Frustrated with Verizon & My Droid

[jonathansullivan]

I need to vent - while also asking for help.

First - I am stuck in a never ending loop of defective "Certified Refurbished" phones to which Verizon praises. Several have been bad out of the box while others have had issues that I had to live with for a week or two until I could have it swapped out yet again. Problems have included bad proximety detectors, Wifi Radio, Bluetooth Radio, defective touch screen, noisy/destorted handset speaker. (Oh, and my first one on launch day was one of the ones that rebooted without stopping and was replaced.)

Three weeks ago I received a replacement and out of the box, it had issues that wouldn't hold a WIFI-Connection for more than 5 minutes, while having aweful noise in the handset speaker (but not bluetooth or speakerphone) incoming only. So Friday knowing I was headed home for the week, setup a replacement. (I believe this is #5 or #6 - depending on how you count)

Late Friday - my unrooted and unforced Droid received its 2.2 update, and it lost its 3G service. So Saturday I spent time talking with the 800 #, visiting 2 stores, basically begging for help - since I am now dataless until Tuesday. Several reps indicated I should ask for a NEW Droid, and at this point I agree. However, no one I could talk too including store managers would/could authorize this, even with the history on the account.

Finally I did get someone who would send me a new Devour or Alley(?) but both appeared to be trash compared to my Droid. I was told the only comparable phone is the Droid 2 - which after looking - would work, but really don't want Motoblur/etc. If a Droid 1 was absolutely impossible, I would do a 2 if it meant the end of the refurb hell.

One more piece of background - to those who are alert may notice that I have been taking part in the "Alarm Clock / Multimedia Dock" complaint. I administer a business account (I am an IT Manager for a small business). Of the bosses, we do have a rooted phone - and a forced update, so I was very familar about it.

So here are my questions:

1. Anyone have ANY SUGGESTIONS for restoring my 3G? (I have played with data settings/airplane mode and it sometimes will return for 2-3 minutes) The phone is freshly factory reset (dozens of times over the weekend).

2. Anyone have suggestions on where I should proceed regarding my endless refurb hell - or should I just pray I finally get lucky Tueday?

I really value the collected knowledge here, and would appreciate anything suggested.

If the rep I worked with on Saturday (S**n) see's this...yes, its me with phone number xxx-xxx-3275. I appreciate your efforts too!

 

[GideonX]

1) The only time I had a 3G issue was when one of the apps (SwitchPro) was updated and it shut my data off. An update was released and it was easily fixed. So maybe you have an app that's doing it in the background? If not, maybe you can use SwitchPro (ironicly) to toggle your 3G back when it's off.

2) How many refurbs has it been? You may be able to grab a DX or something better because of your troubles.

 

[Akselmusic]

Ya that is to bad about your droid problems. I recently read an article about people who have had several refurbished droids being able to trade in for a new DX or D2. I will go looking for it to reference but in the meantime it may be worth asking about.

 

[xliderider]

Absolutely do not settle for an Ally or Devour, and don't let them offer you an X, Incredible, or D2 if you have to PAY for the early upgrade AND extend your contract.

 

[global2]

Maybe we need a Lemon Law for our devices similar to ones enacted for cars years ago.

 

[trekmario]

keep on verizon i called and talked to vz support and kept on them till i git a manager. dont forget to fill out those surveys they work if you leave them a nasty review and that your tired of getting the run around. i did that when i was forced over from alltell and they told me no postal discount till i had verizon phones. so i had just upgraded two months earlier the store said it would me good . they lied. so i dont deal with store go #611

 

[jonathansullivan]

Thanks for the replies.

As I mentioned above - prefer a New Droid 1...but, if offered and had no option of a Droid 1, would go to Droid 2..

I'm not looking for a freebie...just to make things right after so many wrongs...and yet another weekend without data.

Any other suggestions on my 3G Issue?

 

[Kn1nJa]

I think you are just getting bad luck. Have some patience and it will all work out.

At least your contract isnt being sold to AT&T ... bleh

 

[jdsingle]

Flash your 2.2 back to 2.1 on the phone without 3G. It sounds like data is more important than having Froyo. Refer toExtremely Asked Questions for help doing that.

 

[muab]

I am with the OP on this one. If I was in the same boat I would go with a Droid 2 or get another D1.
I personally would not dink around with this broken Droid. In my experience (I have only had 2 technical problems with my Droid(s) thus far) calmly talking to customer service and downplaying everything but being firm about needing a solution gets great results. I have a huge fat account with VZ and have had for about 10 years to they maybe kiss my fanny because of that, but they jump through hoops when I call these days.
There is no way I would try to hack through a compromised phone, personally.
If you want to do that, I would think rooting the darned thing would be the way to go. As I am sure you know, it gives you much more access to all the bells and whistles.
You could do that and if it doesn't fly, unroot and exchange it.

