Verizon — Local services in Punta Gorda

DO NOT LET THEM CHARGE U $35 FEE IN STORE OR ACCEPT ANY INSURANCE DEALS! I bumped this review from 1 to 2 stars for the quick responses from customer support. Though while quick to respond, not quick or easy to get anything done and I gave up on the process (wait, was that the purpose?).

I believe this auth dealer intentionally uses the term programming fee and charges $35 to transfer phone data cuz programming is a previous word actual Verizon used for activation and they charge $35 for, to mislead or confuse and figure if they have to refund like 20% of people notice it when Verizon bill comes a month later, its more than they would've made and it's basically 100% profit. Not sure if it's normal or not, but I wasn't even asked if I wanted my phone info transferred, and it was never even completed due to the Internet connection in store. I have always done it myself and wouldn't have wanted someone else to do it if it was free. Its like 5 or 6 taps to do transfer data.

Also I was told they had a deal on best phone insurance usually $17/mth for $7/mth that lasts twelve months. But after my 2nd Verizon bill, no discounted price or credits showed up on my bill. I never had purchased insurance in the past, but figured I would get it for a year due to the deal and getting my 1st Samsung ultra.

Issues like these are the reason I dont use authorized dealers, since they aren't affiliated with Verizon they can do as they please with sales tactics and their words aren't binding to Verizon. Unfortunately for me, the new trade in deals at Verizon stores had just changed no more than a week before (probably 2 days when new month has started) and I didn't know that yet so I thought this place was giving me a better deal than the rest, but saw the new verizon commercials shortly after

I removed my original 1 star review and posted this after all my dealings with them and had the whole picture. But since customer support was nice I did add the star, and I will get the other 3 devices and new line soon will make 4 elsewhere in the future. Like a Duke basketball player, I'm...

Have been a Verizon customer for the past 15 years. The Punta Gorda location is my 'go to' cell phone store; however, have a second home in NC where I just returned from after being away for 2.5 months. Had planned to 'upgrade' my iPhone 4, yes, I said "4" when I returned to FL; but, she died in Maggie Valley, NC. The old lady wouldn't hold a charge in the mountains - was without a phone for 3 days because Verizon Corporate overnighted a SE to the wrong address/town – (they reversed the last 2 digits!). Once received, I went to Cellular Sales in Waynesville where a delightful young man diagnosed the cord as the cause of my battery dead '4'. The sales rep charged my 4 up with a new cord and handed it to me for my return back to Florida. He suggested that I not have my new SE activated until I got home due to the 'learning curve' of a new phone. I appreciated and agreed with his concern that I shouldn’t be distracted with a new device during my 12 hour solo drive back to Punta Gorda.

Back home in Punta Gorda from my long road trip, still using my functioning iPhone 4, I decided it was time to activate my SE. When I called the corporate office in Port Charlotte, I was told to “Read the directions; it's simple”. Well, maybe; but, not for this non-techy senior citizen!!! Without delay, I packed ‘er up and headed for the Verizon Cellular Sales store in Punta Gorda to be greeted and welcomed by Evan Sparks. Mr. Sparks had graciously helped me in the past with my iPhone 4. I had asked for his business card and promised him that when I returned from NC, I would be checking in with him for a new iPhone. Shared my ‘crazy NC story’ with Evan who very understanding. Without further ado, Evan proceeded to activate my SE while patiently and courteously answering all my ‘redundant’ questions. Wow! Excellent, 5 STAR customer service from Evan Sparks. Thank you, Mr. Sparks. Without a doubt, you exemplify ‘THE BEST’ in customer...

If I could rate this place as zero stars, I would. First, you should all know this is a private reseller, a business called Cellular Sales operating as an authorized Verizon Wireless reseller.

Without going into a long drawn out story I will just say buyer beware. They offer a 14-day cancellation policy but if you have so much as a tiny scratch on your phone, they will not take it back. I paid $1010 for a new iPhone 10. I was previously an Android user for years. Most of my online world revolves around Google products: mail, photos, documents, maps, etc. While these apps run on an iPhone, they are not integrated. For example, you can't snap a picture and get it to go to Google Photos app. You can't click on an address in your calendar app and get it to open Google Maps. You can't back up documents in Google Drive, etc.

After realizing this I tried to return the iPhone. After 6 days of use, it had a couple tiny marks on it (typical wear and tear after a phone is removed from its box - it was never dropped or mishandled.) They used this as an excuse not to honor the return. Worse, they had already processed the return with my Verizon account and tried to "sell it to me again" asking me to sign another contract. When I refused to sign, it took a call to the local police to get them to give me my iPhone back so I could leave the store. Absolutely unheard of. To the awesome PG police officer who helped me get my phone back - thank you for being professional and unbiased.

When I explained this to the folks at the real Verizon Wireless, they said they have had many complaints against this reseller. It's not Verizon, it's a company called Cellular Sales operating as an authorized reseller. ...