First I get a "No, we can't give it out" and then I offer to buy it and they say "Sorry we can't sell it".

I go to another store, and I offer to buy a SIM card. He just asks for my phone number and gives me one unactivated.

AlphaTeam

Buran

Transient

Buran

My policy, if anyone gives me shit in the store, I get their name and ask for a manager. If the manager is a tool, I leave. Sometimes I just leave. I don't wave my paystub around like its a court order to be a douchebag. Or do you get a paystub when you run the business on the Tom Bosley informercial?

Sarcasmo48

Do you tell that to the Emporer's Club hooker you inevitably have to get with that attitude?

...'cause she probably makes more than you.

Sarcasmo48

Actually the salespeople deserved it. My friend who works at a AT&T store knows exactly why they refused the sale. They have a limited number of stock on the refurbs (especially after hooking all your buddies up with one) and they the commissions from a two year activation is good money.

Can't win it either ways. Commissioned sales and you'll get some staff that act this way, non-commissioned sales and you get... Best Buy.

hejustlaughs

jayw7

^That's obnoxious. No Wonder you are buying an iPhone. I would enjoy seeing that iPhone shoved into the orifice furthest from your ear.

tjh9915

A few states/localities protect race/gender discrimination, but otherwise you're SOL. Do what you did - find another vendor and get over it.

silyolpooh

Then they really would been 'fraid of you.

4ster

itsgene

Strangely, they have a lot more leeway to do whatever the hell they if you piss them off. vs. an actual free-standing corporate owned stored.

What I do not get, is why continue being a dick? After the first 5 minutes of the fracas, when it's clear they are not going to sell you one, just leave and go to the next store.

radio1

Fuck you, douche.

trujunglist

ninjatales

Qazaq

And? I work in corporate and almost everyone makes more money than me, even the custodial staff do. So what? Is this how you talk to your waitress too? Your postman? My god, how much of a flaming-ignoramous are you? No wonder these people hated you. When they were in the back they probably said "real jerkoff here" and decided no iphone for you. If I knew what store this was I'd take them all out for pancake breakfast.

bigvicproton

smithy242

ampersand

The funny thing about the story is how fucking important that store's staff seem to feel about that damn iPhone. Really, the thing has no expandability, no backup capability, the keyboard sucks (and isn't as usable as a hardware keyboard). But enough "hip" people buy something and it's suddenly something that people will endure dealing with AT&T representatives to acquire.

I just don't get it.

dweebster

Witera33it

Enjoy your iPhone (and high blood pressure)!

dantsea

alulim

nardo218

Now their behavior is very dubious, and may be against AT&T policy.

I suggest you start writing some letters to their corporate offices. CSR #1 saying their corporate is probably ignorant, and doesn't understand how the business is organized.

Would be best imo if you identified the exact location of the store, persons involved, time of this event, etc, in the article, that way people will know which location to avoid, and which CSRs to especially avoid.

mysidia

But I have to wonder, why Apple chose to align itself with such a horrible service provider. Why not let the market decide the best carrier for your new overpriced gadget?

I'm more disapointed in the fact that the OP went and bought one somewhere else anyway. Is having a cool status symbol phone worth enough to you to overcome supporting a company that couldn't even resolve such a simple complaint before you were shackled to them?

You could have spent the same $250 on a decent MP3 player and gotten a free phone with a carrier if you still needed a phone.

PSN: kingpsyz

Pithlit

Pithlit

Atomike

Pretty Women technique does not work in this case :)

Victo

A corporate store is closely monitored by company (in this case AT&T, but it's the same for others), not like a dealer (that's what the girl was trying to explain to the moron customer). If a rep does not follow a policy (even if it sounds idiotic), the rep may be fired on the spot.

As a customer, be nice, and at least pretend you need it for promotion. Or go to a dealer who's employees are paid minimum wage and just don't care.

Victo

xis170

homerjay

I never heard that from a polite person, even in cases where the company did make a mistake (well, maybe this has to do with the fact that their demand is legitimate, in the first case).

Now I just mentally give these people ''a look''. Lack of imagination and idiocy won't be rewarded by my frustration, and not even an eye-roll.

Victo

pigeonpenelope

pigeonpenelope

It's like the gas station attendant accusing you of buying a lighter to smoke crack. Could you be doing that? Yup, but whether it's an iPhone or lighter, it's not the retailers job to tell you what you can and can't buy. If you want to refuse sales, then get out of retail.

Hawk07

I call douchebaggery on both sides.

Meanwhile, Colin, it sounds like you need a Waaaaaambulance. Let me call you one.

And yes, if you're absolutely sure that you make more money in one day than the salesman does in a week, why don't you put down your triple-platinum MasterCard and buy a new one?

Wow, there's 15 minutes of my life I'll never get back.

