I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
than getting an audience with the Pope. You wait on line for long
periods of time and when finally you get to talk with someone he are
often less than knowledgeable about the products they sell, cell
phones.
Typically we have succumbed to the recommendation of he sales rep and
typically the phone he/she recommends proves to be problematic. They
have almost exclusively been Motorola phones. If it's not he
rediculously-fragile charger connection weakness, its the dreaded red
dot under the battery that indicates water damage, damage that seems to
occur even when the humidity gets above 65 per cent.
What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
Is there such a phone out there made by anyone? Or is it Verizon that's
the problem.
I am at wits end, having to periodically spend additional money after
an initial phone purchase to get a new phone to replace ones that have
failed for one reason or another, notwithstanding Verizon's offer of a
$100 credit towards a new phone.
Can anyone recommend a good reliable plain cell phone and perhaps a
better service provider, notwithstanding Verizon's claim to have he
best service in the New York Metropolitan area?
--
Andrew D. Sisson
LG VX8100 VZW AC II SINCE APRIL 1993
SonyEricsson Z525a CINGULAR NATION SINCE MARCH 2006
"Dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1159384755.285879.153770@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
> customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
> customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
>
> Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
> than getting an audience with the Pope. You wait on line for long
> periods of time and when finally you get to talk with someone he are
> often less than knowledgeable about the products they sell, cell
> phones.
> Typically we have succumbed to the recommendation of he sales rep and
> typically the phone he/she recommends proves to be problematic. They
> have almost exclusively been Motorola phones. If it's not he
> rediculously-fragile charger connection weakness, its the dreaded red
> dot under the battery that indicates water damage, damage that seems to
> occur even when the humidity gets above 65 per cent.
>
> What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
> without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
> ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
> it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
>
> Is there such a phone out there made by anyone? Or is it Verizon that's
> the problem.
>
> I am at wits end, having to periodically spend additional money after
> an initial phone purchase to get a new phone to replace ones that have
> failed for one reason or another, notwithstanding Verizon's offer of a
> $100 credit towards a new phone.
>
> Can anyone recommend a good reliable plain cell phone and perhaps a
> better service provider, notwithstanding Verizon's claim to have he
> best service in the New York Metropolitan area?
>
> Thank you.
>
I do agree with part of your post. Unfortunately, Verizon Wireless stores
have become the new Department of Motor Vehicles, but worse, except for the
wait. Imagine if the DMV employees knew as little about their jobs as the
VZW staff.
I believe that the management at VZW is fully aware that the staff in their
stores is incapable of solving the problems and answering the questions of a
certain percentage of their customers, but they have made a corporate
decision at very high levels. The choice was to educate ALL of their staff
to equal or better knowledge than ALL their customers, at great expense, OR
to target a minimal level which would satisfy 90% of their customers. I
can't really say that from a strictly business standpoint, it was a bad
decision.
Simply put; the average rep in the stores I've visited has no idea what the
PRL is or what it does. Therefore, if I go in with a PRL problem, they are
likely incapable of solving it. However, less than 10% (probably more like
5%) of their customers know or care what a PRL is. Management knows this, so
they know in advance that 5 or 10 or whatever percent of customers will not
get their problems solved in the store. They also know that the level of
knowledge they target CAN satisfy 90-95% of customers, and that's good
enough for them.
It might cost VZW hundreds of thousands (or millions) to educate the retail
staff up a level or two, and they've decided it isn't cost-effective. Again,
strictly from a business standpoint, maybe they're right. Remember the magic
formula Stores=RETAIL.
Of course, we of the 5-10% are the ones who bear the brunt of the
frustration. Oh, well. We of the minority also know that almost anyone above
the 1st level of PHONE tech support is worlds ahead of anyone in the stores.
Different kind of people completely.
Therefore, when we have a true technical problem, the store is the LAST
place we turn to.
Don't blame them in the stores, they are RETAIL staff, there to SELL. I
cringe when I listen to the questions they have to answer. How do I get a
dial tone on this thing? Sheeeeeit. If I sell my old phone to a friend, do I
lose the number with the phone? You gotta be kidding.
In recent years, I've owned Verizon phones from Moto, Audiovox, LG and
Kyocera. The Moto phones seemed to have the best signals, but recent models
(after the v60) have been buggy. I love my e815 to death, but it has quirks
that are inexcusable. On the other hand, I've owned 6 Toshiba-made
Audiovox's which were 100% bug-free, worked perfectly from out of the box
until retired. Signal performance: ok, but not "hot". My daughter had a
lower-model LG---bug-free, but poor signal. Wife's newest is a vx8300. I'm
very impressed with build quality, display, and audio. We haven't made a
trip to the boonies yet, so I'll reserve decision on the signal until we do,
but so far, so good. I didn't want to like the phone, but I do. It even has
sidetone!!!
Sorry you've had bad luck with VZW. Ours has been pretty good.
