"Sprint to close call centers,cut jobs".........

According to the Associated Press Sprint PCS will close 5 Cust. Serv. centers between April 16 and March 31st;and an estimated 3,000 people will be out of work. The Atlanta, Tallahasse, Jacksonville, Lawrence, and Irvine call centers are on the proposed hit list. This will save Sprint close to 60 million dollars annually. Any one else with some info. Please reply

[larry]

Yeah with their great online system and "Claire" they no longer need as many centers operating.

[carerep]

Larry

Are you being facetious? I hear tell from my customers and a friend who works in one of the Sprint call centers in OKC that the prevailing philosiphy of mgmt. towards their customers is one of ambivelance and neglect. If so, the company is better clean up their act or " Claire " will be the only one left

I rarely ever need to talk to a rep. Almost everything can be done online or through automated systems. When I have needed to speak to a live person, I was able too and didn't face any 'ambivalence' or 'neglect' . I can say this with relative authority since I am a heavy user for over 5 years now. I don't imply that they are perfect but I do respond to blanket statements that I feel are inaccurate.

[larry]

Hey Anonymous,

I totally agree with you. I rarely need to talk to a rep and almost everything can be done with online & automated systems. I think those comments from carerep are the point of view of someone who will be losing their job and are bitter about it. That sucks but it's just the way it goes.

[carerep]

I apologize for my remarks. They were callous and my blanket statement about Sprint cust . serv is not backed up enough facts. However, something is afoot and closing 5 call centers and laying off 3,000 people is not due to the automated systems and online service capabilities of Sprint. Iwas hoping for some facts.

Larry........ With all due respect; I do not work for Sprint, and I certainly would not come here to this web site to p_ _ _ and moan about my company.

No hard feelings

[larry]

I was a little surprised by how many centers were closing down but some of the 60 million dollars they will be saving will go toward futher network improvements which in the long run means fewer calls to customer care.

The center in Irvine, CA here where I live is also closing. I know two people who haved work there.

[Kenny]

I'll get back to you guys about the exact numbers but Sprint PCS is *I believe* 17 Billions dollars in debt.

Sprint PCS has signed up a lot of users in 2001 but don't forget that they take on and attract the risky credit customers and so that can come around and bite them in the ___ somewhat financially.

Yes analysts have been focusing on Sprint's push for the less desirable customer alot. In response, Sprint has revamped their prepay program to be less risky. Also, you'll notice that the new rebate amounts are based on 'credit worthiness'. So, they are making efforts to continue the fast growth pace without being subjected to so much financial risk from the fly by night customers.

As far as debt goes, it is pretty much industry standard to be in debt deep. Build outs aren't cheap by any means.

G.

[Apoc]

The intresting about the closing of these call centers seems unstable, I am wondering are all these places outsource companies?? Or are any of these direct Sprint PCS centers?? The reasoning for those questions is I currently have Sprint PCS as a secondary carrier. And everytime I call into customer care they say there always expanding there customer service staffing to meet the needs of the call volume...?? So if anyone can clarify please do!

Lest we forget, those 3000 people aren't just numbers, or statistics, they are real people with families and homes and bills to pay.

Business is cyclical. Period. If you follow business news, you'll notice that large layoff are very commonplace. 3000 is actually relatively small in relation to others this year.

[larry]

I don't think this is just a Sprint thing. I read somewhere that Verizon was laying off many employees as well.

[Kenny]

"Two cellular networks in the USA announced job cuts at the end of last week. SprintPCS has announced that it will be cutting some 3,000 staff and closing five of its customer service call centers. The company cited an increasing use of automated information services by its customers as justifying the job cuts. The company will be left with eight call centers and the savings are expected to be in the region of US$60 million per year. There will be a one off charge of US$25 million to cover the redundancies. Three call centers in Florida will close on April 16th, a center in Kansas will close at the end of may and the call center in California will close at the end of June.

