On the list
1) LG cell phone
2) LG dishwasher
3) ATT- the store
I haven't done a Barb's Barb since I first started this blog, not that there haven't been things to complain about, but today was an expensive, exasperating day, so I am letting loose.
And who will be the target of my barbed tongue and furious fingers? None other than the same company I purchased both my cell phones and dishwasher from; LG. And not to be let off the hook the company that sold me the phones, ATT. I have nothing but high praise for the company who sold me the dishwasher however; Best Buy. I May save the dishwasher barbs and warnings for tomorrows blog so if you are looking for a new dishwater, hold off till you read some of my tips. You will be surprised to hear what has changed (and not for the better) in dishwasher world.
Back to the phone. Our cell phone plan was coming to an end and we decided to update our phones. I was perfectly happy with my old phone. It had no camera ( I have two already; a nice 35 mm and a digital) What do I need a camera phone for? And the family and friends con viced me that texting would be very hand. It is scary how much I use it now.
The problem? We bought 3 LG phones and none of them function without flaws of one kind or another. My phone will not hold the voice mail number for more than 24 hours. It is a nuisance, but not terrible. It also doesn't delete things when it says it has. No... I can assure you I was doing it correctly . It WAS the phone that malfunctioned. It takes a very long time to start up and sometimes it will not shut down even when I hold the button for near a minute. Those are just the things I know about and since I am not a kid who is on it all the time it is very possible that I have just scratched the surface of what is wrong with it. Is there something wrong with me that I expect the electronic equipment to work?
My daughter's phone would turn off while she was texting. Considering that all our phones take up to 45 seconds to start up, that is a considerable problem when it happens repeatedly. The other daughter says hers isn't running properly either, but neither did her other phone so she is used to it. ? It destirbs me that her generation or maybe it is just her thinks its oka y for it not to function properly whe it is new. My husbands phone ( it isn't LG) wouldn't turn off either. He finally had to take the battery out of it.
Now what gives? If it isn't functioning properly now is it going to get worse over time? That is my concern. So it is only 3 weeks since we bought the phones and I took 2 out of the 3 back. Really now, if you brought 3 of the same items from any company and none worked properly wouldn't you assume that that company had put out a poor product? and more than likely yo would think you are a fool to buy another one. I am thinking lemons.
Remember: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me?
I was shocked when I was told I would have to pay a $35 restocking fee, if I wanted to change brands. Excuse me? but a $35/phone fee for a phone that doesn't operate correctly and to top it off, because we had tossed the box there was another $50 fee for the box!!! OUTRAGEOUS! The box is worth $50?!!*&^%$%#$#@!!! ( that was what I was thinking) and pretty much said without the expletives. I was very bluntly and rudely told that was the policy and the young me slapped down the card board cut out that stated the policy. I asked if it was on our paper work and he replied it was on the sales receipt. Hello? you only see that after they have your money. And it does not tell you how much you are going to be in for if you throw away the damn box.
So if the 3 of us wanted to trade our phones for something that might actually do what it says it would do, it would cost us $255. That is quite a racket( I mean business model) you have going there. And at this point I don't know if it is LG or ATT or both.
Give me a break. In what world do you have the right to a) charge a restocking fee for something that is not functioning properly and needs repair? and at lone shark rates?
Believe me I will be checking into the lemon laws of my state after I post this blog. That is quite a business model you have going for yourself. Following that plan any scheister who sells a piece of crap but posts a notice that there is a restocking fee like yours could do a pretty good business.
I was also told that everyone does that. To which I informed him that Best Buy does not charge a restocking fee. I don't think he believed me, but right after this encounter I did go to Best Buy and not only do they not charge a restocking fee, but they don't have the stupid rebates that you require you to send in all the documentation in order to get your $70 savings. They just charge the same low rate without rebate. So my phone at ATT was advertised for $39.99, but that was after you deducted the rebate. The upfront cost was $109.99
Best Buy sold that phone for $39.99 when you sign up for the plan. Same phone, same carrier; ATT. Go figure?!
Needless to say I won't be doing business with the ATT store again, unless I have problems with my cell phone. The young man assured me that I can bring that cell phone in as many times during the first year as I needed and we can change it out an unlimited number of times. Thanks, just what I want to spend the year doing.