Dean
"Dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1159384755.285879.153770@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
> customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
> customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
>
> Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
> than getting an audience with the Pope. You wait on line for long
> periods of time and when finally you get to talk with someone he are
> often less than knowledgeable about the products they sell, cell
> phones.
> Typically we have succumbed to the recommendation of he sales rep and
> typically the phone he/she recommends proves to be problematic. They
> have almost exclusively been Motorola phones. If it's not he
> rediculously-fragile charger connection weakness, its the dreaded red
> dot under the battery that indicates water damage, damage that seems to
> occur even when the humidity gets above 65 per cent.
>
> What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
> without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
> ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
> it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
>
> Is there such a phone out there made by anyone? Or is it Verizon that's
> the problem.
>
> I am at wits end, having to periodically spend additional money after
> an initial phone purchase to get a new phone to replace ones that have
> failed for one reason or another, notwithstanding Verizon's offer of a
> $100 credit towards a new phone.
>
> Can anyone recommend a good reliable plain cell phone and perhaps a
> better service provider, notwithstanding Verizon's claim to have he
> best service in the New York Metropolitan area?
>
> Thank you.
>
Andy S wrote:
> Suggest you try Cingular then.
>
>
> --
> Andrew D. Sisson
> LG VX8100 VZW AC II SINCE APRIL 1993
> SonyEricsson Z525a CINGULAR NATION SINCE MARCH 2006
> "Dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1159384755.285879.153770@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> >I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
> > customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
> > customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
> >
> > Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
> > than getting an audience with the Pope. You wait on line for long
> > periods of time and when finally you get to talk with someone he are
> > often less than knowledgeable about the products they sell, cell
> > phones.
> > Typically we have succumbed to the recommendation of he sales rep and
> > typically the phone he/she recommends proves to be problematic. They
> > have almost exclusively been Motorola phones. If it's not he
> > rediculously-fragile charger connection weakness, its the dreaded red
> > dot under the battery that indicates water damage, damage that seems to
> > occur even when the humidity gets above 65 per cent.
> >
> > What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
> > without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
> > ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
> > it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
> >
> > Is there such a phone out there made by anyone? Or is it Verizon that's
> > the problem.
> >
> > I am at wits end, having to periodically spend additional money after
> > an initial phone purchase to get a new phone to replace ones that have
> > failed for one reason or another, notwithstanding Verizon's offer of a
> > $100 credit towards a new phone.
> >
> > Can anyone recommend a good reliable plain cell phone and perhaps a
> > better service provider, notwithstanding Verizon's claim to have he
> > best service in the New York Metropolitan area?
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
"Dean" <dean173@yahoo.com> wrote in news:IeCSg.6665$Ev4.3373@trndny03:
> I do agree with part of your post. Unfortunately, Verizon Wireless
> stores have become the new Department of Motor Vehicles, but worse,
> except for the wait. Imagine if the DMV employees knew as little about
> their jobs as the VZW staff.
>
> I believe that the management at VZW is fully aware that the staff in
> their stores is incapable of solving the problems and answering the
> questions of a certain percentage of their customers, but they have
> made a corporate decision at very high levels. The choice was to
> educate ALL of their staff to equal or better knowledge than ALL their
> customers, at great expense, OR to target a minimal level which would
> satisfy 90% of their customers. I can't really say that from a
> strictly business standpoint, it was a bad decision.
>
> Simply put; the average rep in the stores I've visited has no idea
> what the PRL is or what it does. Therefore, if I go in with a PRL
> problem, they are likely incapable of solving it. However, less than
> 10% (probably more like 5%) of their customers know or care what a PRL
> is. Management knows this, so they know in advance that 5 or 10 or
> whatever percent of customers will not get their problems solved in
> the store. They also know that the level of knowledge they target CAN
> satisfy 90-95% of customers, and that's good enough for them.
>
> It might cost VZW hundreds of thousands (or millions) to educate the
> retail staff up a level or two, and they've decided it isn't
> cost-effective. Again, strictly from a business standpoint, maybe
> they're right. Remember the magic formula Stores=RETAIL.
>
> Of course, we of the 5-10% are the ones who bear the brunt of the
> frustration. Oh, well. We of the minority also know that almost anyone
> above the 1st level of PHONE tech support is worlds ahead of anyone in
> the stores. Different kind of people completely.
> Therefore, when we have a true technical problem, the store is the
> LAST place we turn to.
>
> Don't blame them in the stores, they are RETAIL staff, there to SELL.
> I cringe when I listen to the questions they have to answer. How do I
> get a dial tone on this thing? Sheeeeeit. If I sell my old phone to a
> friend, do I lose the number with the phone? You gotta be kidding.
>
> In recent years, I've owned Verizon phones from Moto, Audiovox, LG and
> Kyocera. The Moto phones seemed to have the best signals, but recent
> models (after the v60) have been buggy. I love my e815 to death, but
> it has quirks that are inexcusable. On the other hand, I've owned 6
> Toshiba-made Audiovox's which were 100% bug-free, worked perfectly
> from out of the box until retired. Signal performance: ok, but not
> "hot". My daughter had a lower-model LG---bug-free, but poor signal.