I have been hearing that the Droid2 will be root-able before too long and you can ditch the Blur nonsense in that scenario.

Since 2.2 I have had the opposite problem...3G is kicking butt, and my wifi is choking because I only have access to an N router and Froyo sometimes tweaks over the N routers for some reason.

Good luck.

 

[Crude]

The update bricked my release date Droid and I was sent a refurb. Verizon WILL NOT issue you anything better then the D1. I am ok with that but what I got was a phone that felt worse then my beat up 9 month old D1. I had another one ship and so fast no problems and I am happy again. I of course read up on the refurb situation on android forums and other places and it seems to me that Verizons refurb phones have a low rate of satisfaction. It's a HUGE hassle to change out phones much less do it twice. I feel that anything less then an insurance claim should instantly warrant a NEW phone. Plus cell companies use the phones to sucker us into expensive 2 year contracts with NO obligations of their end. It seems to me that if the government is going allow these one sided contracts with unrealistic termination fees the government should also make the condition a working phone?

Either way I'm becoming more and more disgruntled with the prices of my plan compared to others and the replacement nightmare is just a cherry on top. I think I'm going to buy phones outright for a few years and see how far Verizon is willing to go to retain a customer without a contract.

 

[jonathansullivan]

Good News! They didn't ship it Friday - so now it won't deliver until WEDNESDAY! So far being told - "Nothing we can do"

 

[LZeitgeist]

A friend of mine lost his 3G after the Froyo OTA (and that was his only problem) and he was able to correct it completely by doing the *228 (?) roaming update method.

I don't know how it worked, but he has had no problems since.

 

[jonathansullivan]

A friend of mine lost his 3G after the Froyo OTA (and that was his only problem) and he was able to correct it completely by doing the *228 (?) roaming update method.

I don't know how it worked, but he has had no problems since.

That has definitely been tried...still no luck :-(

 

[smacky]

You need to keep moving up the tech hierarchy. Ask to speak with supervisors and ask them what they can do for you. Don't demand, but ask that they switch you to a new phone because you're on your umpteenth replacement and you just want something that works.

And you've tried both going to the store and calling, right? Most people have luck with the former moreso than with the latter.

 

[gnath9]

or you could just try to root your phone and load a custom rom
VZW/Moto has not put any software on my phone since 2.0.1 and I have never had all these issues I read about here ... you know what they say ... If you want a job done right ... then do it yourself

the sad thing is it should'nt have to be this way but, you will fall in love with your Droid all over again gauranteed !!!

 

[LZeitgeist]

That has definitely been tried...still no luck :-(

Bummer. :-(

Sorry, I wish I could help. I feel your frustration...

 

[jonathansullivan]

Just wanted to provide follow-up. This battle went all the way up to the CEO (Executives Office). After ripping apart all the refurbs (I found out that not all the refurbs I had been through were listed because they couldn't be activated as well as other reasons.) they made it perfectly clear that there would not be a new phone without a contract & purchase.

Long story short, I can return this defective unit when the refurb (which will be perfect in everyway without any problem...) comes tomorrow.

Also, they will reset my contract date AND NE2 to today, place a $100 credit on the account, and I can purchase a new device.

So I will get a D1 for nearly free or about $50 for a D2. I think I really prefer the D1...but doing some quick research on D2.

Either way, I think the arrangement is fair...finally.

 

[skiahh]

This is not encouraging. FroYo nuked my wifi and after trying pretty much everything anyone's ever suggested, I went into the store to see what they could come up with. After ~20 mins or so, the tech said it was a waste of time and to replace it. Now I'm waiting for my replacement, which will undoubtedly be a refurb, and am nervous about that. This isn't the only thread about refurbs, of course, and none have done much to instill confidence that this is going to be any better than my broken phone. We'll see what happens tomorrow when it's supposed to show up.

 

[johnlgalt]

Thanks for the follow-up, johnathan. Sorry you had all these issues with yours, though - makes me ache since I have the same phone I bought in Nov last year on drop day....

