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From: john@zygot.ati.com (John Higdon)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Real Operators?
Message-ID: <11398@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 27 Aug 90 07:11:41 GMT
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Reply-To: John Higdon <john@zygot.ati.com>
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 599, Message 8 of 10


Sprint's latest TV spot: "...We have REAL operators..."


1. Collect Call (after dialing 10333+0+AC+7D for Sprint and
10288+0+AC+7D for AT&T):

  Sprint: "May I help you?" "Collect from John Higdon" "May I
  have the number you are calling?" "[Number given]" "May I have
  the number you are calling from?" "[Number given]"--"I have a
  collect call from John Higdon will you accept?"....

  AT&T: "May I help you?" "Collect from John Higdon" [number
  already ringing] "I have a collect call from John Higdon in San
  Jose, CA, will you pay?"...

2. Rate info request (dialing 10333+0 for Sprint and 10288+0 for AT&T):

  Sprint: "Thank you for calling Sprint, may I help you?" "Yes,
  could you give me the rate at this time [10:30PM Sun] for a
  call to 619/243?" "Sir, our rate information is based on
  mileage. Do you have any idea how far that is away?" "I think
  about 300 miles" "Then it would cost $0.14 for the first minute
  and $0.14 for each additional minute."

  AT&T: "Thank you for using AT&T." "Could you give me the rate
  at this time for a call to 619/243?" "That would be $0.15 for
  the first minute and $0.11 for each additional, plus tax." [Now
  that I find out the rate difference in AT&T's favor, I ask
  myself why I went through all that hassle with the
  Trailblazer's!!!]

3. Place name request (dialing as in -2-):

  Sprint: "Thank you for calling Sprint, may I help you?" "Could
  you give me the place name for 213/945?" "I'm sorry, did you
  wish to be connected to information?" "No I want to know the
  city name for that area code and prefix." "Could you give it to
  me again?" "213/945" "Excuse me just a moment. [45 seconds]
  That is Whittier, CA."

  AT&T: "Thank you for using AT&T." "Could you give me the place
  name for 213/945?" "Yes, it is [2 seconds] Whittier, CA."

I don't know what definition Sprint is using for the term "real" in
their ads, but if that means operator service like that from AT&T then
they are misleading potential customers. AT&T operators know the
number you are calling from as well as having essential information at
their finger tips. That old TSPS still dispatches calls better than
any of the Johnny-Come-Latelys. Maybe AT&T had better "lighten up",
but Sprint had better "shape up" when it comes to operator service.

        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   +1 408 723 1395
    john@zygot.ati.com      | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !