[Q] Ways around restocking fee. - XPERIA X10 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

So I regret to inform fellow fans of the X10 that I am returning it to AT&T and getting the HTC Inspire.
However I have one final question which may be of help to some of you, should you ever choose to return the phone.
Most cell phone providers charge a 35$USD restocking fee for returning a phone. Even if it's in perfect condition and everything.
UNLESS
There's some sort of defect or basically anything that is the retailer's fault and not your own.
SOOOOOOO
Would this be good enough for them to waive the fee?
"I purchased this phone expecting to use android 2.1 as described on various website including Sony Ericsson's own site"
"Had I known that AT&T locks the phone down to android 1.6, I would have never purchased it"
"Android 1.6 handicaps the phone and prevents me from using it as I desired."
What do you guys think?
Would it work?

It should. It probably won't mind you. But it should.
Sent from my Delorean using a flux capacitor!

As long as you are exchanging for another different devices I think AT&T has no choice once they officially say NO upgrade and declare EOL early. I think the date was scheduled for March 6, 2011, but may have already happened at the MWC a couple weeks ago. I am considering the same thing once the Arc comes out.
I tried to return mine when my 30 days expired in December, but AT&T said they will be updating and convinced me to keep it. I have it in writing that my X10a WILL receive the update, so I am stuck with it until they officially say NO, which is fine by me.

Yeah, I'm so glad that I didn't try and wait for that update. I'd be mad by now... or at least bored. Lol.
Sent from my Delorean using a flux capacitor!

Related

Turns out the grass isn't always greener...

So after going through 3 Eris handsets and finally finding a CSR who had enough to sympathy on me to send out an Incredible, I've now gone through 2 of the latter. Both have reboot loop issues, the first wouldn't even go past the quietly brilliant screen while the second can go four hours before deciding not to work for an hour. This is the most frustrating thing I've ever been through. I'm gonna try to talk customer service into a new Inc instead of a refurbished one and see if that changes anything. Otherwise I'm just going to keep the third Eris and steal my moms upgrade in June I guess.
Moral of the story, just because something looks better doesn't mean it always is.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
I went through 3 Eris's and I'm on my second D2, which I haven't had any problems with. The refurbs from Verizon are hit and miss, mostly miss. Good luck getting them to send you a new one. I have a feeling your going to have to put up a good fight for that. Hopefully it works out for you though.
Fortunately I've had nothing but good experiences with customer service. I'll ETF my contract if they refuse to help and I'll go to Sprint.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
Never had an issue with my original new devices on Verizon, so never had to deal with the refurb. But I'd still take mom's in June and get something hardcore (Like the Merge?)
If the third one coming on Tuesday has the same issue then that's exactly what I'll do.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
gee7201 said:
Never had an issue with my original new devices on Verizon, so never had to deal with the refurb. But I'd still take mom's in June and get something hardcore (Like the Merge?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was hoping for the Merge as well, but everything that I have seen rumored about it lately says it is going to Alltel. (several sites are posting that the Merge passed FCC yesterday for Alltel) So probably it wont be in your average Verizon store. I was hoping for an HTC device that has something smaller than a the mammoth 4.3 inch screen and the keyboard was something of a bonus to me.
I'll probably be going with an HTC device when I get my upgrade/ get a different carrier. Moto has made me never want to buy another phone from them because of the efuse, and the Evo is awesome....
orkillakilla said:
I'll probably be going with an HTC device when I get my upgrade/ get a different carrier. Moto has made me never want to buy another phone from them because of the efuse, and the Evo is awesome....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hopefully the Bionic will not be locked down, HTCs QC is really beginning to worry me.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
Why would they not lock down the bionic after the success they had with the x? Sales and security wise. Locking it down didn't hurt either company. A tier 3 Verizon tech told me not to be surprised if it's businessas usual. They know I'm rooted and "hacked" so I don't care. Time to leave Verizon because they want **** locked down as hard as possible.
Sent from my GSB v1.0 using XDA App
what did you say to get them to send you a different phone? Does threatening to cancel your contract early work?
ngc604 said:
Why would they not lock down the bionic after the success they had with the x? Sales and security wise. Locking it down didn't hurt either company. A tier 3 Verizon tech told me not to be surprised if it's businessas usual. They know I'm rooted and "hacked" so I don't care. Time to leave Verizon because they want **** locked down as hard as possible.
Sent from my GSB v1.0 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree that it is probably wishful thinking on my part, but never know, it might happen.
wwonka69 said:
what did you say to get them to send you a different phone? Does threatening to cancel your contract early work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just told the tech lady that after having had 3, I was really not looking to get another one and she just gave it to me, no ifs, ands, or buts. They've already offered to send me an X because of the Inc trouble, but I said I'd give the Inc one more shot, so tomorrow is HTC's last chance to redeem themselves in my eyes.
Hit or miss again... my husband tried it with Verizon and the rep told him Quote: "go ahead." there was no help at all, no "You've been such loyal customer for 10+ years... what can we do to help?", no "Sorry to see you go." nothing, just a basic "Ba-bye!" He is now with Sprint and so far very happy.
This one works! Only problem I've found with it so far is an unexplained lagginess while on the charger, but that I can live with. I wouldn't have had a problem leaving Verizon for Sprint over this issue, it would've been completely unacceptable for them to leave me hanging after all the issues I've had with them, and I would've gladly taken my money elsewhere.

