The Village Voice: Machine Age: Mr. Roboto: They've Got Your Number by Brendan I. Koerner: "In the days running up to WLNP, if you're considered a high-value customer, you may get a friendly call from your current provider, trying to suss out whether you intend to jump ship. Mr. Roboto's advice: Even if you're planning on staying put, lie and say you're bolting. The telemarketer on the other end will be authorized to offer some 'retention bonuses' to keep you on board. You probably won't get a rate cut, but they might toss in, say, free text messaging. Dishonesty has its rewards.
Even if you don't get the call—likely because you spend less than $75 a month—you can still leverage WLNP as an extortion tool. In late October, give your carrier's toll-free number a dial and pull an angry old man act—say you're bummed about the coverage and you're going to switch if things don't get better right quick. You will probably be transferred to a rep who can hand out a perk, like an early starting time for night minutes. This was the carrot offered to Mr. Roboto after he recently called to give Sprint PCS a piece of his mind. No, it won't stop him from skipping out come Zero Day—what, no service near the Flatiron Building?—but it's nice to hear the Man quaking in his boots. "