The Complexity Of Simplicity.

"It's EASY to Switch!"   

Beware those word.   Whenever anyone says something is easy....  They really mean it is "Easy for Them!"  And, instead of explaining the nuances of that statement... ( and thus.. complicating it!)   I will instead tell you a story that recently happened to me. 

Last night... in the chill of the winter wind,  my aged Phone "died" while reading a text.  

Initially,  I thought it was simply low on battery.   So I plugged it in and waited a couple hours to start it up and continue reading the text.  But.... 

Nothing happened.  

After playing with it for several minutes, I decided that my phone had breathed it's last and figured I would purchase another one.   A newer one!  The phone was a gift, after all.   So it was already up there in years as my benefactor had upgraded their phone.  So squeezing a few extra years of life out of this phone was a good deal. 

And there was an excitement of having to purchase a new item now.  With all of those christmas deals flying around....  I figured the "cheapest" phone now would be light years ahead of what I had.    So,   after work today, I headed to the Boost Mobile store, just three miles from my residence.  

I have to say,  first impressions are everything.   And this place certainly made an impression.  It looked less like a Tech Store and more like a place where they have needle exchanges.   The place was empty except for some samples that were bolted to the wall.   There was a single kiosk in the center of the room and one associate behind a huge sheet of bullet proof glass!   He communicated with a small sliding window.   A rather odd place to place of business.

I stepped up to ask about purchasing a new phone and explained the situation.   He pulled out a new phone that I recently saw advertised and I stated I would take it.   Simple!

Not so fast....

I had to tell him my account.   I have an account with Boost mobile, after all.  ( a really great deal!   $8/mo for unlimited talk and text and several gigs of data. )   They take out their payment  once a year.  

So what is your PIN number?  

Um...  I don't know. 

It's saved on the phone...   Which is broke.  Which is why I am here.  

Enter your Email and it should allow you to change your password.   Except.. My phone is broke... and I can't access my email unless I'm on my laptop.  

You can also find your information on the app....  Which is only on my phone...  Which is broke. 

After a back and forth,  I can see the writing on the wall.   This kid does not know anything other than how to set up new customers.   So I decide I will go home and wrestle with it there....  Online.

I go to the web page,  follow the instructions, enter my email... But they continue to send me a text to verify that it is me!   Which I can't read... because my phone is broke!   

Frustration, followed my maniacal laughter  if the resulting response.  I am in a doom loop!  A "Catch 22"  I need my phone to get help to fix my phone so I can get a new phone.  But my phone is broke... making it impossible to get a new phone or fix the broken one.  

I did find the chat...  which is automated.   And kept sending my phone texts so I could enter a new PIN or Password.    They finally gave me a phone number to call for a LIVE PERSON!   Except.... you guessed it!  My PHONE IS BROKE!

After working a full morning shift at Haribo  I was in no mood to go back and try to hammer out the details in the presents of the employee and  an audience. (Even though I was the  only one in there. ) So I went went home and figured I would work it out there.   Something had to give. 

I find it funny how we get talked into these "Simple" items that are "supposed" to make life "Simpler."   And after we become dependant on them. ( Passwords remembered, banking, communication,...)  They fail... and we discover just how COMPLICATED it all actually was! 

I suppose the idea is that people upgrade...  Rather than fix or replace a phone.   I mean...  I'm sure the default is that EVERYONE has a phone.   and they will send a text code to your old phone so you can replace it with the new one.  I mean... It is INCONCEIVABLE that someone lost, broke or had their phone stolen...  right?  

But for those of us in the "Imaginary Margin" of "No Phone"...   The system is broken.   

Just like my phone. 

The happy ending to this story is that I did managed to break into my account through sheer tenacity.  Hopefully,   with my account now accessible,  I will be able to replace the phone tomorrow morning... before I have to go back to work. (Yes!  We are working this Sunday.)  I'm hoping I will have  someone who is slightly more knowledgeable than the last guy...  and I will not have any more surprises thrown at me.  Just sell me the phone,  transfer the SIM card and I'll be on my Merry way.  

Easy!    So Easy Ryan Reynold's puppy can do it... In a Christmas Sweater vest!

And then I'll be able to text Christina a response.    And be available for anyone else to contact me....   If they ever want to.  

Another Day donated to Haribo.   It went by fast...  and was fun.   So it was not really like work.  But it is time I was not able to complete other things.   And with the Holidays almost upon us... I find every second precious now.   And it is becoming a challenge to make every second count.