Anyone ACTUALLY Warrantied an Unlocked/Re-Locked?

If anyone out there in XDA-land has actually warrantied an unlocked or re-locked phone (in store and/or via the 1-800 number), could you please chime in and post your experience (whether you did store or 800 and what happened).
I realize that it may still be too early to ask this question, because the true kicker is whether someone down the supply chain (in store, then in Verizon, then in HTC) noticed and charged back to your account; as there may not have been enough time for bills to generate after such a chain, but I would love to hear of actual experiences.
If possible, there is no need to report back on Amazon or Best Buy or Guy-On-The-Corner They have different policies. This is a Verizon Corporate inquiry. If anyone sent it back to Verizon, did Verizon ultimately charge you for a new Rezound. Thanks
(I realize there is another thread debating whether or not HTC shares with Verizon, and whether Verizon employees are trained to check. This is not that hypothetical inquiry; I am hoping that only people who ACTUALLY did the swap report in).
Thanks!
This is interesting to me. I'm stuck wanting the "normal", for lack of better words, root and s-off method from the community. I knew that the employees don't care about root as long as they can set it back to stock. That's what I heard from my friend that worked there. I don't know about the HTC unlock though.
I did it with my first rezound. (i baught them at bestbuy for their replacement plan) no questions asked. GIVE ME NEW PHONE, they gave, I was happy.
not that this helps right now, but i should be able to give you an idea in a few days. bought my rezound on the 9th and unlocked and flashed that night, data started not connecting at all on the 13th. called vzw tech support on the 17th telling them what was going on, no mention of whether it was unlocked from either side, got my warranty replacement today. gonna send back the old phone tomorrow.
I had the 'can't charge dead batteries issue' the other night. Went to store and replaced with new battery. No problems.
Sent from my Unlocked/Rooted Rezound running CleanROM 2.0/AmonRa
Thanks
treadwayj said:
not that this helps right now, but i should be able to give you an idea in a few days. bought my rezound on the 9th and unlocked and flashed that night, data started not connecting at all on the 13th. called vzw tech support on the 17th telling them what was going on, no mention of whether it was unlocked from either side, got my warranty replacement today. gonna send back the old phone tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well - You did come closest to answering out of all the other responses PLEASE let us know if you ever get billed for it (which can take months).
When I turned my Charge in to Best Buy for the upgrade plan, the dude actually SHOWED OFF to the other folks how modded that thing was, he was in awe. As much flashing I did on that thing, it should have melted. They don't care, or are not paid enough TO care. Never had a problem at the VZW store either, but those guys are usually idiots anyways.
Local best buy for me looked for a superuser app, didn't see it, then exchanged the phone. Had they looked at the bootloader they would have seen the relocked. Bunch of idiots...lol.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA App
Hmmm
nosympathy said:
Local best buy for me looked for a superuser app, didn't see it, then exchanged the phone. Had they looked at the bootloader they would have seen the relocked. Bunch of idiots...lol.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While Best Buy is not relevant (they probably have their own policies), that is kind of disturbing. It means they are looking.
Anyone actually do this with *VERIZON*, would love to hear if they ultimately charge you.
I know this is not exactly the same, but I exchanged my old Samsung Fascinate for a Droid Charge under warranty through Verizon. I restored the Fascinate but forgot to restore the kernel. It showed some hacked version under the system settings and was really obvious.
I sent it back and never heard anything about it...
i'm curious, if they do charge wouldn't that mean they should send me the phone that was broken back since in theory i would have purchased the second phone at full price?
treadwayj said:
i'm curious, if they do charge wouldn't that mean they should send me the phone that was broken back since in theory i would have purchased the second phone at full price?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you're paying for the replacement. It sucks.
06stang said:
No you're paying for the replacement. It sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so basically i could end up paying $850, $650 for the replacement plus the $200* i spent on the one that broke and be stuck under a two year contract?
