Verizon — Local services in Hood River

This is not a Verizon store, but an authorized retailer called TCC. AVOID THIS STORE AT ALL COSTS! My parents bought a phone and were told they had to pay a $45 activation fee in store, which is standard when you buy a new device. When they got their bill, there was a $35 upgrade fee on their bill. Apparently, TCC charges a separate $60 fee to set up your phone, but they were given a discount and charged $44.99. I called TCC The Dalles and Emma told me that to avoid that fee, you would need for the phone to be unopened and set up on your own. The thing is, TCC never provided that option and mentioned the fee under the guise of a standard activation fee. I called TCC in Hood River to ask for a refund, and was not given one because this is a standard TCC fee. I informed him that this is not ethical and he said that’s how they make commission because they only get paid $8 an hour. I mentioned how it’s Oregon law to be paid at least minimum wage despite being on commission and that even servers get paid a minimum wage, which is $13.50 for Hood River and The Dalles. The TCC employee said that he would show me his paycheck to prove that he’s only paid $8 an hour. He also said because TCC does not even pay their employees minimum wage, they pass on that $60 fee to you as they make commission and that’s how they make a living. The representative also said that 90% of their clients would rather pay the $60 fee than set up the phone themselves. As a former AT&T employee who worked in the Gorge, I know most people would rather save the money, especially if they have kids at home who can easily transfer their data and set up their phones. I asked to speak to a manger and he said there was none because the manager recently left the job. I asked for a district manager and was told there’s no management at the moment and they are kind of on their own. He also admitted that a regular Verizon store would not charge this fee. I’ve contacted Verizon’s corporate offices and they said they’ll be investigating TCC practices. Verizon was also not happy with TCC practices as angry customers then call Verizon with complaints about surprise charges. I will also be contacting the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries regarding TCC employees being paid $8 an hour.

You no longer need a computer or any fancy devices to transfer information, it’s easily done via Bluetooth from your old phone to...

Normally I don't complain about people in retail because I have been one of the and I would love to give them the benefit of the doubt. But I have been having the worst experience with hood river Verizon. Went in there Saturday and there were only a couple phones in stock. Ordered a phone that was supposed to be there on Tuesday the latest. Sunday I went into a different store and found they had all their phones in stock. When I called hood River to cancel my order, they gave me the runaround and said they couldn't do it till the phone came in. Ok whatever. Tuesday came and I called after work, no phone. Called a few hours later, no phone. This whole time waiting around town.They said they would cancel it and call me when it came in. Never came in. Finally Wednesday comes and half way through the day I get a call saying its in. Got off work and when they answer, the guy had no idea who I was and wasn't sure if he had ever spoken to me. Apparently there are two people with the same name there. I explained my situation and asked to make sure it was canceled so I can finally get a different phone and unlock my number. The employee proceeded to tell me it would be at least an hour till he could get to it so he could help the other customers in the store first. 😡😤 I told him that was ridiculous that it was supposed to be done when the phone came in and I wasn't waiting around for him to get to it. He needed to cancel it and I would deal it tomorrow. He said ok and that was it.... Seriously??!!?!?? Where were this idiots hired from. Pretty sure they don't know how customer service is supposed to work....

Customer service was awful. Bought some Samsung ear buds that kept falling out of the ears and turning off the audio whenever I tried to readjust them. Had them for one day. I understand why they wouldn't take them back because I used the earplugs (though not all provided sets of them). I paid 150.00 for these. They could have taken them back for less than I paid and I would have been OK with that. Given as much money as Verizon makes, and as long as I have been a customer, I would have expected better service. I would have dropped them right then and there. But where would I go? Sprint is worse, and T-mobile is absolutely abysmal. If you're thinking about purchasing the Samsung Galaxy Buds2, DON'T. Too expensive. Falls out of the ears. Trying to adjust them interferes with its normal operations. I found much less costly Bluetooth versions from Amazon. Don't purchase any from Verizon. I am out 150.00 from them because I naively expected more from them.

Update: 3 weeks later, received response from the owner. "We're sorry to hear you had a frustrating time trying to get help, Draeko. We want to make sure our customers feel supported at our store and it sounds like we fell short this time."

Suffice it to say, I contacted them, we've communicated. I waited, nothing happened. I sent a nudge and was informed that some action had been taken to investigate the situation. That was two and a half weeks ago. (shrug) As I said in my original posting, "Customer...