> Wife's newest is a vx8300. I'm very impressed with build quality,
> display, and audio. We haven't made a trip to the boonies yet, so I'll
> reserve decision on the signal until we do, but so far, so good. I
> didn't want to like the phone, but I do. It even has sidetone!!!
>
> Sorry you've had bad luck with VZW. Ours has been pretty good.
>
> Dean
>
>
> "Dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1159384755.285879.153770@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>>I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
>> customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
>> customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
>>
>> Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
>> than getting an audience with the Pope. You wait on line for long
>> periods of time and when finally you get to talk with someone he are
>> often less than knowledgeable about the products they sell, cell
>> phones.
>> Typically we have succumbed to the recommendation of he sales rep and
>> typically the phone he/she recommends proves to be problematic. They
>> have almost exclusively been Motorola phones. If it's not he
>> rediculously-fragile charger connection weakness, its the dreaded red
>> dot under the battery that indicates water damage, damage that seems
>> to occur even when the humidity gets above 65 per cent.
>>
>> What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
>> without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
>> ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
>> it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
>>
>> Is there such a phone out there made by anyone? Or is it Verizon
>> that's the problem.
>>
>> I am at wits end, having to periodically spend additional money after
>> an initial phone purchase to get a new phone to replace ones that
>> have failed for one reason or another, notwithstanding Verizon's
>> offer of a $100 credit towards a new phone.
>>
>> Can anyone recommend a good reliable plain cell phone and perhaps a
>> better service provider, notwithstanding Verizon's claim to have he
>> best service in the New York Metropolitan area?
>>
>> Thank you.
>>
I agree with the above top poster except that what ever happend to:
1) A plain, simple device that will ring when a call comes in and connect
when you need to talk to someone....reliably. They use to call it a
phone. Personally, I have the Treo 650 and LOVE it. Need it..no but I
really use nearly all of it's functions.
2) Employees that care enough about their job and future to actualy take
it upon themselves to learn the products and services? I have been in the
computer business for years and learning never stops. Mostly, I learn at
home on my own buck and time.
It bugs me when I hear things like "Nobody ever taught me that." People
need to take the initiative and aggressively seek out the knowledge
they will need to navigate through life.
Homer wrote:
> "Dean" <dean173@yahoo.com> wrote in news:IeCSg.6665$Ev4.3373@trndny03:
>
> > I do agree with part of your post. Unfortunately, Verizon Wireless
> > stores have become the new Department of Motor Vehicles, but worse,
> > except for the wait. Imagine if the DMV employees knew as little about
> > their jobs as the VZW staff.
> >
> > I believe that the management at VZW is fully aware that the staff in
> > their stores is incapable of solving the problems and answering the
> > questions of a certain percentage of their customers, but they have
> > made a corporate decision at very high levels. The choice was to
> > educate ALL of their staff to equal or better knowledge than ALL their
> > customers, at great expense, OR to target a minimal level which would
> > satisfy 90% of their customers. I can't really say that from a
> > strictly business standpoint, it was a bad decision.
> >
> > Simply put; the average rep in the stores I've visited has no idea
> > what the PRL is or what it does. Therefore, if I go in with a PRL
> > problem, they are likely incapable of solving it. However, less than
> > 10% (probably more like 5%) of their customers know or care what a PRL
> > is. Management knows this, so they know in advance that 5 or 10 or
> > whatever percent of customers will not get their problems solved in
> > the store. They also know that the level of knowledge they target CAN
> > satisfy 90-95% of customers, and that's good enough for them.
> >
> > It might cost VZW hundreds of thousands (or millions) to educate the
> > retail staff up a level or two, and they've decided it isn't
> > cost-effective. Again, strictly from a business standpoint, maybe
> > they're right. Remember the magic formula Stores=RETAIL.
> >
> > Of course, we of the 5-10% are the ones who bear the brunt of the
> > frustration. Oh, well. We of the minority also know that almost anyone
> > above the 1st level of PHONE tech support is worlds ahead of anyone in
> > the stores. Different kind of people completely.
> > Therefore, when we have a true technical problem, the store is the
> > LAST place we turn to.
> >
> > Don't blame them in the stores, they are RETAIL staff, there to SELL.
> > I cringe when I listen to the questions they have to answer. How do I
> > get a dial tone on this thing? Sheeeeeit. If I sell my old phone to a
> > friend, do I lose the number with the phone? You gotta be kidding.
> >
> > In recent years, I've owned Verizon phones from Moto, Audiovox, LG and
> > Kyocera. The Moto phones seemed to have the best signals, but recent
> > models (after the v60) have been buggy. I love my e815 to death, but
> > it has quirks that are inexcusable. On the other hand, I've owned 6
> > Toshiba-made Audiovox's which were 100% bug-free, worked perfectly
> > from out of the box until retired. Signal performance: ok, but not
> > "hot". My daughter had a lower-model LG---bug-free, but poor signal.
