Verizon is the Devil, and I'm for serious about this one y'all. And if you, like me, aren't aware of how the corporate badness works because you live in a world of good people, pay attention.
Long story (nowhere near) short:
I'm on a family plan with the Evil Empire (EE). Our contract is good through next June, but we were up for our "New Every Two" phones as of last week.
I thought to myself: "Self, you should just order those bad boys online, skip the rebate crap all together and never set foot in that awful store."
A very good friend (VGF) of mine (and a Verizon insider) said: "Sometimes, if you do it online, they make you change your contract."
Me: "But our contract goes through next June. It's no problem. I'll just order our phones online, activate them online, and the world will be happy."
Unfortunately, I could not have been more wrong. Scene is this:
I order the first two "freebie" phones online and it's a breeze ... no text/pix plan needed and the basic model will do. Great! I get to my phone (the main line on the plan) and using my special "credit" a lovely EnV 2 (a pricier model than I would buy flat out) can be mine for only $29.99 with my rebate and upgrade credit. Excellent! As I proceed to purchase this delightful little phone, I realize that the EE is trying to change my text/pix plan ... to double the monthly cost in fact. And there's no way for me to change it back.
VGF calls his buddy at the EE, who in turn calls me and sets me up with a plan of attack, but it must happen in store. Ok, fine then. So, this morning, we march into the EE, tell our Sales Representative (SR) that our plan is fine and we just want our new phones.
SR (NOT VGF's buddy, btw) tries to imply that the two freebie phones will cost $70 each. That apparently includes the accessories package, but he doesn't really indicate that. He just says they'll cost $70. And my phone, online a mere $29.99, will cost, after rebate, $110. What?! Oh, wait ... apparently that includes accessories too. I say as politely as possible: "Thanks but we don't want any accessories. The regular charger will do."
And it was downhill from there. Apparently, the "accessories" are where these folks make their commissions, and after I said that we didn't want them, he simply turned into a complete jackass (JA). For the rest of the time, JA did not once make eye contact with us, did not offer to transfer our phone numbers (even for a fee ... he just didn't mention it at all) and did not even throw out a "Have a good day." He wasn't getting a commission so he turned into a complete jerk.
I guess my biggest problem is with the EE itself ... that its employees must swindle good, unknowing people out of money just so they can make commission; that I couldn't just go online and order new phones without having to change my contract and pay more money; that every day, EE employees walk into that store, most likely freaking hating their jobs, and end up being complete JAs to customers because of the system; that if I hadn't been there, my mother would have forked over $150 for stuff none of us needed or wanted. That's freaking wrong!
I don't know that other places are any better. I don't know if there's another answer. I just know that I absolutely HATE that we as a society allow places to operate like this (and apparently a lot of the Big Box tech retailers do).
I don't know of a solution, but after we left and I fumed for a bit, I told mom maybe I should just go back, give JA a big hug and apologize for the fact that I have a happy job and he works for Satan (but that still doesn't mean he should be rude to loyal customers).
Just a warning to you all ... go into these places with a plan; only get what you need; and don't let the EE pull the wool down.
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1 comment:
Well, this would be where I usually say that i've had no problems since switching to Alltel and that would be that... except for the fact that Verizon bought Alltel and so now I need to prepare my "taking it in the rear" face for when it happens.
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