The iPhone dilemma
Jul 29, 2008 by Jared SmithBesides determining the physical deformity level of my daughter this week, I also faced another life altering decision – whether to buy an iPhone.
I (that term is loosely interpreted to mean “my wife”) washed my cell phone a few days ago. (Yes, I left it in my pocket, but I blame my moment of carelessness on the fact all of the skin had just been torn from both kneecaps in a softball ‘incident’.) I am 4 months into a two year contract with Verizon and they wanted $320 to replace my phone. I kindly told them they could take my waterlogged phone and cram it up their…
I could either pay the $320 to replace my Samsung Flipshot (I think my feelings about this option are clear), get an el-cheapo, bottom-of-the-line phone for $180 (those ‘free’ phones aren’t when you’re already in a contract), or pay a $150 early termination fee and go somewhere else. I’ve had techno-lust for an iPhone for some time, but I also have been relatively happy with Verizon. I’ve been with them for almost 11 years – since the AirTouch Cellular days. But, the iPhone is friggin’ sexy and I really could use mobile web browsing and e-mail when I’m on the road.
So I made up my mind that I was going to bail on Verizon and get an iPhone, despite the price tag – $200 for the iPhone, plus the $150 to kick Verizon in the balls. So I called Verizon to remove all the extra features from my account until I could officially jump ship. After getting the run-around, I finally ended up with a manager who practically begged me to stay. While I had tried to convince several customer service agents before him that it was in their best interest to do something to make me happy, this guy actually understood that they make more from me in two months in a contract than they would make by pissing me off and taking my $150 cancellation fee. I figure I’ve thrown over $8000 to Verizon thus far.
So Verizon is now going to send me a new (well, reconditioned and “like new”) replacement phone for free and keep me as a relatively happy customer. I’m still likely to bail when my contract is over and get that oh-so-sexy iPhone, but I have to give them props for making things right with me.
4 Responses to “The iPhone dilemma”
Don’t do it Jared! Then you’ll be stuck with AT&T and they are evil. I have not bought ot used anything AT&T since 2002 probably – worst customer service ever. We got the iTouch and quite like it, everything but the phone capability. I probably would have bought an iphone if I didn’t have to sign with AT&T, but since they monopolize it… no deal!
Good luck if you switch though.
By Melanie on Jul 30, 2008
Over 23,000 signatures have been collected for Mexico’s very own iPhone petition. Telcel’s 3 plans include a mere 100-200 MB of Data, and if you go over they charge you around $4 dollars per megabyte. The so called Unlimited Plan switches to the slower 128Kbps network when you reach 3 GB; not such a great deal at $140 dollars per month.
We need to get the international media’s attention. See for yourself at http://www.nelpastel.com/
Please help us spread the word.
By Nel Pastel on Jul 30, 2008
Yeah! Nel wins the award for most targeted SPAM to ever make it into the comments of this blog. Congrats! It was so nice of him/her to drop by and spam us, I think I’ll just leave it up for a while.
By Jared Smith on Jul 30, 2008
This was the most entertaining post I have read in ages. I don’t laugh out loud very often, but I did here. Have fun using your kind of new, slightly refurbished phone!
By Erin on Jul 31, 2008