Verizon Wireless and I are no longer friends
There are few things in life more infuriating than dealing with cell carriers.
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.