Sprint gives gift baskets (and job applications) to T-Mobile employees

posted by Michael H. / Dec 15, 2015, 8:36 AM

Sprint gives gift baskets (and job applications) to T-Mobile employees

It's the holiday season, so of course companies are sending gifts around to customers and employees. However, usually a company will send gifts to its own employees and not those of a rival. Sprint doesn't seem to care about that convention though and has apparently been sending gift baskets to T-Mobile employees.

Usually, this is the kind of shenanigan that we would expect from T-Mobile and its king of corporate trolling, CEO John Legere, who has played pranks and pulled publicity stunts at the expense of competitors like Verizon and (more often) AT&T on a number of occasions. But, this time it is Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure taking the passive aggressive route by sending gift baskets that include candy, snacks, and a card from Claure that reads: "Our companies compete to take business from each other throughout the year but this is the season of giving. So enjoy these treats from Sprint. Happy Holidays, Marcelo."

Taking the move the extra mile, the back of the basket has a card saying, "Let's move forward, together," and includes the URL for Sprint's career page where one might go to find an open job.

Reportedly, T-Mobile has instructed employees to throw out the baskets and not let anyone know this is happening, but obviously at least one employee didn't listen.

source: TMoNews

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29 Comments

1. Fallen1

Posts: 288; Member since: Nov 14, 2014

Lol Sprint has no shame

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 8:43 AM 4

15. downphoenix

Posts: 3165; Member since: Jun 19, 2010

I think this is a good move. I bet if Legere did the same, it would be praised.

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 2:53 PM 3

2. Commentator

Posts: 3722; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

"Reportedly, T-Mobile has instructed employees to throw out the baskets and not let anyone know this is happening..." T-Mobile is pretty good on the giving end of jokes like this, apparently not so much on the receiving end...

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 8:53 AM 10

3. eN16HTMAR3

Posts: 253; Member since: Oct 08, 2013

LOL. No doubt. Got a taste of their own medicine for sure.

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 8:58 AM 0

11. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

I can confirm, first hand, that we have not gotten any memo or word about to not say anything. Our employees would make a fun video of it and post it via twitter.

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 11:17 AM 2

4. Landon

Posts: 1227; Member since: May 07, 2015

Sprint Trolling level: Expert

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 9:14 AM 3

5. churchofyoda

Posts: 9; Member since: Mar 01, 2015

Considering Sprint is planning another round of layoffs by the end of January, those applications aren't worth much.

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 10:00 AM 8

7. tacarat

Posts: 850; Member since: Apr 22, 2013

They're poacing the sales staff. Given all those radio shack stores they're trying to make use of, it makes sense. The layoffs will be in other areas. I'm curious about noncompete clauses or if this might be a way for the unions to get into Tmo or Sprint.

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 10:08 AM 0

12. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

keep the union out of my job. I am the product of a union household, for both parents.

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 11:21 AM 0

13. tacarat

Posts: 850; Member since: Apr 22, 2013

CWA has been trying to get into Tmobile. I guess Legere can be a bit of a bear.

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 2:12 PM 0

22. ccloud

Posts: 4; Member since: Dec 16, 2015

Since when are retail sales staff union? Never.

posted on Dec 16, 2015, 9:00 PM 0

25. tacarat

Posts: 850; Member since: Apr 22, 2013

CWA covers AT&T non-management folks, including retail sales.

posted on Dec 16, 2015, 9:18 PM 0

27. ccloud

Posts: 4; Member since: Dec 16, 2015

Fantastic. union makes worthless employees. I just read where cwa is trying to support the T-MOBILE retail sales people that were "forced" to use unethical sales practices in NY and were fired.

posted on Dec 18, 2015, 6:38 AM 0

28. tacarat

Posts: 850; Member since: Apr 22, 2013

There's a middle ground for employers and employees. It's not always reached. Have a nice day EW.

posted on Dec 18, 2015, 12:39 PM 0

6. Mxyzptlk unregistered

And then Sprint will terminate them in a few months.

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 10:03 AM 1

20. joevsyou

Posts: 1091; Member since: Feb 28, 2015

yup, it's a trap!

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 3:48 PM 0

8. medicci37

Posts: 1361; Member since: Nov 19, 2011

Nice try Sprint. Didn't you just announce thousands of layoffs?

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 10:43 AM 2

9. medicci37

Posts: 1361; Member since: Nov 19, 2011

I guess what Sprint is saying is "Our current employees suck"

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 10:44 AM 0

14. tacarat

Posts: 850; Member since: Apr 22, 2013

"New employees are cheaper".

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 2:13 PM 0

10. BRYLYNT

Posts: 89; Member since: Nov 09, 2013

Sprint logic: we'll opt out of the spectrum auction even though out coverage is laughable. Then we'll try to lure tmo employees over to our sinking ship with a gift basket. This money could have been used to give bonuses to your current employees for the holidays, or maybe improve coverage or customer satisfaction in some way. Sprint is so dumb.

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 11:01 AM 2

16. true1984

Posts: 860; Member since: May 23, 2012

sprint has better coverage than tmobile and more spectrum than the rest of the carriers. i think it makes more sense for them to make use of their current spectrum than to participate in the auction

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 2:56 PM 1

24. ccloud

Posts: 4; Member since: Dec 16, 2015

And THIS is an educated statement.

posted on Dec 16, 2015, 9:11 PM 0

23. ccloud

Posts: 4; Member since: Dec 16, 2015

This is not an educated statement. You should not be so quick to jump on Legere's band wagon, he spews lies and rumors.

posted on Dec 16, 2015, 9:10 PM 0

17. Colombianmax

Posts: 52; Member since: Dec 29, 2014

It all makes soooo much sense now! So, Sprint started laying off employees and taking away their free snacks just so they could give them away to T-Mobile employees... that is VERY sad. http://fortune.com/2015/11/02/sprints-employee-snacks/ http://fortune.com/2015/11/01/sprint-layoffs/

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 3:18 PM 2

19. joevsyou

Posts: 1091; Member since: Feb 28, 2015

MY FREE YOGURT AND WATER BOTTLES

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 3:48 PM 0

18. joevsyou

Posts: 1091; Member since: Feb 28, 2015

sprint thinks employees are the problem for their horrible company so they have to recruit new ones from a better company? LOL they are fools, problems start at the top not at the bottom

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 3:45 PM 1

21. bugsbunny00

Posts: 2251; Member since: Jun 07, 2013

dont fall for it tmobile,..its a trap!...;\ cant wait to see mr. legere's response.

posted on Dec 15, 2015, 7:04 PM 0

26. pips78

Posts: 1; Member since: Dec 17, 2015

As a T-Mobile employee i have to so say this is hysterical. Just the other day I was doing some holiday shopping at a nearby mall and I noticed the Sprint employees sitting around playing cards while our T-Mobile there was jamming. Trust me, this is not limited to that location. Their stores are cemeteries by comparison. If I see this basket it will go into the trash and not because I was told to put it there. I wonder how much these gift baskets are worth and what they could have done with that money instead of wasting it on this nonsense. Some of our busier locations are running Toys For Tots. Hey Sprint! Instead of sending us a gift basket why don't you send out some toys to our participating locations. I'm sure they would gladly accept those for the needy during this holiday season.

posted on Dec 17, 2015, 5:41 PM 1

29. thanh

Posts: 1; Member since: Dec 18, 2015

Lays off 50% of his workforce, then has the gall and poor taste to send gift baskets to T Mobile employees AND a link to the Sprint job openings. Way to say f you to your employees. Tacky, bad taste, horribly overpaid loser.

posted on Dec 18, 2015, 1:29 PM 0

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