http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
Even about a month ago my new schu740 had its front screen cracked and despite the fact that I was out of warranty, it was my fault, and i have no insurance - they replaced it without question!

Sure they're a tad expensive, but I ALWAYS have service and the calls are clear! Not something I can say about those other guys. ]]>Dec 8th 2007 11:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 11:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 12:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 4:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
Sadly, an iPhone would be nice - but I couldn't afford it anyways from ATT]]>Dec 8th 2007 5:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 6:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/

How would you know if you have been with the same company for 17 years?]]>Dec 8th 2007 8:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
Now I live in New Jersey and I think nobody in the NYC metro area has cell coverage as good as I had it with Verizon in KC. Usually I can talk on the phone in my basement apartment, but I've had calls drop four times before I gave up due to lost signal, and several pix/txt messages refuse to completely send until I restart my phone.

I'm also not a fan of the UI, but last time I had a Motorola phone the phonebook system annoyed me to no end. Rumor is that they now let you store multiple numbers under one contact instead of having "Bob Home" "Bob Work" "Bob Cell" all as separate entries. I'd switch to Cing^H^H^H^HAT&T for an 8525 but now I have too many Verizon friends to give up the In Calling.]]>Dec 8th 2007 8:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
Just from everyone else's experience that I've heard that I know who has T-mobile and ATT. I just had a friend recently switch from TMobile to Verizon because the echo effect was unbearable when talking to him.

I've had very little to complain about the UI. And next year with Verizon's "openess" I'll be able to take other unlocked CDMA phones and use it without the Verizon GUI so really it's not a big deal.

]]>Dec 8th 2007 11:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 11:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 12:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 11:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
It's the most contrived, ridiculous crap ever and if I had the time and money for a lawyer I'd think about bringing legal action to the table, but I don't so I just have to deal with whatever is thrown at me.]]>Dec 8th 2007 11:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 12:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 2:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 3:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 5:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 9:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 11:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 11:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
...I [less than three] engadget.

and at any rate, I don't care too much for alltel, but their commercials are awesome, right Chad?]]>Dec 8th 2007 11:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/I very much doubt that I'd ever switch to another carrier due to my consistent good experiences with them.]]>Dec 8th 2007 11:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 10th 2007 5:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 12:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
I liked them, too, until last week, when I received an $800 phone bill from US Cellular. Did you know you can be roaming without knowing it? Did you know they won't help you out? Does anybody think $800 is a reasonable phone bill?

ps eat that US Cellular; this is just the beginning of my quest to inform the world that you are just as evil...]]>Dec 8th 2007 10:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
Anecdotal evidence regarding carriers is meaningless to other people. PERIOD. For every numb nuts who says "Well, my VZW service doesn't give me problems," there are plenty more having the exact opposite opinion.

Now, of course, this comments section is going to explode with people who get huffy about their carrier being 'despised' by other people (as if the wireless consumer has a horse in the race about who wins... get real), fantastic. Obviously the point is that when people go searching for a wireless provider, telling them that "They've been ROXXOR for me!" or "I'd rather have my testicles shaved by Stevie Wonder" is pretty much a worthless statement.

The anecdotal evidence varies COMPLETELY across the board. Working in wireless retail, customers would come to me and cancel their service and say "Man, I just don't get good signal at my place, Verizon works there though, that's who I'm going with" and others who would come in and say "I want to cancel my Verizon phone, it doesn't get signal at my house." If you feel like sharing something with people encourage them to research the companies, take advantage of the "trial period" (every national carrier has this, you only pay for the minutes you actually use), and do thorough research of the handsets offered.

I know it feels good to tell someone that "Well, I had to call customer service and they were great last week!" but there are thousands of customer service reps, good and bad in all companies. The fact that you managed to hit the jackpot on the douchebag lottery when you called isn't going to make them better informed about which company to chose.

People that do research, test out the phone for their uses, ask questions, and temper their expectations to the capability of the company and the device tend to be far more satisfied. I hate the carriers, but in America, at least 80% of it is the customers fault.

But whatever. I suspect my comments are falling on deaf ears, and this comments section is just bound to turn into a "Yes it is," "No it isn't" contest between haters/lovers of the 5 majors... That should be productive. ]]>Dec 8th 2007 12:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
Since when did a service industry stop having to provide customer service?]]>Dec 8th 2007 12:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 3:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
I realize the company gaffe you had to go through was probably rough, but while you feel that Verizon is "the best of the worst" I've heard of plenty of stories just like yours from all the major carriers.

Because one hasn't yet happened to you with VZW isn't statistically indicative of VZW's overall service record. In fact, as the article notes, NO ONE is happy with their national cellular carrier. If you evaluate the evidence scientifically (that is, based on statistically significant trends, and not anecdotal ones, though you'll obviously have trouble eliminating your anecdotal evidence from your decision, it may not be appropriate to relate those anecdotes to people looking for a proper "fit") you'll find that that's an overwhelming problem throughout the industry.

::shrug::

I'm not trying to minimize your struggles, when I worked retail, I did what I could to help people with stories like yours.

My point is that people get together to talk about their awful experiences with Carrier X, and recommend Carrier Y, new customers join Carrier Y and then experience their own awful experience because they implicitly are lead to believe that Carrier Y doesn't have miscues like that.

When friends ask you which wireless provider do you think they should go with, you're going to increase their overall customer satisfaction by recommending, instead of a specific carrier based on your anecdotal experience, to have them research the company, research the coverage, research the handset, and take full advantage of the trial period (usually a week)]]>Dec 8th 2007 3:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
... so your saying that just because I have had a great experience that contradicts what others have experienced, I shouldn't be entitled to post my opinion of service? The article states that NO ONE likes there service. Well I DO like my service so I guess that makes me an outlier and you a total asshole.]]>Dec 8th 2007 5:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
Wow, way to hear something that isn't there.

