O2 Priority.. Advice needed

[Anonymous]

Hi

Can anyone explain what benefit (apart from priority tickets for shows at O2 venues) we get from being a Priority customer?

I ask, because I had a disappointing chat with O2 sales person this morning, about a potential upgrade.

I was told that the only benefit I got as a Platinum Priority customer, when upgrading or buying a new phone, was that I could potentially upgrade 3 months early, thought that is likely to be withdrawn soon.

In addition, even though I've been a customer for over 10 years, I could only get the same offers and benefits as a new customer.

So, to my original question, what benefit do I get as a Priority customer, that would cause me to want to stay with O2 over any other new contract with another company?

This isn't a complaint, just a genuine inquiry in case I'm missing the point of staying with O2. 😐

Thanks
eight

-- With apologies to the Laptops&Broadband forum for mis-posting this originally. :robotsurprised:

[Anonymous]

The benefit is being to upgrade earlier than other customers. If you want to put that in monetary terms, you are saving (monthly bill x number of months early).
I suspect your disappointment was that you didn't get a discount. Unfortunately nowadays, from all networks, the best you can hope for is the same as new customers.
If a deal is genuinely better elsewhere (all things considered not just cost) then go with it.

[Anonymous]

It was explained to me that although, at present, I have the chance to upgrade 3 months early, I shouldn't rely upon it since O2 may be removing that benefit soon.

It wasn't so much the idea of a discount that I found disappointing, but that loyalty no longer counts for anything, especially in the current economic climate. I would have thought that they would not only want new customers, but would want to keep existing customers, though I can't see that's the case here.

Of course, you are right that if the 3 month early upgrade continues, then this is a genuine benefit.

Without the early upgrade, there are better offers from other companies for the phone I want, which I'll now give serious consideration.

Thanks for the reply
eight

[Anonymous]

. . . .
It wasn't so much the idea of a discount that I found disappointing, but that loyalty no longer counts for anything, especially in the current economic climate. I would have thought that they would not only want new customers, but would want to keep existing customers, though I can't see that's the case here.
. . .

But what do you feel would reward your loyalty? What has changed this year, as opposed to the other 9 years?

Did you know that some other networks don't allow existing customers to take advantage of offers available to new customers? Or that there customer service is based overseas and impossible to deal with?
So as I said you need to be very careful that the offer of a seemingly cheap phone doesn't make things difficult in the long run.

[Anonymous]

But what do you feel would reward your loyalty? What has changed this year, as opposed to the other 9 years?

At my last two upgrades, I was offered a 12month contract instead of an 18/24month contract, which I was told was due to being a Priority customer. Given that nearly every mobile I've ever had, only seem to last for a year before degrading (showing signs of battery wear, out of OS support, newer apps not supported on older OS etc), then I appreciated the offer I was given and was more than happy to pay a slightly higher (than other companies) monthly charge as a result.
This offer no longer exists.
I can't say that I was expecting anything in particular as a reward for being an existing customer, but since the contracts are the same for new and existing customers, then neither group actually has any benefits as the offerings are the same for everyone. Loyalty is no longer a requirement or a necessity.

Did you know that some other networks don't allow existing customers to take advantage of offers available to new customers? Or that there customer service is based overseas and impossible to deal with?
So as I said you need to be very careful that the offer of a seemingly cheap phone doesn't make things difficult in the long run.

Thanks for the warning, I was aware of some of this, and will take it in to consideration. It would seem appropriate that if only new customers gain benefits, then I should only go for new contracts any time I want to upgrade.

Thanks
eight

[Anonymous]

I think its always best to go with a package that, all things considered, gives you the best result.
If I was in your position, I would write to O2, pointing out that you are getting less when you upgrade this time. It might not work, but could try.

[Anonymous]

The word you need is "retentions".
They have far more latitude when it comes to arranging a deal than the regular upgrades dept.

May I point you towards this thread?
viewtopic.php?t=44403
It's how I went about getting my contract renewed with a discount.