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J.D. Power: Shared Data Plan Users More Satisfied
Those Users Pay More Money and Apparently Love it

The latest customer satisfaction report from J.D. Power and Associates offers few surprises, with Verizon Wireless once again taking top spot, and the other carriers battling for the honor of basement dweller. The study, which ranks carriers based on how well they serve customer needs online, over the phone and in retail stores, gave Verizon Wireless a 766 out of 1000.

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AT&T is showing some gains with a score of 759, followed by Sprint (746) and T-Mobile (715). On the prepaid side, MetroPCS came out on top with a score of 733, followed by Virgin Mobile (729), TracFone (700), Boost Mobile (695), WalMart's Straight Talk (685), Cricket (671) and Net10 (633).

On the contract side, the firm notes that users who are switching to new shared data plans at Verizon and AT&T (Sprint and T-Mobile haven't offered them yet) actually report higher customer satisfaction with customer service, ranking 778 versus 750 for traditional plan users. However, they're also calling in significantly more as they try to figure out what the hell a gigabyte is.

"The higher levels of satisfaction with shared data plans are partially due to the profile of its customers, particularly the early adopters who changed service offerings once the mobile data share plans were offered," said Kirk Parsons , senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates. "For example, not only are customers with shared data plans more loyal than those without a shared data plan, but they also have a more positive perception of their carrier, in addition to spending approximately $30 more per household overall."
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alana
join:2009-10-20
Lake Geneva, WI

alana

Member

Correction?

Karl - I assume you mean 766 out of *1000*, not 100.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: Correction?

Thanks!
clone (banned)
join:2000-12-11
Portage, IN

clone (banned)

Member

More Loyal?

Of course the users on Shared data plans are more loyal. None of them are out of contract yet.

jmn1207
Premium Member
join:2000-07-19
Sterling, VA

jmn1207

Premium Member

Re: More Loyal?

Also, everyone on the shared plans has just recently started a new contract. Those coming from another provider most likely left because they were not satisfied for whatever reason. Existing customers that would have given a very poor mark on this survey would have left for another provider or simply continued to use their existing service plan.

cableties
Premium Member
join:2005-01-27

1 recommendation

cableties

Premium Member

JD Showers...

Guess VZW spent some of that pricey data plan monies on JD Powers "extortion" value survey! Call me surprised! Don't forget, that survey was accompanied by a crisp, $1 bill...

chamberc
Premium Member
join:2008-08-05
Addison, TX

chamberc

Premium Member

Re: JD Showers...

Having our family on a shared data plan has saved us a bundle. 4 smartphones, 8 GB of data and unlimited everything else for less than $200...

swintec
Premium Member
join:2003-12-19
Alfred, ME

swintec

Premium Member

Re: JD Showers...

said by chamberc:

Having our family on a shared data plan has saved us a bundle. 4 smartphones, 8 GB of data and unlimited everything else for less than $200...

SShhhh...you arent suppose to admit that. You have been here long enough to know that anything that is not unlimited data for $5 a month is not suppose to be a good thing.

ropeguru
Premium Member
join:2001-01-25
Mechanicsville, VA

ropeguru

Premium Member

Re: JD Showers...

said by swintec:

said by chamberc:

Having our family on a shared data plan has saved us a bundle. 4 smartphones, 8 GB of data and unlimited everything else for less than $200...

SShhhh...you arent suppose to admit that. You have been here long enough to know that anything that is not unlimited data for $5 a month is not suppose to be a good thing.

He cannot be used as a comparison because he gets a 22% discount through his employer.
Crookshanks
join:2008-02-04
Binghamton, NY

Crookshanks

Member

Re: JD Showers...

said by ropeguru:

He cannot be used as a comparison because he gets a 22% discount through his employer.

The comparison is valid. I get the 22% discount, old plan:

2 x smartphones w/unlimited texting and 700 minutes: $99.98
22% discount on base package: ($22.00)
2 x 2GB data plans: $60
Total: $137.98

New plan:

2 x smartphones: $80
4 GB data package: $70
22% discount on data package: ($15.40)
Total: $134.60

(The discount applies to the voice package, and texting if you have unlimited on the old plans, to the data under the new plans)

Virtually the same, for the same level of data service, and unlimited voice vs. 700 minutes. The savings in the new plans come into play for people with a lot of devices and/or those who use a small amount of data.

ropeguru
Premium Member
join:2001-01-25
Mechanicsville, VA

ropeguru to chamberc

Premium Member

to chamberc
said by chamberc:

Having our family on a shared data plan has saved us a bundle. 4 smartphones, 8 GB of data and unlimited everything else for less than $200...

