Archive for October, 2011

This picture pretty much summarizes this post.

So I am sort of planning to get an iPhone 4S, as my current phone’s contract is nearly up (about a month left). My phone is currently under my mom’s name, as she bought me my first cell phone 6 years ago and, well, I kind of feel it’s time to transfer it to my own name, heh. So yes, I understand I will need my mom to come with me when I go get the new phone, BUT I thought it couldn’t hurt just to ask some questions.

This is pretty much the first time I interacted with my cell phone provider, Bell Mobility. I’ve always been told that Bell is notorious for horrendous customer service. I never really had a problem with them before because I never really interacted with the company since my mom handled all my phone things (I do know my mom asked them to block the Internet service on my cell phone THREE times, and I still keep getting charged for — apparently — going on the Internet on my phone for 22 hours a day. Which is obviously some sort of glitch because 1) why would I go on the Internet ON MY PHONE for 22 hours and 2) I tried going on the Internet on my phone and it doesn’t work. It’s blocked. So why does it show up on my bill that I was online??)

Anyway, today, my experience with their customer service wasn’t very good …

I was at the mall where I worked, which as 3 of these Bell stores, ’cause it’s such a large mall. Anyway, the first one I went to, I just wanted to know if they had any iPhone 4s’s in stock. The salesgirl says, “No, we don’t.” Which is fine, I kind of expected it. So I asked if it was possible for her to call another Bell store and ask if they have any iPhone 4s’s in stock.

She says, “No.” Exactly word for word. And that was it! I was like, “Umm … okay …” I mean, don’t you usually explain why? Even if it’s a completely bullshit reason? She just left me hanging there with that ‘No’.

Anyway, I assumed she was a lazy asshole and left. (My dad later told me that maybe the Bell stores, though under the same company name, are operated independently and they don’t want to give business away to another store … but still, the fact that it sounded very rude just saying, “No” when I asked if she could call another store irritates me. Also, what business to give away? She said they didn’t have any iPhone 4S in stock. Clearly I am not going to be doing any business with them anyway).

So I went to another Bell store in the mall. They did have iPhone 4s in stock. They told me I will need my mother here to discuss anything with the phone. I said, “Sure, that’s fine. I just want to know if I am eligible to upgrade to the iPhone 4s.” And he says again, I need my mother here. “Okay,” I say, “but I can get the iPhone 4S if I want it, right?” Then he says I need my mom here AGAIN, to confirm an upgrade. I mean, I’m not asking a very personal customer question here! I just want to know if I can get the iPhone 4s. It’s a YES or NO question!

What’s even more weird is that after some more prodding, he said the iPhone 4S’s are mainly for new customers right now. So even though they have them in stock, they are not really letting existing customers upgrade to it.

Seriously? Way to treat your existing customers like shit! Why can’t I upgrade to it? I mean, I’m not even really upgrading, per se, my contract is nearly up. I need a new phone. I want the iPhone 4s. I can’t get it because I’m already a customer? WTF is that logic?? They’re basically telling me to go find a new cell phone provider, because clearly new customers get the best phones.

Hmph!