By now I’m sure that you all know the myriad problems that I’ve had with Palm’s Treo 700p. This smartphone/PDA is a complete disaster (as you can find out by reading comments on Palm’s own blog on the matter). I’ve had the Treo replaced numerous times and each time I get a new device, it has a technical glitch. This time around the earpiece doesn’t work. In other words, when I have to use a hands-free device while I’m driving (because it’s the law), I can’t use one because the connection doesn’t click. I can hear the person, but they can’t hear me.
It’s a joke. This phone is a damned joke.
So I called Verizon Wireless a little while ago and to make a long story short, there’s nothing they can do to help me with this phone. After some discussion with two folks who, by the way, were very pleasant I asked this question: “I have a phone that I can’t use, I can’t replace, I can’t return, and I can’t fix. So are you telling me that I have a $500 paperweight here?” And God bless the Supervisor I was talking to because without actually saying, “Yes,” she said, “Yes.” That’s skill right there!
She made a point about what other business allows you to return a device months, even years, after you bought it? A clever ploy on her part which I’m sure confounds many people, but I came back with the fact that there are lemon laws in place where if your purchase is faulty you can return it. After reminded her that this would be the FOURTH replacement for this phone in an 18 month time frame, she dropped that argument. But she still saved Verizon Wireless some money because in the end – and without actually saying so – she suggested that I dump this device in the garbage. And there you have it, folks. I have a $500 paperweight sitting on my desk. If you’re interested, I’ll let it go for a mere $400… 😉
At this point, I’m not sure whether or not I’ll stay with Verizon. It’s extremely insulting to have them come back at me with, “There’s nothing we can do. Sorry.” I’ve been a loyal customer who pays his bill EARLY for almost a decade and these bums can’t do anything for me? That’s not right. It used to be that the customer was always right – within reason. I believe that I am far within reason on this issue and that Verizon is trying to save themselves from having to give back a few bucks (or even from replacing this phone) from the consumer. It’s a shame, really.
Apparently my business isn’t worth much to this company. But of course, everyone I know has Verizon so if I go to a different carrier my bill will undoubtedly go up due to the fact that I’m on a new network.
I’m incarcerated by my mobile company!
And now I put this out to you folks – what do I do with my phone? Do I bag it up and demolish it with a hammer? Do I box it up and send it over Verizon Wireless and tell them to keep it? Do I donate it to some group when I know that it doesn’t work? Let me know what you think!
Did I ever ask you what you were thinking when you decided “Hey I’m going to buy a Treo!” Crappiest device I’ve ever seen! Nobody I know that has one is 100% happy with it. Either some function doesn’t work, or it tends to break or crash in some way within a few months! But anyway… This whole post is the reason I told Verizon to go fuck themselves a few years ago, went to T-Mobile and have enjoyed perfect (and I mean perfect) customer service (on all of 1 time I actually had to contact them for a problem in the last 3 and a half years I’ve been with them, and the error was completely on my part!), not to mention that I always have a signal everywhere I go and could not be happier with my SideKicks. Hell, I dropped it from a rollercoaster at Magic Mountain and the fucking thing still worked!!! Verizon – since so many people sold their souls to them when they came out and were the “hot company” – are now in a phase where they feel they have enough customers to fuck around, and not care! I hate everything about that company!!! They treat you like crap, and if that’s not enough, EVERYTHING from ring tones, to applications, to software you want HAS TO GO THROUGH THEM ONLY! BASTARDS! God, I hate this company!!! I think you mentioned to me once there’s no T-Mobile over there? That’s a shame! They have their Fave 5 feature which is sweet! You can talk to any 5 people from any network for free (unlimited minutes) and not only that, you can change those 5 people ANY TIME YOU WANT!!!
My advice is call them up and tell them to go fuck themselves! If you are attached to a PDA/Organizer type of phone (and I completely understand if you are because I wouldn’t be able to function without some of the options that the SideKick provides), then just go out there and get T-Mobile or AT & T and get a plan that lets you talk to your Verizon buddies!
Eddie – the story gets better!
When I was on the phone with the Supervisor she told me that NO ONE HAD EVER FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TREO 700P! I immediately stopped her and told her to get on Google and start looking about all of the faults with this shoddy piece of machinery. In truth, that statement of hers was more offending than anything else! The whole world knows that the 700p is a flawed device.
I agree 100% that Verizon doesn’t realize that they AREN’T too big to not care. The problem is that out here on the East Coast, almost everyone has Verizon (I can count at least 200 people that I know who have it – if not more). So if I switch to another brand than all of my text messages will now cost me money as will my calls to these people.
The thing is, I’m not attached to a PDA/Smartphone. In fact, I hated it when I had it and it was functioning. My next phone will absolutely be a PHONE first – then it can be a camera, internet device, or whatever.