Really?

I just looked at VZW's share everything plan and came up with the following:

4 smartphones $40ea x 4 = $160/month
8GB data plan w/ unl talk and text $90/month

Total $250/month before taxes and fees

So just how do you have what you stated for under $200 for the normal month plan cost AND taxes/fees??

chamberc
Premium Member
join:2008-08-05
Addison, TX

chamberc

Premium Member

Re: JD Showers...

said by ropeguru:

said by chamberc:

Having our family on a shared data plan has saved us a bundle. 4 smartphones, 8 GB of data and unlimited everything else for less than $200...

Really?

I just looked at VZW's share everything plan and came up with the following:

4 smartphones $40ea x 4 = $160/month
8GB data plan w/ unl talk and text $90/month

Total $250/month before taxes and fees

So just how do you have what you stated for under $200 for the normal month plan cost AND taxes/fees??

22% discount through my employer...

ropeguru
Premium Member
join:2001-01-25
Mechanicsville, VA

ropeguru

Premium Member

Re: JD Showers...

said by chamberc:

said by ropeguru:

said by chamberc:

Having our family on a shared data plan has saved us a bundle. 4 smartphones, 8 GB of data and unlimited everything else for less than $200...

Really?

I just looked at VZW's share everything plan and came up with the following:

4 smartphones $40ea x 4 = $160/month
8GB data plan w/ unl talk and text $90/month

Total $250/month before taxes and fees

So just how do you have what you stated for under $200 for the normal month plan cost AND taxes/fees??

22% discount through my employer...

Then that is not comparable.. Nice deception on how the shared plans are better though..
ptb42
join:2002-09-30
USA

1 recommendation

ptb42

Member

Re: JD Showers...

said by ropeguru:

Then that is not comparable.. Nice deception on how the shared plans are better though..

As long as you apply the corporate discount to both, they are comparable, and it's not a deception.

ropeguru
Premium Member
join:2001-01-25
Mechanicsville, VA

ropeguru

Premium Member

Re: JD Showers...

said by ptb42:

said by ropeguru:

Then that is not comparable.. Nice deception on how the shared plans are better though..

As long as you apply the corporate discount to both, they are comparable, and it's not a deception.

But he was not giving all the info in his original post, hence the deception
ptb42
join:2002-09-30
USA

ptb42

Member

Re: JD Showers...

said by ropeguru:

But he was not giving all the info in his original post, hence the deception

There was no deception. He said that he is saving additional money over the non-shared plan. His corporate discount is irrelevant, as long as he applied it both before and after. If he claimed he was saving money after switching to both a shared plan AND a corporate rate, then that would be a deception.

But, he didn't do that. And, another poster showed exactly how he saved additional money, with the corporate rate before and after. I have done the same: My bill was about $180 before, and is now about $160 -- and that's with a 19% discount.

You will have to accept that for many users, the shared plan works. My wife is a very light data user (100M/month), leaving most of the data for me to use when tethering my laptop or tablet while I'm on the road. I no longer have to pay a premium for tethering, either.

MPScan
Premium Member
join:2001-08-24
Boston, MA

MPScan to chamberc

Premium Member

to chamberc
said by chamberc:

22% discount through my employer...


I get the same. Three smartphones, one tablet, 8GB shared data, and and unlimited voice/text for ~$195.

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

morbo to chamberc

Member

to chamberc
said by chamberc:

Having our family on a shared data plan has saved us a bundle. 4 smartphones, 8 GB of data and unlimited everything else for less than $200...

Please do share the company you are using and the details because I just priced a share plan on AT&T using 4 lines and 5GB data and unlimited everything else. Cost? $350
ptb42
join:2002-09-30
USA

ptb42

Member

Re: JD Showers...

said by morbo:

Please do share the company you are using and the details because I just priced a share plan on AT&T using 4 lines and 5GB data and unlimited everything else. Cost? $350

I think you need to check your math again. AT&T doesn't offer a 5GB shared plan. And a 6G/month shared plan with 4 phones is $230/month, before taxes.

The original poster may have an exceptionally good corporate rate. A 6G/month plan would cause me $213/month, before taxes.

ropeguru
Premium Member
join:2001-01-25
Mechanicsville, VA

ropeguru

Premium Member

Re: JD Showers...

THe truth finally came out. He get a 22% discount.
ptb42
join:2002-09-30
USA

1 recommendation

ptb42

Member

Re: JD Showers...

said by ropeguru:

THe truth finally came out. He get a 22% discount.

I get a 19% discount. I also got a 19% discount BEFORE I went to a shared data plan.