Grrrrrrrrr

shiwsup

Canoehead

calvinneal

totally made up.

brennie

bnorton

Is it a good idea for them to do this? No, they'll be burned to the stake in public opinion. I think they're a bunch of pricks for their attitude. But it is technically legal and they do technically have every right to behave this way.

jimconsumer

rolla

Witera33it

timsgm1418

All the more reason the iPhone would be better off sold exclusively online so that these types of CSR people won't have jobs for much longer.

So far, some Consumerists fail at cause & effect. Replace AT&T with a company like Best Buy, which seemingly ever reader hates, and at least being told "I make more money than you" is better than "I have a job, you don't". If the American people stopped shopping at Best Buy (which according to some on the Consumerist, is the worst company in the world, which I wouldn't necessarily disagree with), then Best Buy would have to start closing stores and laying off people.

So, while it was definitely the CSR's prerogative to not sell the phone, if he/she keeps that up, they won't have a job much longer. Plus, we consumerist readers have learned that retail cell outlets are the WORST place to buy your phone. (I even had an assistant manager at one of the AT&T stores tell me that at a party).

Yeah, the guy was a jerk for saying he makes more, but if the CSR keeps this up, the store won't have the sales to justify its existence. Or, if we all just bought the stupid phone online, we wouldn't need retail employees.

Hawk07

The minute the words "I make more than you" leave your mouth, you could be raped to death by a robot made out of colostomy bags and I wouldn't have a shred of compassion for you.

So Colon, well done sir, you are a total dick.

Marko_Vulvic

brennie

Kwummy

bones

That said, we have been instructed to limit the amount of iPhones sold to one person. They even have a database set up to track purchasers...

mikecolione

Classy dude, real classy

Soldmysoul

MrBill38

Let's see, person A is a bank CEO who's been selling predatory loans to people who can't afford them and has directly contributed to the economy imploding. Person B teaches in an inner city school to kids and stays late to help them with their homework.

But "I make more money in a day than you do in a year!"

Justin42

that would be the very mature thing to do, of course.

rawsteak

The salesperson was an idiot for pushing so hard to get his commission that he pissed off a customer.

The customer was an idiot for not just telling them to screw and making his purchase somewhere else.

There's no excuse for bragging about how much money you make. You end up looking like a tool even if you are telling the truth about it.

Added to that, the store was under no obligation to sell him the product, so that makes his idiocy all the more potent.

jon-e

It usually at the market's discretion if a consumer can buy purchase a product. A store does not have a legal obligation to sell a product the way you want them too.

Obviously you were able to find someone to supply your demand, but the first store did not lose a sale or do anything wrong. They made the choice to only sell their iPhones with a contract. From your post, they seemed to make this quite clear. You chose not to accept their answer because you felt that they should sell you a phone without a contract.

So you became aggressive to the staff and then sent a rant to the Consumerist because this store did not have the product you wished to purchase? And you wonder why they became less and less service oriented?

ElenorR

I certainly wouldn't throw how much money I make in a week in the clerk's face as if somehow my earning more money they they do will magically unlock some door and get me what I want.

I'm sorry but the only real "victim" here is the clerk that he belittled in a vain attempt to get his beloved iPhone. Nobody deserves to be treated like that, no matter how insipid their policies regarding sales might be.

Gev

It's BS in this case, but despite their lies and bullcrap, they're within their rights.

InfiniTrent

And yeah, in the future: vinegar may attract more flies than honey does, but sweet vinegar works better than "I make more money than you, Ms. Corporate" does.

muddgirl

BrewMe

notallcompaniesareevil

I highly doubt they were corporate though.

Kounji

March 1, 2008

Refurbished iPhones at COR Stores. For a limited time, select COR stores in the New England Market will offer refurbished iPhones (both 4GB and 8GB) for a special price. These devices are good as new and give customers the opportunity to experience the revolutionary iPhone with big savings. New activations only, upgrades with Manager approval. Refurbished iPhones will only be available to purchase in select COR stores across the Northeast Region and will be available while supplies last. Please reach out to customers that have recently purchased an iPhone to see if they are interested in activating an additional iPhone at a discounted equipment cost. Please note no in-store sales materials should be created. This is to be sold as a closing tool only. Product is available while supplies last from initial shipment. Failure to follow this communication will result in a Code of Business Conduct violation

BrewMe

I'm speaking specifically about the two scenes where the escort gets kicked out of a high end boutique because she's not good enough for them and then going back in laden with enough parcels and giving them hell for not taking the sale in the first place.

North of 49

He said he wanted to take it home to activate, after being somewhat hostile to the sales rep. He also then contradicted himself by saying he would activate in store just to cancel when he got home. Again, it sounds like he's leaving out a lot of detail. Perhaps to get the discounted refurb phone he had to activate in-store. A lot of times, there will be a special that says, "free blah blah blah (with in-store activation)." You don't get the free whatever if you don't activate in-store.

