A Good Best Buy Story - Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE

I love Best Buy. Always have, always will.
I brought my phone there less than 24 hours ago, because my touch screen was acting up (I stupidly brought it with me in my waders while duck hunting and it got wet...). I got the email from the Geek Squad that it had been checked in about an hour after I dropped it off. Then about 6 hours later I got the email that my new/refurbished phone had shipped. I thought, "sweet, maybe I'll have it by Friday."
I didn't pay any attention to it until a couple of minutes ago when I checked the shipping email and it had a tracking # so I opened it and it said it was out for delivery in my area.
And about half way through the last paragraph, I got a call from the store saying it was available.
I dropped my phone off at 12:00pm yesterday and here less than 24 hours I have my new (to me) phone.
Doesn't get much better.

I had the evo 3d. I ended up smashing the screen. Took it to them to get a replacement. The kid said my phone is on backorder and i told him i wouldnt mind an upgrade to the lte. He said "sure". I was like "bull****".. a couple minutes later he came over and gave me my replacement papers and pointed out the phone ill be getting is the evo lte, free. I will never buy my phone anywhere else. As long as you dont lose or get your phone stolen theyll always replace it. Even if you brick it, they cover software damage.
Tbh tho i miss my 3d
At least i had wimax and loved taking 3d pictures and videos and watchin 3d movies

best buy and sams (mobile department) i think they have one of the best and competitive insurance and replacement policies...
HTC EVO LTE

Just got back from getting my phone and I get a bonus it still has HBOOT 1.12 and 1.13. So a rooting I shall go.

best buy seems to be a great deal but radio shack has better prices from time to time but i guys the warranty is better interesting

I had a horrible experience with bestbuy. I fell in a pool with my phone....and had the geek squad protection. They said they'd replace it if it was damaged...or even in pieces. So I took it in...they sent it off...only to be told.it was going to be repaired instead of replaced. I fought for 3 weeks...I hadn't.had.my.EVO LTE for 3 days....and I damaged it...they took that long. So after fighting and. Itching they finally gave in and replaced it...with with a referb. Sucks. But..I'm not too found of bestbuy. On top of it the guy that sold.me the geeksquad protedtion denied he said it would.be replaced. So if you live in Dallas...don't go to the best buy off of 75 and park ln. That dude is a tampon
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app

pushofthetides said:
So if you live in Dallas...don't go to the best buy off of 75 and park ln. That dude is a tampon
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Funny, that one is not far from me.
Duly noted, my friend.

FattySparks said:
I love Best Buy. Always have, always will.
I brought my phone there less than 24 hours ago, because my touch screen was acting up (I stupidly brought it with me in my waders while duck hunting and it got wet...). I got the email from the Geek Squad that it had been checked in about an hour after I dropped it off. Then about 6 hours later I got the email that my new/refurbished phone had shipped. I thought, "sweet, maybe I'll have it by Friday."
I didn't pay any attention to it until a couple of minutes ago when I checked the shipping email and it had a tracking # so I opened it and it said it was out for delivery in my area.
And about half way through the last paragraph, I got a call from the store saying it was available.
I dropped my phone off at 12:00pm yesterday and here less than 24 hours I have my new (to me) phone.
Doesn't get much better.
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BestBuy effin rocks never had any problems with warranty issues with them

I'm banned from my local store. friend of mine thought itd be cool to show them the things id have done to his phone. gotta love people and their gloats from time to time. maybe not banned but they really hate me there, lol I get asked to leave from time to time. then again I love trolling the geeksquad techs.

My OG EVO broke and I asked Sprints TEP if I could get a different phone and they said Yes but a like model and they sent me a EVO 3D. Spec wize not a like model just the name? Then right after I got my brand new in box 3D I flipped it and sold it on eBay for $180 and bought the LTEvo for my upgrade.
Sent from my EVO using xda premium

Considering Geek Squad at the stores is just a bunch of barely certified "technicians" earning near-minimum wage, they're not great. The only reason some of you had good results is because the warehouse just happened to have a refurb already on hand, or because the employee gave you a free upgrade when they shouldn't have. It's a rare occurrence, and shouldn't be taken as the standard.
In general Best Buy's Geek Squad is terrible, simply because Best Buy's corporate doesn't care. It still rakes in profits for them, so why bother improving the quality? For most problems, such as with a PC you bring in, Geek Squad is only allowed to run a software diagnostics disc which they have issued from corporate. The disc has about a hundred different "common" fixes that it automatically runs with no input from the employee. If it gets fixed, great, you just paid an obscene amount of money for a guy to mess around on Facebook while an automated program did what you could have done at home. If it doesn't get fixed, they tell you it needs to be sent in for repair, and they ship it off to a repair center, which can often take weeks.
Let me put it this way: any person with sufficient skill to truly diagnose any major problem with a computer would not be working for Geek Squad for the insultingly low paygrade Best Buy offers. You get what you pay for, as far as employee quality is concerned. So if Best Buy doesn't hire real technicians, why take your computer/smartphone/etc to them under such an assumption?

Vincent Law said:
Considering Geek Squad at the stores is just a bunch of barely certified "technicians" earning near-minimum wage, they're not great. The only reason some of you had good results is because the warehouse just happened to have a refurb already on hand, or because the employee gave you a free upgrade when they shouldn't have. It's a rare occurrence, and shouldn't be taken as the standard.
In general Best Buy's Geek Squad is terrible, simply because Best Buy's corporate doesn't care. It still rakes in profits for them, so why bother improving the quality? For most problems, such as with a PC you bring in, Geek Squad is only allowed to run a software diagnostics disc which they have issued from corporate. The disc has about a hundred different "common" fixes that it automatically runs with no input from the employee. If it gets fixed, great, you just paid an obscene amount of money for a guy to mess around on Facebook while an automated program did what you could have done at home. If it doesn't get fixed, they tell you it needs to be sent in for repair, and they ship it off to a repair center, which can often take weeks.
Let me put it this way: any person with sufficient skill to truly diagnose any major problem with a computer would not be working for Geek Squad for the insultingly low paygrade Best Buy offers. You get what you pay for, as far as employee quality is concerned. So if Best Buy doesn't hire real technicians, why take your computer/smartphone/etc to them under such an assumption?
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As far as technicians go, ok you're probably right. But I would never bring my electronics to the geek squad if I didn't have their warranty.
As far as warranties/insurances go (especially for phones) they are, IMO, the best.
I never had any issues sending computers to them either. They always came back fixed or they replaced it. While it usually took some time to get the computer back, the $150 or so dollars that I spent upfront often paid for itself in regards to how much money I would have spent on either a new computer or trying to fix the old one.
Some of their warranties are good values, ie cell phone and some cpu plans. Others I would never touch. If you brought an electronic device to them to be fixed without having their protection, then be prepared to overpay. However, if you are protected, they are much better than having to ship it to the manufacturer or paying someone else to fix it.

Vincent Law said:
Considering Geek Squad at the stores is just a bunch of barely certified "technicians" earning near-minimum wage, they're not great. The only reason some of you had good results is because the warehouse just happened to have a refurb already on hand, or because the employee gave you a free upgrade when they shouldn't have. It's a rare occurrence, and shouldn't be taken as the standard.
In general Best Buy's Geek Squad is terrible, simply because Best Buy's corporate doesn't care. It still rakes in profits for them, so why bother improving the quality? For most problems, such as with a PC you bring in, Geek Squad is only allowed to run a software diagnostics disc which they have issued from corporate. The disc has about a hundred different "common" fixes that it automatically runs with no input from the employee. If it gets fixed, great, you just paid an obscene amount of money for a guy to mess around on Facebook while an automated program did what you could have done at home. If it doesn't get fixed, they tell you it needs to be sent in for repair, and they ship it off to a repair center, which can often take weeks.
Let me put it this way: any person with sufficient skill to truly diagnose any major problem with a computer would not be working for Geek Squad for the insultingly low paygrade Best Buy offers. You get what you pay for, as far as employee quality is concerned. So if Best Buy doesn't hire real technicians, why take your computer/smartphone/etc to them under such an assumption?
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Ive taken in multiple phones multiple times to be replaced because of damage and have always got a free replacement within days. They have the best phone insurance for the price hands down.

Yeah the sales guy at the phones was an older white guy....had a females name. Or sounded like a girl's name
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app

After Best Buys mobile dept got me good on trying to upgrade a line.. Long story of laziness and rudeness, I have vowed to never spend another penny with that company.
Sent from my EVO sometimes-LTE

Evo shift - free - replaced multiple times - free
Evo 3d - free - replaced multiple times - free
Evo lte - free - yet to be replaced
I will keep my business with best buy

I'm pretty happy with Best Buy's Black Tie protection. I've got it on my DSLR.

youdug said:
Ive taken in multiple phones multiple times to be replaced because of damage and have always got a free replacement within days. They have the best phone insurance for the price hands down.
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What's the cost of their protection plan and deductible?
Sent from my EVO using xda premium

Quis89 said:
What's the cost of their protection plan and deductible?
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
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You can pay upfront $170 for 2 years or $10/month and there is no deductible. The only thing they don't cover is loss or theft.

