My trip to the T-Mobile store

[John Jason]

Yesterday I had some time and was near a T-Mobile store, so I stopped in to see the Sensation. They had one just loose out on the shelf next to the display dummy, so I picked it up to play with it. However, the screen said "No SIM card." At that point a sales dude came over, so I asked him why there was no SIM card in the phone. He replied that their demo did not come with a SIM card so they just set it up on the store's wifi. So I asked him how I could test how fast it was on their 4G network. He just shrugged and said "I guess you can't." So then I pointed out that they were a T-Mobile store, so it would take them only a couple of minutes to make a SIM card, and wondered out loud why they did not do so. He said I would have to talk to the manager about that.

Finally, I said that if I couldn't check out the phone I wasn't going to buy it. He shrugged again and said that was my choice, whereupon I put the phone down and walked out. This is not the customer service I expected from T-Mobile.

So what do they have to hide? Or am I being paranoid?

 

[EmceeGeek]

pretty sure you're being paranoid

 

[55pilot]

So what do they have to hide? Or am I being paranoid?

You are not being paranoid, they are just being T-Mobile.

I had similar experience at T-Mobile corp store. I asked what the coverage was like where I live (I am a little out of town). The sales person suggested I go home and look at their website. When I said that I tried and the website would hang while entering the address, his answer was that "That is how things work at T-Mobile"

The guy did not seem to have any interest in selling me anything or providing any service. When I asked about the Sensation 4G, he pointed to a corner of the store and said that that is where HTC phones were located.

I do not know if the place has a bunch of disgruntle employees because of the buyout or if the company is imploding because of poor corporate culture.

 

[Moneymike420]

why would they have one of their own sim cards in a dummy phone in the store? 3 days b4 release day i went in to ask about my upgrade,and the guy who works there had a store model in his pocket with his sim inside it so he let me check it out,i didnt check any speeds or anything but he was just using the phone for 3 days or so with his sim in it..but theres tons of reviews on youtube and the phone got immaculate reviews by every single tech website,so theres nothing for them to hide lol.i got the phone on the 15th coming from a BB Bold 9700 this thing is amazing.despite a minor hiccup with the sound its an amazing device and u should get it..today..lol

 

[John Jason]

Thanks all for the comments.

First, I want to point out that the phone in the store was not a dummy phone. It was a fully functional Sensation 4G.

And second, I have read just about all the reviews and have lurked on this forum for a couple of weeks. But the one thing I cannot tell from reviews or news here is how fast it actually is with 4G speeds. And that is important enough to me that I'm not buying it until I get the chance to see it in action with Speedtest.

The fact that they hooked it up to the store wifi instead of putting a SIM card in it tells me that they didn't want customers to see how slow it is on their 4G network. Or maybe they were just stupid.

 

[pdxrealtor]

Thanks all for the comments.

First, I want to point out that the phone in the store was not a dummy phone. It was a fully functional Sensation 4G.

And second, I have read just about all the reviews and have lurked on this forum for a couple of weeks. But the one thing I cannot tell from reviews or news here is how fast it actually is with 4G speeds. And that is important enough to me that I'm not buying it until I get the chance to see it in action with Speedtest.

The fact that they hooked it up to the store wifi instead of putting a SIM card in it tells me that they didn't want customers to see how slow it is on their 4G network. Or maybe they were just stupid.

What store did you go to? I'm in PDX OR. as well, and the Beaverton store is extra bad. Tanasbourne has always treated me well, and Washington SQ. is some where in the middle.

I live a few blocks from the Beaverton Mall store, so as a last resort (didn't want to drive today) I went there. The REP gave me serious attitude because I wouldn't buy a screen protector.

I just had fun with him......

 

[John Jason]

What store did you go to? I'm in PDX OR. as well, and the Beaverton store is extra bad. Tanasbourne has always treated me well, and Washington SQ. is some where in the middle.

I live a few blocks from the Beaverton Mall store, so as a last resort (didn't want to drive today) I went there. The REP gave me serious attitude because I wouldn't buy a screen protector.

The store I went to is the one at MLK and Broadway, which is in the same block as a Sprint store, a Cricket store, and a very large AT&T store. Maybe they've just given up because of the intense competition in that block. I've had better luck at the Lloyd Center and downtown stores. I have to go to PSU in a couple days, so maybe I'll stop at the downtown store on the way.

For an outfit that everyone says gives super customer service, they sure fail in this town.

 

[jggonzalez]

That's totally different from my experience. I went to my local T-Mobile store several times and told them I was a tire-kicker. They still answered all of my questions very thoroughly. One of the salesgirls asked for my home and work address. I told her and she checked both for coverage. I wound up buying one from her during their Father's Day special promotion. I've also had great service when I called Customer Service.