oi vei
*with new two year contract
YES! That is why I was hoping to hear of people's actual responses with Verizon. Not having much luck with the "actual" or "verizon" part of the inquiry, but it is probably still too early to really know. The phone hasn't been unlocked long enough for people to unlock, decide they need to warranty replace, exchange it with VERIZON, and then get another bill cycle or 2 or 3 to see if they were charged.
... but I keep hoping to hear from anyone who actually warrantied an unlocked phone back to a Verizon corporate store or Verizon 800. As time goes by, maybe we will learn
doh! not exactly what i wanted to hear to start my friday morning.
i will keep y'all updated if i do or do not get charged
Thanks
treadwayj said:
doh! not exactly what i wanted to hear to start my friday morning.
i will keep y'all updated if i do or do not get charged
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please do. I suspect it will take months (has to get from Verizon store to headquarters as part of however often they ship, then Verizon has to batch all their warranty replacements back to HTC {if that's how they do it} however often they ship, then HTC has to notice {if they ever do} and push back {if they ever do}, and the Verizon has take the pushback and bill). I suspect that this can take months, at which point the question will be moot (because it will be as it will be), but it was a pipe dream of mine to see what actually happens, given the amount of guessing going on.
Good luck!
I don't see from a legal standpoint how they can do anything...soon as the phone is in their possession they are taking responsibility for it no? Therefore if it is not covered by HTC for some reason, it would be there fault.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA App
Well
nosympathy said:
I don't see from a legal standpoint how they can do anything...soon as the phone is in their possession they are taking responsibility for it no? Therefore if it is not covered by HTC for some reason, it would be there fault.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There was a ridiculous number of acknowledgment clicks re voided warranty through the unlock process. I would consider this situation exactly like if you brought a phone to Verizon saying it won't work, and the somewhere down the line someone finds the water sensor tripped. The dude behind the counter at Verizon is not going to know at the time, but as the phone winds its way through the warranty replacement chain, someone will figure it out; and they probably will charge you for your replacement.
No one would be screaming 'illegal' in that case; and I believe the cases are identical.
Please note - I hope this is not the case; I have not unlocked my phone (despite desperately wanting to run Nils' ROM) because I dont have $650 to start again. BUT, I can easily see the parallel here.
jdmba said:
There was a ridiculous number of acknowledgment clicks re voided warranty through the unlock process. I would consider this situation exactly like if you brought a phone to Verizon saying it won't work, and the somewhere down the line someone finds the water sensor tripped. The dude behind the counter at Verizon is not going to know at the time, but as the phone winds its way through the warranty replacement chain, someone will figure it out; and they probably will charge you for your replacement.
No one would be screaming 'illegal' in that case; and I believe the cases are identical.
Please note - I hope this is not the case; I have not unlocked my phone (despite desperately wanting to run Nils' ROM) because I dont have $650 to start again. BUT, I can easily see the parallel here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know how to feel about that either. When an employee of a cellphone provider looks at the available water marks and SAYS your phone is fine and has not received water damage and they are going to replace it for you...anything found afterwords is Verizon's own fault and they will have to deal with. I actually had apple try and pull that once. Had am iPhone where the wifi card was bad, tech at apple looked at their two water markers and said it was fine, that there was a definite issue and shed replace it. Got a call from apple saying the water marker was tripped and I'd have to pay for the replacement. I told them exactly what happened and they left me alone real quick.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA App
... and there you go. That is the heart of my inquiry.
The initial person (counter at the store) will be irrelevant, and if people turn in Re-Locked phones, will they ultimately get charged by Verizon EXACTLY the way Apple proceeded with you.

[Q] Worth the upgrade from thunderbolt or wait?

