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JayhawkSD

(3,163 posts)
Wed Mar 13, 2019, 12:17 PM Mar 2019

Be aware that Verizon stores "only sell phones."

I went into the Verizon store where I bought my phone (and phone plan) with a couple of issues I needed help with. One was technical and the other was a billing issue, both rather minor. The guy would not help me with either. "We do not do that here," he told me. I asked him what they do there, and he replied, "We only sell phones."

I asked him, raising my voice a bit so others in the store could hear me, but not yelling, "Do you advise people before you sell them a phone that you don't support what you sell? Do you tell them that if they have a problem with the phone they buy from you that they're on their own?"

He was visibly pissed off, but he made no response, and I left. This was not, by the way, a "kiosk" type place, it was a full fledged store.

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Be aware that Verizon stores "only sell phones." (Original Post) JayhawkSD Mar 2019 OP
Had a friend that use to mail his monthly bill with a check safeinOhio Mar 2019 #1
Lol! Right there with him. JudyM Mar 2019 #7
It's a retail store. TwilightZone Mar 2019 #2
Infinity-Comcast services their accounts as well as sell in their retail stores-at least in Colorado hlthe2b Mar 2019 #10
It sounds like most of the others do, too. TwilightZone Mar 2019 #12
They used to provide assistance in the store. JayhawkSD Mar 2019 #14
They are all like this SoCalNative Mar 2019 #3
I Use AT&T And They Provide Both Billing & Technical Support In..... global1 Mar 2019 #5
Me too. hlthe2b Mar 2019 #11
I go to the T-Mobile store and get help for both Sherman A1 Mar 2019 #6
They rather you call. itsrobert Mar 2019 #4
I understand your frustration. rownesheck Mar 2019 #8
I would not work there. JayhawkSD Mar 2019 #13
What kind of store? zipplewrath Mar 2019 #9
It's not an "authorized dealer." nt JayhawkSD Mar 2019 #15

safeinOhio

(34,069 posts)
1. Had a friend that use to mail his monthly bill with a check
Wed Mar 13, 2019, 12:23 PM
Mar 2019

that was written to "Fuck Verizon". They always cashed it.

TwilightZone

(28,833 posts)
2. It's a retail store.
Wed Mar 13, 2019, 12:25 PM
Mar 2019

I guess it's not surprising to me that they don't handle billing or tech support. I wouldn't really expect them to. That's why Verizon has billing and tech support departments.

hlthe2b

(106,330 posts)
10. Infinity-Comcast services their accounts as well as sell in their retail stores-at least in Colorado
Wed Mar 13, 2019, 02:40 PM
Mar 2019

Though that is certainly not an endorsement for Comcast, with whom I have a true "tolerate-hate" relationship.

TwilightZone

(28,833 posts)
12. It sounds like most of the others do, too.
Wed Mar 13, 2019, 04:34 PM
Mar 2019

Interesting.

Agreed on Comcast. Unfortunately, for many, it's the best of a bunch of bad alternatives or the only alternative in some markets.

But then, so are most of the rest, for that matter. haha

SoCalNative

(4,613 posts)
3. They are all like this
Wed Mar 13, 2019, 12:25 PM
Mar 2019

not just the Verizon stores. Same story with Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile. They long ago did away with any semblance of customer service in any of their retail stores.

global1

(25,917 posts)
5. I Use AT&T And They Provide Both Billing & Technical Support In.....
Wed Mar 13, 2019, 12:35 PM
Mar 2019

their store that I frequent. I never had a problem obtaining any info from the AT&T folks at the store.

Sherman A1

(38,958 posts)
6. I go to the T-Mobile store and get help for both
Wed Mar 13, 2019, 12:41 PM
Mar 2019

billing and tech issues. Never had a problem with them at all.

itsrobert

(14,157 posts)
4. They rather you call.
Wed Mar 13, 2019, 12:28 PM
Mar 2019

and talk to tech support. Likely off shore. If they can't help, they will transfer to a higher support level. If you still have problems and warranty is still good, they will have you send it in for repair or swap. Or have you call the manufacturer to do the repair/swap. They will charge you to expedite if you wish. You are a minimum a week without your phone. You most likely get a refurbished phone back.

rownesheck

(2,343 posts)
8. I understand your frustration.
Wed Mar 13, 2019, 01:42 PM
Mar 2019

But, the employee at the store is probably directed by district managers and those in higher positions to respond this way. It's not the store employee's fault. Please try not to take it out on them. As someone who unfortunately has had to work in retail my entire life, this is all too common. Customers get angry at store employees rather than those in corporate positions, who the customer should really be upset at. Ninety percent of situations that anger customers are not store level employees' fault. Instead, try saying "ok", walk out of the store, and compose a lengthy email directing your anger at the policies set forth by corporate.

 

JayhawkSD

(3,163 posts)
13. I would not work there.
Wed Mar 13, 2019, 07:43 PM
Mar 2019

If I was not allowed to help a customer with problems he was having with a product I had sold him, I would not work for that company. Retail is all about service. If the store is not providing service and assistance, I am better off buying online. Cheaper and takes up less of my time.

zipplewrath

(16,692 posts)
9. What kind of store?
Wed Mar 13, 2019, 01:48 PM
Mar 2019

We have two here. One is a "Verizon" store. It has a place you can pay your bill, it has a tech department (with admittedly limited capabilities) as well as a bajillion square feet of retail space. The other one is a Verizon "authorized dealer". It looks ALOT like a Verizon store, sans the bill payment and tech department. Quite honestly, it was an easier place to "buy" a phone. Yeah alot of upsell pressure, but you get that at the regular Verizon store too. But they were vastly more knowledgeable about plans and phones and such. (We actually ended up there because the regular Verizon store had such a limited stock).

Your mileage may vary.

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