or I-Phone)
John

I wanted to get the ATIV S and when I went to purchase it at the store the girl helping me told me it wasn’t a popular phone and then asked me if I was sure I wanted it. I told her I was sure I wanted the phone and that I knew it wasn’t a “popular” phone. I then asked her what her idea of a good phone was and she gave me the generic Galaxy Note 3 or iPhone response. I had a good laugh about it after I got my phone and left the store.
mrog

I went into a Sprint store on Monday. They didn’t have any Windows Phones on display. Zero. No wonder they aren’t selling!
disgruntledcustomer

So I’ve read a lot about the topic of Sprint and their Windows phone practices. I am a long time Sprint customer and have been waiting and waiting for a good Windows phone to hit Sprint. On the daily I Google “Sprint windows phones” to see if there is any good news about a new phone on its way, but all I find is comments about how Sprint sucks when it comes to Windows phones. I finally gave up waiting and decided to go get the Samsung Ativ S Neo this last weekend. When I walked up to put my name in, and said what I was there for, the guy looked at me like I was cray cray and said; “Why?” (with a disgusted look on his face). Come to find out they don’t even display the only two Windows 8 phones they have (HTC & Samsung). Bot only that, but they didn’t have them in stock, at any store in the South Bay.

So I guess it is all true, Sprint truly sucks when it comes to Windows phones. They seem to have something against them too, as if there is some type of campaign against Windows phones. In any case, I am saying goodbye to Sprint for this reason alone. One day they will realize the mistake they have made.
Paul

I have been waiting for a new Windows phone to hit the Sprint network for a few months now, and was asking about it in store. I was told by one employee, that Sprint didn’t carry any Windows phones.

I pointed out the two they had on display, and rephrased my question to, “Do you know if you are going to be getting any Windows phones in the near future?”

The same store rep asked why I wanted a Windows phone, and started quoting me prices on the Galaxy Note, and the iPhone 5s. As if I just didn’t know any better and was going to change my contract to a Framily plan to get a phone I don’t want.
NavinJay

I disagree. I am a former Android phone user and I traded mine in on an HTC 8XT. Android has gotten too bloated and convoluted over the years and it was no longer fun to use. I never liked any Apple products and I used to have a Windows Mobile phone a long time ago and decided to give the 8XT a try. In the store I went to in Orlando the 8XT was near the older Android phones. The sales person was happy to sell me one. And I **Love** the phone. Simple, elegant, much like Android used to be.
NavinJay

Windows 8 phones are the fastest growing segment of the Smartphone industry.
NavinJay

I just visited a Sprint retail store and ranted in front of them how the 8XT, although a good phone 2 years ago, is not satisfying my want for a newer, higher end Windows phone and I’ll probably be switching from Sprint to another carrier soon to get a higher end Windows phone. The person i spoke to just answered my question (about when my contract ends) and not another peep about it. You think they would at least pretend they wanted to keep me as a customer.
mossrock

As of today, December 4, 2014, Sprint no longer carries Windows phones.
AD Neamiah

As far as I can tell you can’t watch Amazon Prime on a Windows phone,a major alternative to the TV networks.

Sprint once again shows why they can’t sell Windows Phone devices

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