I’ve about had it with the stupid Verizon Wireless Store.
Maybe the store near me is the exception. I mean, where can I go to get training in being rude and surly? Is it just my one store, or all of them packed with inattentive, arrogant sales reps?
Of course, I don’t consider myself an average customer. I buy a heck of a lot more mobile devices each year than other people. Because of the Android OS books I write, I’m visiting the Verizon store often. I know what I want, and I know how I want it.
Yes, I recognized that there are different wireless phone stores. In my home town, there are Verizon stores that are private party resellers. I’m not talking about those stores. I’m referring to the official Verizon Wireless Store. There’s only one here, and it’s on the opposite end of town.
In case you’ve not been to an official Verizon Wireless Store, it’s a cross between a Businessland computer store of the 1980s and a doctor’s office waiting room.
Buisnessland was the snooty, “May I help you?” computer store of the 1980s. It was very popular, and for a while made a ton of dough. They sold only top-of-the-line models and they didn’t discount. You went into a Businessland to buy at least 40 computers for your small business or they just didn’t want to see you. Show up in shorts and a t-shirt and they wouldn’t even acknowledge your presence.
You walk into an official Verizon Wireless Store and you’re met by a useless greeter drone. They ask your name and sign you in, and they might ask what’s up. That’s a clue as to how long you’re going to wait. If you say that you’re getting a brand new iPhone, then you’re magically pushed to the top of the line. If you’re moving one phone to another line of service or adding a feature, you’re treated like scum and forced to wait.
After seeing the greeter, you’re free to wander the store and play with the demo units for anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. There are no chairs or months-old magazines, either.
The last sales rep I spoke with in person wanted to sell me a plan. I didn’t want a plan. I wanted to buy the phone full-price on a monthly plan. He refused to be accommodating and kept insisting that I buy the plan. Finally, I asked him to stop making my life difficult, at which point he predictably denied he was doing so.
The good news about the official Verizon Wireless Store is that the turnover is something like 12,000%. I’ve never seen the same person in there twice. So the surly jackass salesperson I had last time isn’t there any more.
Then again, I did have to wait 30 minutes, despite the greeter telling me they were “slow today” and I would be helped “right away.” The guy who signed in after me (who was getting a new iPhone), was helped right away.
Seeing how Verizon is a Large Intimidating Corporation that Really Doesn’t Give A Crap, I don’t figure that their customer service situation changing any time soon. After all, like the Post Office and the DMV, if you have to go to the official Verizon Wireless Store, you have no other choice.
Still, it feels good to rant about it.