I applied the discount to before and after when comparing them. I still save money.

AnonFTW
@reliablehosting.com

AnonFTW to chamberc

Anon

to chamberc
said by chamberc:

Having our family on a shared data plan has saved us a bundle. 4 smartphones, 8 GB of data and unlimited everything else for less than $200...

I was skeptical of the shared data plans at first, but we too are saving money - we have 3 smartphones and 6GB of data. We could get away with 4GB of data, but for $10 a month the extra 2GB cushion is worth it.
Crookshanks
join:2008-02-04
Binghamton, NY

Crookshanks

Member

Re: JD Showers...

You don't need to pay for the cushion, Verizon will let you backdate a plan increase if you go over.

dennismurphy
Put me on hold? I'll put YOU on hold
Premium Member
join:2002-11-19
Parsippany, NJ

dennismurphy to chamberc

Premium Member

to chamberc
said by chamberc:

Having our family on a shared data plan has saved us a bundle. 4 smartphones, 8 GB of data and unlimited everything else for less than $200...

+1 - my bill dropped $30 when I switched ... No complaints there.

chip89
Premium Member
join:2012-07-05
Columbia Station, OH

chip89 to cableties

Premium Member

to cableties
Yup soon as I saw this I was like version and AT&T give money to J&power.
ptb42
join:2002-09-30
USA

ptb42

Member

We are paying LESS, not more.

I looked at our usage for the past year, and switched to a 6G/month shared plan. My wife was still on the old "unlimited" plan, and I was on a 4GB/month plan with tethering.

Our bill actually went down about $20/month, and we got tethering for both phones. I could lower it further by dropping to 4G/month, as our typical usage is below that.
Crookshanks
join:2008-02-04
Binghamton, NY

Crookshanks

Member

Do it...

said by ptb42:

I could lower it further by dropping to 4G/month, as our typical usage is below that.

Verizon lets you backdate plan increases to the beginning of your current billing cycle. I'd drop it to 4GB and make a phone call if you wind up going over in a particular month.

There is no reason to pay an overage on any Verizon plan, voice or data, if you are proactive enough to monitor your usage. They've allowed this type of backdating for more than a decade.
tired_runner
Premium Member
join:2000-08-25
CT
·Frontier FiberOp..

tired_runner

Premium Member

Human race is getting dumber

... or cannot yet correlate reality with technology in terms of a byte.

How exactly is it cheaper to have a set monthly data allotment and pay a steep overage for additional data buckets?

That's like forced food rationing and feeling happy about it!
Crookshanks
join:2008-02-04
Binghamton, NY

Crookshanks

Member

Re: Human race is getting dumber

It's basic math. Having three smartphones with 2GB allotments would cost $90/mo under the old pricing scheme. Most of the phones will use less data than that, so the extra data is wasted, while if the third phone goes over it has to purchase a more expensive plan.

Under the new system, 6GB of shared data is $80, so it's already $10 cheaper. Now account for the fact that most (if not all) of the lines will not use 2GB/mo, and you can select a cheaper plan, saving more money. Alternatively, one power user and two normal users will probably fit into 6GB, whereas previously you'd have wasted data on two lines and overages (or higher plan cost) on the third.

It doesn't work for everybody but these plans do save a good number of people a few bucks a month. They aren't aimed at DSL-R power users, they are aimed at John Q. Public, who usually uses less than 1GB/mo of data.
tired_runner
Premium Member
join:2000-08-25
CT

tired_runner

Premium Member

Re: Human race is getting dumber

I realize people may pick the more expensive alternatives based on coverage, but beyond that I can't see why.
Crookshanks
join:2008-02-04
Binghamton, NY

Crookshanks

Member

Re: Human race is getting dumber

If you already had Verizon, and the new plan meets your needs and saves you money, why wouldn't you switch to it?

Coverage is a driving factor for a lot of people, and something that many would argue is worth paying more money for. I'm now living in a med-sized city, so could presumably switch to T-Mobile, but it would leave me without good coverage for trips outside of my hometown, plus T-Mobile's 1900mhz licenses mean their signal dies indoors a lot faster than Verizon's 850mhz signal. It sucks, but that's the reality of RF.
tired_runner
Premium Member
join:2000-08-25
CT
·Frontier FiberOp..

tired_runner

Premium Member

Re: Human race is getting dumber

I have good indoor reception with T-Mobile as well as with Sprint when I had them. Both carriers use 1900 MHz in my area, though granted different modulation.

If the frequency determined effective coverage, that wouldn't explain why I hardly ever lost reception during a storm with DirecTV.