FattySparks said:
You can pay upfront 130 for 2 years or $10/month and no deductible. The only thing they don't cover is loss or theft.
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The upfront on a android device is $169.99. Which saves ya about $70 vs the $9.99 a month version.
And no deductibles whatsoever, plus 1 replacement battery and charger shipped to your house free of charge.

Related

Sprint going back to mail in rebates

When i got my 3d yesterday the rep told me that after the 23rd of July there going back to mail in rebates .
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james873 said:
When i got my 3d yesterday the rep told me that after the 23rd of July there going back to mail in rebates .
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
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Big deal, stick to Radioshack or Bestbuy and they honor it on the spot. I used to dread getting a new phone when I only went to the Sprint store...for many reasons...that wasn't even one of 'em. Not to mention no restocking fees to worry about.
That and the Sprint store near my house is staffed by potentially the most inept bunch of fools I've ever seen. I've gone in for screen protectors and stood in line for 20 effin' minutes while the entire store piled up with more people...there was only one person in line in front of me...fully staffed store...and it was like nothing was moving at all. It's amazing that they get anything done at all.
Sure, I could have left, but I was ironically entertained at how awful the experience was. I just had to see how far it went on for. I'll never go back there again...for anything...
daneurysm said:
Big deal, stick to Radioshack or Bestbuy and they honor it on the spot. I used to dread getting a new phone when I only went to the Sprint store...for many reasons...that wasn't even one of 'em. Not to mention no restocking fees to worry about.
That and the Sprint store near my house is staffed by potentially the most inept bunch of fools I've ever seen. I've gone in for screen protectors and stood in line for 20 effin' minutes while the entire store piled up with more people...there was only one person in line in front of me...fully staffed store...and it was like nothing was moving at all. It's amazing that they get anything done at all.
Sure, I could have left, but I was ironically entertained at how awful the experience was. I just had to see how far it went on for. I'll never go back there again...for anything...
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Yeah same here. They need to just wipe out everybody in the corporate store near me and start over.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
Must vary greatly then. My local store has great staff. Knowledgeable, courteous, and really the best customer experience I've had in years! I went to Best Buy just 2 days prior to the 3vo launch and was told I'd have to pay full price minus a measly $75. Apparently at Best Buy, you don't get the premier silver full upgrade override, $125 line porting credit (my wife was still with AT&T), and a 10% discount for being a AAA or credit union member. Best Buy knew nothing about ANY of those deals and I would have been screwed royally had I bought from any place other than the Sprint store. They overrode my early upgrade and made it a full upgrade, gave me the $125 porting credit for the second phone, the 10% discount on my monthly bill, and I walked out with two 3vo's... FREE after all the discounts. I would have paid over $500 at Best Buy and I bet Radio Shack too.
Not to mention the fact that when I brought back one of the 3vo's to exchange it due to the crooked screen problem, they let me sit down in the repair room with the new one, boot it up, and evaluate the screen for dead pixels and to confirm it wasn't crooked before I even made the exchange.
This is probably one of those things where service varies greatly depending on your location in the U.S.
Mike
Hello,
I too prefer purchasing my Phones from the Sprint Store and was so excited when they had done away with Mail in Rebates. It is greatly disappointing that they have reverted. Another advantage to purchasing from the Store is you can Bill directly to your Account. I hated having to send the Rebate for my 4G to El Paso, TX and waiting 6 Weeks for it to come.
Cheers,
JJ
mikeyxda said:
Must vary greatly then. My local store has great staff. Knowledgeable, courteous, and really the best customer experience I've had in years! I went to Best Buy just 2 days prior to the 3vo launch and was told I'd have to pay full price minus a measly $75. Apparently at Best Buy, you don't get the premier silver full upgrade override, $125 line porting credit (my wife was still with AT&T), and a 10% discount for being a AAA or credit union member. Best Buy knew nothing about ANY of those deals and I would have been screwed royally had I bought from any place other than the Sprint store. They overrode my early upgrade and made it a full upgrade, gave me the $125 porting credit for the second phone, the 10% discount on my monthly bill, and I walked out with two 3vo's... FREE after all the discounts. I would have paid over $500 at Best Buy and I bet Radio Shack too.
Not to mention the fact that when I brought back one of the 3vo's to exchange it due to the crooked screen problem, they let me sit down in the repair room with the new one, boot it up, and evaluate the screen for dead pixels and to confirm it wasn't crooked before I even made the exchange.
This is probably one of those things where service varies greatly depending on your location in the U.S.
Mike
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I'm sure everyone's experience will vary greatly from place to place...but my Sprint store is worth avoiding. Typically I get my phones from Radioshack 'cuz I'm buddies with the chicks that work there. They hook me up with deals, I hook them up with nerd advice and help. One of them wanted a rooted Evo, so, we swapped Evo's and I used hers to trade up to the NS4G, and then up the the E3D (again). The only reason I went to Best Buy is 'cuz RS doesn't get the NS4G. Too bad the radio on that phone is the worst I've ever seen cuz otherwise it's an amazing little single core phone.
I've heard nightmares from all around. The RS always gets all discounts applied, and then some. The Best Buy also had absolutely no trouble giving me up reverting me back to Gold status....but BB aren't my buddies...YMMV from store to store of course, but, aside from the mall Sprint kiosk and 1 manager at the corp store I have never dealt with a Sprint employee that knew what the hell was going on...
mikeyxda said:
Must vary greatly then. My local store has great staff. Knowledgeable, courteous, and really the best customer experience I've had in years! I went to Best Buy just 2 days prior to the 3vo launch and was told I'd have to pay full price minus a measly $75. Apparently at Best Buy, you don't get the premier silver full upgrade override, $125 line porting credit (my wife was still with AT&T), and a 10% discount for being a AAA or credit union member. Best Buy knew nothing about ANY of those deals and I would have been screwed royally had I bought from any place other than the Sprint store. They overrode my early upgrade and made it a full upgrade, gave me the $125 porting credit for the second phone, the 10% discount on my monthly bill, and I walked out with two 3vo's... FREE after all the discounts. I would have paid over $500 at Best Buy and I bet Radio Shack too.
Not to mention the fact that when I brought back one of the 3vo's to exchange it due to the crooked screen problem, they let me sit down in the repair room with the new one, boot it up, and evaluate the screen for dead pixels and to confirm it wasn't crooked before I even made the exchange.
This is probably one of those things where service varies greatly depending on your location in the U.S.
Mike
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That's crazy. I have the horrible backlight bleed around the buttons and a damn crooked screen, and I asked a rep at the store where I bought it from (corporate store) if I could exchange it for a new one because of the backlight bleed, of course she said no. On top of that, I couldn't even open a box of another one and power it up without activating it, just to see if it had the bleed or not.
I was really pissed.
Sprint is going back to MIR but this time around its a little different. All phones under the price $149.99 will have a $50 mail in rebate. So the 3vo and the new Motorola phone will still be instant.
Sent from that one guy with that one phone
correct, from what I read on on sprintusers, the 3vo will not be impcted with instant rebates

