[captionmidwest]

I have been a Verizon customer for 8+ years. I put up with their highest costs in the industry because their coverage is "said" to be so good. But I have had it with their lack of support for the new Blackberry phones. No Curve and no mention of support for the cool phones in the pipeline. Is it time to just buy out our Verizon plans and move on ?

[JRSCCivic98]

Yeah, Verizon's been making some dumb moves lately. Passing on the iPhone (not that big a deal), but stating the LG Voyager would be an iPhone killer for them. Yeah, right.... NOT! That phone is so darn lame it's not even funny. I hope things improve once they move off of CDMA technology in 2009-2010. Shame we have to wait that long to see them move to SIM equipped phones. Maybe by then they'll stop locking down the phones.

[orle8050]

I don't know for a fact just by word of mouth that Verizon outsource their Blackberry Support Services with another company.

They are like Sprint in that matter and have no vested interest in their Blackberry devices. They just want to sell the name without the grunt work of truly investing in the product/technology.

[JRSCCivic98]

I can honestly say that T-Mobile has to be the best carrier for Blackberry support in my opinion. As long as you ask to speak with a Blackberry specialist when the regular CSR picks up the phone you will be helped by people who actually know what you and they are talking about. Verizon, no so much. They are idiots.

[Click]

I hope things improve once they move off of CDMA technology in 2009-2010. Shame we have to wait that long to see them move to SIM equipped phones. Maybe by then they'll stop locking down the phones.

Maybe I'm behind on this, but I would love to read were they have stated they are going to move off CDMA to GSM. Please if you have this story please post the link so I can read it!

\As long as you ask to speak with a Blackberry specialist when the regular CSR picks up the phone you will be helped by people who actually know what you and they are talking about. Verizon, no so much. They are idiots.

All CSRs are idiots! You MAY find that one that may know what He/She is talking about.

Click

[scottjb]

...They are like Sprint in that matter and have no vested interest in their Blackberry devices. They just want to sell the name without the grunt work of truly investing in the product/technology.

Do the 8830 World Edition and the 8130 Pearl represent a lack of investment? I thought they were pretty good devices for Verizon. Both new and cutting edge -- as cutting edge as BB can be.

[orle8050]

Do the 8830 World Edition and the 8130 Pearl represent a lack of investment? I thought they were pretty good devices for Verizon. Both new and cutting edge -- as cutting edge as BB can be.

Good devices by RIM... try calling Sprint for product support. No one knows nothing. Couldn't figure out how to add the new BB plan, software wasn't/isn't working properly. Average hold time for Blackberry Tech Support is about 20 minutes and there first question is did you reboot.

Each company has blocked native features built-in the platform.
Verizon GPS
Sprint MMS(PictureMail)

How cutting edge is block feature native on the device? ATT and T-Mobile don't.

But that is just my basis opinion of being with Sprint going on now 10 years.

[Click]

Good devices by RIM... try calling Sprint for product support. No one knows nothing. Couldn't figure out how to add the new BB plan, software wasn't/isn't working properly. Average hold time for Blackberry Tech Support is about 20 minutes and there first question is did you reboot.

Each company has blocked native features built-in the platform.
Verizon GPS
Sprint MMS(PictureMail)

How cutting edge is block feature native on the device? ATT and T-Mobile don't.

But that is just my basis opinion of being with Sprint going on now 10 years.

I personaly don't care if they block GPS, thats why I have a garmin! As for blocking things Alltel blocks MMS on their BB. As for being with Sprint for 10 years, lol I'm sorry!

Click

[Gadgetgeek]

But I have had it with their lack of support for the new Blackberry phones. No Curve and no mention of support for the cool phones in the pipeline.

So its all about the Curve huh

Do the 8830 World Edition and the 8130 Pearl represent a lack of investment? I thought they were pretty good devices for Verizon.

Agreed.

