Gato that really, really REALLY sucks but I can say that Republic Wireless is a great alternative if you have coverage in your area. They use the Sprint network, but you can also make calls over wifi, too.
They are VERY cheap but EXCELLENT at efficient customer service. Plans start at $5 / month for wifi only...I splurged and have a $25 / month plan and it rocks.
Plans: republicwireless.com/info/plans/ They have motorola droid phones which are great, I went with the $100 one and it works like a charm.
Virgin Mobile is another less expensive alternative, but I did not like their service as much and they did not have the Wifi call option, which I adore.
Gato that really, really REALLY sucks but I can say that Republic Wireless is a great alternative if you have coverage in your area. They use the Sprint network, but you can also make calls over wifi, too.
They are VERY cheap but EXCELLENT at efficient customer service. Plans start at $5 / month for wifi only...I splurged and have a $25 / month plan and it rocks.
Plans: republicwireless.com/info/plans/ They have motorola droid phones which are great, I went with the $100 one and it works like a charm.
Virgin Mobile is another less expensive alternative, but I did not like their service as much and they did not have the Wifi call option, which I adore.
LOL...I was just about to page you in here @shoegal. I can never remember what your recommendations are!!
Well, for what it's worth, I've had much better customer service with Cricket than I ever had with Verizon. Cost isn't always everything. Like Tiffany, for example.
I'm glad you got your number back! What a headache.
Of course it's not, but when the company's business model is to keep prices low by cutting- amongst other things- customer service, then you are literally getting what you pay for. That's their business model. It's not like Southwest, which advertises low prices and great service. Tracfone makes no secret of the fact that it's business model is to cut costs on everything possible, including customer service, so it is not surprising that she would get shitty service from them. It isn't a character judgment on her, it's a perfectly reasonable decision to make, but it's also a perfectly reasonable consequence.
None of that means more expensive companies are perfect. But when you buy from Tiffany, or Verizon or AT&T, part of what you are paying for is a greater likelihood of better service. This is because higher costs give them more room to employ more representatives per customer. And when they screw up, they have more discretion to make it right. That doesn't mean they never screw up- of course they do, any business can - but it does mean when they screw up they are more likely to try to make it right because their margins allow that.
This is an unbelievably simple concept, so I don't see why people are like "OMG, expensive companies screw up too, money doesn't buy quality." Money can't buy perfection, but it most certainly can and does reduce that likelihood and buy better compensation when people screw up. It's simple market principles. If Tracphone had lower prices and the same service quality then why would anyone use Verizon? They're on the same network, so if the theory that service was identical was true, Verizon would be out of business.
Post by emoflamingo on Mar 2, 2015 17:16:59 GMT -5
Virgin Mobile is good if you never expect to have a phone covered by their one year warranty. They said they would replace mine that broke before the year was up and then when I never got any confirmation, I asked again and it was suddenly out of warranty and they wouldn't replace it. So I switched to AT&T and I pay way more, but at least I'm not freaking out about going over my 300 minutes and having issues with customer service when I need it.
I do think that everyone recognizes that there are benefits to using some more expensive products and services. But to say that it's unreasonable for her to complain is ridiculous. Just because budget concerns force people to cut corners on things sometimes doesn't mean they have to be a doormat to any poor service the company wants to provide. When I have to cut corners, I know I may end up spending more time on the phone with customer service, but I sure as hell have the right to tell them what the problem is and to try to get them to correct it.