1 post tagged “cell phone”

I found this fabulous site that made me feel good about not being the only one duped into thinking VZW was an acceptable cell phone co.  Boy, was I wrong!  My phone is probably a year old.  In all the other years I've had a cell phone, the battery hasn't run out as quickly as this one had.  I have to charge it daily because it hardly holds one for very long.  I went to the local store to get a replacement battery.  I thought the dude knew what he was doing because he pulled up my account on the computer and proceeded to order me a new battery.  At $40, it was worth as much as the actual freakin' phone.  Therein lies ripoff #1.

The eagerly-anticipated package arrived today and I couldn't wait to replace my battery.  However, much to my chagrin, it was the WRONG battery.  Frustrated, I decided to go to another VZ store to exchange the damn thing.  I mean, I already paid for it, how difficult could it be to exchange it for one that actually works on my phone?!  I should have known...

I don't know how many employees they had working in there, but the ratio seemed to be 1-1.  Again, how difficult would it be to exchange one thing for another?  Especially at a main store?  This, my friends, is the phenomenon known as VZW's customer "service."  I walked in and was greeted by some lackey at a computer.  He asked me what my issue was and I was hopeful that he was going to be able to help me right then and there.  Wrong-o. He merely put me into the computer where I was "queued" into being called upon when my turn came up.  In the meantime, there were various customers milling about.  A couple wanting new phones; a gentleman wanting a new plan; parents with kids contemplating the headache of getting their child a cellphone.  What I found "interesting" the longer I waited, was that the employees weren't helping customers 1-1, some were standing in front of terminals madly typing away at what either seemed like a novel being written or a frantic game of brick breaker.  One customer had 3 sales reps "helping" him with his transaction.  I don't know what kind of cellphone he bought, but it must have been the shiznit to have one person ring him up, one person tell him how to work it, and the other typing madly away on a terminal while throwing casual glances his way.  (See photo below.)  Either that, or between the three of them, there had to be at least one cumulative brain cell with which to function. 

What should have been a 1-2 minute exchange for me never occurred.  After waiting over 30 minutes, I realized that I had only moments to pick up my son from tutoring.  I approached the lackey at the entrance again and expressed my urgency.  I kid you not, he handed me a blank post-it and told me to approach the customer service center and tell them that I was "in a hurry."  I guess the blank post-it made me look "official" or most certainly certifiably crazy.  Nevertheless, it didn't work.  Not only did I waste 30 minutes of my life there, but I still have no cell phone battery and I was one pissed-off [still dieting, still cranky because of it] customer!   Lethal combination.

I hate VZW.  Once my contract is up, I'm switching.  But not before I tell them exactly where I think they should stick their network!   

VZW Suckz