Customer Service, or the lack thereof

As some of you know, my pretty pink cell phone shorted out. Like big time. The touch screen froze and I couldn't open or send text messages, get to my contacts, or anything useful like that. So I go to the new verizon store at Bridgewater Falls. I walk in looking for some help, maybe a little empathy. So sue me.
Well, the good news, most all the employees look like bored fashion models. Very pretty, not so useful. I go to the counter, and they tell me to go to the tech desk. Okay, my bad. Well, the desk is in the rear of the store, and my boys are in the van. (Calm down, glass front, I could see them the whole time. Van locked, keys out. Tommy was sleeping, and if you have met the Tomster, getting a full nap in is imperative. Andy knows to hit the horn if someone even looks at him, or as in this day, happens to pass by. Yup, laid on the horn, and scared the crap out of some lady. he he)
My not wanting to remain at the desk seemed to bother my fashion model look-a-like tech boy. Needed to keep an eye on the boys. I explained my phone seemed to have shorted out, and he popped the battery off to look for water damage. None. Could of told him. He turns the phone off and on. Off and on. Off and on. I smile politely. I need my phone. I smile politely.
He says, "Well, it looks like your phone isn't working." I did not reply. Too Dangerous. I need my phone. (Really Einstein?? I came from freaking Seven Mile for this??) He explains that I can pay $50.00 for a replacement phone and my upgrade in March will still be available. That's like throwing $50.00 away, I sighed out loud. He nodded. Well, borrow one. I didn't reply. Too dangerous. I need my phone. (gee, that's an original idea. Golly, why didn't I think of that??)
I explain that I have already done that for most of the summer, but that phone was actually dropped in water, and I know the rules. Water damage = no new phone.
At this point, tech boy smiles and sighs out, "Well it looks like you're s.o.l." . I replied. I didn't need my phone that badly. I sighed out, "Well, that's too bad, cause your phones are p.o.s.'s." He looked a little shocked, but said that there wasn't anything to be done til March, or the $50.00 option, or my buying a new phone right then. Ummmm, no thank you.

***update****
Went to Verizon in Tri-County today. I didn't tell them of my fashion model run in. I explained that my touch screen wasn't acknowledging my presence. Michelle in customer service checked it over, tried some things with the computer. She verified the $5O.00 swap fee. She noticed my hesitation. She told me to wait while she talked it over with someone. She was gone for awhile. When she returned, she smiled and said that she would swap it for the same type of phone for free. She even transferred all my contacts for free. What a gal. I love customer service like that. When you pay out the ears for a service, it is nice when the people providing the service seem to appreciate your business, isn't it? Go Michelle!!

andy and commericals

I am amazed with Andy's ability to repeat almost word for word the commericals that catch his eye. The other day, he came running into the kitchen, and informed me that I needed to have wonder hangers. 'You can hang not one thing, not two things, not three things, not four things, but FIVE things mom!' He then said to call 1-800- and ran back into the family room to get the phone number off the tv screen. He cracks me up. He is forever running to me inform me of the latest and greatest new inventions that are going to make our lives better. His innocent trust reminds me of adults at 3am. That's when we watch those same commericals and think WOW!! Remember my friends, what looks wonderful at 3am will seldom hold up at 3pm. Andy may not think so, but that this mommy's take.

the mommy thing

Yesterday morning, Andy was yelling "MOM!!! Tommy's fingerprints are blocking my dvd screen !!" So, after getting their breakfast, I grabbed the Windex and couple of paper towels to take care of the screen. I sprayed some on the paper towels and went to work on the screen. As I was engrossed in the cleaning, Tommy grabbed the Windex and sprayed himself in the eye. He screamed. He screamed at me. (go figure, as I was the ogress that placed it on the table) As I was trying to comfort him, I chuckled. Andy looked at me with aghast. I just thought, Tommy had unknowingly tried to wash the windows to his soul..........try explaining that chuckle to a 5 year old. Still trying to get this mommy thing down.