Sprint Integrates Buyback Option into Online Purchases

In an industry first, customers receive an instant quote on their old phone when purchasing a new one online

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), July 17, 2012 – Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S, news, filings) is the first nationwide wireless carrier in America to integrate its buyback program into the online retail experience. In addition to in-store and mail-in options, Sprint now automatically guides online users through the process of reselling their old phones in exchange for a credit toward the purchase of a new one. Sprint Buyback – which last week was again named the best buyback program in the wireless industry by Compass Intelligence¹ – has already diverted millions of phones from landfills.

“Sprint Buyback has been enormously successful to date,” said Chad Lander, Sprint director-Phone Recycling Programs. “Not only does it save our customers up to $300 at a time; it’s helped us achieve an impressive collection rate of 39 percent – that’s almost halfway to our goal of a 90 percent collection rate by 2017. The new online option is part of our expanding Buyback ecosystem, which helps raise customer awareness and give even more choices and flexibility.”

The new online interface is the first thing customers see when purchasing a device on the Sprint website and includes dropdown menus that help users instantly see how much their old devices are worth. Sprint offers the option to trade in multiple devices and keeps track of total buyback credit for easy comparison while customers shop. A pre-paid shipping label is then emailed directly to the customer and an account credit is applied once Sprint receives the old devices.

Sprint educates customers about buyback options in various ways, including messages on bills, in welcome emails, and in stores. Sprint accepts phones from any wireless carrier; devices are recycled through third-party certified programs that ensure the best methods of handling the growing issue of electronic waste, or “e-waste.” (According to the recent Compass Intelligence report, by the end of 2012 there will be 324 million idle devices in the United States alone). Sprint places a strong emphasis on reuse, typically remanufacturing and reusing nine out of 10 phones received. This aligns with the company’s business goals and Electronics Stewardship Policy.

In addition to recognition from Compass Intelligence as having the industry’s best buyback program, Sprint’s strong commitment to environmental sustainability continues to receive recognition. For the third year in a row, Sprint ranked highest among all U.S. telecom companies and No. 3 overall on Newsweek’s rankings of America’s greenest companies, up from No. 6 in 2010 and No. 15 in 2009. Sprint was also named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 56 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers and most improved in customer satisfaction across all industries during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

¹ Compass Intelligence July 2012 rankings based on program capabilities, user feedback, and expert analysis. Sprint had the highest composite score.

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