> > Wife's newest is a vx8300. I'm very impressed with build quality,
> > display, and audio. We haven't made a trip to the boonies yet, so I'll
> > reserve decision on the signal until we do, but so far, so good. I
> > didn't want to like the phone, but I do. It even has sidetone!!!
> >
> > Sorry you've had bad luck with VZW. Ours has been pretty good.
> >
> > Dean
> >
> >
> > "Dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:1159384755.285879.153770@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> >>I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
> >> customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
> >> customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
> >>
> >> Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
> >> than getting an audience with the Pope. You wait on line for long
> >> periods of time and when finally you get to talk with someone he are
> >> often less than knowledgeable about the products they sell, cell
> >> phones.
> >> Typically we have succumbed to the recommendation of he sales rep and
> >> typically the phone he/she recommends proves to be problematic. They
> >> have almost exclusively been Motorola phones. If it's not he
> >> rediculously-fragile charger connection weakness, its the dreaded red
> >> dot under the battery that indicates water damage, damage that seems
> >> to occur even when the humidity gets above 65 per cent.
> >>
> >> What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
> >> without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
> >> ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
> >> it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
> >>
> >> Is there such a phone out there made by anyone? Or is it Verizon
> >> that's the problem.
> >>
> >> I am at wits end, having to periodically spend additional money after
> >> an initial phone purchase to get a new phone to replace ones that
> >> have failed for one reason or another, notwithstanding Verizon's
> >> offer of a $100 credit towards a new phone.
> >>
> >> Can anyone recommend a good reliable plain cell phone and perhaps a
> >> better service provider, notwithstanding Verizon's claim to have he
> >> best service in the New York Metropolitan area?
> >>
> >> Thank you.
> >>
>
>
> I agree with the above top poster except that what ever happend to:
>
> 1) A plain, simple device that will ring when a call comes in and connect
> when you need to talk to someone....reliably. They use to call it a
> phone. Personally, I have the Treo 650 and LOVE it. Need it..no but I
> really use nearly all of it's functions.
>
> 2) Employees that care enough about their job and future to actualy take
> it upon themselves to learn the products and services? I have been in the
> computer business for years and learning never stops. Mostly, I learn at
> home on my own buck and time.
>
> JohnS
>
> --
> ‰PNG
Thanks, Dean, for your insight. Poor customer service is reaching
epidemic proportions in many fields. One time I was in a checkout line
at a supermarket. The cashier rang me up without a word. As I left I
said, "What, no thank you, have a nice day?" She replied, "It's
written on the receipt."
What I need a a tough phone like those Panasonic notebook computers
they call "ToughBooks."
Dean wrote:
> I do agree with part of your post. Unfortunately, Verizon Wireless stores
> have become the new Department of Motor Vehicles, but worse, except for the
> wait. Imagine if the DMV employees knew as little about their jobs as the
> VZW staff.
>
> I believe that the management at VZW is fully aware that the staff in their
> stores is incapable of solving the problems and answering the questions of a
> certain percentage of their customers, but they have made a corporate
> decision at very high levels. The choice was to educate ALL of their staff
> to equal or better knowledge than ALL their customers, at great expense, OR
> to target a minimal level which would satisfy 90% of their customers. I
> can't really say that from a strictly business standpoint, it was a bad
> decision.
>
> Simply put; the average rep in the stores I've visited has no idea what the
> PRL is or what it does. Therefore, if I go in with a PRL problem, they are
> likely incapable of solving it. However, less than 10% (probably more like
> 5%) of their customers know or care what a PRL is. Management knows this, so
> they know in advance that 5 or 10 or whatever percent of customers will not
> get their problems solved in the store. They also know that the level of
> knowledge they target CAN satisfy 90-95% of customers, and that's good
> enough for them.
>
> It might cost VZW hundreds of thousands (or millions) to educate the retail
> staff up a level or two, and they've decided it isn't cost-effective. Again,
> strictly from a business standpoint, maybe they're right. Remember the magic
> formula Stores=RETAIL.
>
> Of course, we of the 5-10% are the ones who bear the brunt of the
> frustration. Oh, well. We of the minority also know that almost anyone above
> the 1st level of PHONE tech support is worlds ahead of anyone in the stores.
> Different kind of people completely.
> Therefore, when we have a true technical problem, the store is the LAST
> place we turn to.
>
> Don't blame them in the stores, they are RETAIL staff, there to SELL. I
> cringe when I listen to the questions they have to answer. How do I get a
> dial tone on this thing? Sheeeeeit. If I sell my old phone to a friend, do I
> lose the number with the phone? You gotta be kidding.
>
> In recent years, I've owned Verizon phones from Moto, Audiovox, LG and
> Kyocera. The Moto phones seemed to have the best signals, but recent models
> (after the v60) have been buggy. I love my e815 to death, but it has quirks
> that are inexcusable. On the other hand, I've owned 6 Toshiba-made
> Audiovox's which were 100% bug-free, worked perfectly from out of the box
> until retired. Signal performance: ok, but not "hot". My daughter had a
> lower-model LG---bug-free, but poor signal. Wife's newest is a vx8300. I'm
> very impressed with build quality, display, and audio. We haven't made a
> trip to the boonies yet, so I'll reserve decision on the signal until we do,
> but so far, so good. I didn't want to like the phone, but I do. It even has
> sidetone!!!
