The Tech Bar Repair Center — Local services in Springfield

I took my phone in for a glass repair, and it took a couple of weeks to fix. I picked up my phone and noticed the glass wasn’t quite lined up, but the manager assured me that everything was fine. I took my phone home and within the next few weeks my phone fell from the seat of my couch. I didn’t think anything of it because I had a sturdy case and tempered glass covering my phone. But later on that night my phone starts glitching and come to find out my LCD screen broke. I take my phone back to I Am Wireless and talk to the manager again. I ask if he could help me out since I just got my phone back a few weeks ago. He said absolutely not. I am sorry, but I have to charge you full price. Then, I asked if I could at least have the Groupon discount that they currently had. He begrudgingly agreed. I went ahead and sent my phone in for repair. When I picked up my phone, I noticed that the home button was very loose and expressed my concern to the manager. He told me it was fine, but rudely stated if I wanted to wait another 2 weeks he could send it back. I could clearly see this was not something he wanted to do. He said it should be fine, and I shouldn’t have any issues with it. He said he would make a note in my file regarding the loose home button. After only a few weeks of having my phone back, my phone slipped from my fingers while holding it in my hand and fell on my foot. It was in an Otterbox. I did not want to take any chances after my first two occurrences. About an hour later, I noticed my screen glitching, indicating to me that the LCD screen was broken. I took my phone back to I Am Wireless expressing my concern that this cannot be normal. This was the third time my screen broke in a matter of 2 months. They had been the ones to fix it each time. The manager told me that for some reason the worst phone damage occurs from a distance 4 feet or less. The owner of the store was there and talked to me about the situation. He said that he doesn’t normally do this, but he would see if the company he sent the phone into for repair would give him a new LCD screen that he could put on for free. Otherwise, I could pay another $125 for a new screen on top of the $400 I had already given them for past repairs. I agreed to see if he could fix it for free. I waited a month to get my phone back. I called the store about once a week checking on the status of my phone, but no one seemed to know anything. I then reached out on facebook through private messenger. The owner was very rude and said that I could pay for a screen. I decided not to respond and just patiently wait to hear from them since I could not afford to pay them any more money. I received a voicemail later that day stating that my phone was ready to pick up. I went into the store and the gentleman behind the counter told me that the company was not able to send a new LCD screen, but they have a gold screen they received that day and put it on the phone. They just have to put the back on. He said I would be charged $125. I was confused considering I did not agree to this and was only willing to get a free screen. I told him I would have to come back. I needed to think about my options. I received a facebook message from the owner later that night stating that I was rude to his employees and I needed to pick my broken phone up. They couldn't help me. I have to admit after receiving this message. I was sick to my stomach. I do not remember being rude. If I was it was because I was confused and concerned about the situation. I have spent $400 with this company, and they wouldn’t even stand by their product. By the time I finally figured out this company was robbing me blind, I could have bought a whole new phone. Despite what they say, it is not normal for someone to drop their phone from such a short distance in a defender case and crack the screen. I felt as though the screen was not lined up properly, but they refused to take responsibility. I have never in my life been treated so rudely...

Unfortunately, for both i Am Wireless and myself, this is going to be a 1 star review.

I purchased a $120 phone with the understanding that the transaction came with a 30 day return policy. This was the policy I was quoted by a sales person, who was admittedly new at his job.

The phone I purchased, for my son, did not meet our expectations due to its older version of Android and it missing several options he wanted. I made the purchase solely with the reassurance that this used phone could be returned if it did not meet our expectations.

I attempted to return it the next week but was told by a different salesperson that the company policy stated no returns on used phone sales. This may indeed be company policy and I respect that, but it was not what I was told when I purchased the phone.

The salesperson apologized for the policy and was respectful of my frustration then offered a couple of other solutions, one of which was for me to try and sell it on eBay, but those options are not satisfactory to me as a customer. The phone will now just sit collecting dust next to my bag phone and Commodore 64.

Thus, my only true recourse is to leave this negative review here for others to view and make their own decision on patronizing i Am Wireless. I truly wish it were other wise...

---------- Update -----------

I have read your reply and will amend my ranking to a 3 star due to your honest, if still not satisfactory, response.

Whatever your new salesman said to me the customer, the fact remains that I took our discussion to mean there was a 30 day return policy, not just a warranty. I very well could have misunderstood, which is why I am adjusting my review. But I will say I did not see the posted signage concerning your policy until I returned ( I was on the other side of the counter). Also, I had already made the sales transaction before I was given an invoice to have had a chance to read your policy in that location.

Your salesperson said it was a top of the line phone. I took that as meaning it would be able to accommodate the specific apps and functions we use on our family phones. It ended up only having Kit Kat 4.4 on it which is not compatible for our needs. It was an older phone than I was lead to believe. I should have done more due diligence. Your sales person should have been more forth coming on the phone specifics.

I have returned NEW phones for refunds before at other cell phone businesses in the past. I'm old. Policies change. Perhaps that is no longer the norm.

More than likely I will just return the phone to you to do as you will. I would prefer you give it to someone who is in need.

Truly, best wishes. Please just be more clear with your policy...

My husband took my son’s phone to be repaired. We were going to get a great price for trade in if we just replaced the front glass and side plastic frame. He said the didn’t have it in stock since it was a galaxy note 9. Understandable, so we paid our price in full at $264.04. Cool, definitely worth the trade in. We had time to wait a week or so. He said he’d call when it was ready. We realized it had been longer, probably 2 weeks, so my husband went by to ask because he was running errands and the guy said it was getting delivered that day. He called a few days later and said we could come get it. I’m available to go this time so I go by and explain who I am and he goes and gets the phone. I say thank you and turn to walk out. And by the time I got to the car I saw the back plate of the phone wasn’t sticking on one corner. I take it back in and tell him and he looks it over and says “ok I probably just need to clamp it for about 20 more mins” and asked if I could come back. Sure. I needed to shop some over there anyway. I went back and got it. I examined the corner and put it in my purse and did the rest of my errands. I go pick my husband up and he asked if I was able to go grab it. I said yes and handed it to him I told him about it and he said well it’s coming up again. I was like what? He said yeah and the screen is cracked too, top corner. I was instantly irritated at this point. I dropped him off to shower and I went back. I informed him what happened and he took my phone and looked it front and the back, all the while repeating how “weird” it was that it was coming up again and cracked. But it wasn’t. Probably just clamped it too tight. Anyway he goes in the back and comes out saying he doesn’t have it in stock and would have to order it. Well yes. That’s what happened last time. I’m sure you didn’t order extras. By that time had lost our window for a trade in value and lost an $800 credit. It has officially been at least 3+ more weeks since then and still haven’t heard from him. I will be seeking my money back in full. He hoped we would go away and forget about it but nope. Terrible business management and customer service. Do yourself a favor and pay extra and go to U...