Maybe if you'd try *reading* posts, instead of reacting to them indignantly, we could avoid this problem.

My point isn't that you are bereft of a *right* to speak about such anecdotes, but rather when you offer your friends anecdotal evidence regarding their wireless purchase, you are, in fact, giving them information that is, essentially, useless to making a *good* purchase decision.

There are so many factors that go into making a "good" wireless purchase: where you live, where you use the phone, what type of phone you want, what you want that phone to do, how much you want to pay, type of service, rate plans, contract options, etc. etc.

To believe that because a phone/service worked for you, that it will work for other people is a difficult belief to maintain. This survey just points that out. All I'm trying to say is that while we can all swap war stories (good and bad) about our wireless carriers, statistically, they're all about the same (that is to say, most people are dissatisfied, see TFA). In the grand scheme of things, if you want to REALLY encourage someone to have a POSITIVE mobile phone experience don't try and sell them your carrier and your phone; instead, encourage them to research the company, the coverage area, the handset, and available features and costs, AS WELL AS take full advantage of the national carrier's "trial" usage, that allows you to cancel your service having only to pay for the minutes used.

A holistic approach like that is going to produce happier wireless customers, and happier wireless companies.

My other ax to grind is that while people have Bad Customer Service Story for Carrier X, but none with Carrier Y, there are just as many people with a juxtaposed situation.

Maybe before you start handing out the "asshole" awards, you ought to consider what I'm saying. I'm glad you're happy with your service. I'm not making ANY personal attack on you. If it works, *FOR YOU* then I encourage you to use it. I think when you start telling other people "Oh yeah VZW has great customer service" what you really mean is "I've had great experience with VZW customer service, but there are thousands of CSRs in a given company, and sometimes you stumble across a total douchebag, particularly in wireless."

Like I seem to have done now. In these comments. When everyone else didn't seem to have a problem with it. (Sorry, that was a personal attack, you got my hackles raised by telling me what I was saying without apparently reading what I had actually said). ]]>Dec 8th 2007 5:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 12:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 12:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 1:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
Im my personal experience, Sprint has been great for me. I've always had clear calls and on Sprint I didn't even know what a dropped call was. I'll be honest, I hate going to the Sprint store, because it would take forever. And sometimes so does calling them. But for me, if they ever screwed up, they fixed it fast. About a year ago I also had to get an AT&T phone for work, and that was probably the worst experience I've ever gone through. I learned the true definition of dropped calls (every other, actually) and bad reception. Not only that, they call me randomly to tell me the company hasnt paid the bill yet, would I like to take care of it? They do get great service out near my ranch house that's in the boonies, but that's really the only plus I've had with AT&T. I dont care who loves whom, but I figure I'd throw my two cents in.]]>Dec 8th 2007 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
I'll admit i've had success with customer service. They've exchanged 6 razrs because i pretty much kept bricking them while trying to hack with next day delivery. i have like 7 chargers now :).

but all customer service is crap. it's really a crap shoot. but usually, if you know what you want, you're the one helping the CSR find a resolution to your problem, not the other way around. Whatever, I'm used to it. Verizon landline phone service and Verizon DSL is the same way. I've come to think all CSRs are like that. Low expectations = few disappointments.]]>Dec 8th 2007 12:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 12:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
To be fair, we get murdered on price. Especially with the £/Euro - $ there is these days.]]>Dec 8th 2007 1:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 1:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
However, the reason I'm so happy is perhaps because I've been buying my own unlocked phones on ebay (not illegally unlocked, just not tied to a provider, i.e. for the rest of the world). So I can get the exact model I want *and* don't get the crippled bluetooth, limited ringtones, lack of flash, etc. that my friends have on similar locked phone models, I don't worry about termination fees, and I can swap SIM cards into my handset whenever I visit a different country, etc. Maybe that's not the "regular" T-mobile experience.

Based on my experiences, I do believe that if one of the big networks were to provide cheaper plans with no contracts for those of us who like to get our phones independently, they might get the same amount of customer loyalty and retention that they get with their 2 year contracts! Something to think about...]]>Dec 8th 2007 1:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 10th 2007 12:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 1:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 3:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 1:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 1:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
As for Sprint I love their phones, plans but they have the most idiotic customer care which makes them impossible to deal with. Helio which borrows their backbone has inherited their idiocy to the point of appearing bankrupt and crooked. I returned a Helio Ocean on the 24th of September.. 15 days into my Happiness guarantee and I still have not received my money back.

So it's a good lesson, Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T all have their foibles but compared to Helio at least they do not employ dubious and possibly illegal practices.

I'll put up with my 2 year contracts, crippled phones as long as Verizon stays honest. So far they have. I wish they could allow my voyager add on paid for email read jpegs and send them. Little things like that would be nice.

Also the more expensive the phones become the less problematic the penalty for breaking contract becomes. To be honest most of us p&*s away 175 bucks in a week yet we whine about paying Verizon the penalty.

Helio offers the best deal in the whole industry, yet clearly you get what you pay for. Helio is a virtual carrier but non the less is a clear warning that when costs are reduced too far you also lose the benefits we have all come to expect from every carrier except Sprint.

Verizon is fine except for their intent to cripple/limit every phone they sell.
]]>Dec 8th 2007 1:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 1:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/
Whether I like it to or not, I use my phone for only its most basic and central function, which the big V admittedly excels at... As for other things, like handset quality, music, and decent ringtones, I'm finished trying to fight the power. Until this sentence, er, contract is up, I'll be a happy people talker.]]>Dec 8th 2007 1:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 1:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/shocker-people-loathe-cellphone-carriers/Dec 8th 2007 2:08PM