>
> Sorry you've had bad luck with VZW. Ours has been pretty good.
>
> Dean
>
>
> "Dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1159384755.285879.153770@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> >I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
> > customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
> > customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
> >
> > Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
> > than getting an audience with the Pope. You wait on line for long
> > periods of time and when finally you get to talk with someone he are
> > often less than knowledgeable about the products they sell, cell
> > phones.
> > Typically we have succumbed to the recommendation of he sales rep and
> > typically the phone he/she recommends proves to be problematic. They
> > have almost exclusively been Motorola phones. If it's not he
> > rediculously-fragile charger connection weakness, its the dreaded red
> > dot under the battery that indicates water damage, damage that seems to
> > occur even when the humidity gets above 65 per cent.
> >
> > What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
> > without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
> > ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
> > it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
> >
> > Is there such a phone out there made by anyone? Or is it Verizon that's
> > the problem.
> >
> > I am at wits end, having to periodically spend additional money after
> > an initial phone purchase to get a new phone to replace ones that have
> > failed for one reason or another, notwithstanding Verizon's offer of a
> > $100 credit towards a new phone.
> >
> > Can anyone recommend a good reliable plain cell phone and perhaps a
> > better service provider, notwithstanding Verizon's claim to have he
> > best service in the New York Metropolitan area?
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
The OP did write "Verizon Online retail stores", and mentioned waiting
online, so your "dissertation" seems to have targeted the wrong venue
with the brick-and-mortar store employees - interesting though ;-}
Dean wrote:
> I do agree with part of your post. Unfortunately, Verizon Wireless stores
> have become the new Department of Motor Vehicles, but worse, except for the
> wait. Imagine if the DMV employees knew as little about their jobs as the
> VZW staff.
>
>...
However, for the reliability issue, the OP might consider what I have
done: I have made the decision to pay the extra $6.95/month for complete
replacement coverage on my Nokia 6236i since it doubles as my pager for
work via SMS. However, when they start showing up on Ebay for
something close to the (ridiculous) Lockline $50 deductible, I will
probably drop that coverage, and pick one up as a spare, unless I decide
to just use my old 6015i or 3589i in that role - nothing really wrong
with them, just clunkier, and fewer (non-essential) bells and whistles.
They also have the advantage of being tri-mode for what that's still
worth...
Yeah, he did say Verizon Online. Sorry. I read too fast and thought he was
referring to brick-and-mortar. I do stand by my little rant, though.
Thanks for pointing out my error.
Dean
"rocxspam" <rocxspam@xspamx.no> wrote in message
news:LwDSg.11984$Vk4.11111@trnddc01...
> The OP did write "Verizon Online retail stores", and mentioned waiting
> online, so your "dissertation" seems to have targeted the wrong venue with
> the brick-and-mortar store employees - interesting though ;-}
>
> Dean wrote:
>> I do agree with part of your post. Unfortunately, Verizon Wireless stores
>> have become the new Department of Motor Vehicles, but worse, except for
>> the wait. Imagine if the DMV employees knew as little about their jobs as
>> the VZW staff.
>> ...
>
> However, for the reliability issue, the OP might consider what I have
> done: I have made the decision to pay the extra $6.95/month for complete
> replacement coverage on my Nokia 6236i since it doubles as my pager for
> work via SMS. However, when they start showing up on Ebay for something
> close to the (ridiculous) Lockline $50 deductible, I will probably drop
> that coverage, and pick one up as a spare, unless I decide to just use my
> old 6015i or 3589i in that role - nothing really wrong with them, just
> clunkier, and fewer (non-essential) bells and whistles. They also have the
> advantage of being tri-mode for what that's still worth...
>
> ROC
Dejola wrote:
> I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
> customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
> customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
>
> Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
> than getting an audience with the Pope. You wait on line for long
> periods of time and when finally you get to talk with someone he are
> often less than knowledgeable about the products they sell, cell
> phones.
> Typically we have succumbed to the recommendation of he sales rep and
> typically the phone he/she recommends proves to be problematic. They
> have almost exclusively been Motorola phones. If it's not he
> rediculously-fragile charger connection weakness, its the dreaded red
> dot under the battery that indicates water damage, damage that seems to
> occur even when the humidity gets above 65 per cent.
>
> What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
> without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
> ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
> it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
>
> Is there such a phone out there made by anyone? Or is it Verizon that's
> the problem.
>
> I am at wits end, having to periodically spend additional money after
> an initial phone purchase to get a new phone to replace ones that have
> failed for one reason or another, notwithstanding Verizon's offer of a
> $100 credit towards a new phone.
>
> Can anyone recommend a good reliable plain cell phone and perhaps a
> better service provider, notwithstanding Verizon's claim to have he
> best service in the New York Metropolitan area?