What determines effective coverage is well.... coverage. How many cell sites, repeaters, etc a carrier deploys in any given area.
Crookshanks
join:2008-02-04
Binghamton, NY

Crookshanks

Member

Re: Human race is getting dumber

I used to use T-Mobile in the Binghamton market, and there were a bunch of buildings (Wal-Mart, Target, bars downtown that were in basements, Old Navy, the Oakdale Mall, Wegmans, want me to keep going?) where my T-Mobile phone had weak or no signal, but my buddy with Verizon had full bars.

Yes, you can build out a network in the PCS bands with the same coverage footprint of a cellular network, but it requires many more cell sites and a corresponding greater capital expense. T-Mobile never made the effort in Binghamton, and from what I've seen has not made the effort in Scranton/Wilkes Barre either. These markets just aren't big enough for them to justify the expense, so I'll stick with Verizon for the foreseeable future.

Don't get me wrong, I loved T-Mobile, their CSRs were genuinely pleasant to talk to, and I had 1,000 minutes/unlimited texting for less than Verizon was then charging for 450 minutes/500 texts. I'm just at a point in my life, personally (married, kids on the way) and professionally (consulting, which means working on the road) where dead zones are much more than a simple annoyance. Between T-Mobile and Verizon in terms of coverage it isn't even a contest. Hell, Verizon blows even AT&T out of the water in the Northeast, so that as they say is that.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina to tired_runner

Member

to tired_runner
Frequency determines how well a signal penetrates obstructions. If two carriers use the same cell sites but one is on 1.7Ghz and one is using 2.1Ghz, the 1.7Ghz signal will penetrate obstructions better than the 2.1Ghz signal. If that means you can make a call inside an office building on the 1.7Ghz signal and you cannot make a call inside an office building on the 2.1Ghz signal, I call that a difference in coverage.

Regarding DBS (which uses down link frequencies north of 10Ghz) it depends on where the storm is and whether or not it has hail. In higher latitudes, storms directly overhead do not affect satellite transmissions as storms further to the south. The reasoning is similar to why the sun's intensity is greatest as noon -- it passes through the least amount of atmosphere.

admin123
@myvzw.com

admin123 to Crookshanks

Anon

to Crookshanks
I don't het it if people use near zero data why have a smartphone on a contract ? whats the point ?

Just go with pre paid.
keason
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Ann Arbor, MI
·Comcast Business
·T-Mobile

keason

Premium Member

Press release says CS was differentiator

JDP claims that phone and in-store support was better on shared plans, which accounts for the higher scores. What is really shocking is how poorly all of the carriers scored how littled difference there is between all of the major carriers - 5% or so on their 1000 point scale.

The real reason that consumers are happier with their shared plans is probably because it's addressed their old points of pain. Nearly everyone has experienced a voice or text overage , and responded by overbuying on their next plan. It's all gone with the new unlimited plans. Now V&T have set up a new point of pain (data) which grows 30%+/yr, setting up those same shared plan customers for massive overages toward the end of their contracts, or modest increases if they increase their data allotments.

pende_tim
Premium Member
join:2004-01-04
Selbyville, DE

1 edit

pende_tim

Premium Member

Re: Press release says CS was differentiator

So if I am on an old grandfathered plan, I get worse store support than if I am on a new $share everything plan?

Or is it that I walk out of the store feeling "robbed" and angry by the terms, conditions and cost of having to leave the old Grandfathered plan if I want to upgrade a phone and keep my old plan?

I call BS.
itguy05
join:2005-06-17
Carlisle, PA

itguy05 to keason

Member

to keason
said by keason:

The real reason that consumers are happier with their shared plans is probably because it's addressed their old points of pain. Nearly everyone has experienced a voice or text overage , and responded by overbuying on their next plan. It's all gone with the new unlimited plans.

Really? Can't tell you the last time I had a voice overage. Everyone I call is "in network". Before I left AT&T for Verizon I think we had like 3k rollover minutes.

And I don't text so I could care less. Everyone I want to text to is on iMessage so that's data. Those that text me get a call back. I think my total text bill for last year was $5.00.

I'll run the #'s but I don't see how for us (2 iPhones, 1 dumbphone, no texting) it would save us $$. Last time I ran it, it would up our bill $20 and give us less (I'm on unlimited data).
RDC17
join:2011-05-15
Vienna, VA

RDC17

Member

Cheaper than what I was paying before

$206 a month for 4GB with AT&T, 3 iPhones and an iPad. I get a 15% discount. Was paying more with unlimited on one phone and 250gb on the other two.