[Bla1ze]

VZW hates their customers, they want your money...but don't wanna allow you to have good devices or even working ones lol...look at what they do to their phones..crippled POS..even their BB devices, although they seem to have left the 8130 alone for the most part, but the 8830 is a disaster, I talk to RIM tech support on a daily basis and they all DESPISE that device.

[danny595]

If verizon hates blackberry then I hate verizon!

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[jhood25]

I'm also gonna go with the verizon hates customers...

As for my BB so far so good, it really helps if you know a tech guy in the store though, makes life a lot easier without having to try and explain yourself to a clueless employee.

But before buying the phone while doing research for the 8130 i was treated like garbage by multiple Verizon employees. I was told the wrong list price 2 different times, the first guy i talked to about the data plan told me there was no 29.99 unlimited data plan a month after it was released, and insisted on looking at me like i was an ***** for assuming such a ridiculous thing. I was IGNORED (like talked to me by the computer and told me they would be right with me and never came back to help) by 2 in store sales reps to talk about upgrading because i had a 30.00 dollar past due balance, walked around the store like an ***** for a good 20 mins when it was completely empty. I have other stories too but i could type for hours.

Also when buying the phone, 3 times i told the lady setting up my phone not to pull off the protective screen, and she did, and then told her 3 more times that i wanted the 29.99 data plan. A week later i get my bill and what do you know i have 45.00 dollar data plan charge, which i was kinda pissed cause i had the phone for less then a week. So now i have a 15.00 dollar credit for the next bill... Its just ridiculous how much they don't care.

I have been considering dropping them for the longest time but i would have to say out of everyone i know, i consistently have the best cellular service, and i guess in the end thats what I'm paying for?

[zerog46]

I have been agrivated about previous phones but the 8130 has been very good to me. And in the end I have them for the service. The coolest phone in the world is nothing without service.

[tpierce67]

I'll chime in here for what it's worth.
I've been with VZW for 7 months now, paid ETF to leave Sprint. I have nothing but good experiences and good things to say about VZW.
Sure, they cripple some functions on their phones, but so does every other carrier to some extent. They are a business and just like any other business they are out to make money. Take the 8130 for instance. VZW says you can only use the GPS with our vznavigotor.....sprint says no MMS. It's all about what you as the customer can live with or without.
I have 3 rather large VZW retail outlets in my area and I can go into any one of them at any given time and receive what I feel to be top notch service. I'm treated with respect, and when I walk out i'm always happy. Now, they may not be as knowledgeable about their product line as I am......but I research the **** out something before I buy it.
I WILL say that compared to the Sprint stores in my area the VZW folks run circles around them.
IMO VZW CSR's are great. I always get an English speaking individual and they have always been able to solve my issues rather quickly. I realize not every issue is an easy one but I must be one of the lucky ones.
On top of all that, in my area and surrounding areas I get top notch wireless coverage. Crystal clear calls, and no drops. Yeah, they charge more than then the competition but I've been with the competition and it's true what they say......."you get what you pay for". Look at the latest wireless providers ranking polls.... VZW #1, Sprint dead last.
I've been working in customer service/support for over 10 years and nothing infuriates me more that poor CS. Every market is different and a lot depends on the store managers, etc. I'm sure VZW would want to know if you as a customer are not receiving the absolute best in customer service. Find a corp phone # and let them know about it.

[jhood25]

I agree with Tpierce on the actual service of the phones extent, but i would count yourself lucky that you have such great CS. I mean sometimes i do get good CS but when i went with my brother to the Tmobile store it was if he was the CEO almost, at the VZW store i felt like a homeless guy.

This is the worst example of CS to date and i actually was so infuriated that i might have said a few obscenities and was "kicked" out of the store.