My local Sprint Corporate Store

I posted this in another section (already within a thread.) I figured I'd post it here as well. Here's my local sprint corporate store and how horrible it is.
I just filed an official complaint with Sprint regarding my local corporate store.
I tried to get it exchanged (maybe 2 weeks ago) because of the backlight bleed issue and the crooked screen. They said they would have to charge me the 35 dollar restocking fee. I argued with the woman a little bit (the manager wouldn't even talk to me, but he had no problem selling me the phone the previous week.)
I walk in today because a random power down/reboot issue I was having, they immediately recognized me and the manager turned around and walked into the back of the store, all hidden from me. I talked to the same woman I talked to last time and she of course remembered me. I had to ask for the manager multiple times before she would get him. He gave me the same crap about well if they couldn't reproduce the problem (in the whole 2 minutes they looked at my phone) they would have to recharge the restocking fee. Never mind that:
a) I'm a business account and restocking fee's don't apply to me
b) They didn't even look at my account after I told them too, I have record on there that I called in tech support about this issue and they said to get it replaced at that same store with NO restocking fee due to a defect in the phone.
c) I'm in my 30 day exchange window where I can get a replacement for flaws or defects without a restocking fee.
So I called Sprint Business Care and they refunded me the restocking fee and they filed the complaint. A regional manger is going to contact me at a later date about this.
The manager was just a total ****, basically calling me a liar when he said "well I know you were in here the other day trying to get a replacement phone, and here you are again..." Meanwhile he has a huge baggy shirt (because he weighs over 300 lbs easily) and his pants are falling off his ass. I mean please...
So I'm never going back there needless to say and telling everybody to not go to that corporate store and I hope to hear back from the regional manager (maybe it's a district mananger?) I'd love to tell him/her exactly what happened.
Good for you. I was about to do the same thing to the sales guy at another store I went to the other day... I was within my 30 day, had valid issues and he said I could only exchange once (the exchange would have been number 3). Went to another store and was in and out in 10 minutes...
Seems like Sprint stores are very hit and miss in terms of whether it is staffed with douchebags, or not.
Tacoma corporate store are a bunch of douche bags also! 5 minutes away from me yet I have to go to Olympia (a good 30 minute freeway drive) to get treated decently. Hell, 2 weeks ago I go in to Tacoma store to purchase the HTC car dock, figured they can't screw this up. Yeah right, after standing their with it in my hand to cash out for 12 minutes, they all looked at me and they weren't busy, I just set it down on the unattended checkout stand and walked out. Cockbags, that's what they are in Tacoma! I went over to the Mall and they were glad to take my money.
-Apollo- said:
Tacoma corporate store are a bunch of douche bags also! 5 minutes away from me yet I have to go to Olympia (a good 30 minute freeway drive) to get treated decently. Hell, 2 weeks ago I go in to Tacoma store to purchase the HTC car dock, figured they can't screw this up. Yeah right, after standing their with it in my hand to cash out for 12 minutes, they all looked at me and they weren't busy, I just set it down on the unattended checkout stand and walked out. Cockbags, that's what they are in Tacoma! I went over to the Mall and they were glad to take my money.
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What assholes, I would have said "they hire blind people , or are you just day dreaming!!!??"
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
Hello,
The Sarasota Sprint Store on Tamiami Trail is also lacking Customer Service as well.
I got my 3D on June 22nd as part of the Premiere "First to Buy Program" and simply wanted to purchase an Otterbox Defender. The Store had them In Stock, but refused to sell it until the General Release June 24th date.
The other Sprint Store in Sarasota offered to sell me one, but were still waiting for their Cases for the 3D to arrive. I end up calling *2 and tried to see if they could coax the Store that had the Defended into selling it, but also got nowhere.
I ended up having to drive to Bradenton, FL which is one town North. With traffic, it takes about an hour round trip but had no issues selling me one on the 22nd.
I ran into more issues with the Store which is about 5 Minutes away when I decided to Exchange my 3D for another 3D due to multiple Reboots. At first, they said they had to find an issue before allowing an Exchange even though it was the 1st and hopefully only Exchange.
This time I called Retention and discussed just how ridiculous this Store was being. They put Notes on my Account to make sure there would be no issues with the Exchange. By coincidence, I ran into a nice Rep from the Brandenton Store who was Working that day at the Sarasota Store and even swapped out my Defender Case as well.
Retention offered me the option of placing a Complaint and said as I have been with them since 1999 with a perfect Payment History that it would be taken seriously, but decided not to as the guy that helped me could not have been nicer and did not want any chance of it blowing back on him. All the same, if you live in Sarasota, I would avoid the Tamiami Trail Sprint Store on the whole.
Cheers,
JJ
novanosis85 said:
What assholes, I would have said "they hire blind people , or are you just day dreaming!!!??"
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you should write for conan brah
Interestingly enough, here in Charlottesville its the opposite. Everytime I've had to deal with the employees they've been pretty helpful, and fare I say even cool.
When I returned my Nexsus S 4g I had to pay the restocking fee. I didn't want to (who would) but that's just the way it is (for me anyway).
The Rep and I even talked at length about androids, and other interests (all geeky) we shared. My wife got impatient, else I'm sure we could have discussed more.
I have no doubt the op is relaying a true story, and I hope the issue gets resolved. I also hope someone doesn't take this as a full on representation of what to expect when dealing with all sprint locations.
That sucks!
Had a similar experience when I had to trade mine for a defective touchscreen, store refused to even look at it since the issue wasn't occurring at that exact moment. Then order support was giving me crap too because the store wouldn't do anything about it. They finally shipped me a replacement but threatened to note my account that they would never do it again without a restocking fee if a store hadn't marked it as defective first. No idea if they actually did though.
i wont go tot the local store total douche bags !!
it sucks because the corp store is like 40 mins away
but i normally never have troubles .. besides before i go i call my contact at dan hess office and tell them to check my account and they normally take care of me quick and fast if not i speed dial 9 to Vanessa's personal phone and she rips ass
Encino,ca store is right up there.
bad customer service, ..return once deal or no deal and attitudes like the customer owes them 10yrs of back pay. a bunch of kids working there // 20-25 yrs of age who dont give a damn about customer service.
seems like every time i call customer care, they are always open and concerned about me (at least they are forced to lol) and are always helpful. I stay away from local stores as much as i can.
Also, local stores dont have Quality Checks like they do in Call Centers. The agents know that 6/10 calls are recorded and will be checked every month by the managers/supervisors. so, naturally, they need to be as courteous as possible.
You go in to exchange over a slightly crooked screen and backlight bleed and complain over the restocking fee?? Your issues are not something that hinders your use of the phone. They are just a nuisance and nothing more. Why do you deserve a free replacement over something you can just as easily look past? My phone has light leakage but I have no desires to replace it as my phone works flawlessly. It's an obvious widespread issue. Either get rid of the phone or deal with the minor flaws. Don't expect a free replacement over something the next phone will probably do as well. That's just wasting store inventory over something that has nothing to do with how well the phone operates.
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Quis89 said:
You go in to exchange over a slightly crooked screen and backlight bleed and complain over the restocking fee?? Your issues are not something that hinders your use of the phone. They are just a nuisance and nothing more. Why do you deserve a free replacement over something you can just as easily look past? My phone has light leakage but I have no desires to replace it as my phone works flawlessly. It's an obvious widespread issue. Either get rid of the phone or deal with the minor flaws. Don't expect a free replacement over something the next phone will probably do as well. That's just wasting store inventory over something that has nothing to do with how well the phone operates.
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I had light leakage on my Evo 4g. It didn't bother me.
But I wouldn't keep a phone that the screen was crooked. I saw the pictures of that. It would have driven me crazy! I would have taken it back, too. And to be treated like crap at the store is just wrong.
My local corporate store isn't great, but there are a couple of reps there that are good. I always to to the non-corporate store unless I have a big problem.
meatgel said:
I had light leakage on my Evo 4g. It didn't bother me.
But I wouldn't keep a phone that the screen was crooked. I saw the pictures of that. It would have driven me crazy! I would have taken it back, too. And to be treated like crap at the store is just wrong.
My local corporate store isn't great, but there are a couple of reps there that are good. I always to to the non-corporate store unless I have a big problem.
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I'm not saying the store wasn't wrong. I'm just saying that we as consumers have to accept that technology is flawed. And certain issues are only as big as we make them. We can't expect free replacements for minor issues that don't hinder device functionality. I haven't seen the crooked screen issue so I can't comment on that but the light leakage?? Come on!! How often do we use our phones in dark light conditions where this should be a huge problem.
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Quis89 said:
I'm not saying the store wasn't wrong. I'm just saying that we as consumers have to accept that technology is flawed. And certain issues are only as big as we make them. We can't expect free replacements for minor issues that don't hinder device functionality. I haven't seen the crooked screen issue so I can't comment on that but the light leakage?? Come on!! How often do we use our phones in dark light conditions where this should be a huge problem.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
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Last time I checked, "The Customer is always right"...
If you want to accept sub par products, thats YOUR prerogative;
There is a reason they give a 30 day money back guarantee
Retail sucks, and, the people that work in it can be real dooshies, but, there is no excuse for hassling some one with a legitimate issue with a product they bought, especially one that cost 200 bucks...
wase4711 said:
Last time I checked, "The Customer is always right gets their way"...
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please check again. fixed.
my local store is great! when i had all the problems with my Moment they got me into a Evo, about 3 months after my contract had started. i was the first person to leave my local store with a evo on launch day.
now with this POS evo 3d... i have taken it back about 5-6 times and gotten 3 replacements. they offered me a 4th but i told them it wouldn't help. this phone looks flawless hardware wise and all my problems for the most part seem to be software. i told the tech if root wasn't available by my 30days that i'd return it and he said no problem and we won't charge you the restocking fee. my 30 days was up yesterday and since there seems to be a damn good chance of getting full root soon i decided to keep it.
sorry everyone else has such bad service at their stores, reading that makes me appreciate my local store even more.
Quis89 said:
You go in to exchange over a slightly crooked screen and backlight bleed and complain over the restocking fee?? Your issues are not something that hinders your use of the phone. They are just a nuisance and nothing more. Why do you deserve a free replacement over something you can just as easily look past? My phone has light leakage but I have no desires to replace it as my phone works flawlessly. It's an obvious widespread issue. Either get rid of the phone or deal with the minor flaws. Don't expect a free replacement over something the next phone will probably do as well. That's just wasting store inventory over something that has nothing to do with how well the phone operates.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
I actually agree with this once you are out of the 30 Day Return Period. However, when in the 30 Day Window, I do not think it to be unreasonable to expect decent CS and no issues if you choose to Exchange or Return the Phone.
While some of us get an Upgrade every 12 Months, many have to wait almost 2 Years for an Upgrade. With this being the case, attempting to have the best possible Device only makes sense.
Cheers,
JJ
spencer88 said:
I posted this in another section (already within a thread.) I figured I'd post it here as well. Here's my local sprint corporate store and how horrible it is.
I just filed an official complaint with Sprint regarding my local corporate store.
I tried to get it exchanged (maybe 2 weeks ago) because of the backlight bleed issue and the crooked screen. They said they would have to charge me the 35 dollar restocking fee. I argued with the woman a little bit (the manager wouldn't even talk to me, but he had no problem selling me the phone the previous week.)
I walk in today because a random power down/reboot issue I was having, they immediately recognized me and the manager turned around and walked into the back of the store, all hidden from me. I talked to the same woman I talked to last time and she of course remembered me. I had to ask for the manager multiple times before she would get him. He gave me the same crap about well if they couldn't reproduce the problem (in the whole 2 minutes they looked at my phone) they would have to recharge the restocking fee. Never mind that:
a) I'm a business account and restocking fee's don't apply to me
b) They didn't even look at my account after I told them too, I have record on there that I called in tech support about this issue and they said to get it replaced at that same store with NO restocking fee due to a defect in the phone.
c) I'm in my 30 day exchange window where I can get a replacement for flaws or defects without a restocking fee.
So I called Sprint Business Care and they refunded me the restocking fee and they filed the complaint. A regional manger is going to contact me at a later date about this.
The manager was just a total ****, basically calling me a liar when he said "well I know you were in here the other day trying to get a replacement phone, and here you are again..." Meanwhile he has a huge baggy shirt (because he weighs over 300 lbs easily) and his pants are falling off his ass. I mean please...
So I'm never going back there needless to say and telling everybody to not go to that corporate store and I hope to hear back from the regional manager (maybe it's a district mananger?) I'd love to tell him/her exactly what happened.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you spoiled americans are so entitled it makes me gag
(posting from soviet russia)
A.Priori said:
you spoiled americans are so entitled it makes me gag
(posting from soviet russia)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what would you do, since you are apparently better than me.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

