8.19.2008

AAAAARRRRRrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!

Here is my iPhone dilemma... (i am so mad right now i can't do anything but laugh about it, and laughing is NOT helping)

Yesterday, at about 7pm, I went to the AT&T store to get an iPhone. I know my number was attached to a business plan before (iPhone is not available for business plans), but I was told that I can change that in store by opening up a new personal account. I waited in line for about 20 minutes, and was helped by a woman who looked very busy. I told her that I wanted an iPhone, and gave her the story about my business number and wanting to switch it over to a personal account. She told me that they are not able to do that in the store, and that she could not help me. So I left.
Then I called Char on the way home to find out what I needed to do to get my number to be my number, and she said I should just go to the Apple store and buy a phone, and take care of all of the switch over stuff over the phone with customer care. So off I went again, to the Brea Mall, and when I got there they didn't have any phones for sale. She then told me that I can't pay for a phone in cash anyways. (That seems crazy that they don't accept cash?!?!?) So she told me to buy a gift card with the cash, and I could come back in the morning to get a phone when they have them in stock. I left Brea mall with a brand new Apple Gift Card worth 230 dollars. When I got home at 9pm, I checked the store's stock of iPhones for sale for the next morning, and they didn't have it in stock. BUT! the Costa Mesa store did, so I planned to go there in the morning to get my new phone.
I woke up early and arrived at the Costa Mesa Apple Store (south coast plaza) at 10am. I walked into the store, and was helped by James. I told him my story, and he said that they can't even SELL me a phone unless I have an account ready to upgrade to the iPhone service. He suggested that I call AT&T right there and get my account switched over. I stepped out of the store, and into the deserted mall (cause nobody shops at 10am) and called customer care. I spent 30 minutes on the phone with them, and FINALLY I had my OWN number on my OWN personal plan. I went back into the store and spoke with James again (who was totally nice and very helpful). He put scanned the barcodes on the iPhone box, and inputted my information again, and it still came up invalid. The Apple Store computers were still showing my number as having not been switched over to a personal number. No big deal I though. I said oh well, it probably hasn't updated in whatever data base they use. I'll go get some food and come back and hopefully by then it'll have been updated and I can get my phone.
I got a really bad philly cheese steak paninni-ish sandwich, and a bowl of ceasar salad dressing with a little bit of lettuce in it, COVERED in parmesan cheese. After a wonderful lunch, I went back to the store, and tried again, but to no avail. Still showing up as a business number. The worst part is that there was nothing James could have done to help me, because I could tell that he felt bad for me, because I had been there for 3 hours already. Waiting and calling, and waiting some more and calling some more. I called customer care back again, and they still told me that it should work, but that there must be something wrong with their computers at the Apple Store. The Apple employees kept telling me that they get their information directly from AT&T so it wasn't their fault. Hahaha... it's obviously nobody's fault. I thought the whole thing was funny. (I was only laughing to keep from yelling)
I went to Memphis and had a drink round about 2 o'clock, and went back to the apple store. After another try to buy the phone, I made my final phone call to AT&T. It lasted 39 minutes, and after being transferred to two different departments, and being on hold the majority of that time, they told me to wait until tomorrow. It should be ready to go tomorrow. AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
In summary, I was at the apple store for about 4 hours today, and didn't buy anything. I bought a crappy lunch that was over priced, and had some crown royal from memphis. I spent a good majority of my time on hold with AT&T and trying to politely get someone to help me solve my problem. You know what's really funny? AT&T customer care representatives ask you if they helped solve the problems you called them for today, and if there is anything else they can help you with. HAHAHA made me laugh every time, and no you didn't help me solve my problem, but thank you for letting me call you AT&T.

(I'm screaming on the inside)

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