My sad experience at a Verizon store today

[spaulagain]

I waltzed into a Verizon store today looking to port my number back to Verizon from AT&T due to coverage issues.

When the rep asked me what phone I wanted to get, I told him I had an iPhone 5 on AT&T and was thinking of getting one of the Windows Phone 8 phones. He simply looked at me and said "Those Windows phones are terrible. I never recommend them to anyone. Get the iPhone 5".

Needless to say, I'm still very shocked.

I'd report him to the manager. That's horrible sales practice. If a customer asks about or is interested in a specific product, you don't just it off like that. You could easily lose a sale that way and he's just flat out wrong.

He should have showed them to you as you asked and then discuss pros and cons versus another phone OS.

Seriously though, report the dumbass. WP is going to get anywhere if the retail stores keep getting a way with this.

 

[spaulagain]

This problem occurs in India too. I've visited a couple of electronics strores and asked abt the 8x and 820. The sales rep actually told me that windows phone is "very complicated" and I should take an android. When I asked how it was complicated, he started showing me how android works! I then pulled out my L800 n told him how easy it was. I think MSFT should look into this and do some serious damage control, and come up with good marketing strategies.

Agreed, these sales reps can have a huge impact on the sale of device especially for non-enthusiasts. The only reason my mom got a Windows Phone is because I showed her what it could. She would have ended up with an iPhone had she just blindly walk into the store.

These sales clerks really **** me of. They have heads so far up their ***.

 

[scottcraft]

Agreed. The HTC 8x is a great phone, the only problem I have with it, is the limit of 16gb of memory, if you can live with that, it's a awesome phone and if you got LTE coverage (like I do at home and work), it's epic...I can honestly say, I have not seen a HD video studded at all... and that is impressive.

I agree, the 8X is really nice. The only reason I'm interested in the rumored 928 is the better camera and possibly more storage, even though 16gb is probably enough for me.

 

[TonyDedrick]

Agreed, these sales reps can have a huge impact on the sale of device especially for non-enthusiasts. The only reason my mom got a Windows Phone is because I showed her what it could. She would have ended up with an iPhone had she just blindly walk into the store.

These sales clerks really **** me of. They have heads so far up their ***.

At the end of the day, its ultimately the responsibility of the consumer to know what's out there.

 

[Alan Myers]

I've had the same thing happen to me twice now...both times at Verizon Corporate stores. The first time was with the HTC Trophy. I actually had a salesperson say to me "Why on earth would you ever buy a Windows Phone?". He said this absolutely dripping with condescension. I bought the Trophy anyway, but I was horribly upset that literally no one in the store could tell me one thing about the phone or help me set it up. I ended up calling Verizon to express my displeasure and I ended getting invited back to the store by the manager, but he was clueless and apologetic the entire time he was "helping" me because he didn't know anything about WP either. Happened again at the same store when I bought my 8X, although the salesperson this time was nice, she tried to steer me to an IPhone or Android. I decided they won't get my business at a store ever again, I'll just order future phones online and rely on this site to help me out like you all have with 2 of my Windows Phones now

 

[Dadstar0410]

Same experience with me at a Verizon store. I was choosing the 8X, but before buying I asked an associate if they had any. He said, "No, we don't. Honestly, though, Windows Phone is pretty crappy, and I never recommend them to people. We do have iPhones and DNAs in the back if you wanna check them out." It was at that point that I left the store and never walked in there ever again.
A few weeks later, on Black Friday, I walked in to Best Buy and bought my 8X. When I asked the rep if they had any, he said yes and that I would be the first one to buy it from the store because they weren't allowed to put it on display at that time. Then, after playing with a demo unit, the rep really complimented WP8 and how beautiful it was compared to other OS's. He was a very down-to-earth salesperson, and that alone made me happy enough to buy the phone. Then the lady who was transferring my contacts and phone number over, as she was playing with it said, "I think this might be my new favorite phone!" Now, if I ever need a new phone, I will be going to that Best Buy.
Other people have told me similar experiences, too. Don't go to carrier stores for new phones; they are too biased towards a certain operating system because they make the most money selling those phones. "Third-party" stores do not care; they put the customer first: whatever the customer wants, they get.

 

[Sanjay Chandra]

I want to describe an experience which happend around May 2012.