Photon for free from Sprint

I walked into a Sprint store at lunch today. I was just looking at the Photon and mentioned that BB had it for $99 plus trade in money for my Evo. They countered with $125 for my Evo so it would be $75 for the Photon. I said it is still cheaper at BB. So then they said even up trade plus a case for my Evo. So, I walked out of the store with a Photon and a case for no money. I didnt even bring my wallet with me. That was awesome! Just wanted to let everyone know that you still can get the Photon from a corporate store for gratis.
pinch55 said:
I walked into a Sprint store at lunch today. I was just looking at the Photon and mentioned that BB had it for $99 plus trade in money for my Evo. They countered with $125 for my Evo so it would be $75 for the Photon. I said it is still cheaper at BB. So then they said even up trade plus a case for my Evo. So, I walked out of the store with a Photon and a case for no money. I didnt even bring my wallet with me. That was awesome! Just wanted to let everyone know that you still can get the Photon from a corporate store for gratis.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you like phone?
Sent from my MB855 using XDA Premium App
I tried to get a corporate Sprint store to match the Bestbuy $99 deal. I also said I would buy a HD dock and Car Dock if the matched the Bestbuy price on the Photon.
The sales rep said they couldn't do it. I even brought a printout showing it was available just 3 miles down the road at Bestbuy for $99.
I asked to see a manager. He went and got the assistant manager and I asked him for the same deal as above. He also said he couldn't do it. I expalined that I am a Gold Premier Sprint customer with 5 lines on a business account. I've also been with Sprint over 12 years.
He said that it didn't matter. He couldn't do it.
I was amazed that a corporate Sprint store couldn't match a 3rd party retailer even after I said I would also buy an additional $130 worth of accessories.
I'm very disappointed. I ordered it from Bestbuy and I'm suppose to pick it up in the morning.
People do not understand the difference between buying a phone from a corporate store and a third party store. The difference from buying a phone in an actual corporate store is the customer service that they get. Im a manager at a sprint store, its true that it might cost you more from buying it from us but you will definitely get your moneys worth. The customer service and the experience is pretty much what you are paying for... when you buy something at best buy or radio shack, you are just like buying from a retail store (luckys, walgreens, etc) when you buy something the cashiers just ring you out, just like at best buy, they just ring out the phone and give it to you, heres your phone have fun with it.. if you buy it from an actual store you're like buying it from like a bmw car dealer. You will be helped and get assisted by a consultant, we are the experts on these phones, we get trained hours of hours, we know the phones inside and out. Before you leave we make sure your emails are set up, we teach you how to make a call, send a txt msg, etc... we make sure before you leave you are an expert and you are using your phone to its full potential, we make sure you are getting your moneys worth. I have a customer who bought an evo 4g from radio shack, its been 3 months, she came to me and asked why her phone always dies so quick, 3 hours after she unplugs it, its already dead.. i ask where she got it and she said she got it at radio shack because it was free,i looked at her phone and her bluetooth is on, wifi is on, 4g is on..she didnt even know what the toggle widgets are for...worst part she ddnt even know about the android market...i helped her out and explained to her everything and all the cool features she can get, the end of the day, she was very happy and told me next time she gets a phone she will get it from me, she might pay a lil more but she will know how to use her phone fully so its worth the money
I'm not saying do not buy phones from best buys or radio shack, there are always pros and cons, for people like us here who already knows mostly everything about androids we might want to buy it there because were just searching for a better price...but for majority of people out there who doesnt know anything about these devices, its definetly worth buying it from a corporate store, they will get the customer service and the knowledge they will need to use these new devices. Its worth the extra money. Hope yall fellas understand why it cost more in a corporate, its the experience and the customer service that you are paying for
Sent from my MB855 using XDA Premium App
bienperezii said:
People do not understand the difference between buying a phone from a corporate store and a third party store. The difference from buying a phone in an actual corporate store is the customer service that they get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You obviously do not work in the corporate store in my area. Not sure they even know what customer service is. Lying to customers, now that they know how to do.
bienperezii said:
People do not understand the difference between buying a phone from a corporate store and a third party store. The difference from buying a phone in an actual corporate store is the customer service that they get. Im a manager at a sprint store, its true that it might cost you more from buying it from us but you will definitely get your moneys worth. The customer service and the experience is pretty much what you are paying for... when you buy something at best buy or radio shack, you are just like buying from a retail store (luckys, walgreens, etc) when you buy something the cashiers just ring you out, just like at best buy, they just ring out the phone and give it to you, heres your phone have fun with it.. if you buy it from an actual store you're like buying it from like a bmw car dealer. You will be helped and get assisted by a consultant, we are the experts on these phones, we get trained hours of hours, we know the phones inside and out. Before you leave we make sure your emails are set up, we teach you how to make a call, send a txt msg, etc... we make sure before you leave you are an expert and you are using your phone to its full potential, we make sure you are getting your moneys worth. I have a customer who bought an evo 4g from radio shack, its been 3 months, she came to me and asked why her phone always dies so quick, 3 hours after she unplugs it, its already dead.. i ask where she got it and she said she got it at radio shack because it was free,i looked at her phone and her bluetooth is on, wifi is on, 4g is on..she didnt even know what the toggle widgets are for...worst part she ddnt even know about the android market...i helped her out and explained to her everything and all the cool features she can get, the end of the day, she was very happy and told me next time she gets a phone she will get it from me, she might pay a lil more but she will know how to use her phone fully so its worth the money
I'm not saying do not buy phones from best buys or radio shack, there are always pros and cons, for people like us here who already knows mostly everything about androids we might want to buy it there because were just searching for a better price...but for majority of people out there who doesnt know anything about these devices, its definetly worth buying it from a corporate store, they will get the customer service and the knowledge they will need to use these new devices. Its worth the extra money. Hope yall fellas understand why it cost more in a corporate, its the experience and the customer service that you are paying for
Sent from my MB855 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've clearly never been to the Sprint store in Jackson, MS!! They didn't know their ass from a hole in the ground. I had to educate four of the employees on their phone selection. What the differences were in the Photon and the Evo (aside from looks) and had to explain what rooting and unlocked bootloaders were. They seemed disinterested in helping anyone...even though I bought a total of 400$ worth of equipment from them, they acted like they could care less. I also had an appointment and waited about an hour to be serviced, meanwhile they serviced every walk-in that came in after me. My experience with Sprint "service" has been weak at best. I'd fully recommend going third party store....better deals, better treatment (at least at my local BB), and overall the only way I'm ever going to get my equipment anymore.
SO here's a NOOB question for you guys. I have a sprint store with repair center near by that's actually owned by Imobile or something like that. Since this is owned by another company I'm assuming that this is NOT an actual corp store correct? I'm hoping I can get them to price match.
Also yeah... I don't shop anywhere for the customer service, because there is no such thing anymore unless you're buying a BMW or something along those lines, if I want to be informed about what I'm buying, I research it myself. It's all about scoring the best price.
bienperezii said:
You will be helped and get assisted by a consultant, we are the experts on these phones, we get trained hours of hours, we know the phones inside and out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really, is that why I have to tell the Photon designated "expert" at my local store the features of this phone? The guy is nice as can be and I always go back to buy phones from him, but not because he knows the phones so well. I went in after 3 days of owning my Photon to buy a screen protector and I knew more about the features on the phone than he did. He doesn't even own the phone and the store made him the Photon Specialist.
bienperezii said:
Before you leave we make sure your emails are set up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong again. The store set up email on my Evo 4G on launch day and haven't set up a phone since. I have bought another EVO 4G, Epic 4G, 2 Evo 3Ds and the Photon during that time and was never asked to set up my email.
Nice try though.
HYDE1000 said:
Really, is that why I have to tell the Photon designated "expert" at my local store the features of this phone? The guy is nice as can be and I always go back to buy phones from him, but not because he knows the phones so well. I went in after 3 days of owning my Photon to buy a screen protector and I knew more about the features on the phone than he did. He doesn't even own the phone and the store made him the Photon Specialist.
