If you’re over 80 and walk into a cell phone service provider, you’re probably going to be seen as an easy mark. Like, what does this old lady know about technology, anyway? The sales rep will rattle off some hi tech gobbledygook when you ask for help. And then they will suggest an expensive solution. Let’s face it, phone company reps target seniors.
If you read my post , Recovering from Friday 13, you will see where my iphone 6 battery was low, and I couldn’t get it to recharge. The guy who waited on me seemed somewhat disdainful. He never really looked me in the eye. But I was happy when he initially diagnosed my problem as a defective charging cord.
As I waited for my phone to recharge, he looked out the window and said, “you know, your battery is shot. You’ll be lucky if this charge holds for an hour.”
“So,” I responded, “can you just sell me a new battery?.”
He looked at the floor. “We don’t sell Apple batteries here.”
“Well, where could I get one?”
“You can buy them at an Apple store,” he muttered, “but it would be a waste of time and money. ”
“So what are you saying?”
“You need a new phone.” He went on to explain that as an existing customer, I could upgrade to a newer iphone for a mere $500 if I would sign a 30 month contract, and make monthly payments of $17 a month, simply added to my current bill.
I thought for a few minutes. I didn’t mind the $500 so much as the 30 month commitment. Dare I say that at my age, it’s risky buying green bananas? I asked him why it would be a waste to simply replace the battery. He stared at the desk. “ Because It would cost you nearly as much to buy a new battery and have it replaced as a new phone would cost. And once you take a cell phone apart it’s never the same. It’s damaged.”
Okay, he had me convinced. I asked him to look up my account and arrange for a new phone and new contract. But when he tried to process my credit card, it wouldn’t work. Why? Because the existing contract is in my husband’s name. And my last name is hyphenated, a combination of my old and newer last name. The sales rep was disappointed, but I assured him I would be back with my husband ASAP..
That was on a late Friday afternoon. That night, my husband agreed we should get the new phone on Sat. But wait. That gave me a chance to check on the net. . The website said I should replace the battery. Nothing to suggest I should buy a new phone. After that, I found an authorized Apple repair shop. Better yet, it’s open on Sunday morning.
We stopped there on the way to brunch, The technician was pleasant, and actually looked at me. When I told him how the phone company rep had warned me against replacing the battery, he laughed and said, “that’s how they sell new phones.”
After a delicious Eggs Benedict brunch we picked up the phone which now had a new battery. The total bill for parts and labor : $60. If it hadn’t been for that glitch about a hyphenated last name, we would now be $440 poorer, and locked into another 30 month contract. Saved by a hyphen!
Seniors, beware of phone company reps who want to sell you a new phone you don’t need.