I'm able to upgrade from my Thunderbolt to the Rezound for $99 (I can't seem to stomach the 2-yr contract even at that price!). I like my Thunderbolt but I have the itch to upgrade.... I can probably even sell my Thunderbolt on Ebay and make $100 lol. Anybody coming from a Thunderbolt wishing they stuck with the Thunderbolt and waited for a quad-core?
It's head and shoulders better than the Thunderbolt, but you may as well wait. With only two-year contracts these days it's worth the wait.
I've owned both, and I love my Rezound, but I got it as a replacement. I wouldn't have bothered otherwise.
tekhna said:
It's head and shoulders better than the Thunderbolt, but you may as well wait. With only two-year contracts these days it's worth the wait.
I've owned both, and I love my Rezound, but I got it as a replacement. I wouldn't have bothered otherwise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you manage to get it as a replacement?! I am on my 3rd replacement for the thunderbolt and they absolutely refuse to give me anything else.
anothen said:
How did you manage to get it as a replacement?! I am on my 3rd replacement for the thunderbolt and they absolutely refuse to give me anything else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was kind of a mess, and it took a week of ****ing up customer service, executive customer service, and some nasty emails. I don't recommend it.
Did you get your TBolt on a one-year contract? That's probably the problem. They told me they pretty much wouldn't give someone who was about to be off-contract a new phone. They eventually did, but it was awful.
tekhna said:
It was kind of a mess, and it took a week of ****ing up customer service, executive customer service, and some nasty emails. I don't recommend it.
Did you get your TBolt on a one-year contract? That's probably the problem. They told me they pretty much wouldn't give someone who was about to be off-contract a new phone. They eventually did, but it was awful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly the problem. I paid extra for a one-year contract so they told me the same thing: We can't change your phone if you are able to upgrade. I am more than happy to go through the process if it means me not having to be in a stupid 2 year contract lol
Here's the best question...what would you be waiting for? All of the announced HTC phones aren't for CDMA carriers. Who knows when the next crop of phones would be hitting and what they would be.
MrSmith317 said:
Here's the best question...what would you be waiting for? All of the announced HTC phones aren't for CDMA carriers. Who knows when the next crop of phones would be hitting and what they would be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There will be an HTC One on Verizon soon enough. The MSM8960 SOC supports CDMA and LTE.
MrSmith317 said:
Here's the best question...what would you be waiting for? All of the announced HTC phones aren't for CDMA carriers. Who knows when the next crop of phones would be hitting and what they would be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rumored HTC fireball is CDMA and modeled ADR6410 which would be a successor to the Thunderbolt. If it's quad-core and coming in the next 4-6 months it may be the way to go...
anothen said:
Exactly the problem. I paid extra for a one-year contract so they told me the same thing: We can't change your phone if you are able to upgrade. I am more than happy to go through the process if it means me not having to be in a stupid 2 year contract lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was only able to because a CS agent ****ed up. Or, rather, did their job, and Verizon claimed they ****ed up, and so I appealed to a higher power.
A Verizon CS promised me a Rezound as a replacement, said it was in the mail, blah blah blah. I called a few hours later when I realized I wasn't sure if had included a battery and back in the package. The nice lady I talked to saw the order for the Rezound and no order for a battery and a backplate. So she ordered that and sent it to me.
Two days later I get two packages. One with the Rezound battery backplate and battery, and one with a Thunderbolt. One of those wtf moments. So I called in, asked what happened, and after hours on the phone they finally determined that the original CS agent was not authorized to give me a Rezound, and so the order had been cancelled, and they just sent me another Thunderbolt, all without telling me. All the while they gave me at least three or four different reasons, the first being that they had never ordered me a Rezound in the first place. So I asked the obvious question of, so why did I get a Rezound battery and backplate?
In the end they wouldn't budge. Only a Thunderbolt for me. No Rezound possible, despite them promising one to me.
I was kinda pissed, so I wrote executive CS an email detailing the situation. They called me, sorted the story out, and shipped me a Rezound.
I think the only reason I got a Rezound was because of their enormous series of ****ups. Without that they probably would have given me the same brush off they gave you. Well, they tried to give it to me. I'm not sure you'll have any luck--my situation was pretty particular.