My Mom wanted to get a new phone , So I narrowed it down to iPhone 4/Lumia 710/800/Omnia W (aka Focus Flash/Focus) and finally decided to get Omnia W because it has gyroscope , front camera while Lumias didn't and iP4 is outdated/over priced.

So we went to a Samsung premium store :
Them : What Phone u want want , sir ?
Me : Show us Omnia W
Them : Windows OS , right ?
Me : Yeah.
Them : Why don't u try out Galaxy Ace or Galaxy Advance ? Windows OS is new , no apps and complicated.
Me : Sure , Show me the device
Them : Here , This is Ace And this is galaxy advance.
(I played them for 20 seconds and then......)
Me : What OS does it run ?
Them : Android
Me : I meant which version
Them : 2.3
Me : That's like almost one and half years old OS.Can u show me devices running Jellybean ?
Them : What is that ?
(Google I/O conference was just previous day and I asked them about JB the next day at store , So they had no idea , I think Nexus got JB update in June)
Me : I explained him those lags in Android showing him Ace and Advance and told him about JB's project butter and other features.
Them : Then , These devices most probably get the update soon.
Me : Soon means when ?
Them : Maybe two months
(Yeah right ! In Reality S3 got JB update in October with full of bugs and According to him Ace will get JB update before S3 , LoL ridiculous , right ? Even S2 being flagship of 2011 still didn't get any announcements regarding JB)
Me : But She wants phone right now , Show me a JB device or just show me Omnia
Them : Well , Windows OS has no apps and why go for that one ? and it needs Zune and Sky Drive
(Yeah , I know What apps can Ace run with its specs and Android version)
Me : WP is easy to use than Android , For people like my mom , it would be easy with WP
(He is already pissed off by then)
Them : How ?
Me : I told him some things like people's hub and pinning tiles , how u can integrate things etc.)
Them : Oh ! but still Android is better , Windows OS has very less apps.
Me : My mom doesn't play games or use much apps , she wants a device easy to use and less complicated.Everytime she has to kill apps in android and security problems are there in Android.
(3 months before , I gave him my Dad's Galaxy S2 for resetting it because it had bugs and most probably malware , that's why he reset the phone to squash it and covered it by saying I updated the "device" so had to reset it)
Them : Ok alright then , Here this is the packaging
Me : No Demo piece ?
Them : No , we don't have one.
Me : But you had demo pieces for Galaxy Advance , Ace and so many devices but Omnia W is the only samsung device which runs Windows Phone , Why no demo piece ?
Them : because WP is headache and its difficult to show people how to use it
(Yeah , in other words , He don't have any interest to show the device because he doesn't know anything about the device and he won't get commission for selling WP devices , So basically he shows only android devices and push them to all whoever comes to the store)

 

[Honestabebread]

How so? I have the 822 and it's a great phone.
In fact, at the two closest Verizon stores to me, a few of the reps had the 822 as well and were liking them as much as I.

A lot of issues with the phone freezing, dropping calls, losing its data connection, and poor battery life. Issues I've never experienced with my Employee Edition 8X or when I had a standard 8X. Also, I've done a few transactions recently at stores (basically just selling stuff and letting some rep ring it up) and sold the Ativ Odyssey, and those three customers are extremely satisfied.

Anyway.

I'm really sorry about your experience at our carrier store. I actually had to pull a rep into the office the other day because when a customer asked him how the 8X was, the rep said "I hate Windows Phones."

Which isn't really an issue, except it puts a negative spin on the phone in the customer's eyes, even if it may be the perfect phone for them.

 

[ShipWreck]

Yeah another person drinking the Apple Juice.. It's hard to find sales people who deal with things in the real world and truly understand how things work instead of believing in the propaganda machine. Glad too see you stuck with your guns but yes people like this misinform people all the time and later those who drink the juice realize there are other options out there like WP8 devices.

 

[derek533]

This is a perfect example of why I educate myself as to what I want before I even set foot in a major retailer whether it be Best Buy, Verizon, Sears, etc. For every salesman that likes A, another will like B so if you go by what that person says, it's luck of the draw as to whether you end up with A or B.