Long story short, on my LG V when i would receive MMS it wouldn't open. Sometimes i could close it out and then come back 1 min later and it would open fine, other time i wouldn't be able to open it for 20+ mins. So my brothers girlfriend has the same problem, she takes it to the store and they give her a brand new EnV. I go they give me a brand new V which i didn't complain about and it worked, for about an hour. I try it an hour after i leave the store and it has the same problem. I take it back and they give me another one with the same problem. The tech guy tells me to deal with it and that i can't keep trying phones till it works, i explain i pay 10 dollars a month for this service so it should work 100% of the time seeing how i pay 10 dollars 100% of the time. I ask to speak to the manager and she starts apologizing and then she asks to see the problem, i show it to her and she says "O i had that same problem and i didn't mind it, you can probably just deal with it like i did." that pretty close to verbatim what she said. I asked her if that is VZW policy that i should have to deal with it because the local store manager does? She instantly became hostile accusing me of trying to rip the store off or something of that sort. Said something about revoking my 90 day return policy on that phone because it was my 2nd one of the day? Well i got a little mad threw said this is bull**** and so on and so forth, eventually they asked me to leave, but i told them i had a 90 day warranty and i would be back...

Never the less, my phone was replaced again for the same problem and it still had that problem until i got the blackberry. My brother had a problem with his Sidekick battery life, they shipped him out a new one no questions asked. My other brother had the HTC slide thing and it was freezing for a couple of seconds when he slid it open so he went to the store they gave him a brand new one free of charge. Both of there phones probably cost twice as much as my V at the time, and i get all that for an LG V?? I guess its all about location and managers like you said but ever since then i have wanted to drop VZW but AT&T edge service sucks, and my brother was sick of Tmobile service and opted out after two years and now has verizon.

I dont know if its the hate for customers, but it is at least an extreme case of apathy by employees.

[Skyys]

Couldn't agree more with you, tpierce67. I second your entire reply.

[ong-gia]

I left AT&t after nine years for verizon. Yes they are crooks, yes they are scoundrels, but I hate AT&T for the way they treated me after all this time (and $$$). The VZW service is better in my area without a doubt and they would have to work very purposefully and diligently to treat me worse than AT&T did.

I'm just waiting for the day that customer service comes back into fashion with these big corperation$.

Not holding my breath though...

[MiraSchism]

Perhaps my comment doesn't belong in this thread... BUT!

Verizon has been good to me. I'm in the SF Bay Area (California) and everyone that's important to me is on Verizon. I switched from 6 years with AT&T/Cingular and before that I was on GTE Mobilenet and before THAT I was on CELLULAR ONE!!! Cell One was by far THEE WORST carrier ever in the history of carriers. Verizon is angelic compared to Cell One. GTE was awesome; I had great experiences with them. So when Verizon carried the Treo 700w, the most horrible phone that I just had to have, and pay $400 for, I switched from AT&T/Cingular. I had tried to go through Verizon in the past but I had the misfortune of walking into a store that was in acquisition transition: they were not yet selling Verizon plans but couldn't sell GTE plans any more either. They were momentarily useless. (No jokes please!)

After 1.5 years of horror with the Treo (replaced 3 times, tech support via Verizon AND Palm was lengthy and hideous) I was about to write a letter to Verizon's corporate office demanding a new phone. I got one, while speaking with someone in Data Support!

BTW everyone that I have dealt with regarding my 8830 has been competent. Everyone I dealt with regarding my 700w... they were fine but the phone was useless. No matter how brilliant you are, if the phone is garbage, the phone is garbage.

I will have received a free 8830 (except for tax on the full retail value ~$45) by them time I get the $100 mail-in rebate back. Way better than another Treo or any WM phone for that matter.

Coverage is excellent. Reliability, as in fewest dropped calls, is the best. Right up there with AT&T/Cingular. Verizon actually has better coverage in the U.S. because CDMA covers metro as well as rural regions. (Check out PC Today's Jan 2006 article on GSM vs. CDMA: (pctoday.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2F2006%2Ft0401%2F24t0 1%2F24t01.asp)

Not only did Verizon, finally, "hook it up" with the 8830, (which I would have paid for anyway) they did so 6 months BEFORE my New Every 2. They expedited shipping (free, which they usually do) and they have, without request, helped me change from an unlimited global/BES package to the regular (BIS) unlimited data plan. (The tech who gave me the discounts and early New Every 2 thought I needed the global/BES though I did not.) Good looking out on tech #2's part, right? To top it all off, they billed me via my monthly statement, so no on-the-spot credit card charge. Everyone I have dealt with since then has been competent, patient, AND friendly.