Ironically I have a very similar issue. The customer service rep lied to me and said there is no other 4G HTC that is any better than mine so my option was to downgrade to a 3G HTC or take another Thunderbolt. I said "what about the rezound?". He told me the screen size was bigger on the Rezound so that is not possible. I responded by correcting him about the size. He said, "Ok fine, I will try to ship you the Rezound and you may have it by Tuesday but it will probably get denied. I will call you tomorrow if that happens". Sure enough, I was on the phone with his supervisor the next day because he never called me (shocker). They basically told me to pound sand in nice words. Eh whatever...
anothen said:
Exactly the problem. I paid extra for a one-year contract so they told me the same thing: We can't change your phone if you are able to upgrade. I am more than happy to go through the process if it means me not having to be in a stupid 2 year contract lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's weird to me. Because if you're able to upgrade then your contract is coming close to being up and you would be free to go to another carrier. A long time ago on Sprint or Cingular my phone broke when my contract was over and they said they didn't want to give me one for free (I had no insurance or anything) but at the same time they were unable to diagnose what the problem was since it couldn't turn on. So I told them if you can't tell me what's wrong with it and you won't replace it I'll just go get a free phone from another carrier. Within 5 minutes they were giving me a phone. They offered me a particular one and I asked about a different one that was the same price and they let me have that. This was in flip phone days, still it was $100 price on phone.
feralicious said:
That's weird to me. Because if you're able to upgrade then your contract is coming close to being up and you would be free to go to another carrier. A long time ago on Sprint or Cingular my phone broke when my contract was over and they said they didn't want to give me one for free (I had no insurance or anything) but at the same time they were unable to diagnose what the problem was since it couldn't turn on. So I told them if you can't tell me what's wrong with it and you won't replace it I'll just go get a free phone from another carrier. Within 5 minutes they were giving me a phone. They offered me a particular one and I asked about a different one that was the same price and they let me have that. This was in flip phone days, still it was $100 price on phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm able to cancel in June... Verizon allows you to upgrade 4 months ahead of contract renewal.
It probably depends on your usage habits. My wife has a year left with the TB, but it's a great phone for her. The Rezound screen and camera are leaps and bounds better, but the battery life and overheating issues make me hesitant to say its a substantially better device.
If you are a power user who will really appreciate the screen and speed, upgrade. Otherwise wait for the next batch of phones that we're sure to see late summer or so. May as well stay on the cutting edge if you have the option!
tekhna said:
There will be an HTC One on Verizon soon enough. The MSM8960 SOC supports CDMA and LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't take this as a wiseass commnent or anything but...Doesn't the Rezound have GSM hardware? When (other than the iPhone) has a manufacturer retrofitted a phone to work on Verizon?
From my experience and other's, they will pretty much only bulge ONLY if you are still a year or so ahead from the contract being done. People where able to upgrade from a Droid Charge to other 4G devices, same with the Bionic. Im getting my wife her 3rd Droid Charge replacement, it keeps dropping 4G like there's no tomorrow whereas my Rezound is perfectly fine. One more complaint and they guranteed me a different 4G phone.
From reading a bunch of other similar posts like mine, I think I'm gonna make the jump. @ $99 for such a powerful device, I'd probably be crazy for passing it up when it very recently came out
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
anothen said:
From reading a bunch of other similar posts like mine, I think I'm gonna make the jump. @ $99 for such a powerful device, I'd probably be crazy for passing it up when it very recently came out
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, I do have a feeling the Rezound will stay the best HTC phone on Verizon until the summer and even then still stay relevant.
Don't tell that to Verizon, they did a piss poor job of marketing the phone.
EmerikL said:
Don't tell that to Verizon, they did a piss poor job of marketing the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed! But I don't mind the price drop! Lol
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
anothen said:
I'm able to upgrade from my Thunderbolt to the Rezound for $99 (I can't seem to stomach the 2-yr contract even at that price!). I like my Thunderbolt but I have the itch to upgrade.... I can probably even sell my Thunderbolt on Ebay and make $100 lol. Anybody coming from a Thunderbolt wishing they stuck with the Thunderbolt and waited for a quad-core?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dual core = not necessary Quad core = derp derp derp derp derp.

