Inconsistent Email LG Octane

I got the 75MB data plan and set my Octane up to get Email VIA
webmail. It's very inconsistent. Sometimes it works great, and
sometimes I don't get any Email on the phone but I have several when I
get home. The Emails eventually make it to my phone, but sometimes
not for hours. I asked at a Verizon store and the guy told me that
because my phone was not a "Smart Phone" that's all I could expect. Is
that the case? If so, I'll just cancell the $10 data plan

Thanks very much for any advice.