Rice Phone part deaux
 

Had some progress today with the phone. I took it out of the rice jar and put the battery back in. It booted up and even though the face screen was fogged, you could read what was behind it. Then it started vibrating. The screen went blank and it just vibrated whenever I put the battery in the back. I tried the hairdryer a little later and the same thing happened.
My phone is old (doesn't even take photo's) and I was impatient to get back in touch with my buddies, so the wife and I rode over to the Verizon store to pick out a new phone. I keep getting messages from them that I have enough credits for a new phone, so I figured, now's a good time to upgrade.

Here's the part I love. We walked into the store and are met by a young man standing next to a computer. He asks me to sign in with my name and cell number. After I do as he requested, he says "someone will be with you soon". I thought he would help me, but no, his job is to stand next to the computer and "log" people in. So I go over to the display phones and begin to access what phone I might be interested in getting.
After about 15 minutes, I get tired of waiting, so the phone is back in the rice jar:D.
5th (Marty)

Ah the joys of customer service in 2010....

It all went down hill when gas stations went self service....

go to verizon wireless and get it online with free overnight shipping

Hey Marty,

Try the Sheriff Buford T. Justice approach.

Substitute "diablo sandwich and a dr. pepper" with "cell phone".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDcBG1x9X7Q

Hey I'm tired of lousy customer service.....and just walking out doesn't do it anymore......just gets me p.o.'d and they don't even know it....or why.

So....my new approach.....they got 2 minutes.....by then if I'm not being helped I slam the flat of my hand on the counter to get their attention......and I let them know that I'm the most important customer they have at that moment.
Surprisingly it works !!!!

And don't answer the phone when you are helping me......I'm there in person.....and I will tell you how rude it is.

I'm tired of bad service.....and going to demand better from places I do business with........a new revolution is brewing !

Keith, now that's funny. I was tempted to go off just a little bit; but the wife was with me, and she gets embarrassed easily.

There was a guy ahead of me who was also looking for a replacement phone. He interupted one of the verizon people helping another person and she told him to look at the "5600". He looked at my wife and I like "how the heck do I know which phone is the 5600. We looked at the writeups over most of the phones that explained all the features, but didn't see any labled as the 5600.

When he finally approached an employee who WASN'T busy, they said "I'm service, not sales". I told him he should have told her, "great, service is just what I'm looking for".

It was then that both of us left the store.

By the way, the phone is showing signs of life. I even placed a call on it, but the screen is still fogging up after a few minutes. Back in the rice it went again.
5th (Marty)

Marty, verizon has a waterproof phone called the G'z one. It's shock resistant also. It's made for contractors and armed forces. I have dropped mine in the pool and it was fine. I try to do all my Verizon customer service on the internet. I don't like being disrespected either........Gary

Have you swapped out the rice? If you end up getting a new phone, I think Verizon has a 15, or 30, day policy where you can return it if you are not happy with the phone. I have been through the same crap at a Verizon store looking for help. Don't count on much advice when you finally do get someone. You might want to check out all of the Verizon phones online before you go into the store. That way you can compare all of the features and see what your cost will be. I even like the idea of 'ordering in' and just skip the store routine. Good luck....Don

You get bad customer service - ask to see the manager / owner.

Far too many good people out of work right now who would love to take the bad employee's job.

Unless the manager is informed - not much will change.
It never hurts to speak up - in a nice way. Often the manager will toss you a freebie to even things up.

Well the phone is back on the hip:D. I do notice a fine line across the face when it's lit, but it seems to be working ok:). I guess a combination of the rice and hairdryer worked. I guess there is still a possibility of it going down in the next few days, but if it makes it past that, it should be fine.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
5th (Marty)