@Hawk07:
Of course the responses would be different if it came down to "I'm black and they said I couldn't have the phone because of it." That would be discrimination which is illegal.

@Japheaux:
But see, that $20 go-phone costs the store much more than the $20. Typically, the cell phone stores do not make any money off the phones. They do good to break even. So had he let you take that phone that cost them more than $20, for $20, they would have taken a loss and probably never have seen you to do business with again, anyway. The big box stores can afford to let you have the phone at a loss, because cellphones are not their sole point of business. They know you'll buy other stuff from them. However, how often do you go to a phone store?

@moviemoron:
Way to over-dramatize. This is not about a store not selling to black people. This is about some real-life Veruca Salt demanding something in a dickish manner and feeling wronged about it.

BugMeNot2

Machete_Bear

Ariel.Sanders

And that's one to grow on...

nick_r

moviemoron

deVious

tamoko

Elijah-M

ptrix

Douchebag.

Sasquatch

pine22

pfblueprint

less_is_best

Crymson_77

OsiUmenyiora

tme2nsb

I'm not 100% positive, but I'm sure that the refurbished iPhone plays with their attachment rates of calling plan features and accessory add-ons as well.

Coming off as an arrogant ass didn't help much, either.

tmlfan81

sisk

Also, if this guy said "Paid full price!" one more time, I'd smack him myself.

AaronZ

Trae

Schmo tells me it'll be $179.99 and that it's a great bargain. I ask why he can't just sell me a $20 Go Phone and he says it wont work and that he won't sell it to me.

I leave and go to the Meg-a-Lo Mart and buy a Go Phone, swap the SIM cards and the phone works for $20.

I can see where the guy is losing a commission, but holy crap, Beavis, help me out here, I just want a phone I can talk on (does that exist anymore?).

I think he could have worked with me a little on this one--but then again, Amarillo, Texas IS a whole 'nother country.

Japheaux

Hawk07

He didn't want a contract. He just wanted the stupid phone, and to be able to activate it at home.

Hawk07

The guy caves and gives his SSN and his identity is stolen, it's his fault for not sticking to his guns and activiting it on iTunes like everyone else.

He refuses to give his SSN and is accused of possibly doing something to a product that he will eventually legally own, it's his fault for not being nicer to the customer service rep in an empty store.

It looks like the Consumerist is turning into Digg.

Hawk07

You sound like a problem customer.

Also, in AT&T land there are reseller stores and corporate stores. So when the store told you they were corporate, that is probably what they meant.

sam1am

I agree with the person who noted the gratuitous !!!!s in the post. That is so annoying and automatically takes away from any legitimacy the post may have had, just like bad grammar and spelling errors do. If you want to be taken seriously, try writing like a functioning adult, not a spazzing child (and of course, try not being a complete tool).

spryte

As to your question, then I would simply no longer shop at Safeway either.

Tigerman_McCool

mrbiggsndatx

moviemoron

"No, you can't do that, you would have to return the phone"

You can cast your biggest stone by not shopping at the their store and telling your friends not to shop their either.

I almost stopped reading after the "i make more money than you" comment, but I wanted to see the posters here rip this assclown a new one. As always, they did not disappoint.

-BTW: I sure am glad the security guard agrees. Whew!!!

Tigerman_McCool

ionerox

missmicrophone

MonkeySeeMonkeyDo

I've worked retail, and I probably would've called security too.

Mills

"It's not discriminatory to refuse a sale, stores can sell or not sell to whomever they like."

Yah...bull POOP. To refuse a sale because of race, gender, etc etc etc is *absolutely* discriminatory. That's why we don't have "whites only" stores and other such abominations.

It's not discriminatory per se to refuse to sell to people because you don't like what you think they're going to do with the product...that's just stupid and unethical. Yay AT&T for only being stupid and unethical...

Mary Marsala with Fries

I was just about to say that. Any store can kick you out for any reason...or no reason.

As to some of the earlier comments: I work for lawyers and they behave this way with the helpdesk. When they do they're generally told "no, not I.S. policy" or we forget to put their request in for a few hours.

Starfury

Elijah-M

Witera33it

Buran

Buran

AZTriGuy

When I bought an iPhone for my wife for Valentine's Day, I walked into the AT&T store, went to the counter, asked for an 8GB iPhone, paid for it, and walked out. They didn't ask word one about activation, credit check, anything. It was my understanding that you activate it through iTunes anyway, you didn't activate in store?

As much as I don't think the store handled the situation well, I think the OP handled it worse. The sense of entitlement in his attitude would make me have him removed from my store as well. Making his case to the mall cop was the best part.

