Here's the deal:
1. Went into corporate store on 5/23 to upgrade from Storm 2 to Dinc
2. Misinformed by sales-idiot that I did not need to backorder it that day because the store was "getting a shipment of them" on 5/25 so I should just come back in then. Store manager standing next to sales-idiot nods his head in agreement
3. I leave (very doubtful of the veracity of the sales-idiot's claims) with my money in my pocket, instead of being allowed to give it to Verizon for a backordered device (Note to Verizon: customers are supposed to be allowed to give you money, so don't send them away disappointed when they ask to give you money for your product).
4. Return on 5/25. Told different sales rep what the sales-idiot told me about the store getting the Dinc in stock by then, who then asked, "who told you that?" I pointed to the sales-idiot on the other side of the room and said "Employee of the Month over there."
5. This sales guy shakes head in disbelief and places order for Dinc. Insists that because this is an early upgrade, I have to turn in my Storm II while I wait for Dinc to come in (est. 6/16). I protest but he says he can't place order without the swap. He says I can buy a temp device, activate with my #, then deactivate and return when the Dinc comes in. I say its not worth the trouble and hand the Storm II over. Yes, I know that this is not proper protocol and that I should not have to give up my phone till the Dinc arrives. But I didn't want any further delays so I went along.
6. I go to Target and buy the kind of pre-paid phone drug dealers and terrorists use. This is to be my new temp phone till Dinc arrives.
7. I wait.
8. ...and wait...
9. ...and wait....
10. Now I'm pissed. So I call Verizon and complain about misinformation and they credit my account $20
11. Today, after reading these forums and getting annoyed that I like the rest of us have paid up front for a device that we have to wait weeks for, called back and complained some more. This time I played my Verizon-bundled-service card (DirectTV, 2 wireless lines, landline and internet all on one bill with Verizon) and this is what I got:
In addition to the $20 off I got yesterday with a call to customer support, I today got my account credited for: this month's data charges (29.99), a one-month charge for my wife's line (9.99), and next month's data charges (29.99) for a GRAND TOTAL OF:
$90 off my Verizon bill!
Now I am headed off to the Verizon wireless store that sold me the Dinc (after sending me home with my $$$ 2 days prior with the misinformation that the phone would be in-store in two days so no need to backorder it then) to see if I can get more off, or maybe some accessories.
My goal: credits equal to the cost of the Dinc ($199).
Yes, I am a slippery dude, and yes I get paid for it.
I will continue to post my progress here. Please join me in getting paid for our trouble.
AND: do not pontificate here about how the backorder is not the fault of vzw, that I'm greedy and immoral for trying to get compensation, blah blah blah. Instead, sit at home and wait, content that you are not a squeaky wheel yourself, and bask in the self-satisfied glory of paying more than me for the same device.
1. Went into corporate store on 5/23 to upgrade from Storm 2 to Dinc
2. Misinformed by sales-idiot that I did not need to backorder it that day because the store was "getting a shipment of them" on 5/25 so I should just come back in then. Store manager standing next to sales-idiot nods his head in agreement
3. I leave (very doubtful of the veracity of the sales-idiot's claims) with my money in my pocket, instead of being allowed to give it to Verizon for a backordered device (Note to Verizon: customers are supposed to be allowed to give you money, so don't send them away disappointed when they ask to give you money for your product).
4. Return on 5/25. Told different sales rep what the sales-idiot told me about the store getting the Dinc in stock by then, who then asked, "who told you that?" I pointed to the sales-idiot on the other side of the room and said "Employee of the Month over there."
5. This sales guy shakes head in disbelief and places order for Dinc. Insists that because this is an early upgrade, I have to turn in my Storm II while I wait for Dinc to come in (est. 6/16). I protest but he says he can't place order without the swap. He says I can buy a temp device, activate with my #, then deactivate and return when the Dinc comes in. I say its not worth the trouble and hand the Storm II over. Yes, I know that this is not proper protocol and that I should not have to give up my phone till the Dinc arrives. But I didn't want any further delays so I went along.
6. I go to Target and buy the kind of pre-paid phone drug dealers and terrorists use. This is to be my new temp phone till Dinc arrives.
7. I wait.
8. ...and wait...
9. ...and wait....
10. Now I'm pissed. So I call Verizon and complain about misinformation and they credit my account $20
11. Today, after reading these forums and getting annoyed that I like the rest of us have paid up front for a device that we have to wait weeks for, called back and complained some more. This time I played my Verizon-bundled-service card (DirectTV, 2 wireless lines, landline and internet all on one bill with Verizon) and this is what I got:
In addition to the $20 off I got yesterday with a call to customer support, I today got my account credited for: this month's data charges (29.99), a one-month charge for my wife's line (9.99), and next month's data charges (29.99) for a GRAND TOTAL OF:
$90 off my Verizon bill!
Now I am headed off to the Verizon wireless store that sold me the Dinc (after sending me home with my $$$ 2 days prior with the misinformation that the phone would be in-store in two days so no need to backorder it then) to see if I can get more off, or maybe some accessories.
My goal: credits equal to the cost of the Dinc ($199).
Yes, I am a slippery dude, and yes I get paid for it.
I will continue to post my progress here. Please join me in getting paid for our trouble.
AND: do not pontificate here about how the backorder is not the fault of vzw, that I'm greedy and immoral for trying to get compensation, blah blah blah. Instead, sit at home and wait, content that you are not a squeaky wheel yourself, and bask in the self-satisfied glory of paying more than me for the same device.