I will be the first to be a dream killer. There are no current scheduled promotions, however it is possible but due to the way data works with T-Mobile, it probably will not happen. There may be a few things Supervisors are clued in on before reps are, however they are generally clued in about 2 days max prior to the reps either finding out about it via a training or Streamline.
No problem, that is why I made the thread, to stimulate discussion and provide tips to members. Like I said, I took what he was saying with a grain of salt.
You are right about no one knowing what is going to be promoted. Usually the reps tell me to just keep an eye out or to call on occasion and ask "Any promotions." That is easy enough to do, I dial 611 and it takes a few minutes. And once in awhile I strike gold.
When we were trying to figure out the selling price of the then-upcoming Touch Pro2 members in here were told all kinds of things from T-Mo reps. The rumors were all over the map.
That is why I said in my OP that I was taking T-Mo's reputation for non-accuracy into account.
But while he was talking he did look up something on his computer screen and then made that statement about the upcoming promotion. He acted as if it was certain in his mind because he appeared to be reading something on his monitor.
No matter, I will be keeping an eye out because as you know all the carriers every holiday season run promotions.
And there are four "events" or indicators that lead me to conclude he was right:
1. T-Mo, like all the other carriers, is desperate for business. In this economy any business related to wireless is suffering (Nokia's profits in the first quarter were down 90%; Motorola, Sony, and RIM profits are way down too).
The way to get and keep business is to cut prices for service. So I can see T-Mo cutting prices on all services to attract and keep customers.
2. I sense a price war coming up. All the carriers are slashing prices in reaction to what competitors are doing. Anyone flush with cash can stay put but if they do that they will lose customers instantly as if by magic.
3. The holidays are coming. All predictions are a dismal shopping season. I suspect all the carriers will slash prices to attract new customers.
4. I sense a
data plan price war coming. Handset prices have stabilized to what consumers expect to pay, $200. Calling plans have been standardized to so many minutes for so many $. So it seems data plan pricing is the next thing carriers will fight over and emphasize to the consumer. Of course they will have to call it something more attractive than "data plan" or "Internet access."
Maybe an ad that says "Stay connected with your Internet friends and followers 24/7 for one low price per month." Or:
"With T-Mobile's 24/7 Internet plan you can tweet all day and night until your beak falls off."
Sidenote: For some people reading this, you may not know this, but T-Mo's policy on plans is that you can upgrade or downgrade all you want during your contract term. If T-Mo is running a promotion that will cut your monthly bill in half, you can switch plans. E.g., in 2007 I logged online and noticed they even had an "upgrade plan" icon that let me change to a better plan online. Didn't even have to talk to anyone.
Why is this so? On a two year contract, for example, you agree to stay with T-Mo for two years, but that does NOT mean you have to stay on the same plan you signed up for. You can switch to a lower-priced plan if something better comes along. Of course, a new plan may require you to extend your contract, but if you can cut your plan costs in half, for example, who cares.
Update and Downer: I just paid my current bill that included my Touch Pro2 that I just bought. $502 on my debit card. It was fun getting the phone, now I want time to go by so I can forget sending T-Mo $500. I am going to flash a new ROM on it so I can forget logging on and pressing "pay my bill."
