The other day, I wrote about Personal Responsibility. Today, it’s about Customer Service. Or rather the lack, thereof…
Roomie and I went gallivanting about the other afternoon, running some errands. We visited a local dry cleaning store. Roomie and I are helping prepare her stepmother’s house for sale (her stepmother is in a care facility at age 88). We had some draperies that needing cleaning.
“We don’t do cur-ens!” she was told. We hunted around and located another establishment that would do cur-ens.
Then, we went to T-Mobile. Roomie gets her cellular telephone/Internet service through them, and allows me access through her hotspot. Saves us both a little money over having separate services. Said hotspot wasn’t holding an Internet connection, and kept saying ‘low battery’, even though it charged all night.
I’d like to say the T-Mobile store connected the device to a machine to determine if it was the high-tech battery failing, or perhaps the device, itself. I’d like to say that, but NO. The clerk (behind the counter labelled ANSWERS) told us he didn’t know much about hotspots, then looked up the warranty info on his computer (which was built apparently by Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse using paraffin candles for illumination!) and eventually told us good news, a replacement battery was under warranty! Instead of costing $60, it was free! Plus the $7.99, no $8.99, no $11.99 handling charge for overnight delivery! (it WAS $7.99 for 5 day delivery, he explained) Special!
So, sometime tomorrow we’ll see if it’s the battery or something else that failed…(written Wednesday)
Customer Service. Yep!
PS – no battery has arrived, yet. It’s been TWO days. Overnight, yep. (1430)
PPS – the battery FINALLY arrived @ 1830 tonight. Two days, not overnight. Of course, it takes something like 12 hours for a full charge before use.
PPPS – after a lengthy charge, the new battery worked…for a few hours. 
The machine is now saying ‘low battery’ yet again. Roomie is calling T-Mobile to see
if we need a replacement unit…
PPPPS – The new gizmo is scheduled to arrive Tuesday.
The adventure continues…
I realize the irony of me having…. well, any opinion of customer service, being the professional and loudly trumpeted Scourge of the GenPop. Or at least I play one on TV. Anyway, in my defense, I am rarely “snarky” (and don’t we all need a new word for this aspect of my personality? Let’s work on that one. Making a note.) to anyone who is not a complete asshat to me first. I do not preemptively strike. However, I will kneejerk said knee up into the groinals of someone being an asshat to me without a second thought.
I said all that to say this: I’ve NEVER EVER EVER had a good encounter with a cellphone representative, be they live in person or on the phone or online. NEVER. I think they’re required to pass some sort of incompetency/ butthead exam to even take the post.
In case I was being all overly-yappy and not making sense, aka As Usual…. I was agreeing with and supporting your post.
Oh gawd, LeeAnn, just STFU already!
Posted by LeeAnn | November 16, 2012, 8:02 amHAHAHA!
Good to hear from you, regardless!
Posted by guffaw1952 | November 16, 2012, 9:23 amCharged you the $11, bet you get it in 5 days…
Posted by Old NFO | November 16, 2012, 11:06 amHaven’t seen it yet, today…
TWO days, now…
sigh
Posted by guffaw1952 | November 16, 2012, 5:42 pmHad to laugh out loud at the George and Nikola building a computer remark.
Apparently the same dodo works at the 2 Verizon stores I was in today (their gas bills must be insane)….and no, my problem STILL isn’t fixed!
I feel your pain.
Posted by KM | November 16, 2012, 9:18 pmThanks for the laugh!
The device showed up @ 1830, when I was leaving for the evening.
Of course, it takes 12 hours to obtain a full charge.
sigh
Posted by guffaw1952 | November 16, 2012, 11:13 pm