Joey1973
@verizon.net

Joey1973

Anon

OK

I'm quite happy with my T-Mobile service - no complaints at all.

AnonMe
@comcastbusiness.net

AnonMe

Anon

Cheaper for me

I was really pissed about the shared plan pricing originally. Months later after several tweaks to my plan, it actually works out a little bit cheaper per month. Yes, hard to believe! iPhone on WiFi most everywhere I go which means I now easily stay under the 300 MB plan that I'm on. I'm sure if this is the case for too many people, VZW will find a way to add some crazy fee to bring revenues back up.
15444104 (banned)
join:2012-06-11

15444104 (banned)

Member

JP Power is a questionable gauge of customer satisfaction.



I would take ANYthing that JDP states with a grain of salt considering the lack of ability for us to find out exactly how they arrive at their conclusions. Doesn't matter if it is vehicles, widgets, or wireless service. You are better off looking to Consumer Reports for more honest ratings.

aaronwt
Premium Member
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
Asus RT-AX89

aaronwt

Premium Member

I wish I could save money with the newer plans...

But my before tax cost would go from $70 to $140 a month just to get the 10GB plan. And then I would need to worry about going over that each month. While now, on the old plan, I have unlimited data, unlimited text, and 450 minutes talk(which I never come anywhere near with in network and after hours calling)and typically go over 10GB about every other month.

I just have no desire to see my bill double. If it was only $10 or $20 that would be fine but not double from $70 to $140!
Cobra11M
join:2010-12-23
Mineral Wells, TX

Cobra11M

Member

yay!

well... just shows how us americans will be bullied into harsh caps with overpriced premiums

lol just jokin but seriously... im glad ive moved to tmobile
15444104 (banned)
join:2012-06-11

15444104 (banned)

Member

The best way to get the message to these companies.....

The best way to get the message to across to these big impersonal corporations is to CANCEL your service, and sacrifice service for a period of time. Unfortunately they don't even pretend to care about the customers needs these days it is only about the last penny they can squeeze out of the consumer.

ilikeme
Premium Member
join:2002-08-27
Stafford, TX

ilikeme

Premium Member

Sticking with unlimited

I am going to keep my unlimited plan on AT&T for as long as possible. If we moved to the share plan we would be spending more. Currently our bill is $180 for 3 iPhones with unlimited data, M2M, Unity, texting on one line, and Nights and weekends. If we switched to the share plan our bill would be about 200 for 6GB of data.
Taskbar
join:2001-02-11
Lake City, FL

1 edit

Taskbar

Member

Corporate discount on share everything question....

I messed up with this post. I meant to 'reply' to another thread. Can this post be moved or deleted? So sorry
== ==
That is a heck of a deal to get 22% off. But let me see if I am understanding things correctly. You only get a discount on the data side, and not the voice side, correct?

I was under the impression on unlimited voice plans- no discount applies.

Whereas, on the data plan, a discount can apply, correct?

For me, I get 15% discount on voice, and 12% discount on data. So I would only get the discount on the voice, right?

Thanks in advance.
S4caster
Premium Member
join:2011-06-30
Paducah, KY

S4caster

Premium Member

Re: Corporate discount on share everything question....

For me, if I move to a share data plan, the discount would only apply to data. Currently, 15 percent off the plan, and 12 percent off data. Share data plan, only 15 percent off the cost of data (example 6 gig at 80 dollars/month would drop to 68 dollars per month).
S4caster

S4caster

Premium Member

Comparison

For me, it comes down to about 10-20 bucks a month savings if I switch to share data (4-6 gig plan). Right now, comfortable with 1400 minutes a month (A list) voice, unlimited text and unlimited data. Eh, given I've always been able to sell my prior smart phones at a good price, I can make up a good chunk of the price for the cost of a phone outright, which lets me keep my current plan, and doesn't extend the contract (barring VZW trying to force changes upon me). But so they say, if you buy a phone outright and have unlimited, you can keep it.
Sbrav77
Premium Member
join:2004-03-02
Bourbonnais, IL

Sbrav77

Premium Member

Happy Grandfathered user

My wife and I will keep our unlimited data plans, thank you very much. She has an Iphone and I have a droid Bionic. I stream a lot of youtube and netflix to my phone and using 8 gigs. of data a month is not all that uncommon. Also, in the car, my kids like to watch netflix on their ipod touches. I also get an 18% discount on the voice charges, and my wife's unlimited data plan also receives a discount. We have a 700 min. family share plan with 4 lines and barely ever use 300 minutes combined. Very heavy texters and just about everyone we do call is on Verizon so it's free to call them. We also have the unlimited texting on all the lines.