My ridiculously horrible experience at an AT&T Store...

[Amalia65]

I completely understand where you were coming from...I would have engaged in a similar conversation...He was giving out WRONG information...and he sounded like a jerk!

Good luck with the manager...and I hope she has a talk with the "salesman"...and let's him know that not only was he giving wrong info, but if he continues to do so to get sales, (which may be the strategy), he needs to back down when it escalates...

Why you would piss off a customer is beyond me!

 

[Surely]

the salesman was being a bit of a jerk and then you decided to follow his lead

i really don't understand why you would even bother with the conversation. there are plenty of instances where the conversation should have ended but you choose to continue it and continue to bait him, so i would say you were as much to blame in the whole situation

as for you being targeted by the salesman to be harrassed about apple care by another salesman from another day, i think that is being a bit paranoid, i seriously doubt he had a picture of you behind the counter with a note that said, harass this guy about apple care if you see him

I'm sorry, but when someone engages in a conversation with me, I don't tell them to go away and leave me alone. I'm not better than they are. That is rude.

It may sound paranoid, and I'm not saying that that was the case, but it is possible. That other salesman was in the store and he knows who I am. I never said they had a picture of me behind the counter. But if that salesman recognized me, he could have told the other salesman about me. Ever work in a store before? You tend to recognize return customers.

 

[tritonj]

I'm sorry, but when someone engages in a conversation with me, I don't tell them to go away and leave me alone. I'm not better than they are. That is rude.
It may sound paranoid, and I'm not saying that that was the case, but it is possible. That other salesman was in the store and he knows who I am. I never said they had a picture of me behind the counter. But if that salesman recognized me, he could have told the other salesman about me. Ever work in a store before? You tend to recognize return customers.

i didn't tell you to ignore him, there are plenty of ways you can work around a conversation

salesman - hi may i help you?

customer - i'm fine, i'm just browsing

salesman - i see you are looking iPhone cases, do you own an iPhone

customer - yes

salesman - oh do you have apple care

customer - no, i'm happy with the 1 year warranty right now

salesman - you are mistaken, the warranty is now only 90 days

customer - i'm pretty sure it is still 1 year, i was told that by an Apple rep and it is posted on the website

saleman - well that is old information, they haven't changed it

customer - well i'll have to look into that then, thanks for letting me know

done, there no need to get confrontational with the salesman, it always "takes 2 to tango" you choose to continue it and get on a soapbox and show your superiority to the salesman by essentially making a scene in the store

even if he started it and was confrontational in his tone, if you don't like it tell the manager, why are you going along with it. clearly you wanted it just as much as he did

It may sound paranoid, and I'm not saying that that was the case, but it is possible. That other salesman was in the store and he knows who I am. I never said they had a picture of me behind the counter. But if that salesman recognized me, he could have told the other salesman about me. Ever work in a store before? You tend to recognize return customers.

well unless the original salesman sent him over to you you i'm pretty sure the guy had no idea who you were. or the conversation you had before. sure salesman talk to each other but how would he be able to know who you are without a description or the other guy pointing you out to him. and if he pointed you out, you would have seen it since you would be in the same room with him and the store isn't all that big i'm sure you would have seen it.

i never said that you had said they had a picture of you behind the counter, i said you make it sound like they did and that they were out to get you.

 

[mattwolfmatt]

Are you sure this wasn't at Best Buy? They give me the same crap there, about warranties and other untrue facts.

 

[Surely]

i didn't tell you to ignore him, there are plenty of ways you can work around a conversation

......removed fantasy conversation that couldn't have happened during the actual situation.....

done, there no need to get confrontational with the salesman, it always "takes 2 to tango" you choose to continue it and get on a soapbox and show your superiority to the salesman by essentially making a scene in the store

even if he started it and was confrontational in his tone, if you don't like it tell the manager, why are you going along with it. clearly you wanted it just as much as he did

Um, I wasn't on a soapbox and I wasn't trying to show him my superiority. I never thought or implied that I was superior to him. I was merely defending the correct information. He wouldn't let me end the conversation. He wouldn't leave me alone to look at cases.

There was no scene in the store- it's not like everyone stopped what they were doing and were staring slack-jawed at us. Why are you attacking me anyway?

well unless the original salesman sent him over to you you i'm pretty sure the guy had no idea who you were. or the conversation you had before. sure salesman talk to each other but how would he be able to know who you are without a description or the other guy pointing you out to him. and if he pointed you out, you would have seen it since you would be in the same room with him and the store isn't all that big i'm sure you would have seen it.

i never said that you had said they had a picture of you behind the counter, i said you make it sound like they did and that they were out to get you.

I wouldn't have seen it. I was crouched down, looking at the bottom of a rack of iPhone cases with my back to the store. I had my in-ear headphones on playing music. I was oblivious to everything else that was going on around me.

As I said, the other salesman was there and could have easily pointed me out before our confrontation. I'm not saying that's what happened, I'm just saying it's a possibility.

What's your deal, dude? Why can't you just take my story for what it is and understand that what happened, happened? I had no agenda. I was looking at iPhone cases.

 

[Ronnoco]

You should have quietly clicked on the voice recorder!