[Q] Has anyone had trouble pre-ordering the grey version from Best Buy?

They only have the white one available for pre-order. Is it possible Best Buy won't get the grey version? Normally I'd get it from Verizon but I'd really like to use the Geek Squad.
hmm not sure why you'd want Geek Squad. They don't know anything about devices. I had a laptop under accidental warranty that wouldn't boot (even POST) and they tried to tell me it was software and not covered. Software isn't even loaded before the motherboard starts up. It took a month of going there and arguing to get them to fix it, then they shipped it off to have each individual component replaced one at a time, only for it to stop working within 10 minutes each time, if it even did. Ended up getting a new computer, but it took about 6 months to get it. They had the 3 strikes policy on fixing it but said it didn't count as a strike if they misdiagnose what component is broken.
Many people have dealt with the same kind of thing.
They've been good to me. They replaced my Thunderbolt without hesitation (whether the software or hardware went wrong) and I managed to get a new one in 3 days. I'd like to hear how asurion is better, seeing as how I had to wait 2 weeks to get a replacement whenever I had it.
I pre ordered through Best Buy and wanted the Titanium but could only order white. They said they may not have the Titanium on launch day. Depending on Verizon stock I may just go to Verizon store and get the Titanium. Never had a white phone. Not sure if I would be able to live with it. Best buy said I could always exchange it later. I think I would have until Jan 24th.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

[Q] Going to try to return my ME7 device...

I got my Galaxy S4 about 10 days ago and now as the outlook on unlocking the ME7 firmware is looking bleak, I'm inclined to see if I can get a return to Verizon on my 30 day warranty to hope I get a device with the original firmware. I had upgraded to the ME7 OTA shortly after I got it... I didn't really think twice about it when I was doing it and ended up regretting it that very night when I checked XDA for the first time about my new phone.
So I'm posting to ask for some opinions and ideas about this process... I assume I'm going to have to have some good excuse for the exchange and I'm sure I'm going to have to incur at least the $35.00 restocking fee. So, does anyone with experience with Verizon know the process well? What kind of fees am I looking at? It is worth it to attempt this? Does anyone have any ideas for reasons to tell them for the exchange? I want to just tell them that I updated system software and I'm unsatisfied with the responsiveness of the device after I did this and I'd like to exchange it, but I'm not sure if that'd be good enough for them. What do you all think?
Thanks.
EDIT: By the way, I didn't buy any insurance, if that matters.
If you are under 14 days you can exchange for another phone for $35 or return completely. No excuse needed. You can be unsatisfied changed your mind whatever. Doesn't matter. So yes your reason of not being satisfied is good enough.
Just tell them im either returning it or you can swap it with a new phone. . Either way I'm not keeping this phone. . Nothing wrong with it I just want an older firmware. . Under 14 days your good.
I was in the exact same boat you were in about two weeks ago. I brought my phone in and claimed that I wanted to exchange it for a white version (I had the black one). The sales rep who was doing the exchange was the same guy who sold it to me, (whom I had told of my plans to root it and flash CM10 onto it), and asked if that was really the reason why I wanted to exchange it. I told him that the phone had downloaded ME7, and I was hoping to get a new phone with MDK on it. He brought out another black S4 to me, and charged me nothing. He put it in the system as a failed update. Good guy saved the day!
My take: Go in, tell them your phone updated itself without prompting you, and you'd like a new phone. Don't mention anything about rooting/bootloaders, and if they ask for a better reason, ask to switch to a different color. Chances are you'll end up footing the $35 restocking fee.
Thanks, guys.
I went into a Verizon store today to try to get the exchange and got hassled... the guy insisted that there must be something wrong with the phone in order to exchange the device for an identical model or they would have to charge me the full, unsubsidized price. Of course, if I wanted to get the same phone with the other color it would only cost a restocking fee... go figure. I went on a rant about how that made no sense and that I wouldn't sit there trying to make it crash in front of them because it could take hours. He told me it was impossible, but I could call the Verizon help line and if they think that's a sufficient reason maybe they'd do the exchange.
So I went home, called the help line, got a guy in a minute and five minutes after that they are shipping my replacement device at absolutely no cost. No restocking fee or anything as he said it was a swap-out and the restocking fee doesn't apply. Of course, my only worry is with what the guy at the store said where they might charge me the full price if they find nothing wrong with it. However, the guy on the phone didn't make any mention of that possibility and I told him no lies... I said I updated system software and the phone has been much less stable, it crashed a few times (which is true), and I got advice from others stating they had similar issues with the new system software and that they got a replacement from Verizon. All that considered, is there any chance they might charge my account?
Anyway, I'm hoping they won't and I'm happy for the moment because I'm one step closer to getting a custom rom on my new phone. Hopefully... I still wouldn't know what to do if they actually send me a new device with ME7 on it. Maybe I shouldn't count my chickens until it arrives. I guess I'll know by the weekend if I'm a happy camper or not.
Thanks again for the advice.
Theyre probably starting to catch on with all the returns theyve been having.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

Categories

Resources