 

[bigdroiddog]

I have an interesting story. My second line droid has had many problems. the original droid from NOv. 6th died about a month ago because it fell and hit the ground and simply stopped working. Refurb replacement comes and 2.1 installed, 2 weeks later stuck on boot loader screen and 5 hours of rsd lite and flashing .sbf files and no luck. Verizon had to luck with it. The 3rd refurb comes, i decided to root that one as i have my personal one rooted and have had great luck with it since launch date. Once again after running lithiummod, 2 weeks later, stuck on boot loader screen in the morning, no luck flashing any sbf file and Verizon themselves had no luck loading the newest froyo. So i said this is enough and they of course offered another refurb, i said this is nuts, i drive 50 miles one way for a phone that keeps breaking. So they give me the actual warranty number and instruct me to talk nice to them and explain things thoroughly. I do and convinced them to send me a droid 2 free of charge. Problem is they said its a factory certified but the droid 2 has been out maybe 2 weeks and all should be fine with it i hope.I was a bit surprised myself, i just hope they did not lie and will send another droid 1, then i will be upset.As for my personal droid 1, i still love it and have been overclocked since december running cool temps at 1200 and pretty happy accept for re-draw issues with almost every rom i use.

 

[dmodert66]

Well, after months of loving my (close to) launch Droid, I may have to take it in soon. I'm sure I will get a refurb, since I am still on my first one. It's an issue I haven't seen much on here. My power button now stays pressed down. I can press it, and turn the phone on, but there is no tactile feel. It's like pressing one of the "soft" keys on the bottom of the phone (search, home, etc). I have a gut feeling one day soon it will stop turning the phone on and off all together.

My brother, on the other hand, is on his 3rd Droid (2 refurbs) due to the screen dieing. We both love our Droids, but both are considering getting something else if these issues keep happening...

 

[johnlgalt]

I have an interesting story. My second line droid has had many problems. the original droid from NOv. 6th died about a month ago because it fell and hit the ground and simply stopped working. Refurb replacement comes and 2.1 installed, 2 weeks later stuck on boot loader screen and 5 hours of rsd lite and flashing .sbf files and no luck. Verizon had to luck with it. The 3rd refurb comes, i decided to root that one as i have my personal one rooted and have had great luck with it since launch date. Once again after running lithiummod, 2 weeks later, stuck on boot loader screen in the morning, no luck flashing any sbf file and Verizon themselves had no luck loading the newest froyo. So i said this is enough and they of course offered another refurb, i said this is nuts, i drive 50 miles one way for a phone that keeps breaking. So they give me the actual warranty number and instruct me to talk nice to them and explain things thoroughly. I do and convinced them to send me a droid 2 free of charge. Problem is they said its a factory certified but the droid 2 has been out maybe 2 weeks and all should be fine with it i hope.I was a bit surprised myself, i just hope they did not lie and will send another droid 1, then i will be upset.As for my personal droid 1, i still love it and have been overclocked since december running cool temps at 1200 and pretty happy accept for re-draw issues with almost every rom i use.

Well, if they had a lot of those out for demoing like they did for the DROID, they may have recalled those that were demoed so they could be 'refurbished' and sold again, rather than allowing VZW employees to simply box them up and sell them as new - and then have a rash of returns.

Like they did with the DROID (or at least, as I suspect that they did with the DROID.

Well, after months of loving my (close to) launch Droid, I may have to take it in soon. I'm sure I will get a refurb, since I am still on my first one. It's an issue I haven't seen much on here. My power button now stays pressed down. I can press it, and turn the phone on, but there is no tactile feel. It's like pressing one of the "soft" keys on the bottom of the phone (search, home, etc). I have a gut feeling one day soon it will stop turning the phone on and off all together.

My brother, on the other hand, is on his 3rd Droid (2 refurbs) due to the screen dieing. We both love our Droids, but both are considering getting something else if these issues keep happening...

Actually, a couple of times early on your problem was mentioned - power key sticking.

but you're right, it is not a very often mentioned problem.

 

[kida]

My release day Droid went bad on me last week. The touchsceen started having issues. Verizon sent me a refurb Droid and it is great compared to my original. The screen brightness is much better in daylight. No issues with screen lag or touchscreen lag. The headphone autostart issues are gone. My Quadrant score went up about 60 points also. It seems there have been subtle improvements to the hardware since the beginning of production.

 

[Scottd9000]

Has anyone had any luck with the Best Buy black tie warranty? I have had it on my phone since launch because the sales rep "claimed" if my phone broke I could take the original Droid price and use it as a credit on a new phone. Basically, saying I could trade up etc. I don't really believe if my phone breaks it's gonna play out this way but was wondering if anyone has tried (I have a sticky and getting worse power button).