I bought my last phone at hhgregg... they have a premium agent but I got a instant rebate and my ne2 discount. No messing with rebates and they honor the ne2 unlike bestbuy who wouldn't. Don't know if you have those around you.... but you wouldn't have to wait and no restocking fees if you have to return it, unlike corp stores.

It is an option... I hate ordering online before playing with a phone and I hate waiting.

Debit card is a pain in the ass?

dude, its a credit card with $100 on it. apply it to your bill, go grocery shopping, transfer funds from the card to your checking account, give it to a family member.

I don't get it, how in the world is $100 debit card a pain?

Are you a retail sales representative in a corporate store. No matter if it is a pain in the ass or not...buying online is the easier option.

Actually it's not. If you're a customer who knows what they're doing, and is comfortable learning new tech, then sure, get it online. But if you're going from a razr to a droid and have no idea how to use them, buying online is not the easier option, unless you plan on screwing over some store by wasting their time because you want to save a few bucks.

It would so nice to have all of the cheap people who buy their phones online to get all of the services online. Let online set up your email, transfer your contacts, pictures. Let online show how to use your device. If you dont want the phone and you want to return, dont bring it to the store, send it back where you purchased in from.

Verizon still have Retail Customer Support Representatives at all? I had that title when I was in retail. I was not commissioned and if you purchased your phone online, through telesales or from our store or the indirect down the block...I gave you the same courteous service. Yeah, if a person buys online and goes into a store and wastes a commissioned representative's day pestering them with questions...I get the resentment there. Perfectly understandable... But a non-commissioned representative like I was...not so much. But in MY case I DESPISE going to a store. The only time I do is with warranty issues and even then I just want the to witness me do a hard reset and note the account so when I call tech it goes smoother. The idea o...
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They're pretty much doing away with all non-commissioned positions at corp stores. A lot of tech centers are closing down, and most store reps have sales quotas now. But this is ONLY at corp stores.

The really annoying part is telesales and online is starting to direct customers who buy through them to indirect stores (because they're closer and typically less busy) to do things like contact transfer or giving them lessons on the device, promising them that all this is free.

At first I thought it was just customers trying to make up stuff to get free service, but it happens with almost every single customer, and I had a friend of mine who ordered online verify it.

Like I said, I don't hold it against someone if they decide to buy ...
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I charge for phonebook unless they buy anything. Many of the cellebrite machines pay per use versus paying the $1000 up front and paying yearly for the license fee for new handsets.

Corporate in our area has an "official" policy to charge for phonebook transfers if you did not buy from corporate because of this fact. They may not always enforce it but they do have the policy.

The debit card process can be "pre-registered" online to create a tracking number and priority processing. My average turn-around time is 10 days for it to be mailed with pre-registered rebates.

Because some people are impatient.

I have no issue with people who decide to shop online, as long as they ONLY deal with online though.

But if you go into a store and use their services (customer service, setting up your new phone, answering questions, etc) but the phone there.

Waiting 2 weeks is WELL worth giving someone a job, and having a place you can go back to if you have questions.

Agreed.. I like supporting a local store and having someone to go back to. When I worked in a store I hated it when people bought online and came in to return, complain about it or had a million questions.

I also hate rebates as a customer...not that I can't or have never dealt with them but would rather avoid it. A store will charge me $300 for a high end phone when I could get it for $200 if it had instant rebate. I have 3 lines so I could be an extra $300 out of pocket upfront and that is annoying. But like I said I was pumped when I found out the hhgregg by me had an agent that honors NE2 and has instant rebates + no restocking fees. They sold me on that, plus I am still helping out some local people, not to mention they actually had...
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I doubt your corporate representative will agree with you. Believe me. I worked as a commissioned sales rep for four years before going to my "in store" customer service position. Many sore reps are myopic. If you did not buy it from them...they do not want to be bothered with customer service. The funny thing is unless one is working straight commission (to my knowledge only some indirect agents do this) then it is assumed that a part of one's hourly wage is for taking care of the company's customers regardless of where they purchased the phone. Just as you see these reps bad mouth customers who buy online you better believe they are going to do the same with those who purchase from indirect agents or telesales.

I am sure... I used to work in an indirect location for years. With that said, I always tried to take care of all my customers and the things I couldn't I picked up the phone and got someone to help me out. So I don't feel bad going to an indirect at all, at least it is a local guy collecting a paycheck and I would rather help them out then go online. I am guessing most corp reps are probably not thrilled when I bought my phone at a different corp location either, but that is just the nature of sales.

As a customer I still feel better buying from a person, even if they are indirect they have families to take care of to.