>
> Thank you.
>
Sounded like he was referring to a brick and mortar store and just got the
name wrong... How can you stand in line and take a number for the online
website store thing?
Dean wrote:
> As Homer Simpson became famous for saying:
>
> "DOH!!"
>
> Yeah, he did say Verizon Online. Sorry. I read too fast and thought
> he was referring to brick-and-mortar. I do stand by my little rant,
> though.
> Thanks for pointing out my error.
>
> Dean
>
>
> "rocxspam" <rocxspam@xspamx.no> wrote in message
> news:LwDSg.11984$Vk4.11111@trnddc01...
>> The OP did write "Verizon Online retail stores", and mentioned
>> waiting online, so your "dissertation" seems to have targeted the
>> wrong venue with the brick-and-mortar store employees - interesting
>> though ;-} Dean wrote:
>>> I do agree with part of your post. Unfortunately, Verizon Wireless
>>> stores have become the new Department of Motor Vehicles, but worse,
>>> except for the wait. Imagine if the DMV employees knew as little
>>> about their jobs as the VZW staff.
>>> ...
>>
>> However, for the reliability issue, the OP might consider what I have
>> done: I have made the decision to pay the extra $6.95/month for
>> complete replacement coverage on my Nokia 6236i since it doubles as
>> my pager for work via SMS. However, when they start showing up on
>> Ebay for something close to the (ridiculous) Lockline $50
>> deductible, I will probably drop that coverage, and pick one up as a
>> spare, unless I decide to just use my old 6015i or 3589i in that
>> role - nothing really wrong with them, just clunkier, and fewer
>> (non-essential) bells and whistles. They also have the advantage of
>> being tri-mode for what that's still worth... ROC
In article <leOdnV8XedEJq4bYnZ2dnUVZ_tSdnZ2d@comcast.com>, Peter Pan wrote:
> Sounded like he was referring to a brick and mortar store and just got the
> name wrong... How can you stand in line and take a number for the online
> website store thing?
I don't know, but here and in other places where Verizon does landlines,
you can go to a Verizon Plus store where you can order and pay for Verizon
telephone service, Verizon Online DSL or FiOS, Dish TV and Verizon Wireless
cellular. Maybe that's what he meant?
--
Steve Sobol, Professional Geek ** Java/VB/VC/PHP/Perl ** Linux/*BSD/Windows
Apple Valley, California PGP:0xE3AE35ED
It's all fun and games until someone starts a bonfire in the living room.
Dejola wrote:
> I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
> customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
> customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
>
> Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
> than getting an audience with the Pope. You wait on line for long
> periods of time and when finally you get to talk with someone he are
> often less than knowledgeable about the products they sell, cell
> phones.
> Typically we have succumbed to the recommendation of he sales rep and
> typically the phone he/she recommends proves to be problematic. They
> have almost exclusively been Motorola phones. If it's not he
> rediculously-fragile charger connection weakness, its the dreaded red
> dot under the battery that indicates water damage, damage that seems to
> occur even when the humidity gets above 65 per cent.
>
> What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
> without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
> ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
> it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
>
> Is there such a phone out there made by anyone? Or is it Verizon that's
> the problem.
>
> I am at wits end, having to periodically spend additional money after
> an initial phone purchase to get a new phone to replace ones that have
> failed for one reason or another, notwithstanding Verizon's offer of a
> $100 credit towards a new phone.
>
> Can anyone recommend a good reliable plain cell phone and perhaps a
> better service provider, notwithstanding Verizon's claim to have he
> best service in the New York Metropolitan area?
>
> Thank you.
>
Go visit the cellphone kiosk inside a Costco.
Costco backs everything they sell without service contracts.
"Dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1159384755.285879.153770@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
> without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
> ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
> it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
"Dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1159384755.285879.153770@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
> customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
> customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
>
> Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
> than getting an audience with the Pope.
Well there's your problem. Verizon Online is for DSL. You need Verizon
Wireless.
As a Verizon Rep for a NOKIA 6256i. It is a "combat ready" phone.
Yes, it has everything but it will make and recieve calls where no
other phone will. It is 800 and 1900 Mhtz, CDMA and analog, what
sales staff try to call Tri MODE.
The NOKIA CDMA / analog phones will work in urban and rural areas. The
only place I have been without good coverage on an interstate east of
the Mississippi River has been a few (very few) interstate spaces in
the Appalachian mountains. I am talking about places where even a GPS
box cannot see anything below 60 degrees elevation.
j
On 27 Sep 2006 12:19:15 -0700, "Dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com>
wrote:
>I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
>customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
>customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
>
>Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
>than getting an audience with the Pope. You wait on line for long
>periods of time and when finally you get to talk with someone he are
>often less than knowledgeable about the products they sell, cell
>phones.
>Typically we have succumbed to the recommendation of he sales rep and
>typically the phone he/she recommends proves to be problematic. They
>have almost exclusively been Motorola phones. If it's not he
>rediculously-fragile charger connection weakness, its the dreaded red
>dot under the battery that indicates water damage, damage that seems to
>occur even when the humidity gets above 65 per cent.
