Verizon Wireless and I are no longer friends

I had a few minutes today and I went to the Verizon store on Van Ness to see if I could get the new Blackberry Curve that just came out. After standing there for 9 minutes (I checked on my existing BB) someone finally asked if they could help. Here is my experience as verbatim as I can recall.

"Did you guys get the Curve."
"Yes."
"Can I get one"
"What is your cell #?"
"Does it matter?"
"No."

Then he bounded off to the backroom to return without the Curve.

"Yup, we have them."
"Can I get one?"
"What is your cell #?"

I give him my number and he tells me that I am not eligible, I have only had this phone for a year and 2 months.

"Can I change my plan and get it?"
"No."
"How is the camera."
"It's Ok like the Pearl."
"This is why people get annoyed with cellphone carriers."
"This is how the wireless industry works in the US."

Thanks for the lesson in mobility and economics. There is nothing more I enjoy than having a moron in a bad tie give me life lessons. I spared us all the heartache of explaining to him that I spent several years in mobile and telecom.

There are few things in life more infuriating than dealing with cell carriers. I am sure I will never hear from VZW on this--or RIM for that matter, whose 9000 I just blogged about earlier today!! That's it. Both companies suck and you deserve to be publicly flogged. I won't do you any favors until you do me a solid.

As for the Van Ness store, I have bought things there in the past and the experience has been fine. This time I had to stand there sweating while some morons behind the counter shouted to each other their Facebook status. The company and the manager of the store should be embarrassed with the behavior.

You can't make this stuff up.

[n432100]

Sounds to me like youre ranting to get a freebie from Verizon or RIM. Why were you sweating? All you were doing is standing there. If you spent years in the mobile and telecom biz then you should have done your research before you went to the store. People get annoyed with cell companies cause of bogus charges, dropped calls, crappy phones and expensive bills not because some store employee wouldnt change your plan/cell phone to suit you. If you dont like it move to asia.

[daverosenberg]

I have never gotten a freebie yet from my 5 years of blogging. The store was hot as hell and never in my life have I seen anyone defend a cellphone company so clearly this is astroturfing.

[thebocop]

What a Jerk.. I have worked in the telcom industry and if you came into my store acting like that.. you would get the same response from me... Dont come in there, acting like your better than the dude with the bad tie, because your the worst customer of all, I have seen a million of your type... absolutly think the world owes you something. And you think your smarter than everyone else.

And if you are not up for your upgrade, you pay full retail, dont complain that you dont get a "free phone" when a rep has to tell you its full retail.

A year a 2 months? what, verizon has to buy you a blackberry now? please.. To the back of the line SIR!

[thebocop]

And BY the way... Never give a rep trouble for asking for your cell phone number, they have to look up your account somehow. Do you think the reps are trained to sell stuff over the counter like its wal mart? or do you think they actually try to know the person and account they are talking to?

[daverosenberg]

Go to hell the both of you. I am a good customer and a consumer of their products. Your comments that assume I was difficult prove that you are a moron. The customer is always right and the fact that you suggest I should be sent to the back of the line proves that you are an idiot--are you typing this from your computer at the VZW store?

[mediocrates--2008]

Holy Backlash, Dave! Stand you ground, I'm totally on your side. I read NOTHING in the blog suggesting you were difficult - only that you (as the customer) were in control of the transaction and intended to keep it that way. I HATE it when clerks ask for personal information before I've agreed to a transaction. You were just asking about the availability of the Curve, you hadn't agreed to buy one yet, he had no d--m need for your cell phone number at that point! Why is it most people (clerks and customer's both) think it's appropriate to let the clerk have total control of the transaction, and any customer that maintains control, and/or refuses to surrender up his personal information at the drop of a hat is being "difficult." This is the why the wireless industry works this way in the US, because most consumers allow themselves be treated like they're lucky to be allowed to be a customer.

[john55440]

Why should the Verizon salesperson have disregarded your contract, and given you a new Blackberry that you were not entitled to? Why should you be treated as being superior to other people with the same contract? As mom would put it, you're acting like a Spoiled Brat.

At a time when many people are losing their homes, and are having a hard time paying for gas and food, your self-absorbed Blackberry Whine is pathetic. Cry me a river.

[daverosenberg]

I didn't ask him to disregard my contract. I wanted to be treated like a customer. Period. I may have not liked the answer, but the guy treated me like jerk. Go cry on some non-tech blog if you want to discuss the economy.

[Compumind]

Wait!

Is this the kind of "quality" stuff I should be receiving from CNET?

Absolutely not!

Therefore, I insist that you send me a brand new Blackberry Curve, right now!

;0)

[mediocrates--2008]

Who's asking for a free phone? Verizon offers the Curve at a discount of $319 - but only if you extend your contract another two years. If I'm understanding the blog correctly, VzW was telling Dave he wasn'y allowed to buy one, period, while new customers or customers out of contract could buy one on the spot.

[daverosenberg]

Exactly right Mediocrates! Thank you.

[paulruppert]

Well I have always learned not to act as though I was there with this person. It may have been a busy day and yes we all have to wait. As for the free phone or discount, it you have it coming to you, you will most likely get a ton of advertisements in the mail. If you are not, than plan on buying the phone. If they won't sell you a phone of your choice not matter what the cost, then contact Verizon by way of the web. Don't worry, whoever this person is, this phone like others will be on special offer just as soon as it becomes business smart. Sorry, bud, but if you don't like the service, go somewhere else. And as far as smart people, why did you get out of the business?

[Kainchild]

I wonder why the law is structured to not allow this. That is, if the clerk was telling the truth. They could have ran out of phones too, and he was just too lazy to give a rain check.