The Failure To Fall For The Bait And Switch...

An update from the last post.   This afternoon, before Work,  I visited the Boost Mobile store/rehab/parole Office again with my account in hand!  ( figuratively speaking.)   I was shocked to see the same kid there from last night standing  behind the bullet proof glass.  He was "helping" a couple of ladies set up a phone and service for "Grandma."  And it did not seem to be going well.  

First,   the kid sounded like he was whispering the entire time.   I'm sure the inch thick bullet proof glass had something to do with the volume level.   But, in addition to the difficulty in understanding what he was saying....  there was a difficulty  in understanding...  What he was saying. 

In other words,  the ladies seemed about as confused as I was.  The younger lady ( the daughter, I'm assuming.)   was just trying to get the phone and the plan on the cheap.   Simple!   She is an older lady with limited means and  few requirements.   She needed a phone. ..  To call for help or to keep in contact with the family.   Period.   Simple!  

But I guess the kid could not understand simple.  Or was having trouble explaining "simple" as their store would have it.  

To top it off,  the two ladies had a young kid there.   Who could not sit still or keep quiet.  As he ran around looking for anything to entertain himself with,  the grandma tried to quiet him while the "mother" of the kid kept talking and ignoring the zoomie tornado running around the lobby.   

I sat quietly next to the solitary kioske and folded one of the pamphlets into an origami goat.   

What else could I do?  

Finally,  it was my turn.   I walked up; acknowledged our previous meeting; and proceeded to give him my account information.  Simple!

He asked for it again...   And again.   ( Did he not hear me the previous two times?)   After talking on the phone/zoom call with what I can only imagine was the owner/tech guy of the store...   he informed me that the "best" they could offer me was $60/ a month plan.   

Um...  What?  

He must have noticed when he brought up my account that I had somehow achieved the impossible with an incredible deal of only $8 BUCKS A MONTH plan.   $8 Bucks!  No no....  I would rather pay 60 dollars for a service that I am already well satisfied with.   I doubt they could offer me any upgrades that I would use.   Everything I need is covered in the plan that is only $8 Bucks!   A spoon that works is still a spoon.   No matter how much gold and gems you encrust on it.  

I politely declined the offer and asked if I could just purchase the phone.   I looked on the boost website and the phone that I was interested in was around $200.. And I was willing to pay that if I could solve this problem here and now. 

After a look of confusion left his face,  he began typing on the computer again.   He could sell me the phone for $250.00.   

Um...  What?  

What is that extra $50 bucks for?   That was not even including tax!   With tax it was approaching $270!   

I considered the android phone that was the cheapest they had.  And that was still $200.00 before taxes.  And was far inferior to the one I had my mind on.  After a few minutes of hesitation.   I declined the offer and walked out.  I doubt I will be back. 

So... another day with no phone.   And I'm miraculously still alive!   I doubt anyone has even called or texted to notice that I have not responded in my usual quick shot style.  And although I know it will be bothersome in the future, (mostly for banking and ID checks.)  I know that I will continue to survive until the new phone arrives on Wednesday.  You see,  I logged on to my Amazon account and purchased one on line. ( for FAR cheaper!)  It will arrive before Christmas. 

So...  Retailers!   If you want to compete with Amazon and all that online marketing.  Have knowledgeable staff and easy to access goods and services.   The big drawback from ordering stuff online is that I can't ask questions about anything to a knowledgeable professional.   And,  let's face it,   "Tech" is not my strong suit.  I use the tech I'm familiar with and that is all.  I would rather chase butterflies or hunt mushrooms rather than play on a phone for hours to learn all of it's features..  So setting this new one up might be a bit of a challenge.  

But given the alternative that I witnessed over the last two days,  I'm sure I can do better.   And probably with less of a headache.   And once it is up and running, I will slowly fill in the gaps and learn what else there is to know.   If I can do it in less than an hour, I will consider the $100 dollars in savings worth it.  

And then I can make every second count.