>
>What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
>without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
>ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
>it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
>
>Is there such a phone out there made by anyone? Or is it Verizon that's
>the problem.
>
>I am at wits end, having to periodically spend additional money after
>an initial phone purchase to get a new phone to replace ones that have
>failed for one reason or another, notwithstanding Verizon's offer of a
>$100 credit towards a new phone.
>
>Can anyone recommend a good reliable plain cell phone and perhaps a
>better service provider, notwithstanding Verizon's claim to have he
>best service in the New York Metropolitan area?
>
>Thank you.
"Dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1159384755.285879.153770@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
> customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
> customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
>
> Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
> than getting an audience with the Pope.
Stick with Verizon but do all your dealings on line or on the telephone!
I've learned the hard way that Verizon staffs all their stores with people
who are not qualified to do any more than breathe while the online personel
are very qualified. Phone 'em or get them on line and NEVER go near the
idiots who staff the Verizon stores, you'll be amazed at the difference!
In article <ovsoh2h50j75s1oihbqogvcb2gj91ubcnd@4ax.com>, none@none.net wrote:
> As a Verizon Rep for a NOKIA 6256i. It is a "combat ready" phone.
> Yes, it has everything but it will make and recieve calls where no
> other phone will.
Agreed that the 6256i is a very good phone, even after the crippling
it received at the hands of VZW's techs. But good luck asking for
one at a Verizon B&M. They never carried the phone and half the reps
I spoke with had never even heard of it. I got mine at a Circuit
City VZW kiosk 8-9 months ago -- and, at that, had to find one of
the few that had some or knew when more would be arriving.
I'd still go with a Nokia for the coverage and its ability to meet
the OP's needs. I think VZW still offers the 2128i -- your basic
dial-and-get-calls phone. It is, however, digital only, though in
NYC, it doesn't seem like that would be an issue.
none@none.net wrote:
>
> As a Verizon Rep for a NOKIA 6256i. It is a "combat ready" phone.
> Yes, it has everything but it will make and recieve calls where no
> other phone will. It is 800 and 1900 Mhtz, CDMA and analog, what
> sales staff try to call Tri MODE.
>
> The NOKIA CDMA / analog phones will work in urban and rural areas. The
> only place I have been without good coverage on an interstate east of
> the Mississippi River has been a few (very few) interstate spaces in
> the Appalachian mountains. I am talking about places where even a GPS
> box cannot see anything below 60 degrees elevation.
>
> <snip>
While a tri-mode phone certainly has the best possibility of obtaining
a signal, what makes this one better than all others?
"Andy S" <adsisson@NOSPAMrochester.rr.com> wrote in message
news:fOBSg.292$484.4@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> Suggest you try Cingular then.
Not if he wants any of the problems he mentions solved!
> --
> Andrew D. Sisson
> LG VX8100 VZW AC II SINCE APRIL 1993
> SonyEricsson Z525a CINGULAR NATION SINCE MARCH 2006
> "Dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1159384755.285879.153770@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>>I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
>> customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
>> customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
>>
>> Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
>> than getting an audience with the Pope. You wait on line for long
>> periods of time and when finally you get to talk with someone he are
>> often less than knowledgeable about the products they sell, cell
>> phones.
>> Typically we have succumbed to the recommendation of he sales rep and
>> typically the phone he/she recommends proves to be problematic. They
>> have almost exclusively been Motorola phones. If it's not he
>> rediculously-fragile charger connection weakness, its the dreaded red
>> dot under the battery that indicates water damage, damage that seems to
>> occur even when the humidity gets above 65 per cent.
>>
>> What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
>> without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
>> ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
>> it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
>>
>> Is there such a phone out there made by anyone? Or is it Verizon that's
>> the problem.
>>
>> I am at wits end, having to periodically spend additional money after
>> an initial phone purchase to get a new phone to replace ones that have
>> failed for one reason or another, notwithstanding Verizon's offer of a
>> $100 credit towards a new phone.
>>
>> Can anyone recommend a good reliable plain cell phone and perhaps a
>> better service provider, notwithstanding Verizon's claim to have he
>> best service in the New York Metropolitan area?
>>
>> Thank you.
>>
>
>
"Nick Danger" <yourname@yourdomain.com> wrote in message
news:ZoWSg.17$O64.14@newsfe09.lga...
>
> "Dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1159384755.285879.153770@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>> What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
>> without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
>> ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
>> it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
>
> The question was asked in today's New York Times.
> http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/28/te...y/28pogue.html You can even get
> one with a dial tone.
I just recently received a LG VX3450. So far, I'm very happy. It is very
easy to use and the signal (I'm in a rural area) has been excellent. I don't
think the OP would be any more pleased with the in-store staff knowledge of
any other provider. They just don't pay those people enough to get
geniuses...