Verizon Wireless is cutting 1,000 jobs across the company. This is the company's fourth round of job cuts and the redundancies will be spread over the country. The affected staff will be notified later this week."

~~~~~~~~~~

I'll see if I can soon post an article about the wireless carriers from a financial perspective. Out of the publicly traded wireless companies, analysts indicated that AT&T Wireless looks like the strongest bet. Financially they've got the best balanced books. Nextel has been downgraded to "sell." Sprint PCS is ok but analysts are still weary of Sprint PCS missing their recent numbers (projections) and relying on risky credit customers. Yes there was a mention about improving perks for customers with no credit problems but there still has been the focus on risky credit customers.

[KevinJames]

To the anonymous poster that mentioned the "people aspect" of the job losses:

Yes, it is a very sad (and even ugly) truth of corporate life that people do indeed get hurt. Some corporations have worked hard to provide humanitarian "exit services" by bringing in counselers and job fairs right onto company premise. Though it is hard to say this without sounding cruel, think how much worse things would be if management didn't try to steer the company toward profit. Then, instead of a percentage, it would end up like Enron where everyone is out of work. (I am also not discounting the possiblity that some businesses are just cutting jobs for MORE profit without any regards to their employees.)

A little more than a decade ago, I was part of a company that went belly-up and stranded employees in Europe and Asia who had to get back to the USA on their own power. So I am not without feeling for the Sprint and Verizon workers.

Here in America, I am seeing a lot more 'we value our freedom of choice' type of stickers on cars and business windows. We have to realize that the freedom of choice is a collective freedom, not a individual freedom. What I mean is that for freedom to work, it must be a unified effort. True freedom is not a liberty to do anything, but a involves give and take. In the business world, if we don't grant companies the freedom to hire and fire for the good of the business, then we really don't belive in freedom. Now I agree that businesses might be able to work harder at moving people around within the company, re-assigning them where needed, but even then employees will complain. They either don't want to move or just plain don't like change. In that case, what is a company to do? It is never an easy choice and no matter what, individuals will indeed be hurt.

To those displaced, don't become overly discouraged. I have been through so many downsizings I have lost count. Over the past 15 years I have held nearly an equal number of jobs. Through it all, though many times very depressed, I realized I had my faith in the God of the Bible and a desire to live, love and find good in life. May you also find the determination to make the best of the opportunity to change and better yourselves.

Please excuse my long editorializing, but it does hurt me when I hear of people losing jobs. I've been there--too often.

Kevin

[Kenny]

America has a big and strong economy (but now going through some depressed financial times), it's however at the expense of people of having a "live to work" mentality as oppose to a "work to live" mentality in most countries.

[philipluu1]

[IdiOTeQnoLogY]

thank you kenny for that comment on living to work or workin to live. If people in this country were a little more awake and got their news from not just the major media (it's mostly a big show) maybe there would be some changes for the better, like how about some national health care so these people from Sprint and Verizon and any other company involuntarily losing their jobs would not have to sacrifice their health. but this is all way off topic but since we should all educate ourselves at some point to here is a link for all...........read some more at www.commondreams.org

as far as sprintpcs cutting jobs I as well do most of my sprint account maintenance online. With your phone you get quite a comprehensive way of checking things out online once you log in with your phone number and a passcode that are specific to your account. From the mundane like checking your minutes to keeping and adjusting Voice Command address books or to just pay your bill, view a detailed bill with all your calls on it, or even ask a question via email that so far i have gotten answers with within 1-2 days each time.

[larry]

I was even able to cancel my wireless web option online which I didn't really need or use enough. Every time I have asked a question online to customer care via e-mail, I have received a detailed response within 24 hours. I've also found that "Claire" works very well on the few times I've tested it out.

[Apoc]

Hello this is Claire your virtual service rep I am here to assist with your account needs yada yada!

"Hold on let me get someone to help you"

[aiwapro]

Apoc; You are so negative about everything you say. Why do you even have wireless service, you seem to be unhappy with everything about it, and everything that some else says about their's. Maybe wireless just isn't for you. I am just stating my view of things, and I am sure that everyone else has the same view of you too.

[Jack]

I have been told by people who use sprint that claire can be very annoying and even customer care reps which she would go away

Jack

[larry]

What's annoying about it?

[Dukedog]

Hey, Jack customer service wish she go away so they could stay.