I spent two full hours on the phone with Cingular the other night trying to replace my stolen phone. I remained brand loyal and re-upped for another two years with Cingular and bought the super-duper SLVR. I passed on the insurance because it would cost me more in a year than the $100 purchase price of the phone, and I though surely I could hold onto the thing for a year. I was, of course, wrong.
After I dealt with re-activating my old phone and dealing with Cingular regarding the stolen one, I was told I would be able to by another re-furbished SLVR for $100. Not that I am cash rich now, and already pissed at paying $200 to replace a window on a new car I am paying for to replace a stolen car—I am not happy about paying for a phone to replace a stolen phone. If you get my drift.
I lost the direct-to-sales number the first Cingular guy gave me (who said I could replace the SLVR for another $100) and finally gave up trying to find it and went through voice-menu/customer service HELL for two freakin’ hours. Twice I was transferred to CityBank Rewards Services, who told me this happens all the time because the Cingular call center is in the same building—but I had to repeat the automated menu/stupid person process over and over again trying to find someone who could help me. The Web, which I tried first, would not let me even order the phone online, even though would appear in my cart.
Ultimately, I was told because I did not get insurance, and had just signed on for another two years, I could not get any deal on any phone for another two years. To replace the phone I bought for $100, I now have to pay $500. Understanding my plight, and seeing that I had just renewed my contract, the manager at the call center said he, although he is not supposed to, would generously knock off $20. Big help.
One way to look at it is that Cingular is offering major discounts on devices to lure new customers. Another way to look at it is they are screwing loyal customers by offering the chance, for an additional monthly fee, to buy another phone for the same price new customers do, if the phone is lost or stolen.
The ever-so-helpful operated offered that I could sign up for new service, have to change my number, and get the phone again for $200 (the new discounted price), and sign up again as a new customer. Which is just stupid. Especially when you consider that I would also have to pay a $175 early-termination fee of the old account.
So now I have the “choice” to continue to use my old phone, which works for crap and has trouble recharging, or try to find a replacement phone on eBay or Craig’s List.
I checked Craig’s List, and the only SLVRs and RAZRs for sale are from people listed in dodgy or high-crime areas. So basically, I am likely either to get scammed or be in the painful position of paying an annoying sum of money to buy back my own phone, or one stolen from someone else.
So in the meantime, I am stuck with a battered T616, while some asshole has my phone.
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