A non-video game blog from Doug? Let's not listen.
A cell phone blog? He better not.
Look, I have a cell phone.
Until recently I had a pretty awesome cell phone.
MINE
But recently, she has broken, and I was left with this.
SEVERE DOWNGRADE
But I'm not mad about it. Here's what I'm going to get in about 4 weeks.
This sexy gal.
or
This also sexy gal
Now don't gimme no stories about what phone I should get and why, there are now three things you don't talk about in public.
1. Politics
2. Religion
3. Cell phones
Personal blogs, sure, rock it out. In public, NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
For every person who hates a cell phone company, there are others who think it's the best.
Here's my story of the facts.
I had Verizon for years, YEARS. I loved them, they loved me. It was all great. I was able to get unlimited data and messaging. It was good. I could ebay phones and they'd let me switch it on the internets no problems. Until I wanted to grow up and get a big boy plan of my own. (I know people in their 30s who still have a plan with their parents, it's just a nice way to save).
Plus I was on a money-saving kick. So I went to Verizon and... oh, that's right!! I hate going there.
Here, let me backtrack a bit. I had found out that I was paying about $120 a month to Verizon. In some countries that would be considered a sexual offense. Too much. I text the most, data the second most, and talk about 40 to 50 minutes a month, but had to pay for unlimited talk too, which was the biggest chunk, like $70 or $80 at the time.
I work part-time in a mall, in that mall there are cell phone stores. Most of the guys who work at these stores are pretty hardcore gamers. I'm a hardcore gamer. We become friends. The Sprint guys, the AT&T guys, the T-Mobile guys... but never the Verizon guys. There are 3 kiosks in the mall for Verizon. The mall is located next to a Verizon store. I digress. One of the Sprint guys and I were talking about video games, and he said "if you ever want to switch to Sprint, let me know, I can get you a deal".
So, I go to Verizon. I walk in, and my hatred begins. There's the door bouncer you have to plead to, usually playing up your problem bigger than it actually is, he puts your name on a list and you wait. I told them "my phone is getting old, I'd like to upgrade and see about getting a different contract if possible, a cheaper one". Oh my.... that wait wasn't going to be short. Finally, honestly 30 minutes later, we're seen by one of the gods of the cell phones. I tell him my deal, $120 is too much and I want a new phone. Here's basically what was said.
"Well, I'd like a new phone, and is the cheapest unlimited everything plan really $120?"
yep
"Alright, well what about a new phone?"
you're not up for an upgrade for another year, we'd have to extend your contract.
(now here is where even I stop listening. A cell phone is a damn cell phone, its a tool, a gadget a toy, it's not a car, house or boat, why in the hell do I have to sign a new 2 year contract to get a new toy? Heres money, give me that thing. Oh that thing outside of a contract costs $500? Really? A new cell phone from the manufacture costs as much as a damn iPad? I hate the words "extend, contract, agreement" in the same sentence)
"Well I'm not really digging any of those things, that'll cost me more money"
$120 is basically the cost you'd find anywhere else too, but they'll charge you new activation fees
".............*stare*......... I'm leaving".
So, I walk out. Determined to find a way to prove him wrong.
(SOAPBOX TIME)
A cell phone is not unlike an appliance. We all know that the person selling it to you is working on commission, we accept that. It's common knowledge. My problem is there was a time when people would and could say "that was the man who sold us our washer", but cell phones have become so common place that it's basically an assembly line. If you don't like how you're treated, go somewhere else, but everyone else will treat you the same, you need them, they don't need you.
We as the customers need to be treated as though we matter, as though your business depends on it. Verizon I'm well aware that you losing my business didn't hurt you at all, I'm actually not looking to hurt you in anyway whatsoever. ("I'm never shopping here again", is just a promise of future happiness to the salesperson, quit saying it) But, we live in a time of the internet, where the underground masses can be informed and maybe slowly change their ways.
I needed a small business cell phone company. I needed someone who depended on my business to survive, but also understood that my business could be taken somewhere else.
I needed a place that advertised unlimited everything for $70. Good old Sprint.
I drive over to the Sprint store just to test the waters, I was pissed about Verizon and knew that a smaller company might not have the same coverage as the larger ones, but maybe they actually gave a shit and didn't see me as literally just another cell number. (Ed. The Sprint coverage is equal to Verizon, not greater, or worse, equal. I've seen no difference, except that Sprint as 3g and 4g, haha)
So I walk into the Sprint store. No door bouncer, no line of customers demanding to be helped. It was the salesmen and me. I was sold from that point on. He knew that I was well aware of how I should be treated, and I was well aware that he needed commissions to stay afloat. There are much fewer Sprint stores than there are Verizon stores. Don't come off too desperate now Sprint store....
He introduces himself and asks what I needed help with. I plead my case with him, in short "I hate Verizon, they overcharge me, and I want a new phone, is that too much to ask?".
He explains the unlimited everything for $70. He then says "well find a phone you like". He could feel the sale, but I was fine with it. It's a dance of sorts dealing with someone who works on commission. You don't want to fall victim to their traps, and they know not to be too pushy. I told him I wanted a phone with a keyboard, but I've had Blackberrys most of my cell phone time, so something fancy would be neat. He shows me the Samsung Moment. "It's $100, with a new plan, but you get a new phone every year if you'd like".
....what?
Yep. Every year I can get a new phone, the contract just keeps on rolling and I get a new phone for the price of a new phone, $100 to $150 each year if I want, or I stick with what I got and upgrade after that first year.
