My sad experience at a Verizon store today

[ohgood]

I work for a very large company and I'm the guy that buys phones for people. I don't recommend Windows Phone 8 for 1 single reason alone. People love apps and Windows phone 8 is extremely lacking. So you can either recommend them a Windows Phone 8 and have a chance of them returning it and dealing with that, or get them a phone that'll fully immerse them in what they want. APPS.

As an example, go to the app marketplace and type "facebook".. look how many copies/apps there are that people feel are better in their opinion than the official facebook. Microsoft is cultivating an appstore full of non-official copies. There might be 100,000 apps.. but how many of them are terrible copies or kama sutra apps?

You could say I'm part of the problem, but why sell people on something that they won't be happy with? Phones are very personable devices. Ask the person what they want in a phone and sell them from there.. If someone goes I want image stabilization, get them the 920.. if they want Instagram, iphone/android.

I'm sorry to say it.. I have an 8X and while I love the phone, I spend more time on my One X+

sounds like you're giving them a balanced, informed opinion of what suits them best.

does anyone ever walk in and make Office their main objective as opposed to apps ?

 

[explosive0]

So, this seems to be a widespread issue, and it's starting to get very irritating. I'm actually going to write an email to Verizon Corporate. I decided to stop by another Verizon store this evening. I asked the lady that attending to me that I came to check out the Windows phones - that I was an iPhone owner but my friends said some cool things about them. She straight up said "they are terrible," pulled out an iPhone and said "there's a reason I have this." I asked what was really bad about it and she couldn't give me an answer.

It's funny because I remember working at RadioShack in my college days. We had "mystery shoppers" come in from time to time to make sure we were providing the best experience to our customers. Although to them, the best experience was "offering accessories and batteries to our customers". Something like that might help Verizon a bit.

 

[a5cent]

Am I really exaggerating? think about it for a sec
...

Believe me, I've thought about it. ;-)

Barely an app on that list makes my top 10. I've dumped all Google services except Search and YouTube, which accounts for some differences. For YouTube I use MetroTube, which I actually prefer over the official app on Android. In regard to everything else, I think my own opinion has already been stated by others, so I won't repeat it again here.

TBH I didn't understand your statements about security. Most corporate CTOs are worried about malware, support costs and privacy/confidentiality.

Beyond that I completely agree with your take, but extremes are rarely a good thing. Unlimited choices are usually just as counterproductive as no choice at all. No?

Also off topic, also sorry.

 

[Kevin Rush]

I work for a very large company and I'm the guy that buys phones for people. I don't recommend Windows Phone 8 for 1 single reason alone. People love apps and Windows phone 8 is extremely lacking. So you can either recommend them a Windows Phone 8 and have a chance of them returning it and dealing with that, or get them a phone that'll fully immerse them in what they want. APPS.

As an example, go to the app marketplace and type "facebook".. look how many copies/apps there are that people feel are better in their opinion than the official facebook. Microsoft is cultivating an appstore full of non-official copies. There might be 100,000 apps.. but how many of them are terrible copies or kama sutra apps?

You could say I'm part of the problem, but why sell people on something that they won't be happy with? Phones are very personable devices. Ask the person what they want in a phone and sell them from there.. If someone goes I want image stabilization, get them the 920.. if they want Instagram, iphone/android.

I'm sorry to say it.. I have an 8X and while I love the phone, I spend more time on my One X+

I'm a business owner and in these difficult economic times, our business can't spend money on games and entertainment perks for our staff. We need, in our business, the spending to go towards furthering our business. That means the very best Exchange and Office connectivity experience possible and that is Windows Phone.

 

[jdhooghe]

Unfortunately it is something that cannot be remedied. People have their own biases and go for Android or Apple. There is no room in their minds for WP8 or BB10 and make up ridiculous excuses why each is not good or will fail. Hell, I see it on these forums when people talk about BlackBerry. If Windows Phone users think negatively of BlackBerry, why is everyone expecting something different with iOS or Android users? The whole situation is sad and shows humanity's innate biases to everything that they use and think everything they don't use is wrong.

 

[Sanjay Chandra]

Unfortunately it is something that cannot be remedied. People have their own biases and go for Android or Apple. There is no room in their minds for WP8 or BB10 and make up ridiculous excuses why each is not good or will fail. Hell, I see it on these forums when people talk about BlackBerry. If Windows Phone users think negatively of BlackBerry, why is everyone expecting something different with iOS or Android users? The whole situation is sad and shows humanity's innate biases to everything that they use and think everything they don't use is wrong.

Yeah , Exactly seen it up here.

I don't show any bias , I like to have best of all worlds.I use my iPad , WP and also respect other OS.I think no Platform is perfect , each platform is good at something.

 

[Honestabebread]

So, this seems to be a widespread issue, and it's starting to get very irritating. I'm actually going to write an email to Verizon Corporate. I decided to stop by another Verizon store this evening. I asked the lady that attending to me that I came to check out the Windows phones - that I was an iPhone owner but my friends said some cool things about them. She straight up said "they are terrible," pulled out an iPhone and said "there's a reason I have this." I asked what was really bad about it and she couldn't give me an answer.