+1
couldn't be a more perfect use for it...LOL

 

[Johnnybrav0]

Surely, you don't need to explain your action to him man...you did the right thing...you told the AT&T Sales Rep…that youre just looking....He was the one that asked for it by keep trying to engage you when you didn't want him to....

It's like a dude trying to force a female into conversation....When the woman say NO it means NO....when someone say...I"m ok...just looking...leave them alone unless they ask for your help....easy as that....

 

[tritonj]

Um, I wasn't on a soapbox and I wasn't trying to show him my superiority. I never thought or implied that I was superior to him. I was merely defending the correct information. He wouldn't let me end the conversation. He wouldn't leave me alone to look at cases.

There was no scene in the store- it's not like everyone stopped what they were doing and were staring slack-jawed at us. Why are you attacking me anyway?


needed to get my soapbox time in, LOL


seriously you should have just went over to the manager if he didn't want to let it go

 

[Surely]

needed to get my soapbox time in, LOL


seriously you should have just went over to the manager if he didn't want to let it go

Honestly, I just wanted to get out of the store at that point. As I said, I called AT&T, told them, they connected me to the store to speak with the manager, she was gone for the day (and was in the back on conference calls all day apparently), and I was told she will be back in on Friday. I'll speak with her then.

 

[fireshot91]

Does it really matter when you buy/register your AppleCare?

Lets say I bought mine the day after I got my iPhone, will I not have two year coverage? I thought that the extended AppleCare started the day your warranty ran out, and didn't overlap your current warranty.


Also, the day I got my 3GS, I called up AT&T because I wanted to activate my 2G iPhone. (Mind you my SIM card was in my 2G).

She INSISTED that I was using a 3GS iPhone. I was like "No, I really am not"
Her: "Yes you are"

me: "REALLY WOMAN...HOW WILL YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT STANDING NEXT TO ME LOOKING AT WHAT PHONE MY SIM CARD IS IN!"

Her: "Hold on, let me send a signal to your SIM card..Oh, looks like your SIM card is in your iPhone, and not in your 3GS"

Me: "Really...and what did I tell you 10 minutes ago?"

GAH, I hate AT&T people!!

 

[Surely]

Does it really matter when you buy/register your AppleCare?

Lets say I bought mine the day after I got my iPhone, will I not have two year coverage? I thought that the extended AppleCare started the day your warranty ran out, and didn't overlap your current warranty.

You are correct.

However, if I can postpone spending the $69 for 1 year with no penalties (besides losing the phone support, which I have never used), I'd rather do that. I still end up with a total of 2 years of AppleCare from the original iPhone purchase date.

I spent:

• $299 on the iPhone
• 9.25% CA sales taxes on the full retail price of the iPhone
  ->Total: $363.66, and
• $18 activation fee with AT&T
• $10 more/month for the 3G data plan
• $5 more/month for 200 texts

If I could save $69 plus tax now, and spend it later (or never), I choose to do that.

 

[cu2010]

I can just picture what sort of person you had had to deal with. I hope the store manager will not turn out to be an ignorant jerk like him

 

[jazz1]

They Don't Train People-They Just Script Them

I've come to the conclusion that most customer service these days has degenerated to teaching people to memorize a script, or if it is over the phone to read a branching script. God help you if they go down the wrong branch, or there is in fact nothing that directly deals with your question or issue.

Unfortunately what you describe just sound like heaps of bad attitude on the part of the salesperson. What is the old saying?

Don't try to teach a pig to sing. It will only frustrate you and annoy the pig!

Of course it can happen anywhere. Three months ago I went to my local Apple Store and a salesperson didn't do a whole lot of listening to my friend's needs or questions regarding an iPod Touch.

Instead he made a lot of assumptions and pressed them on her. I let it go on and then finally made a couple of suggestions that I hoped would let them make a good connection. He pressed on regardless. He confused my friend enough that she walked out without buying the iPod Touch.

I do hate to think how the average consumer fares in the circumstances you describe.

 

[tjespo22]

80% of them are like that i just say no i dont need it thanks anyway. and just say no no no i just want the phone.i love when you call att and get one anwser then you call back and you get a different one and call again and get a 3rd different anwser. its horrible

 

[Appdict]

That would've been the only time I'd ever use Voice Memos...

 

[IBradMac]

I had a similar experience last year when i was phone shopping. I went into an ATT store that didn't sell the iphone...all the saleswoman could do was put it down and claim falsities about its features and capabilities. I didn't argue with her long because I needed a phone.

Two weeks later I had my first iPhone in my pocket and have never gone back to that particular store.


Surely,
I would have done the same EXACT thing.

 

[Applejuiced]

Same here.
Some salesdude was talking down on the iphone cause they didnt have one in stock and saying its a toy for kids and pushing me to get a blackberry.
I didnt bother arguing with him or listening to more of his nonsense. I thanked him even though he was a complete idiot and walked out.
Some times its just not worth the aggrevation. I could barelly hold myself though when talking to a best buy employee and he was telling me that Apple with the next software update will enable the iphone to work on the Verizon network.
All I said was GSM and CDMA dude and laughed but he was persistent and sticking to his story so I just walked away.
Some people are just not worth it

I had a similar experience last year when i was phone shopping. I went into an ATT store that didn't sell the iphone...all the saleswoman could do was put it down and claim falsities about its features and capabilities. I didn't argue with her long because I needed a phone.

