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lunadelcorvoSo tell me, if I sold you an item which failed within a few weeks of purchase, and I had shelves full of that same item, would it not be reasonable to expect that you could simply bring it back, and get a replacement? After all, it's not your fault the thing is defective. I, as the seller, should have the responsibility to repair it, or negotiate a replacement for my stock from the manufacturer. I mean I am the one who agreed to purchase these items from that manufacturer, or at least to sell their items. That transaction is between me and the manufacturer; your transaction is with me. Right?
Well, you'd think so, but no. T-mobile sells me a phone. Six weeks later, said phone prompts me to run an update. Said phone is now fried. Clearly, this is a manufacturer flaw. After all, I didn't use it to pound nails, I didn't drop it in the john, I didn't try to unlock, jailbreak, or otherwise hack it. So, what does T-mobile do?
They will exchange it for a refurbished phone (for my new one, which I haven't even paid for yet). When? Oh, about 10-12 days.
Mind you they have oodles of this exact device on their shelves right now. But they are not willing to handle the hassle of dealing with faulty devices with their supplier; they shift that onto the customer. Can you imagine if their stores had to issue replacements for every defective device? Wow! They'd never sell another defective phone! Think of the quality control! But because they know damned well they have you by the short n' curlies, they are free to force the consumer to contend with it.
On the upside? They can offer expedited shipping of my refurbished replacement! For only an extra $19.95, they can *maybe* get it to me this week! Aw, it's so good to see that they really care about the customer. Isn't that kind of like offering to let me buy some lube for my rape?
ETA:About that refurb replacement? Refurbished phones, when purchased from them, cost between 22-26% less than new. So, I am making payments on the price of a new phone, when I will be carrying a refurbished phone. This is a difference of $64, which they absolutely will not adjust on my account.
Best of all, they just got bought by AT&T, so they are bound to get nothing but worse. I love tech, I really do, but sometimes, I miss the days before cell phones. Then again, it's not like the 'Bells were much better. As a good buddy of mine used to say: "I didn't know he vas a Nazi; I thought he vorked for ze phone company!" The more things change....
Well, you'd think so, but no. T-mobile sells me a phone. Six weeks later, said phone prompts me to run an update. Said phone is now fried. Clearly, this is a manufacturer flaw. After all, I didn't use it to pound nails, I didn't drop it in the john, I didn't try to unlock, jailbreak, or otherwise hack it. So, what does T-mobile do?
They will exchange it for a refurbished phone (for my new one, which I haven't even paid for yet). When? Oh, about 10-12 days.
Mind you they have oodles of this exact device on their shelves right now. But they are not willing to handle the hassle of dealing with faulty devices with their supplier; they shift that onto the customer. Can you imagine if their stores had to issue replacements for every defective device? Wow! They'd never sell another defective phone! Think of the quality control! But because they know damned well they have you by the short n' curlies, they are free to force the consumer to contend with it.
On the upside? They can offer expedited shipping of my refurbished replacement! For only an extra $19.95, they can *maybe* get it to me this week! Aw, it's so good to see that they really care about the customer. Isn't that kind of like offering to let me buy some lube for my rape?
ETA:About that refurb replacement? Refurbished phones, when purchased from them, cost between 22-26% less than new. So, I am making payments on the price of a new phone, when I will be carrying a refurbished phone. This is a difference of $64, which they absolutely will not adjust on my account.
Best of all, they just got bought by AT&T, so they are bound to get nothing but worse. I love tech, I really do, but sometimes, I miss the days before cell phones. Then again, it's not like the 'Bells were much better. As a good buddy of mine used to say: "I didn't know he vas a Nazi; I thought he vorked for ze phone company!" The more things change....
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Date: March 21st, 2011 07:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: March 22nd, 2011 10:36 am (UTC)