Wrong again. The store set up email on my Evo 4G on launch day and haven't set up a phone since. I have bought another EVO 4G, Epic 4G, 2 Evo 3Ds and the Photon during that time and was never asked to set up my email.
Nice try though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On his defense, they are supposed to do that. Sadly like in all jobs you have lazy employees. For instance, at Best Buy, we are also supposed to set up everything and demo an app or a feature for you (unlike what he said) and good stores do it very well (like mine) yet stores poorly run probably don't.
Even still all it takes is one bad experience and all stores and employees are casted as idiots.. For the most part, it SHOULD be a walk out working experience IF the employee cares about his work.
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
I always buy my phones from the same corporate store. I had pro lens with my moment and 3 months after I bought it the manager switched me out for a EVO. The EVO was great, bought the new EVO 3d and 3 weeks out of my 30 days the same store switched me into a photon after a ton of problems with my 3d. First day I had the photon it started rebooting like crazy, the same store gave me another photon. I think if I had all these problems at best buy they would tell me to pack sand. Best buy wouldn't even repair a camera for me that bought the insurance on and was clearly broken.
Bottom line, sprint corporate store did everything they could to make sure I had a properly working phone and im a happy camper.
Sent from my Motorola Photon using Tapatalk
HYDE1000 said:
Really, is that why I have to tell the Photon designated "expert" at my local store the features of this phone? The guy is nice as can be and I always go back to buy phones from him, but not because he knows the phones so well. I went in after 3 days of owning my Photon to buy a screen protector and I knew more about the features on the phone than he did. He doesn't even own the phone and the store made him the Photon Specialist.
Wrong again. The store set up email on my Evo 4G on launch day and haven't set up a phone since. I have bought another EVO 4G, Epic 4G, 2 Evo 3Ds and the Photon during that time and was never asked to set up my email.
Nice try though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes its true im not going to deny, some employees are jusy lazy and dont want to do their job right...but like what i said, guys like us here in xda would more likely buy it at a third party because were looking for the best price, we dnt need the customer service because we already know the phone. Sadly We know so much about the phone we make the employees look like idiots when we ask questions like rooting and all those stuff. Employees are only trained to certain extent, enough to answer basic questions for customers. In conclusion, guys like us here would benefit more from buying it in a third party store, but new comers and noobs like parents who is just about to start with a smartphone would benefit more from buying from a corporate because employees there are more educated with their product compare to those guys at best buy or radio shack.
Sent from my MB855 using XDA Premium App
The past few years have definitely been better, for me at least, as far as customer service....until now.
/begin rant
We are Corporate-Corporate members. 9 lines, ALL OF WHICH ARE CURRENTLY UP FOR RENEWAL.
Ordered Photon through my Dedicated Care Rep and received it in the middle of last week. I see over the weekend that Best Buy is offering them at $99. I call my rep back and ask her about a price match. She said she could not do that. BB was also offering the screen protector with the phones. Even paying a restock fee, which I was willing to do at the time since it was my choice, I thought it would be in my best interest to return the one I had. She said I could just return the one I had to a corporate store and buy the one from BB.
I go to corporate store on Tuesday morning of this week.(~12 miles away) They do the return and charge me $35. I call BB to make sure they have one in stock and the sales rep says to check back with her during the day to see when my upgrade resets. She informs me over the phone about 4 hours later that it has reset and I head to BB.(~10 miles)
I get there and she has left for the day. The sales rep I deal with tells me that my upgrade has in fact NOT reset. He gets Sprint on the phone and 20 minutes later the reset is in. He hangs up and starts the sale.
Couple minutes later, he tells me the system won't let him sell me the phone. Again, he calls Sprint. 25 minutes later I'm told that I am outta luck and that BB can not sell phones to corporate corporate members. Noooo. That's not information that would have been useful earlier, WHEN THE OTHER REP WAS LOOKING AT MY ACCOUNT.
I go home PISSED. Email my Dedicated Care rep. She is out of town and I am given a different rep to deal with. I call her Tuesday afternoon. She tells me she doesn't know why BB told me that, they should be able to sell me the phone. She asks me if I want her to send me another. I ask her to credit my account the $35 restock fee for the run around I was getting. She asks to call me back, to get approval. She calls back and says that she can credit the acct. I ask her if I could just go to a Sprint store and re-purchase the phone at the original $199 price I paid and put this whole issue to rest.(to keep me from having to wait until the next week for the phone to arrive) She says that would be fine and apologized for my troubles.
I get to Sprint store Tuesday evening and they tell me they can not sell me a phone but they could order it over the phone for me! I call Dedicated Care from right there in the Sprint store and get a different (my 3rd) Dedicated Care rep. She tells me that I should never have been told to return my original Photon to a store (not even a Corporate store), that I should never have been told that I could purchase a device from anyone other than my rep, unless I let a store order it but why in the hell would I drive to a store to have them order a phone from someone that is in my current phone's contact list?
Again, I am asked if I would like her to mail me another. I tell her to take the nearest phone to her, turn it sideways and....well, I wanted to say that.
I tell her to forget it and just make sure my account is reset, both upgrade and contract obligations, and I will just hold off and weigh my options at this time.
I'm mean...holy cow! 3 Dedicated Care reps, 2 Best Buy sales reps and 2 Sprint reps on the phone at BB. Does information not get pushed down to the folks that are actually moving phones?
I will prbly end back up with the Photon. I really did like the phone but I didn't want to give them a sale at the time and am holding out hope that my personal Ded. Care rep realizes that my business has ZERO contractual obligations with them at this time and will offer me something to make up for it.
/rant. Sorry for length. It was very therapeutic though.
newalker91 said:
Being a corporate sprint store doesn't make them miracle workers, it's actually quite the opposite. Said stores are direct representatives of the corporate offices, which requires them to follow regulations to a T. These employees have little to no flexibility in their ability to bend the rules for customers, and if they were they are a thousand times quicker to get fired than someone at, for example, Best Buy. They are bound to making you do mail-in rebates, pay sticker price and whatever else the corporate offices feel like narcing on at that moment. Quite frankly, if I were lucky enough to work at corporate I would be doing the same thing they are so I dont jeopardize my very well paying job.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I work at a corporate store and i must say its nice to see someone that gets it. Believe me if i could change the price of the phone i would. I get paid on phones so why in the hell would i turn away a sale if i had the means to keep it.
Well, the OP said it was a corporate store that gave him the deal. I've read of other people that said corporate stores discounting phones but know you guys say it can't be done or if it is the sales person could loose there job.
Sprint is willing to loose a sale to bestbuy (Sprint has to give Bestbuy the contract renewal bonus) but can't take care of a LONG time customer.
I've pretty much got to be one of there best types of customers.
1) Been with Sprint/Nextel about 12 years.
2) 5 lines all with unlimited data yet I average only about 1.1gb of data a month combined between all 5 unlimited data lines.
3) All 5 of my lines use less than 400 anytime minutes a month and usually less than 1200 total minutes combined a month.
4) I've never returned a phone for any reason (I see some peopel have indicated that they have had multiple bad phones and I wonder how many of them are full of crap) I've never returned anything, thus not costing Sprint.
5) I've never asked for nor received a "credit" of any sort by complaining about service/coverage/droped calls etc...
6) I've had insurance on every personal phone of mine (1 of the 5 phones) that I've had for the last 10 years or so. Yet I've never made a claim, ever!
I don't need customer service. I need a phone at a decent price, I would of thought Sprint could of done that for me. I guess not.
BTW: I did get my Photon today from Bestbuy. What pleasent experiance. I ordered it online last night for instore pickup today. I got my email this morning saying it was ready. I walked into Bestbuy and 10-15 min. later I walked out with my new phone. No mumbo jumbo trying to "set up" my phone for me. I just wanted a new phone and that is what I got.
bienperezii said:
People do not understand the difference between buying a phone from a corporate store and a third party store. The difference from buying a phone in an actual corporate store is the customer service that they get. Im a manager at a sprint store, its true that it might cost you more from buying it from us but you will definitely get your moneys worth. The customer service and the experience is pretty much what you are paying for... when you buy something at best buy or radio shack, you are just like buying from a retail store (luckys, walgreens, etc) when you buy something the cashiers just ring you out, just like at best buy, they just ring out the phone and give it to you, heres your phone have fun with it.. if you buy it from an actual store you're like buying it from like a bmw car dealer. You will be helped and get assisted by a consultant, we are the experts on these phones, we get trained hours of hours, we know the phones inside and out. Before you leave we make sure your emails are set up, we teach you how to make a call, send a txt msg, etc... we make sure before you leave you are an expert and you are using your phone to its full potential, we make sure you are getting your moneys worth. I have a customer who bought an evo 4g from radio shack, its been 3 months, she came to me and asked why her phone always dies so quick, 3 hours after she unplugs it, its already dead.. i ask where she got it and she said she got it at radio shack because it was free,i looked at her phone and her bluetooth is on, wifi is on, 4g is on..she didnt even know what the toggle widgets are for...worst part she ddnt even know about the android market...i helped her out and explained to her everything and all the cool features she can get, the end of the day, she was very happy and told me next time she gets a phone she will get it from me, she might pay a lil more but she will know how to use her phone fully so its worth the money
I'm not saying do not buy phones from best buys or radio shack, there are always pros and cons, for people like us here who already knows mostly everything about androids we might want to buy it there because were just searching for a better price...but for majority of people out there who doesnt know anything about these devices, its definetly worth buying it from a corporate store, they will get the customer service and the knowledge they will need to use these new devices. Its worth the extra money. Hope yall fellas understand why it cost more in a corporate, its the experience and the customer service that you are paying for
Sent from my MB855 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I manage a Best Buy Mobile store and while I'm not going to say you don't provide great customer service in your store, it's inaccurate to state that Best Buy Mobile doesn't provide quality service as well. We perform all the services you stated, for free, in addition to having better prices and impartial service in a non-commission sales environment. Not all consultants or stores are created equally, and I'm sure there are good/bad Best Buy Mobile's just as there are good/bad carrier stores, but to say that you're the only store that provides quality service and goes above and beyond for customers is wrong.
pfroo40 said:
I manage a Best Buy Mobile store and while I'm not going to say you don't provide great customer service in your store, it's inaccurate to state that Best Buy Mobile doesn't provide quality service as well. We perform all the services you stated, for free, in addition to having better prices and impartial service in a non-commission sales environment. Not all consultants or stores are created equally, and I'm sure there are good/bad Best Buy Mobile's just as there are good/bad carrier stores, but to say that you're the only store that provides quality service and goes above and beyond for customers is wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you're trying to say that Best Buy goes above and beyond for customers then you are dead wrong.
Best Buy is the worst electronics store i've dealt with, even Comp USA is better to deal with than best buy.
DualSportDad said:
if you're trying to say that Best Buy goes above and beyond for customers then you are dead wrong.
Best Buy is the worst electronics store i've dealt with, even Comp USA is better to deal with than best buy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said, not all stores or employees are equal. But I see it every single day. A company does have to keep an eye on it's bottom line in order to stick around, and sometimes the requests of our customers are so far beyond profitable that we couldn't stay in business if we met them, but in my experience the average day to day experience for customers in my store is very positive.
I have been around long enough to see some douchy things but they are definitely not the norm.
pfroo40 said:
Like I said, not all stores or employees are equal. But I see it every single day. A company does have to keep an eye on it's bottom line in order to stick around, and sometimes the requests of our customers are so far beyond profitable that we couldn't stay in business if we met them, but in my experience the average day to day experience for customers in my store is very positive.
I have been around long enough to see some douchy things but they are definitely not the norm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i bought a lot of stuff from best buy at one point all around the same time. it was a wide range of things from computer hardware, camera, Sirius satellite stuff etc. i bought the extended warranty on everything. the items that did end up needing to be repaired were denied. i called corporate, the warranty company everything, i was told to go pack sand.
i should have known what a total POS company best buy was when i bought my camera and when i got home and tried to use it it wouldn't turn on. i took it back and they didn't have the same model, you wouldn't believe how much trouble i had to go through to get a replacement camera. i mean the camera was literally about an hour old.
i never had any request that were unreal, i just wanted my stuff working and i paid for the warranty on all of it, and even the one hour old camera was a pain to get resolved. with sprint i bring a phone back months later and they do their best to make sure that i get a properly working product. i pay for the extra warranty and i have used it once to get a speaker replaced on my evo and no questions were asked the phone was fixed in less than an hour, even with my phone rooted with CM7 on it.
a little extra: my friend just bought a evo at best buy for $1. they talked her into some sort of best buy tracking software (or what ever the hell the program is) that cost her $40, and then a screen protector that is a pile of crap vinyl distorted looking thing and a really, really really cheap silicone case for i think she said another $40. the person at the store didn't help her try to understand her phone at all. the next day she went back to try to get help setting up her e-mail and best buy told her to call sprint for help or go to their store and have them show her how to do it.
DualSportDad said:
i bought a lot of stuff from best buy at one point all around the same time. it was a wide range of things from computer hardware, camera, Sirius satellite stuff etc. i bought the extended warranty on everything. the items that did end up needing to be repaired were denied. i called corporate, the warranty company everything, i was told to go pack sand.
i should have known what a total POS company best buy was when i bought my camera and when i got home and tried to use it it wouldn't turn on. i took it back and they didn't have the same model, you wouldn't believe how much trouble i had to go through to get a replacement camera. i mean the camera was literally about an hour old.
i never had any request that were unreal, i just wanted my stuff working and i paid for the warranty on all of it, and even the one hour old camera was a pain to get resolved. with sprint i bring a phone back months later and they do their best to make sure that i get a properly working product. i pay for the extra warranty and i have used it once to get a speaker replaced on my evo and no questions were asked the phone was fixed in less than an hour, even with my phone rooted with CM7 on it.
a little extra: my friend just bought a evo at best buy for $1. they talked her into some sort of best buy tracking software (or what ever the hell the program is) that cost her $40, and then a screen protector that is a pile of crap vinyl distorted looking thing and a really, really really cheap silicone case for i think she said another $40. the person at the store didn't help her try to understand her phone at all. the next day she went back to try to get help setting up her e-mail and best buy told her to call sprint for help or go to their store and have them show her how to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your warranty claims were denied they were probably caused by something that is explicitly not covered by the warranty. (Accidental damage, water damage). Two versions of most plans are offered, one covers accidental, one doesn't. The camera you purchased sounds like it was the last one in stock. Even big box retailers have a limited quantity of product they keep in the store and have to be replenished. We don't charge $40 for tracking software. The phone locating and remote lock software is included with the optional accidental damage warranty on phones, the other $30 is to allow her to sell back the phone for up to $300. We don't carry $40 silicone cases, silicone cases are $20. The screen protector is fine, Zagg brand, it just looks like crap if you don't install it right, which she probably chose to not have us do because we guarantee the install and she could have it reinstalled if she isn't satisfied.
Email they should have offered to set up and should not have turned her away. I'd suggest having your friend mention it to their manager so they can correct the behavior.
kgbcapthowdy said:
I work at a corporate store and i must say its nice to see someone that gets it. Believe me if i could change the price of the phone i would. I get paid on phones so why in the hell would i turn away a sale if i had the means to keep it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I concur.... I hate seeing people walk because BB or RS offer the exact same phone for a fraction of the price that we do. I wish we had the capabilities of price matching. People have a very bad misconception of the power that we as corporate stores have.
It's actually pretty sad because shortly after, they normally walk in the store stating "BB or RS or Sam's or insert random store here told me to come here to get my contacts transferred over" and like the corporate tool that I am I must oblige even though you didn't bother to buy the phone from me at all. Then as soon as I try to upsell on the opportunities that were stolen from me, I'm told "Oh well RS or BB has that cheaper"...

