Verizon's buying of Alltel

[amyupsidedown]

So I heard that Verizon was officially buying Alltel Wireless.
Does this mean they will also start providing all of the phones that Alltel now provides?

[Harpy]

This is a fact since June 5th. :)
http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/Verizon-officially-acquires-Alltel-becomes-U.S.-largest-carrier-article-a_2865.html

[VZWtrainer]

The details on the Alltel aquisition have not been released yet. There is no information on how the existing Alltel customers, plans, or phones will be dealt with once the merger is completed (probabaly early next year). Keep your ears posted!

[csnyder1582]

Quick funny story regarding that. Customer came in the other day because of water damage to her phone. After telling her about replacing it through the insurance company and paying the $50 deductible she mentioned how ridiculous it was and that she'd be going to Alltel when her contract is up in September....

...we gotta a surprise for her!

[VZWtrainer]

Why would someone leave a carrier because of insurance policy? As far as I know, all of the major carriers have insurance through Assurion and the fees are the same.

[Unregistered]

If you've worked for VZW as long as you've said in previous posts, or in any form of retail/customer service, you should realize by now why they would say that. They assume things will change because they threaten to leave. Unfortunately it works way too often. Oh and this isn't a personal attack, I'm just surprised you've never seen it happen before.

For example...

When cust A. has something random happen that damages his phone, or it's just out of warranty and I tell him about insurance or offer a $50 courtesy replacement and he pays it, or upgrade options if available and he accepts one of the about like a reasonable human being...

Then the next person in line, cust B. drank too much to night before and smashed his phone b/c he was having an argument. I give him the same options as the customer before, but Cust B. decides to throw a hissy fit and make a scene or threaten to port out to another carrier, because he's out of contract and had the same phone for 3 years and doesn't want to sign a contract. Management quickly breaks down and gives him whatever he wants. Or if management actually backs you up, and the customer leaves and calls the call center, that reps give the customer whatever he wants then fills out feedback on the store stating we didn't do everything for the customer... disregarding the notes of the customer's behavior to reps at the store, or that they never pay bills on time, or it's the third time in the past 5 months they've broken his/her device, etc.

I unfortunately see this at least once a month, closer to once a week, where a customer is being completely unreasonable and has been given multiple options and someone in the company gives them the world for free. Companies are so afraid to stand up to customers and simply say, "hey these are your options, we didn't break your (insert product here), but we're giving you a way to replace it at a reasonable cost." I personally wouldn't give a dog a treat everytime it lashed out or bit me, but I see it happen on a regular basis through VZW.

Ok I'm done with my rant... Have a great day, and thanks for being a responsible part of the team! ;-)

[csnyder1582]

I know for sure she's just bluffing. That wasn't my point. My point was simply how funny would it be if she really did leave, go to Alltel and wind up back with us once the buyout is finished.

[Unregistered]

Why would someone leave a carrier because of insurance policy? As far as I know, all of the major carriers have insurance through Assurion and the fees are the same.

Perhaps, the problem is, Assurion kinda sucks...I used them once, and I'd rather get a new, non-contract built/non-refurb phone.

If VZW carefully planned it, I think they could come up with a better option than Assurion.

[VZWtrainer]

Once again, all of the major carriers go through Assurion so I don't see anything changing soon. Unfortunately, the policies in place that nobody likes (deductible, referbished phones, police report, etc.) are in place as a result of too many false and fradulent claims on behalf of customers. Just like a lot of things in today's society, the people that follow the rules are responsible for picking up the tab for those who want to cheat the system.

[Anomalies]

3 things.

1) Most customers are babies and throw tantrums if they do not get their way, hence the bluffing and what not.

2) Asurion blows, someone needs to sue them.

3) Scientology is lame




Okay so 3 was irrelevant.


Hey p.s. I'm back!

[apb91781]

3 things.

1) Most customers are babies and throw tantrums if they do not get their way, hence the bluffing and what not.

2) Asurion blows, someone needs to sue them.

3) Scientology is lame




Okay so 3 was irrelevant.


Hey p.s. I'm back!
I agree, Scientology does blow. Made Chef leave southpark... :(
and Asurion blows as well. they don't care what phone you had broke, you try to use a temp. and they send you the temp instad... >.<

[VZWtrainer]

Yeah Assurion is pretty bad. In their T's and C's they state that they can give you any "like" phone. I have witnesssed people recieving phones that are cheap knock offs of the original phone.

[Unregistered]

Perhaps, the problem is, Assurion kinda sucks...I used them once, and I'd rather get a new, non-contract built/non-refurb phone.

If VZW carefully planned it, I think they could come up with a better option than Assurion.

You are an idiot! If verizon planned it better????? This is the reason why you work in a drive thru on 3rd shift at some ran down arbys and not the CEO of a multi billion $ company that vzw is and will always be.
Theres a method to our madness.

[Unregistered]

Wow dude, take a chill pill. You're way too high strung.

VZW couldn't insure their own phones, unfortunately. Its not a matter of planning it well, its a matter of contractual encompassment. Just like Ford can't sell you car insurance for your truck, Verizon cannot sell you insurance for your phone. Therefor, Asurion.

[Unregistered]

I work for go wireless (a premium retailer for verizon) and we offer a different option for insurance... pay an upfront fee of $50-$99, no monthly fee and no deductible when if you need to make a claim. All you do is go online to gowireless.com and make a claim, you will get an e-mail back no latter than 24hours, take a print out of that e-mail to any go wireless store and you get a new phone right there in the store.

[Unregistered]

I work for go wireless (a premium retailer for verizon) and we offer a different option for insurance... pay an upfront fee of $50-$99, no monthly fee and no deductible when if you need to make a claim. All you do is go online to gowireless.com and make a claim, you will get an e-mail back no latter than 24hours, take a print out of that e-mail to any go wireless store and you get a new phone right there in the store.



please spare me, there are so many contingents upon this, please read your own fine print before you spew this bullshit on us here.

[Unregistered]

Quick funny story regarding that. Customer came in the other day because of water damage to her phone. After telling her about replacing it through the insurance company and paying the $50 deductible she mentioned how ridiculous it was and that she'd be going to Alltel when her contract is up in September....

...we gotta a surprise for her!

that is awesome!!! lol

[Unregistered]

please spare me, there are so many contingents upon this, please read your own fine print before you spew this bullshit on us here.

not everyone is out to screw you... The only catch is having the money upfront when you buy the phone.

[VZWtrainer]

It is always a good idea to read the fine print of any reciept before leaving the store when buying any product. Not to protect against company dishonesty as much as simple human error. It does not matter what was said because words are not legally binding, writing is. Everybody please read before you sign because you have no legal protection to fight anything that you sign in agreement to.