 

[kramjam]

lol @ all these stories about ATT. Especially about the software update to enable it on Verizon's network..

Is there any difference between buying at the Apple store or AT&T Retail? I plan on opening a Family plan contract and buying 2 iPhones.

 

[Applejuiced]

I'd go with the Apple store instead of AT&T retail.
Seems like every time I talk to an AT&T rep they give out false/invalid information and make things up as they go along.
It gets really annoying, I know a single person cant know every single feature or detail of over 10-20 phones they sell but tell me that I dont know or Im not sure instead of lieing or talking out your ass.

lol @ all these stories about ATT. Especially about the software update to enable it on Verizon's network..

Is there any difference between buying at the Apple store or AT&T Retail? I plan on opening a Family plan contract and buying 2 iPhones.

 

[AuroraProject]

Good, I can't stand ignorant sales people. If you are going to sell a product, know the facts about it.

Ignore the folks saying you were in the wrong, they fall into the sheep category.

 

[iphoneftw]

i had a problem with AT&T when i purchased my iphone 3g. so im at the counter i open the phone then hand it over to the guy to activate it so he does and then he looks at the phone and of course no service comes up which i would think u would just wait i mean its the phones first power on /connecting to network the guy is a complete idiot and says well this happens all the time to iphones ill have to put a new sim card in so hes scanning and typing in the stuff for the new sim and guess what the iphone gets 5 bars as he scanned the sim he said its to late i have to take out the sim so he rips the plastic off without even letting me do it gets his greasy fingers on it then shows me a sim removal tool and says what it does treating me like im an idiot he puts the new sim card in and hands me the phone all greasy thanks to him.i wish i could have waited to put a screen shield on it. all because the guy had no patience and didnt want to wait. also a couple days later i try to use visual voicemail turns out the guy didnt even add it to my account At&t is dragging the iphone down

 

[curmudgen]

OP I gave you the benefit of the doubt but after reading your replies to several posts it is clear to me that you indeed do NOT know how to politely end a conversation with someone that is either starting to argue with you or in an active argument with you.

That "fantasy" conversation you refer to is actually a wonderful template for how to disengage from conversation on your terms and neutrally. I would suggest that you study it and learn to use it.

I would agree with the majority of repliers who agree it's a good idea to let the manager know about the tool working for him/her.

 

[Surely]

That would've been the only time I'd ever use Voice Memos...

Yeah, I've had YouNote for over a year, and have never used the voice memo past, I doubt I'll ever use Voice Memos ever either.

i had a problem with AT&T when i purchased my iphone 3g. so im at the counter i open the phone then hand it over to the guy to activate it so he does and then he looks at the phone and of course no service comes up which i would think u would just wait i mean its the phones first power on /connecting to network the guy is a complete idiot and says well this happens all the time to iphones ill have to put a new sim card in so hes scanning and typing in the stuff for the new sim and guess what the iphone gets 5 bars as he scanned the sim he said its to late i have to take out the sim so he rips the plastic off without even letting me do it gets his greasy fingers on it then shows me a sim removal tool and says what it does treating me like im an idiot he puts the new sim card in and hands me the phone all greasy thanks to him.i wish i could have waited to put a screen shield on it. all because the guy had no patience and didnt want to wait. also a couple days later i try to use visual voicemail turns out the guy didnt even add it to my account At&t is dragging the iphone down

Dude, paragraphs. That's just impossible to read.

Visual voicemail isn't something that is added to your account separately. When your iPhone is activated with the iPhone data plan, it's included with it.

OP I gave you the benefit of the doubt but after reading your replies to several posts it is clear to me that you indeed do NOT know how to politely end a conversation with someone that is either starting to argue with you or in an active argument with you.

That "fantasy" conversation you refer to is actually a wonderful template for how to disengage from conversation on your terms and neutrally. I would suggest that you study it and learn to use it.

I would agree with the majority of repliers who agree it's a good idea to let the manager know about the tool working for him/her.

Based on which replies exactly?

I called it a fantasy conversation because it just wouldn't have been possible with that particular sales guy in that particular situation. What I said was this:

.....removed fantasy conversation that couldn't have happened during the actual situation.....

I didn't say any situation. I said that actual situation.

I know how to be polite. I'm Canadian.

 

[SFStateStudent]

Hey OP, I would have recorded him and then charged him with stalking..... lol

 

[iphoneftw]

Dude, paragraphs. That's just impossible to read.

Visual voicemail isn't something that is added to your account separately. When your iPhone is activated with the iPhone data plan, it's included with it.

sorry about paragraphs and what the heck it wasnt added to mine you are no better than the guy u argued with. were you there with me when i tried to use visual voicemail ?were you on the phone with the lady at At&T who said the guy forgot to add it to the account? i think you yourself would no first hand about bad service with At&t. it wasnt added to my plan buddy i feel like you did at the At&T store lol