quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
You know it is interesting, this thread. What was intended to be a mild criticism of mobile phone retail has become a series of critiques of the OP.

forum | ˈfôrəm |
noun (plural forums | ˈfôrəmz |)

A place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged

worse than the DMV. I pre-registered for my new Real id. scheduled an appointment. checked in at a kiosk and was done in under 10 minutes

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
The DMV is staffed with the rudest most incompetent people ever. When I visited the DMV in Chicago it was in the worst part of town. You know where the staff has armed security. You prayed your car would be there when you left two hours later. This was several decades ago and I am sure it is worse.

Lexington Ave?

All I read was....

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
Blah blah blah
Blah blah
Blah

And, a new super secret additional line. Which is the secret way to get $1000 trade in for your old iPhone. I didn't pay $1000 for that 11 Pro Max years ago.

Blah blah

Sincerely,

4MUL8R

What pray tell is this super secret freebee additional line thingy...

Put me in the “this sounds like carrier store games” camp.

Not Apple or iPhone specific, but courtesy of the crazy business models of the cellular providers.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
Put me in the “this sounds like carrier store games” camp.

Not Apple or iPhone specific, but courtesy of the crazy business models of the cellular providers.

The "no additional cost per month. And, a new super secret additional line" was a dead give-away. Apple doesn't sell wireless service.

The best thing about living in a tiny town
, never a problem at any of the three D.M.V's that we've chosen.
In 25 years,

Usually a 9 minute wait.

Longest was 15 minutes.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
The DMV is staffed with the rudest most incompetent people ever.

And when they are too rude and/or incompetent and actually get fired, they go to work for Crook County.

I've been helping my mother-in-law with some issues with her property. I had a question that I could not find the answer to anywhere. As a last resort, I called the Cook County Clerk's Office.

I started asking my question when the aggressively hostile agent cut me off and told me the information was on their website. I said, 'Well, I've gone over every page of the site and haven't found the answer. The site says that if I still have questions to give you a call'.

She snarls that they don't provide legal advice and that I'll need to consult an attorney. I took a deep breath and politely said "I am an attorney. This is not a legal issue and I still have a question."

She snapped that it was not their job to do the work for me and hung up. The wife heard my side of the conversation and was outraged. She wanted me to call and file a complaint, but I told that would be as big a waste of time as the call I'd just had.

When I read of these abysmal life experiences I’m reminded of why I chose to live in a small community. Postal service, DMV, voting, auto dealer service, McDonald’s, FedEx, UPS, hell even WalMart is all drama free.

Replaced many phones online through ATT (yep, no drama phone service too), last iPhone was a 14 at Costco, a promotional thing.

iPhone 12 for wife from an Apple Store as described. Pretty much 3hrs and honestly still came home and finished the process on line with ATT.

10,000 population is the sweet spot for services and small town experience. Find the county seat at that population and you’re golden!

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
You know it is interesting, this thread. What was intended to be a mild criticism of mobile phone retail has become a series of critiques of the OP.

Maybe he doesn't know how to do online?

Maybe he doesn't know how to choose the phone?

Maybe he doesn't know that you can set up a phone by yourself?

Maybe he needs veiled criticism that he is a Luddite?

Maybe he is too old to understand today's world?

Let's make sure we tell the OP, just in case.

I have to agree. My mom requested me to attend while she got herself a new phone at the local AT&T. It was a lot like the DMV, but it’s the way she felt most in control of the situation, so I rolled with it. I’ll definitely remind her of the options, but she absolutely prefers a human touch, so I guess she’s out of touch.

I bought our last phones at Costco, could not get a better deal at the time, period.

It’s a risk, with the wife wandering around the jewelry counter while we waited for set up.

Oh we went to a local phone store…useless & slow.

quote:

Originally posted by mindustrial:
I bought our last phones at Costco, could not get a better deal at the time, period.

Same. We were in and out in about an hour.

All iPhones here since the 3G... Summer of '08.

The only thing I find difficult about buying a new iPhone is...
paying for them!

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:
All iPhones here since the 3G... Summer of '08.

The only thing I find difficult about buying a new iPhone is...
paying for them!

Yup! Ordered my iPhone 15 Pro Max online, received it two days later at home, and moved over to the new phone within 20 minutes. It might not have been as fast as the two or so hours the OP spent in the store, but it's a lot less of a headache.