AZTriGuy

kc2idf

boandmichele

kc2idf

stre

FAIL

Mr. Gunn

that being said, Colin sounds like a deuch. "It's my right! they're discriminating! i make more so they should do what i say! they can't refuse service!" shut up. as long as they're not actually discriminating (which it doesn't sound like they were doing) they can deny a sale till your ears fall off. should they? no. but they can. and if you expect us to believe that you managed to say everything you did "calmly", despite the rampant use of exclamation points, you must think we're all idiots. if i knew you i'd smack you upside that undersized head of yours.

stre

Voyou_Charmant

I would argue that you, at the very least, should not do that. It's littering, jerk!

Voyou_Charmant

The guy wants an iPhone. Are you going to blame Apple for a bunch of jerks AT&T hired? Also, can you blame AT&T as a whole company for one store filled with jerks?

I challenge anyone to find a large, national/multi-national company that doesn't have jerks working at it.

The best thing this guy can do is complain to the upper tiers of AT&T management and have them take care of their bad employees.

notme93

@nikkomorocco: Techically, you could get one & unlock it to use on another (compatiable) network. I think T-Mobile is the only other in the US aside from AT&T that uses the same type of network. However, Apple's been pretty clear that if you "jailbreak" your phone that you'll be voiding your warranty as well.

ionerox

cwsterling

do your part and just go buy a brand new one for $399 at full retail to help support the economy.

If you operate a business in the USA, guess what?! You have the right to refuse service to ANYONE, especially a primadonna such as yourself.

bad consumer

OsoGrande

Machete_Bear

esqdork

SmellyGatto

MonicLoss

ClayS

I don't count the money comment as abusive but I do count it as being a douche chill.

Youthier

spamtasticus

this is America BTW...

TexasScout

smoothtom

Just a suggestion.

Dakota Courtois

so then why are you buying a refurb. just pony up your bag of gold coins and get a new one at full price.

babaki

I wouldn't have sold to anybody who was acting like this guy, although I can't be sure if he wasn't acting like a complete asshat from step one.

@stinerman: isn't blue hair technically part of one's color? ;)

erica.blog

midwestkel

I tried to get our "new every two" phones from Verizon and got a total much of run around, BS and upselling from the smarmy used card salesmen rejects at their brick and mortar store in town. I finally gave up and just left. These are the same guys that nailed my elderly mother for about $250 to activate one of those bottom of the barrel cheap pay as you go phones for her vacation to Florida.

I NEVER deal with the stores if you don't have to. Automated systems are much easier to get your way with because they don't ask questions and don't have sales quotas.

bohemian

But here's the other thing that makes no sense to me -- if you were fairly certain you could get the same price elsewhere, and this store was so hell-bent on not taking your money, why on earth would you fight to give it to them?? Just take your business elsewhere. Eesh.

Jess A.

babaki

Something that is illegal still does not excuse a possibility. You may have to pay a fine but it can be done if someone chose to.

Sales people do this all the time they like saving those phones for the "NEW" customers they can get into contracts. To them they are the all seeing all dancing retail gods of their store. I hate retail people on power trips, employees that are way too loyal to companies that could replace you at any given time. So don't shop there and tell us what store this was so we do not go there etc.

lolowankenobi

If you're going to play the game, use the playbook

ptrix

I'm very, very glad I don't know you, because you sound like a true jerk. Do you seriously think pulling out the "make 5x as much money" card will get you what you want? If you're truly fortunate to be making an obscene amount of money, have the decency to be humble about it. And don't think that it entitles you to anything.

Sincerely,
Matt

mattatwork

So he wants to buy the phone, and when they start to prep for activation, he says he'll activate it on iTunes. They tell him no to that and he says he'll just activate and cancel when he gets home. So, was he going to activate on iTunes or not? Or, more preposterously, was he going to activate on iTunes just to cancel immediately? As far as them requiring activation in the store, maybe that was part of the terms of buying the refurb. I wouldn't doubt it, based on the rest of his behavior.

Also, they were not lying when they said they are corporate. This happens quite a bit, actually. There are authorized resellers and then there are corporate stores. Often, an AR will have someone come in demanding they do something that can only be done in a corporate store, and the customer will become irate at them, accusing them of lying, nevermind everything about the AR clearly states they are an AR and not a corporate store. So when he demanded a number for a corporate office, they more than likely took that to mean he mistook them for an AR instead of a corporate store, and they were trying to clarify.
The OP just comes off as a jerk no matter how you look at it, even if his account is accurate and the store made some mistakes.

BugMeNot2

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard anybody who wants something say to somebody in a position to grant the favor. WTG.

evslin

The headline should read "AT&T Reps Are Forced to Speak to Absolute Jerk". Yes, the AT&T folks were in the wrong, but the second you drop the "make more money" card you immediately become the bigger prick.

mattatwork

Seriously - this should be tagged 'bad consumer' and 'bad AT&T' Just bad.

Kat@Work

sylvie calls shotgun!!

RIP MRHANDS

Trai_Dep