I'd say they handled a grumpy ex-Treo user fairly well...

I NEVER deal with the store. It's a NIGHTMARE. You've got families with pre-teens just browsing. This is not an Apple store! At my local store we have to SIGN IN to be seen, by appointment!!! It's ridiculous. Of course I think I have real problems, like, "My Treo will only let me send text messages, I lost all of my contacts and can't sync, and I can't make or receive calls," while kids and parents are perusing with no intent to sign a contract, just at the store because it's something to do!

Now that I own a rarity: a CDMA phone in the U.S. and a GSM phone abroad, I feel pretty secure.
I deal with Verizon because they have the phones I want. Sure I have to wait, (wish I would have waited longer with the TREO!!!) but I usually only replace phones if they don't work, if I'm unhappy with Customer Service or coverage, or if a new technology (3D/EVDO) becomes available. Every 2 years I look around at the competition for newer devices, but I don't intend to be switching for some time now that I have the 8830. Maybe I will unlock it one day and switch to another carrier. Who knows.

Sure, Verizon wants to make a buck, but at least I don't have to deal with Sprint's or T-Mobile's shoddy coverage and lack of technology.
P.S. I have no loyalty to a cell phone carrier. It's all about technology: devices and services that meet my needs. I'm willing to pay if you can provide. Verizon's expensive but not noticeably more than AT&T/Cingular. If I were in Europe I might consider T-Mobile, and Sprint has had a bad reputation since they came out. Their wireless PC card is something to consider, but only with an employee discount. I still wouldn't want to give up my reliable voice coverage on Verizon to have internet access while driving on the freeway, although it has been tempting me lately. If I add $15 to my monthly bill I can "have it all."

And that's all I really want.
Everything.

[MiraSchism]

jhood:
Your experiences sound pretty bad but wait! You verbally abused a customer service rep IN-STORE? Are you... crazy? Or just hood... ? I mean, I dealt with a bad phone for 18 months. Verizon's policy was that they would continue to replace one bad phone with another (Total Equipment Coverage and lack of ownership on Palm's end) but I handled it with respect (for myslef mostly) and didn't take it personal. I also didn't make it personal and I believe that's why Data Support made an exception for me and gave me a free 8830 6 months prior to the end of my 2 year agreement. I didn't even ask to speak to a supervisor. He consulted a supervisor because he knew I was disappointed and wanted to keep me at least another 2 years. As far as a past due balance, what did you expect? Same with a bad attitude. These guys are doing the best they can. They can and will make exceptions upon their discretion, and as Tpierce implied, document your bad experiences and notify corporate! They want your money so badly that they actually want you to be happy with your service! You've got to be patient with technology and people in general and a sense of humor also helps.

Hope that was helpful!

[jhood25]

jhood:
Your experiences sound pretty bad but wait! You verbally abused a customer service rep IN-STORE? Are you... crazy? Or just hood... ? I mean, I dealt with a bad phone for 18 months. Verizon's policy was that they would continue to replace one bad phone with another (Total Equipment Coverage and lack of ownership on Palm's end) but I handled it with respect (for myslef mostly) and didn't take it personal. I also didn't make it personal and I believe that's why Data Support made an exception for me and gave me a free 8830 6 months prior to the end of my 2 year agreement. I didn't even ask to speak to a supervisor. He consulted a supervisor because he knew I was disappointed and wanted to keep me at least another 2 years. As far as a past due balance, what did you expect? Same with a bad attitude. These guys are doing the best they can. They can and will make exceptions upon their discretion, and as Tpierce implied, document your bad experiences and notify corporate! They want your money so badly that they actually want you to be happy with your service! You've got to be patient with technology and people in general and a sense of humor also helps.