It's funny because I remember working at RadioShack in my college days. We had "mystery shoppers" come in from time to time to make sure we were providing the best experience to our customers. Although to them, the best experience was "offering accessories and batteries to our customers". Something like that might help Verizon a bit.

I shop corporate stores all the time. On and off the clock.

 

[jdriscoll636]

How is the 822 terrible? It's the best phone I've used, and I've used my wife's iPhone 4S (the iPhone 5 feels like a cheap toy).

As to these reps, the local corporate store I was in when I activated my 822 had reps that were very fair to the phones. I recounted my experience in another thread, but one of the reps actually steered a group of buyers toward the 822. For those who have a rep that rips on a phone like that, you need to get the manager involved or, at least, let Verizon know the name of the rep and store. They should not be ripping on any of the phones that Verizon sells.

I couldn't agree with you more about the iPhone 5 feeling like a cheep toy. Personally this is why I like to get my phones at Best Buy Mobile, and recommend that others do it was well. There whole team in no commission, so you don't get a rep trying to sell you a phone that will make them the most money. To me a sale is a sale is a sale, you help the customer out in getting what they want or need, you answer all their questions to the best of your ability, and be polite while doing so. This is what will get a customer to come back, and spend their money over and over again. It's also ok to let your customer know you personal opinion, just let them know it's your opinion based on your tastes and needs.

 

[Honestabebread]

Let me make this clear here. At a Verizon store, there is no commission on a specific phone. No one is trying to sell you an Android because they make more or because they weren't trained properly. It is 100% personal bias.

 

[mlm1950]

Let me make this clear here. At a Verizon store, there is no commission on a specific phone. No one is trying to sell you an Android because they make more or because they weren't trained properly. It is 100% personal bias.

Well, if they aren't able to help a customer obtain the phone they came in for, and operate solely on personal bias, it sounds like they aren't properly trained after all.

 

[Honestabebread]

Well, if they aren't able to help a customer obtain the phone they came in for, and operate solely on personal bias, it sounds like they aren't properly trained after all.

You can train a **** all you want but they're still gonna be a ****.

 

[derek533]

You can train a **** all you want but they're still gonna be a ****.

LOL, so true. You think any associate selling a specialized product doesn't receive training before they're released on the floor? Of course they do, but it's human nature to interject our own opinions if someone asks us what we think. That's why it's up to the consumer to do the proper research before setting foot in a store, lest he/she be swayed by the opinion of the associate.

 

[Honestabebread]

I visit my home store A LOT and only one person who works there is on board with Windows Phone, but none of them talk trash about it to customers. Most of them have a go-to phone like the iPhone 5 or the Droid DNA.

 

[ohgood]

I visit my home store A LOT and only one person who works there is on board with Windows Phone, but none of them talk trash about it to customers. Most of them have a go-to phone like the iPhone 5 or the Droid DNA.

hsve you asked them why those phones make the cut ?

are the returns actually higher for one phone in particular ?

 

[Honestabebread]

hsve you asked them why those phones make the cut ?

are the returns actually higher for one phone in particular ?

Well return rate got taken away in March but most of the malice is over apps. like the Flixster app not letting you watch your ultraviolets, etc.

The DNA is popular because the optimized quad core processor and 2GB of RAM make it one of the only phones that doesn't lag after a week of buying it.

 

[mlm1950]

You can train a **** all you want but they're still gonna be a ****.

Then why waste time and money to train them?

 

[ohgood]

...Well return rate got taken away in March ...

mmm, I don't understand that part. data is no longer available or something else ?

 

[scottcraft]

I visit my home store A LOT and only one person who works there is on board with Windows Phone, but none of them talk trash about it to customers. Most of them have a go-to phone like the iPhone 5 or the Droid DNA.

The last time I was in my local store two or three of the reps had the 822. When I had the Trophy these guys looked down on it, but they seem to be more on board with WP8.

 

[Honestabebread]

Then why waste time and money to train them?

That's what I'm saying! Unfortunately even though I technically work for Human Resources I don't get to do any recruiting. :'(

Maybe when I'm old and fickle I can switch to recruiting and hire douchebags.

Also, return rate got taken away specifically because reps were selling "safe phones" to protect their commission check. That's all well and good except Verizon wants Windows Phone to blow up so they removed any demotivators.

As for reps carrying Windows Phones, that's because there's a program called the SME that falls under the concession accounts umbrella. Basically every rep gets a free smartphone that's unlimited talk, text and 5GB of data. However they can't use the phone for personal things and they don't get to pick the phone. This is a blessing because most reps would never, ever buy something out of their comfort zone but Verizon gives them a SME BEST device Windows Phone to learn how to use it. Its actually pretty cool. All that said, most reps have a personal line as well (like how I have two phones). I have two because they pretty much always stick trainers with a Razr Maxx, so I have to get my Windows fix on a personal line. Since I have a concession phone (not a BEST device) I can use mine for personal reasons. But screw having an Android phone. Blegh.

And now you know more crap about Verizon than you ever wanted to.

 

[jleebiker]

And now you know more crap about Verizon than you ever wanted to.

Except... WHEN...WILL...THE..928...BE...AVAILABLE!!! LOL!!!
TAKE MY MONEY!!!!