> Typically we have succumbed to the recommendation of he sales rep and
> typically the phone he/she recommends proves to be problematic. They
> have almost exclusively been Motorola phones. If it's not he
> rediculously-fragile charger connection weakness, its the dreaded red
> dot under the battery that indicates water damage, damage that seems to
> occur even when the humidity gets above 65 per cent.
The newer Motorola phones don't have the charger connection problem that
you refer too (I have suffered from that as well, it's a real pain in
the butt).
You want to be sure that you get a tri-mode phone, and not an
"All-Digital" phone. This immediately narrows the choices.
Unfortunately, it's no longer easy to get a phone without a camera.
You never want to blindly buy a phone at a Verizon store, you want to do
your research first. Salespeople are trained to push the most profitable
handsets, with the most chance to upsell added services.
When you do buy a new phone, try to get it at Costco if you are a
member, as they have a far, far better warranty than the Verizon
stores, or other dealers.
I never had the humidity problem, though I do have a phone that fell
into my swimming pool and I do see that red dot. I've been to very high
humidity areas (Florida in August) and have not had the dot turn red
problem.
I recently got a Motorola V325 and have been reasonably happy with it.
It has excellent reception, and the new charger plug (mini-US has
eliminated the problem of a bad charger connection. Motorola Phone Tools
makes it easy to manage the contact list on the computer, so you don't
have to enter numbers on the phone (though of course MPT also works with
the older Motorola phones). I did have to make some modifications to the
firmware to undo some things that Verizon made Motorola do to the phone,
such as disabling "vibrate then ring," and disabling the ability to use
MPT to upload ringtones, and download or upload photos. The voice
dialing is not very good, about half the time when you say "Name Dial"
it doesn't respond with "Say the Name" instead it redials the previous call.
The New York metro area is very problematic. Sprint and T-Mobile are at
1900 MHz-Only and should be avoided if good coverage outside urban reas,
and coverage inside big buildings is an issue.
Cingular is using the AT&T wireless network, which has capacity issues
(prior to the acquisition of AT&T, Cingular was using the T-Mobile
network in NY Metro, and T-Mobile was using the Cingular network in the
western region (California and Nevada). Also, Cingular and T-Mobile are
GSM-only, which isn't a problem until you get out into the boonies of
some states, where the only coverage is AMPS. So Verizon remains the
best choice if coverage is your primary concern, and all of the
independent surveys confirm this fact.
Dejola wrote:
> I need some advice. Members of my family have been Verizon Wireless
> customers for several years now, but we are not what you'd call happy
> customers. Why, you ask? Here's why.
>
> Getting anything done at these Verizon Online retail stores is harder
> than getting an audience with the Pope. You wait on line for long
> periods of time and when finally you get to talk with someone he are
> often less than knowledgeable about the products they sell, cell
> phones.
> Typically we have succumbed to the recommendation of he sales rep and
> typically the phone he/she recommends proves to be problematic. They
> have almost exclusively been Motorola phones. If it's not he
> rediculously-fragile charger connection weakness, its the dreaded red
> dot under the battery that indicates water damage, damage that seems to
> occur even when the humidity gets above 65 per cent.
>
> What does one have to do to get a good solid reliable cell phone
> without the games, without the cameras, and without the zillions of
> ring tones? Just a phone that can be counted on to work when you need
> it and charge properly when the battery runs down.
>
> Is there such a phone out there made by anyone? Or is it Verizon that's
> the problem.
>
> I am at wits end, having to periodically spend additional money after
> an initial phone purchase to get a new phone to replace ones that have
> failed for one reason or another, notwithstanding Verizon's offer of a
> $100 credit towards a new phone.
>
> Can anyone recommend a good reliable plain cell phone and perhaps a
> better service provider, notwithstanding Verizon's claim to have he
> best service in the New York Metropolitan area?
>
> Thank you.
Look at all available phones. Goto Cnet and look at the reviews. Do
your own research. The yayhoos at the retail stores are minimum wage
morons just waiting to get off so they can score some meth.
ephedralover@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> Look at all available phones. Goto Cnet and look at the reviews. Do
> your own research. The yayhoos at the retail stores are minimum wage
> morons just waiting to get off so they can score some meth.
>
Ephedralover huh? So ... you must work at a retail store earning minimum wage
.... moron.
--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1
> Look at all available phones. Goto Cnet and look at the reviews. Do
> your own research. The yayhoos at the retail stores are minimum wage
> morons just waiting to get off so they can score some meth.
Well I wouldn't go that far, but they are trained to sell the most
profitable handsets and services, rather than what works the best.
Thomas T. Veldhouse wrote:
> ephedralover@hotmail.com wrote:
> >
> > Look at all available phones. Goto Cnet and look at the reviews. Do
> > your own research. The yayhoos at the retail stores are minimum wage
> > morons just waiting to get off so they can score some meth.
> >
>
> Ephedralover huh? So ... you must work at a retail store earning minimum wage
> ... moron.
>
> --
> Thomas T. Veldhouse
> Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1
Aren't there any cell phones that work? 
has