[Q] Sprint TEP or Square Trade?

I just purchased a Photon through Craigslist (on Black Friday) and activated it on my current line. The phone is a few weeks old and came with the original box and everything (the charger & cable had not even been used). I am traveling abroad for 6 weeks and will be moving around a lot and would like to buy some protection/insurance for the Photon.
I have searched through XDA for information about Sprint TEP and for the most part, it seems users think its beneficial to buy TEP since it covers repairs, replacements, lost and/or stolen phones.
Since I don't have a purchase receipt, can I still purchase TEP on my line for the Photon? The phone is practically brand-new but I have never had TEP before.
I want to cover all my bases before I talk to them directly.
The other coverage I am considering is Square Trade which has built a sterling reputation by providing great warranties with inexpensive prices. I have a 35% off coupon which I can use, so the Photon can be protected for 2 years for $80. But it doesn't cover theft or loss. Plus everything has to be mailed in.
So there are advantages & disadvantages for both;
Any Photon users care to chime in about their experiences?
Or any other comments, suggestions, do's & don'ts?
Thanks in advance.
Sprint has the tep at 7 bucks a month you should be able to add it since you just bought it. I know it covers theft and water damage but The deductible is 100-150 bucks I think. Better then having nothing and if u mod like everyone on xda, that should give u some cushion in case it goes haywire.(usually if u play dumb they may replace it for free) With sprints tep you can just go to a corporate sprint store w/ repair and can have it back same day usually unlike square which will take a week or two....
Sent from my Mophukin Photon runnin Skinny1, One.Four OC like a Boss...
Thanks, that helps.
I was leaning towards TEP for the same reasons.
I also overlooked the fact that a receipt needs to be filed with ST for confirmation, which I won't be able to do.
TEP on my account shows $8/month. Are you grandfathered in an older plan?
I've had a HORRIBLE experience with square trade and i know many others that did as well. Sprint TEP all the way..
kennypow3rs said:
I've had a HORRIBLE experience with square trade and i know many others that did as well. Sprint TEP all the way..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was it with a mobile phone or something else?
I would like to read about it if you don't mind sharing.
I have my laptop & Nook Color warranties through them, haven't had to use them yet.
hirent said:
Was it with a mobile phone or something else?
I would like to read about it if you don't mind sharing.
I have my laptop & Nook Color warranties through them, haven't had to use them yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its sort of a long story and i definitely don't feel like typing it all from my phone lol. Plus I'm watching the Texans game
In a nutshell it had something to do with my laptop and the refused to repair it over some BS. To be honest square trade warranties are stupid. Why should I pay someone few hundred dollars on top my purchase to promise me they'll fix/repair my device if something goes wrong etc. The OEM should repair most issues within the first year! Technology becomes obsolete like every 6-8 months anyways! It just doesn't make sense to me. Only time ill buy extended warranties is if i purchase a used car. Other than that I'm not giving a company my money up front because within a year I'd probably have another product! Yeah they can cover theft etc but imo its still not worth it.
Thanks for the comments.
I'm definitely signing up with TEP.
-------
Pity about Leinart, he was doing good....still your defense stood up today.
Good Luck in the playoffs.
hirent said:
Thanks, that helps.
I was leaning towards TEP for the same reasons.
I also overlooked the fact that a receipt needs to be filed with ST for confirmation, which I won't be able to do.
TEP on my account shows $8/month. Are you grandfathered in an older plan?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been with sprint for 9 years now I was grandfathered in for almost everything lol
Sent from my Mophukin Photon runnin Skinny1, One.Four OC like a Boss...
fnztakedown said:
Been with sprint for 9 years now I was grandfathered in for almost everything lol
Sent from my Mophukin Photon runnin Skinny1, One.Four OC like a Boss...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too!
Well, it will be 10 years for me on Dec. 28.
Had a simple, talk-only plan for 9 years; upgraded to the smartphone plan with the Evo in Jan.
And now, before I can be a Gold Premier customer, they take it all away.
I guess customer loyalty doesn't count for anything, anymore.
Well, I just wanted to chime in. if you look back at my recent post, TEP (Asurion) just delivered my phone Saturday. I will not jock them but...........Yea I will, give them the $8.00 a month TRUST ME!!! And unlike AT&T, I did not get a referb unit, I got a brand new Photon stright from the factory floor, already programmed with Sprint Service, USB and Charger, Battery. All I had to do was hit the power button and sign into Google. I was making calls 3 minutes after I opened the box!!
I was stupid for losing my phone, TEP took care of me. ($100.00 and I got it before noon the following day!!! If I recall, package was from Tenn.? Oh Well, I got it in PA the next day!)
dsims7_2000 said:
Well, I just wanted to chime in. if you look back at my recent post, TEP (Asurion) just delivered my phone Saturday. I will not jock them but...........Yea I will, give them the $8.00 a month TRUST ME!!! And unlike AT&T, I did not get a referb unit, I got a brand new Photon stright from the factory floor, already programmed with Sprint Service, USB and Charger, Battery. All I had to do was hit the power button and sign into Google. I was making calls 3 minutes after I opened the box!!
I was stupid for losing my phone, TEP took care of me. ($100.00 and I got it before noon the following day!!! If I recall, package was from Tenn.? Oh Well, I got it in PA the next day!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I already signed up....8 bucks a month.
I only want this for the duration of my trip (6-8 weeks); I might cancel afterward.
Total for a year is $96 plus $100 deductible, totals to $200. The Photon goes for about $250 on (my local) CL. Unless the instrument is problematic, I personally don't see the need for me to have TEP.
But yeah, brand-new replacement for a lost handset is great.
The way I caught AT&T was I had to remove battery to put in my card, there was a little yellow round sticker with an "R" on it, thats now what I was paying for. It took a little moaning and hollering................Again, I have nothing but love for Sprint TEP.
I work in IT. years ago a friend told me "we dont get paid for what we do, we get paid for what we know. We are an insurance policy, no one cares as long as the lights are flashing green, we work when it flashes red!" This has stuck with me for years.
TEP and that $8.00 gives me a piece of mind. When I got my EVO August 2010 (or was it July?), anyway, it cost me over $600.00 to walk out of the store with what I wanted. Photon cost me over $700.00 (Phone, new card, GhostArmour)
BTW: If you lose your phone in Sweden, your SOL anyway. Most (or AT&T anyway) will not ship internationally. I had to send e-mail to my mother (she will not answer blocked calls) with password to have AT&T cut it off. Insurance would not ship to her, HTC Fuze got shipped to my home in PA, my mother is in Ohio. My daughter came from Md, for phone, delivered it to my job, Operations sent it with like 10 tapes!
Bottom line, $8.00 is nothing!

