32 Days: CS apathetic, empty promises, incompetence = no return kit
glackley
Enthusiast - Level 3

I am requesting 1 item: The return kit/ Fireproof Box. My only question is when? Still waiting after 32 days.

This is a Recap with re-posting of some info. This is a very short synopsis of my extremely frustrating experience with Verizon CS. Irrefutably, most, but not all of the CS respondents do not actually take the time to listen or to, or read what they are responding too;  in a bunch of cases, they purposely misled me with empty assurances. I now have over 8 hours with a mostly apathetic and ineffective Verizon CS.

*Oct 12, 2016: Buy Samsung S7E to replace Note 7 in local corporate store. Told fireproof box IE: Return Kit sent automatically. 90 minutes in empty store for "return". Take home Note 7. This was before email to do this online.

*Oct 13-19: Numerous chats, phone calls, Community BB and in-store visits about box. CS kept telling me it's coming, even as I asked them "How do you know?" The store said there no way to know how long of a wait, no number to call. Verizon said box coming from Samsung, Samsung said Verizon. One CS person even questioned me on why I was "returning" the Note 7 if I liked the phone so much, and thought I was making something up about a fireproof box. Over 4 hours spent trying to find out about the box.

*Oct 20: Casey on Chat. Somehow confirmed no box ordered. Generated "label" and thought 3-5 business days.Instead of a label and Kit, I received a rebate form for products not ordered, not owned. Casey totally understood my issue, so some mailing center error????

Time with CS  >1 hour.

* Oct 29: Letter from Verizon thanking me for returning my phone, with full credit of upgrade fee and phone to be refunded to my CC. Except that I still have a dead Note 7 on my garage floor. So, if they thanked me for returning the Note 7. If they think it has been returned, logic would dictate no box is forthcoming.....

*Nov 1 CS EdW-Vzn responded to my Community BB posting with private email. He wrote unsure why "box and label" did not show up, will check into it. Left me a nice email saying he would send me a new label, he did try to contact me by phone too, I missed the call. EdW-Vzn left me a detailed VM regarding the label, but said "not really a box"..... Hum....not really a box? Sent a reply to his last text restating needing the fireproof box/return kit. No reply from EdW-Vzn.

*Nov 5th: Mail from Verizon. A return label and no box.

I have been polite, even to the incompetent, and poorly trained reps. Really, how can a rep not know about a recall on a phone catching fire world wide?????I have been complimentary when applicable too. I have not raised my voice. I have been patient and even understanding of the "situation". I have approaching 30 (?) contacts with customer service.

Monday, I'll contact a local TV station in Seattle with a consumer advocate, Don't know if they will be interested in a this, as Note 7's are old news, but I can try. ----> Headlines: Mans house burns down after waiting 32 days for a return kit from Verizon.

Has anyone tried their states Attorneys General, division of consumer protection? Used them in the past and the results were immediate. People seem to listen when they call.

So, the Q was asked, since I was notified of my refund, why care if I return the phone? 1st, haven't seen the money.. 2nd, so I throw the phone into a recycle bin, trash, or mail it with their label in a cardboard box.. and it catches fire...No,no,no..

Back to Verizon Customer Service. Where's my box?

Re: 32 Days: CS apathetic, empty promises, incompetence = no return kit
glackley
Enthusiast - Level 3

Addendum:

Just got of the phone with Jacob in Verizon CS. I was told his supervisors have instructed them to have us consumers put the Note 7 in a regular box, like a "shoe box" and send it in. Really? I asked for a supervisor and was politely denied. I asked for a letter stating that advise, to put a known fire hazard in the mail and send it back. And if it ended up catching fire on a plane??? A truck??

Back to the supervisor, who told Jacob to tell me to "remove the battery" from the phone. Really? The Note 7 has an irremovable battery and you are suggesting I should somehow disassemble the phone and remove a potential lithium battery?? Then, do what with the battery, mail it in a card board box?  I asked again for a letter from Verizon stating that they were instructing me to return the Note 7 in a regular box.

I am not making this up. Of course they declined to put such instructions in writing.

Now, the only thing I was told that was helpful, and new to me, is that they are out of the "fireproof Bags" there term, with no idea of when they might have more, plus no idea how to get me one.

Re: 32 Days: CS apathetic, empty promises, incompetence = no return kit
kathy65793
Master - Level 1

Very interesting

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Re: 32 Days: CS apathetic, empty promises, incompetence = no return kit
Dbeak
Contributor - Level 1

glackley my series of events are very similar to yours. Last I was told is that my box was shipped out on 10/26 (though it is not  possible for them to give me a tracking #) and I need to give it two weeks from that date. I do not feel confident that the box will arrive as I have never had a package take 2 weeks to be delivered. I have already received my refund for the Note 7 that I am looking to return, but like you I want to follow protocol and return the device as I have been instructed to do. There are some customers on these message boards that have received the box so I guess I will hang on to the phone and someday maybe Verizon will send me the box and I can return the phone. Totally Unbelievable!

Re: 32 Days: CS apathetic, empty promises, incompetence = no return kit
glackley
Enthusiast - Level 3

Addendum #2

I just finished 2 calls to USPS, regarding the shipping label Verizon Customer Service sent me and suggestion to return the Note 7 in a regular cardboard box. First off, the label is First Class and both the Postal Inspector and the local packaging specialist confirmed with that label, my package would definitely, or most likely be put on an airplane to go to Fort Worth. In order to not be sent via air it needs to have a ground only label. They suggested I call Verizon and tell them that, and ask for a ground-only Label. I told them Verizon would certainly not stop a nationwide return service on my advise.

I did find a link dated 9/2/2016 at USPS.com that a ridged cardboard or plastic container is acceptable to return the Note 7. Noted must have a ground Label only. So maybe Verizon is 1/2 right?

The USPS was not aware of that link, but could not tell me that it was or was not OK to ship it in cardboard, although they did not like the plain cardboard idea.

I will package it up with the label and try the post office in person to see if they accept it.

Re: 32 Days: CS apathetic, empty promises, incompetence = no return kit
Dbeak
Contributor - Level 1

So today we received a return label with NO fireproof box!!!! Made yet another call to Verizon and they honestly and truly had no answer for me as to why getting this box is turning out to such a fiasco. I was transferred to a rep who placed another order for the box and she sounded confident that I will receive it this time and I should get it by Friday. She said she will follow up with me Monday (where have I heard that before?????) In the meantime I did confirm with a local corporate store that they will indeed take back the Note 7 so I will use that as plan B. Right now my son is away at college and has possession of the  Note 7 (powered down and using the 7 edge) and is due home for Thanksgiving. If I don't have a box by then I will go to plan b. But the thought of wasting my time waiting in a crowded Verizon store at holiday season really irks me!

Re: 32 Days: CS apathetic, empty promises, incompetence = no return kit
glackley
Enthusiast - Level 3

Dbeck, Is the label you received from Verizon a First Class USPS label, big F on it? Does it say "ground only" on it? 

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Re: 32 Days: CS apathetic, empty promises, incompetence = no return kit
Dbeak
Contributor - Level 1

The shipping label does have a big F on it and is for USPS, not sure about the ground part.  It was accompanied by a letter with return instructions. It looks like the person who processed it set up for a general return taking no consideration of it being a special circumstance. 

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Re: 32 Days: CS apathetic, empty promises, incompetence = no return kit
glackley
Enthusiast - Level 3

Thank you. That is a big help. We are wondering how many others have only received a First Class label.

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Re: 32 Days: CS apathetic, empty promises, incompetence = no return kit
kathy65793
Master - Level 1

My boxes had ground shipping on them and a packing slip attached to each box

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