Verizon Employees Actively Discouraging customers from Buying Windows Phones

[sethen]

My wife and I both decided to buy Windows phones this time around.  We had previously been Android people but wanted to try something different.  We walked into our local corporate store (somewhere in TX) and when we told the salesman what we wanted (weren't interested in, but WANTED) he told us "you don't want those".  We tried for a few minutes to convince him that YES, we did want those and when that didn't work we eventually had to go and get a manager in order to actually purchase the things we came in for.

After looking at all of the forums outside of Verizon it seems that this is the normal experience.

This is unacceptable.  I don't care if you want to buy an iPhone, a Nexxus, an Icon, or an HTC One M8.  There is no excuse for this kind of behavior.  VZW needs to take a good look at their culture and remind their employees that they are a vehicle for delivery to the public, not gatekeepers.  We need to let the CEO know about what is going on in his stores.

You can contact Mr. Daniel S. Mead (CEO) by going to www.verizon.com/about/leader/contact/73.

Maybe if enough of us say something they'll try to at least pretend they appreciate our money.

Also, it would be really great if he would consider releasing the WP 8.1/Cyan update which is already sitting in VZW's hands at some point.

[vzsupportlies]

IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS --- VERIZON SUPPORT STRAIGHT OUT LIE!!! I called support to question the delay for the Cyan update. The support tech was very unprofessional and stated directly that Verizon does not "hold" updates. He went on to state that the updates are the responsibility of the manufacturer. In this case Nokia and Micrsoft.

I just read on WPCentral.com   "...Unquestionably, for those in the US, there is still no solace as Verizon and T-Mobile are still holding back their Lumia Cyan updates. Inquiries to both companies have gone unanswered about the status of update testing...."

NOW - what other lies and untruths do you want to offer, Verizon support. And you wonder why you lose market share???? Idiots!!

[primortal]

Don't bother complaining to Dan Mead unless your a CEO or CFO of a fortune 100 company because money speaks volumes and us lonely customers and our 2 year contract is a drop in the ocean to them if we threaten to leave and go to a competitor.  Right now Andriod and iPhone bring in the most revenue and until that changes or Microsoft offer an awesome compensation packages to the sales folks to sell Windows Phone it will never change.  Complaints just get filed in the circular filing cabinet.

In regards to getting the update; your best bet is to follow the steps MadDogFL62 outlines in this post, The FCC and your 8.1 Cyan Update

[SickFreak]

Yea, I've posted about this very thing before.  As the techie in the family and for all my friends, everyone comes to me before they purchase any tech gear (as well as having me for their free support hotline. )  When I take people into Verizon and discuss the pros and cons of each of the phone operating systems as well as the devices themselves, I give the individual the choice as to which device they purchase.  But if the person chooses a Windows Phone, almost every time the Verizon staff actively tries to push them towards Apple or Android.  There's even been times that Verizon told us that there is no such thing as a Windows Phone.  Just a few days ago, I took someone in and they wanted the Icon.  The clerk said there was no such thing.  I took them over to the wall and showed it to them.  They became quite angry and unprofessional.  I grabbed the manager and she didn't care.  The person still wanted the Icon and when they brought out the phone, they brought out the iPhone and tried to set us up with that.

Unfortunately, it's not isolated to one store or one city.  I personally know many people around the USA where the Verizon store staff have shown the same animosity towards Windows.

[Tidbits]

Same can be said for any device that doesn't sell well.

Verizon stores here have them on the floor and let you buy if you wish.

You go to another island you'll have a different result. Walk into a competitor store and you will see the same results.

Retailers always out their best sellers front and center and their not so good in obscure places.

[SickFreak]

Not true.  I take my family and friends to whichever carrier that they have.  If they have TMobile or AT&T, we never have a problem getting a Windows Phone.  The clerks are happy with whatever phone the customer asks for.

The thing is, since the Verizon clerks are actively trying NOT to sell the Windows Phones - even to the point of denying the sale, the Windows Phones won't sell as well.  We have to actually fight the clerks to get the phone we ask for.

[Tidbits]

Read what I said again...  You can't be in every store and know every shop a small sampling doesn't dictate what happens everywhere...

Like I said fly to Hawaii and you'll see a different result and you can see the results very by island due to difference in reception in Island.

[WPCyanNOW]

Check out this article, published today:

Why Windows Phone Isn't More Popular in the U.S. -- Redmondmag.com

[SickFreak]

I understand that there might be some platform agnostic clerks in some Verizon stores, but so far, I have never heard of them.  I've been to well over 20 stores (probably closer to 40-50) myself and get the same story.  And add all of the other people I know that have had the same problem.  Yes, I'm well aware that that's an incredibly small sample, but so far, I've never heard of a story where a Verizon clerk pushed a Windows phone - only the opposite.

[Tidbits]

A small sampling doesn't mean Verizon as a while has some tinfoil conspiracy that they are against a platform. If they honestly were against the platform they wouldn't carry it period. Like the iPhone when it was introduced. It sold well Verizon conceded and started carrying the iPhone. Why bother even with an exclusive Windows Phone products? A company invest more money than they really need to in order to undermine a platform?

Any retail place will show their best sellers. They may give space to new products but if it doesn't do well you'll see it move Out for something that sells well.