Lifetime Phone Warranty

Why not just pay $9.99 to get Best Buy Black Tie Protection?
No deductible.
Unlimited claims.
Free loaner phone if yours has to be special ordered.
Covers all physical damage except full water submersion.
Cancel any time free.
Those are the exact words I was told when buying my phone.
I got Black Tie.
Persuade me to cancel it so I can save money.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
newfireorange said:
Why not just pay $9.99 to get Best Buy Black Tie Protection?
No deductible.
Unlimited claims.
Free loaner phone if yours has to be special ordered.
Covers all physical damage except full water submersion.
Cancel any time free.
Those are the exact words I was told when buying my phone.
I got Black Tie.
Persuade me to cancel it so I can save money.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Number one reason is the wait to get your phone back can be a week or two weeks sometimes a month the program is good but I can't go that long without my phone
Ask sprint about their options I think if you are just worried about cracked screens and stuff you can get protection through them for.that at like 4 bucks a month. If I am wrong someone interject. Reason I say 4 is I don't think the tep has raised yet and if u lock it in now it won't raise till you resign...
I do not have Black Tie but I heard that its pretty awful. At times they do not honor replacements.
Google it for more info.
I have Black Tie, but I gotta tell you: the whole "free loaner phone if yours has to be special ordered"? Count on rocking a crappy old Android or a BlackBerry for a little bit if your phone can't be initially just fixed....
Here's the rub: yours IS gonna have to be special ordered, if you need a replacement, no matter if your Best Buy has 500 new EVOs in stock: they won't let you have one of theirs. For me, for the times I had to use it, I waited about 2 weeks the first time (because it was "backordered", even though my Best Buy had plenty), and about 3 days the second.
Of course, you also are also DEFINITELY getting a refurb, count on that 100%.
*I still use it, like I said, but the guy at Best Buy won't tell you all these little "details", which, I think, is a bit shady.
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
I waited a month for a broken charger port on my OG Evo. Seemed like an eternity. Got it back and found that while they fixed the port, they blew out the light on the menu button (looked like it was missing a tooth) . Wasn't going to wait again with a beat up small lender phone.
Gave me a scratched and dented LG Optimus. Big ole scratch on the screen.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
Lol at the people that don't like brick and mortar stores its that that is hurting the economy why buy it somewhere and pay a little extra and take a little extra time n pay tax when u can order it online for cheaper ans not pay tax. However I heard awhile back they where or are trying to put laws in place for sales tax on online items.
newfireorange said:
Why not just pay $9.99 to get Best Buy Black Tie Protection?
No deductible.
Unlimited claims.
Free loaner phone if yours has to be special ordered.
Covers all physical damage except full water submersion.
Cancel any time free.
Those are the exact words I was told when buying my phone.
I got Black Tie.
Persuade me to cancel it so I can save money.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually just dropped sprints insurance and am going to straight up buy the black tie insurance for $170 for the 2 year protection. How sprint is Jacking up the price on everything you would be paying $264 for 2 years not including the $150-$200 deductible. Hell if I can save $100-$250 with BB with a refurbished phone and wait 2 weeks its worth it.
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
ZAGG has insurance as well. I think its 100$ for 2yrs and covers everything with a 100$ deductible. Might wanna look into that.
James
best buy also doesnt cover lost or stolen tho if you use mobile defense or sprint locator those arent a huge issue..
ckoadiyn Lol at the people that don't like brick and mortar stores its that that is hurting the economy why buy it somewhere and pay a little extra and take a little extra time n pay tax when u can order it online for cheaper ans not pay tax. However I heard awhile back they where or are trying to put laws in place for sales tax on online items.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes cause buying online is different then buying in brick and mortar... the store actually makes more of a profit from online sales then store. and i paid taxes when i ordered from sprint tyvm.. the only thing being loss on online sales is taxes to the state but as someone who works in retail i can also tell you all the people using food stamps arent helping much either.. lord forbid they dont get their tax free soda chips and fat cakes
grrmisfit said:
best buy also doesnt cover lost or stolen tho if you use mobile defense or sprint locator those arent a huge issue..
yes cause buying online is different then buying in brick and mortar... the store actually makes more of a profit from online sales then store. and i paid taxes when i ordered from sprint tyvm.. the only thing being loss on online sales is taxes to the state but as someone who works in retail i can also tell you all the people using food stamps arent helping much either.. lord forbid they dont get their tax free soda chips and fat cakes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol that is probably true but I always get the impression most shop amazon etc n I know it is just state taxes but still. I don't have a problem with food stamps for those that use it correctly however many people don't use it correctly
ckoadiyn said:
Lol that is probably true but I always get the impression most shop amazon etc n I know it is just state taxes but still. I don't have a problem with food stamps for those that use it correctly however many people don't use it correctly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i use online cause its a convenience . i work over nights so i can shop while everything is closed and its usually cheaper cause they save on labor and other things a brick and mortar has to pay.. walk into a kmart.. have their website loaded and check prices, you will see that a lot of their stuff is more expensive in stores then online and they will not price match
grrmisfit said:
i use online cause its a convenience . i work over nights so i can shop while everything is closed and its usually cheaper cause they save on labor and other things a brick and mortar has to pay.. walk into a kmart.. have their website loaded and check prices, you will see that a lot of their stuff is more expensive in stores then online and they will not price match
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah and is rather pay extra to know that American people have a job even if it is a store and 5 extra dollars that's all im trying to say we have to many people to be cutting jobs and companies can pick up and leave over seas. Btw I agree 3rd sucks I work 12-8 am and it is hard a lot of.the time
But all and all price wise. BB is the cheapest if you don't mind waiting a couple days for a replacement refurbished phone and the fact they don't cover loss or theft. Anyone object?
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
xbmoyx said:
But all and all price wise. BB is the cheapest if you don't mind waiting a couple days for a replacement refurbished phone and the fact they don't cover loss or theft. Anyone object?
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope however I am interested in zagg..
I use http://www.squaretrade.com - $119 for two years protection after tax and 10% discount (coupon code TENFTEN).
You still pay a $99 deductible, and no coverage for theft or loss....but it has great reviews which is comforting. And at about $5/month...much better deal.
Sent from my Evo4GLTE
I had the black tie protection and I'll tell you why it isn't so hot.
First, doesn't cover lost or stolen phones.
Second, loaner phones require a $150 deposit.
Third, when I used the insurance to fix a broken charging port, I sent the phone in on Jan 2nd. The phone came back unrepaired 3 times. I finally got a replacement phone the second week of February. Believe me, I would have gladly gave a hundred dollars for a replacement from sprint.
Learned my lesson on best buy protection.
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
ckoadiyn said:
Ask sprint about their options I think if you are just worried about cracked screens and stuff you can get protection through them for.that at like 4 bucks a month. If I am wrong someone interject. Reason I say 4 is I don't think the tep has raised yet and if u lock it in now it won't raise till you resign...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 4$ is still the same for service and repairs. However the replacement part of the TEP has gone up i believe.
And no the TEP will be raised for everyone but only in September if you sign up for TEP before july 17th.
stumblebum said:
I use http://www.squaretrade.com - $119 for two years protection after tax and 10% discount (coupon code TENFTEN).
You still pay a $99 deductible, and no coverage for theft or loss....but it has great reviews which is comforting. And at about $5/month...much better deal.
Sent from my Evo4GLTE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you get a brand new phone? Do they cover loss/theft?
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
newfireorange said:
Why not just pay $9.99 to get Best Buy Black Tie Protection?
No deductible.
Unlimited claims.
Free loaner phone if yours has to be special ordered.
Covers all physical damage except full water submersion.
Cancel any time free.
Those are the exact words I was told when buying my phone.
I got Black Tie.
Persuade me to cancel it so I can save money.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ckoadiyn said:
Number one reason is the wait to get your phone back can be a week or two weeks sometimes a month the program is good but I can't go that long without my phone
Ask sprint about their options I think if you are just worried about cracked screens and stuff you can get protection through them for.that at like 4 bucks a month. If I am wrong someone interject. Reason I say 4 is I don't think the tep has raised yet and if u lock it in now it won't raise till you resign...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I work for Best Buy and am very familiar with the GSBTP plans (Geek Squad Black Tie Protection). What I am about to say is my own opinion and not that of Best Buy's.
That being said, I am going to give you an unbiased opinion on this because I see both sides to what you guys are saying. I bought my phone outright from BBY 2 days ago. Did I buy GSBTP? No, here is why: I like the lost or stolen option from Asurion/Sprint and I never had to use it until 2 weeks ago when someone stole my EVO 3D from my store. I tried remote locating it and all that crap and it didn't help. Paid the deductible through Asurion (should have been $100 but they told me $50) and got a replacement the next day.
As far as what GSBTP offers, yeah, it's not bad. But there are some things that need clarified in what has been said in this thread. The replacements now are all "Rapid Exchange", as in, you come into BBY and we fill out all the paperwork to get you a new phone. What happens is that the system then generates and order for a refurbished phone to be shipped that day while we send yours back to them at the same time. This means that you will get a new phone within 3 business days, not too bad.
However, the loaner phones are pretty crappy, as mentioned. But stores are suppose to charge you $50 for the loaner phone that gets returned back to you after you return it. They don't all do that, but they are supposed to, so keep that in mind that YMMV.
Everything else in the OP is right. BBY won't deny a claim unless you fully submerged it, nor would they even know that unless you told them. There is a girl at my store that literally drops and shatters her iPhone screen atleast 2 times a month and it's been happening for over a year now, never had an issue. Also, with GSPTB, you are entitled to a 1-time battery replacement on your phone as well which is awesome, but unfortunately doesn't apply to phones without removable batteries.
Hopefully this clarified things for you guys and gave you an idea of both sides to the GSBTP story
@-viperboy-
Thank you for the clarification.
~ I'm a fungi

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