Hope that was helpful!

Haha I wouldn't say i verbally abused anyone lol. I told her that what she was saying was bull **** and the CS was bull ****, and i did cut out a lot of the story keep in mind but it was a good 20 to 30 mins of me dealing with the rude tech guys before hand and a lot of the ticky tack stuff witht he manager. And it was definitely a "had to be there" type deal. The people over the phone were extremely helpful initially until a women told me to consult a store. And its hard not take things personal when a MANAGER of an establishment is basically accusing you of FRAUD in front of probably 10 people???

As for having a past due balance of 30.00 dollars, that means i shouldn't be treated with respect??? I should be ignored?? Maybe that why the service seems so great to you lol? And if you wanna get technical I was on a plan with 3 other people so i payed my part of the bill and i think we were less then 15 days behind or something, but thats not my point, i should still be treated with respect if they would want the same in return.

P.s.- Before we rush to judgment, i recently had a good experience there with my 8130 battery issue. And after talking to my buddy that is a tech guy at the store i got into my "altercation", he told me the manager i had a verbal spat with was fired 2 1/2 months later for a similar problem she had with a customer because of the way she handled it.

I'm going to chalk it up to location and employees. It's somewhat of a crap shoot with any service provider and maybe im just unlucky, but i have dealt with some pretty *****y employees and CS in probably over 3 years of service.

p.p.s.- Hood has to do with my name lol, not any kind of neighborhood.

[surgicalrep]

My sales territory covers five states. The bottom line for me is that Verizon has the most robust coverage available. I've previously had VoiceStream, Cinglular, and AT&T and experienced coverage issues with all of them. Verizon is the most expensive carrier for a reason. They have a good network and they know it. That could also be the reason their service employees are less than enthusiastic about helping someone who isn't generating a new contract (revenue) for them.

That being said, I understand that the Cingular/AT&T merger has improved their service. I want a BB device with a QWERTY keyboard and a camera. My choice is obvious, the Curve. My plan is up in March. If VZW doesn't have a device that matches the curve by then, I'll likely roll the dice and switch.

Guess I should start rolling through their message boards and inquire about service coverage in different states.

[archer823]

Just to join in on the lovefest for VWZ (well objective lovefest)

I've been with all four major carriers at one point or another. I have to say that so far I'm happiest with Verizon. Sprint was okay to me, I didn't have the nightmare issues that others were having with their CSRs, T-Mobile was alright except I didn't get the coverage I needed, and AT&T although had the coverage, didn't win me over with customer service.

Verizon may have crippleware while GSM phone makers get all the cool bells and whistles first, they may be more expensive, and going to a VZW store is a chore since you do have to sign in and wait for someone to assist you, that system can sometimes be very inefficient even in empty stores since the tasks are so micromanaged (the sales guy for new customers is a different person than someone who's a current customer for instance, and I can't ask a tech guy a few technical questions about a potential new phone since that's supposed to be the upgrade guy etc. etc. etc.), I've had nothing but good things to say recently about their customer service in store, and I've got nothing bad to say about the service in terms of coverage. I feel confident where ever I go that I'll have signal even in rural areas, something I can't say with other carriers.

[dupa87]

I am a Telus customer up in Canada, and am having the same issue with Yahoo! Go. I would love to play with the service, but can't. Makes me disappointed and frustrated

[bbsadaj]

I will agree with all the praise and complaints about verizon, but if you don't get good coverage then your device is useless. I get excellent coverage so i don't................very often. We should feel so lucky here in this day and age to be able to pick carriers!

[Tthrasher]

My girlfriend currently has verizon and i am an at&t customer. i cant tell you how many times i have had service when she has none. i dont know where you guys are from, saying verizon has the best service out there, but in California At&t has treated me way better. but your probably just pissed because your locked into another contract with ****ty verizon so your making up excuses and trying to justify good reasons for being with them. All real BB users know what carrier is the best, and what carrier actually lets them use their phones to their full capability.