Another perfect example of this is plasma vs. LED/LCD. Those who actually do the hard research, know that for the most part, a plasma picture will always look better than a LED/LCD picture if it's a quality set, you can control lighting in the room, etc. Some sales people actually steer people away from plasma citing things that are no longer a concern (burn-in, heat, electricity usage, etc.). Yet, if you had no idea of the pros/cons of either technology, you're at the mercy of the salesman as to what you end up with if you believe what he/she tells you.

This is why when I make a purchase for anything that's going to cost a good amount of money, I do tons of research beforehand. I imagine most people who are members of enthusiast forums such as this one, are like me in that regard. That way, I walk in, tell them what I want irregardless of their opinion and walk out. I frankly don't give a flying duck what their opinion is because I have no way of knowing if his/her opinion is fact based or just FUD.

 

[ShipWreck]

Carriers actually make more selling Windows Phones and commission is not paid based on phone type (not at corporate Verizon stores anyway)

But I agree that most reps are afraid of WP8 and BB10

To me the reality is Google knows who the real threat is here and it's MS and Apple will be Apple they to me will be in 3rd place where Windows Phones and Android will be in the top 2. Due to one they have more devices and MS will keep making them plus you have the top 3 manufactures making Windows phone the same 2 out of those 3 make Android as well. Nokia, HTC, Samsung I think some are afraid at Samsung due to they know that Android does well for them but if Samsung is smart they will continue making devices for both. I'm sure Google put some pressure on Samsung due to they do not want MS to do well but they will. Plus what many of the Jellybean eaters and those who are lost in space with their Galaxy device all forget that even the creator of Android who just left Google pointed out is the MS makes money off every Android device that is sold as well due to paten's .

So that's how big MS is that they can make money off their competitors as well their own devices. Either way Google knows that MS is not going any where and that they got in the game late but they all know that once more users try Windows Phone device they will like how simple it is and that MS does a better job of making sure the Apps go through a better process when they get summited to where with Google more of a open source which to me is why they have more Apps plus more bugs along with them. Also as a company Google been busted by the FTC on some of the things they kind of got a slap on the hand over it due to their buddy status in DC.

Yes Android has the market share simply due to they have more devices but MS will have just as much out there but too me MS is just a better overall company as well. Heck Samsung alone has sold more devices than Apple at one point but I hope that Samsung does not give in to the Gingerbread and keeps making devices for MS to me it would do them good to keep making devices for both platforms just like HTC is doing. Don't get me wrong I think Android has some good stuff but I always advise my users to Not buy into the propaganda machine that gets pushed out there by many Sales people and Tech Wed Sites which some seem to buy into. So that being all said use what you like is what I tell my users But don't be afraid to try something else as well. Just my 2 cents.

 

[KingCrimson]

Lazy salescritters. There is obviously no incentive program for them to push Windows Phone, so they don't bother.

 

[Daniel Ratcliffe]

I want to describe an experience which happend around May 2012.

My Mom wanted to get a new phone , So I narrowed it down to iPhone 4/Lumia 710/800/Omnia W (aka Focus Flash/Focus) and finally decided to get Omnia W because it has gyroscope , front camera while Lumias didn't and iP4 is outdated/over priced.

So we went to a Samsung premium store :
Them : What Phone u want want , sir ?
Me : Show us Omnia W
Them : Windows OS , right ?
Me : Yeah.
Them : Why don't u try out Galaxy Ace or Galaxy Advance ? Windows OS is new , no apps and complicated.
Me : Show me the Omnia W or we will walk out right now and go elsewhere.

The bit in bold is what I would have done. I did the same when I got my HTC TITAN. I walked in and said "I want the HTC TITAN please" but with assertiveness in my voice that undertoned "You either sell me the HTC TITAN or you don't get a sale". Needless to say, I had no trouble and walked out with the phone I wanted. It's still a nice phone even now, although I have a Lumia 920.

 

[Sanjay Chandra]

I didn't want to sound rude because my dad know that guy

 

[Kevin Rush]

This is a perfect example of why I educate myself as to what I want before I even set foot in a major retailer whether it be Best Buy, Verizon, Sears, etc. For every salesman that likes A, another will like B so if you go by what that person says, it's luck of the draw as to whether you end up with A or B.

