9.20.2010

A Sunday Night Public Service Announcement

When you have no other choice but to go with AT&T wireless service because you have an unlocked iPhone from India, be very aware of which type of AT&T store you go, because yes, there IS a difference between the authorized dealer and the service center.

When you attempt to sync your iPhone with your iMac that you finally set up in your rental home, be aware that your unlocked phone will lock up, and you won't be able to use it anymore. Remember this dingbat, a locked phone is a locked phone ... and only works in the country in which it was purchased.

You'll thank yourself later that you went to the Apple store immediately in your gnarly clothes with smudged mascara, ratty hair, and 3 starving kids because they wait on you quickly in hopes that you'll soon leave their store. And though they really want to help you but can't due to proprietary software, they will tell you under their breath that their good friend Mr. Google can help fix the problem.

You may ponder for a brief moment or two about spending your few available minutes at home trying to figure out exactly how your new friend Mr. Google may be able to fix said problem. Or you'll quickly come to your senses and just ask how much money it costs to upgrade to the new iPhone 4. Because that's what you really want anyway.

You'll then drive to an AT&T service center to beg and plead with them to give you the upgraded phone even though you've been told you're not eligible for another 13 months ... only to discover that you ARE eligible ... except the AT&T authorized dealer signed you up incorrectly. When you come with your own hardware, you are able to sign up for a month-to-month contract, and aren't required to have a two-year contract.

So you'll then drive your unbelievably happy a** back to the original place you signed up for your service (because the service center has NO access to the authorized dealer's original information) and have an utter and complete meltdown in their store. You'll demand they change your contract. You'll demand it's taken care of immediately. You'll demand they give you a loaner phone while the contract takes 48-72 hour to change.

And you'll let your kids play with every single phone, case, and accessory in the place while they're fixing the problem. Then you'll feed them ice cream for lunch.

17 comments:

Heather said...

lol - too funny! (although I'm sure it wasn't at the time!) Sounds like you won though!

I'm sure iphones are different, but i have successfully used a phone that was purchased in India in the US. But that was back before I had an iphone. I don't blame you for wanting the upgrade! I'm jealous! :-)

Shannon said...

ROFLMAO! That is frustrating but very funny. I am glad you were able to get the iphone problem fixed, even if you had to resort to dramatics! How I would have loved to have been in that store to watch.

MissCrystal said...

Wow you are my hero! Great job!!!

Z. Marie said...

A key difference between the U.S. and many other countries is that in the U.S., such dramatics get you somewhere. Elsewhere they'd just consider it par for the course. Although I do assume you're overdramatizing this somewhat ...

Connie said...

At&t tends to be a real pain. Glad you made them do their job... sad you didn't take the kids out for ice cream before turning them loose in the store >;-) Hope you like your new phone!!

Anonymous said...

~you are my hero !~

from the B*tching to the ice cream. Hope you get a string of great luck soon!

Patois42 said...

Now, if they'd only had the ice cream before touching every single phone and accessory in the store.

Carolyn said...

We have Verizon and believe me I've had my share of problems with them too. Technology is a bitch sometimes. Glad it all worked out.

Mom24 said...

Well, Yay for happy endings. :)

I've about had it with AT&T after many years. I'm very tempted to let it expire and go with a month-to-month. There are MUCH cheaper deals out there than what we're getting.

Issa said...

I hd one experience with a fake ATT this year and I'll never walk in one again.

Am laughing though...I so do that. When people are horrible to me in a store, I let my kids roam free.

Emily said...

My iPhone stopped working for a week. It was like losing a toe- really uncomfortable.
It is the only way I can check e-mail without the kids knowing my attention is not 100% on them.

dandnlee@yahoo.com said...

If there is one important thing you (and by that I mean "all of us too") learn by living in 3rd world countries it's how to bang your fist on the counter, tap into your inner b***h, and snarl until you get what it is you need. Yea for excellent fist banging...even in America! Wow! Good to know my newly developed skills won't go to waste when I reach the US again!

NKL

Loukia said...

This entire post reminded me of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, a childrne's book, not sure if you are familiar with it or not.
Also... holy!

Kate Coveny Hood said...

Hilarious. I think I would be the one in need of ice cream after all that...

Chiloe said...

Very funny ! Here they have alarms attach to the phones so if the kids play with the phone, it goes off !!! :-) ( faster service ;-) )

anymommy said...

Arg. At least you have a new iphone? That is a beautiful thing!

Mouthy Housewife said...

If my husband didn't handle my cell phone needs, I'd probably be using 2 tin cans and a piece of string.

Wendi

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