This is the first of many "Reasons Sprint makes it simple and I like that".
Go on.... I'm intrigued.
He explains that I can get a new one each year, but he recommends the insurance on the phone if something does go wrong. oh.... the catch. Ahuh I knew it. "Otherwise.... the repair cost is $35".
Wait wait wait, what? The phone breaks and I have to pay $35 for repairs? That's it? With Verizon they give you a limited amount of replaced phones (3 when I was there), you break more than 3, you're stuck with what you have. He said "yeah, if it can be repaired, if not, and you have the insurance, we'll just replace it".
Well.... how much for this insurance? $7 a month..... hmm... I might never need the insurance, but it's nice to have. (That's why Flanders saw it as a form of gambling). He then asks where I worked "well I work at _____ at the mall, and I work at_____ theatre in the evenings, why?". Oh, those people get a discount. Basically saving you the amount of what the insurance would cost.
So when it's all said and done how much is all of this going to cost me? "Well, $110 for the phone, $70 for the first month, and $50 to transfer the service".
Oh hell. my old numbers a POW at Verizon.
"Well, do you want us to call them and transfer it for you?".
.........what?........
"Yep, we'll deal with them over the phone so you'll never have to step foot into there again".
(So many extra credit points for not only them doing that, but wording it like that too).
So I walk out with a new phone and a restored sense of self-worth from my cellphone company. I spent what I would have spent at Verizon in 2 months. I'm literally paying half of what I was at Verizon, and getting the same cell service and coverage. Half. For half of the cost I'd deal with a dropped call.
OH! Did I mention the phone comes with 500 a month roaming minutes? Unlimited service minutes, and 500 a month roaming. I talk about 40minutes a month. So even if the coverage sucks ass, I'd still be perfectly fine, about 11 times over.
The salesmen calls me, CALLS ME, about 5 days later to see how I'm liking the phone, and says I can swap it for something else if I'm not happy with it. Oh you, you gorgeous man you, I am happy with it, all of it.
Fast-forward to about a week ago. My Moment was dying, just short of a year. The charger port was crapping out. I take it to the Sprint store and they said "we'll have to order a new phone". Good thing I have that insurance. Otherwise I'd have to pay $35. (yes, I know that over the year $7 a month is more than $35, but shaddup and listen).
Two days later my new phone comes in.... I go to get it. Only theres a problem.... they stopped carrying the Moment. They transfer all of my things, contacts and pictures to the new phone for free. (I'm not sure if Verizon is still charging for this, but that was a dbag thing to do regardless).
But they transfer it to the Severe Downgrade. I'm concerned.
This phone sucks. It's got a smaller screen and the buttons suck. Hold it right there though.
As I was waiting to get my new phone (and playing with the Galaxy Tab, which wishes it was my iPad), a lady came in complaining that her 2 year old phone is broken, "something" broke off of it and now it doesn't work. They explained to her that she'd have to pay the $35 since she didn't have insurance. She said "well I hate this phone, I want a new one". They then explained to her that she'd have to have a new contract written up. What the lady didn't realize was that her contract expired a year ago, but they allowed her to stay on contract-less for the remaining year. find another place that would do that. She began to say how ridiculous it was, and she wanted to speak to her cell phone rep, she just didn't remember his name or where he worked. (Mine is named Teddy, he's in my contacts list, we're pals now). So ma'am, you could pay the $35 and they'd fix it, you could get a new contract thats only $70 a month, or you could go to somewhere else. She chose somewhere else..... and these are the people who are too stupid to understand a good thing.
So they hand me my crap phone and send me on my way. It uses the same charger so I shouldn't complain, but it.... it sucks.
Screw it, I'm going to see Teddy. I drive from one Sprint store (the repair store) to my store, and there sure enough is Teddy. The people at the Sprint store I go to-
Teddy
Hot Amber
Josh
Beardy
The people I dealt with at Verizon? Who the hell knows, a different person each time. I say "Teddy, you sold me a phone, a little under a year later it breaks, I get a replacement phone, but it sucks". To which Teddy says "well are you due for an upgrade? you know... the annual one?"..... Teddy I don't remember. But Teddy does. "You are due for one in March, you could get a new phone now, but it'd cost you the full $500, which I'm not gonna let you do that. We got the Evo Shift 4g, it's $150 when you're due for an upgrade, but you'd be selling the replacement phone you got, so you wouldn't even have to spend that much... here... think you can stick it out with that phone until March? March 1st you can come right back in here and we'll get you the upgrade".
Did..... did you just talk me out of a $500 sale? I was seriously considering it too. You did. You talked me out of a $500 sale because you actually care about me. You were going to turn down a commissioned sale for the sake of the customers respect. I.... you.... it.... Blown away.
So he said to hang onto severe downgrade until March, which is what I'm going to do.
A business that's willing to turn down a sale for the sake of the customer saving money in the long run... that's awesome. Maybe it's just because we're pals, maybe it's because he's a gamer, but it seems like everyone there legitimately looks out for the customer.
So, in short (too late), if you're unhappy with your cell provider, maybe it's time to switch. Verizon and AT&T aren't the only rackets in town, and the whole "other places have bad coverage" is a myth, check the maps.
If you're with Sprint and you're unhappy, maybe you're just a dbag and they don't like you.
They like me, which means I'm not a dbag.
And a cell phone company who likes people who aren't dbags is a company for me.
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