Another perfect example of this is plasma vs. LED/LCD. Those who actually do the hard research, know that for the most part, a plasma picture will always look better than a LED/LCD picture if it's a quality set, you can control lighting in the room, etc. Some sales people actually steer people away from plasma citing things that are no longer a concern (burn-in, heat, electricity usage, etc.). Yet, if you had no idea of the pros/cons of either technology, you're at the mercy of the salesman as to what you end up with if you believe what he/she tells you.

This is why when I make a purchase for anything that's going to cost a good amount of money, I do tons of research beforehand. I imagine most people who are members of enthusiast forums such as this one, are like me in that regard. That way, I walk in, tell them what I want irregardless of their opinion and walk out. I frankly don't give a flying duck what their opinion is because I have no way of knowing if his/her opinion is fact based or just FUD.

I agree with you on every point.

Sadly, even when given the research, before hand, some people just can't seem to resist buying what the "salesperson" tells them to buy.

My Nokia Lumia 822 is the best phone I've ever had.

 

[Sanjay Chandra]

This is a perfect example of why I educate myself as to what I want before I even set foot in a major retailer whether it be Best Buy, Verizon, Sears, etc. For every salesman that likes A, another will like B so if you go by what that person says, it's luck of the draw as to whether you end up with A or B.

Another perfect example of this is plasma vs. LED/LCD. Those who actually do the hard research, know that for the most part, a plasma picture will always look better than a LED/LCD picture if it's a quality set, you can control lighting in the room, etc. Some sales people actually steer people away from plasma citing things that are no longer a concern (burn-in, heat, electricity usage, etc.). Yet, if you had no idea of the pros/cons of either technology, you're at the mercy of the salesman as to what you end up with if you believe what he/she tells you.

This is why when I make a purchase for anything that's going to cost a good amount of money, I do tons of research beforehand. I imagine most people who are members of enthusiast forums such as this one, are like me in that regard. That way, I walk in, tell them what I want irregardless of their opinion and walk out. I frankly don't give a flying duck what their opinion is because I have no way of knowing if his/her opinion is fact based or just FUD.

So , the other day , I asked the sales guy if that particular TV has local dimming feature and he was like "What is that ?" , One of the main differences between Plasmas/LCDs is that feature particularly and he knows nothing about it.(Presence of local dimming brings in better experience in darker images which also makes contrast better)
He recommends an LED TV and I don't know on what basis he recommends it..............

 

[unstoppablekem]

I think when they get the 928, they'll push it a bit better.

 

[metalchick719]

I waltzed into a Verizon store today looking to port my number back to Verizon from AT&T due to coverage issues.

When the rep asked me what phone I wanted to get, I told him I had an iPhone 5 on AT&T and was thinking of getting one of the Windows Phone 8 phones. He simply looked at me and said "Those Windows phones are terrible. I never recommend them to anyone. Get the iPhone 5".

Needless to say, I'm still very shocked.

Well, isn't that just pathetic... You would think that if these customer service reps were supportive of what people actually want and oblige to help them get it, they would be more successful in their jobs and make more commission. Totally sucks. Personally, I haven't experienced or heard of someone I know experiencing this problem on T-Mobile. Hopefully, Verizon reps will step it up once the 928 is released.

 

[ncxcstud]

I had that same experience at the first AT&T store I went to when i upgraded from my Focus to my 920. I went to an 'authorized retailer' that was a few blocks from the corporate store I actually wanted to go to... The guy I talked to said, "Those phones are crap and the Nokia ones are the worst." Supposedly everyone brought back the L900 because it didn't work and then just got an android and were much happier.

Needless to say, I reported him to the corporate store manager when I arrived at the Corporate store down the street. They were all pretty surprised and a bit disappointed too. Especially since all of them were gaga over the 920 and 8X and were all thinking about upgrading too...

 

[unstoppablekem]

I had that same experience at the first AT&T store I went to when i upgraded from my Focus to my 920. I went to an 'authorized retailer' that was a few blocks from the corporate store I actually wanted to go to... The guy I talked to said, "Those phones are crap and the Nokia ones are the worst." Supposedly everyone brought back the L900 because it didn't work and then just got an android and were much happier.

Needless to say, I reported him to the corporate store manager when I arrived at the Corporate store down the street. They were all pretty surprised and a bit disappointed too. Especially since all of them were gaga over the 920 and 8X and were all thinking about upgrading too...

That's why I like corporate stores.