Stupid, Lousy Phone

...At least, my old/new phone was stupid and lousy! Grrrr! The thing makes me angry just to think about!

Let me start at the beginning:

I have been with AT&T for four years. It's great! I like the service and the price for the package that I have. I signed on for a two-year contract and got a new phone. Three-and-a-half years later, I still had that same contract and phone. It was a great phone. I am clumsy and dropped that phone a LOT, but I never had any trouble with it.

But after three-and-a-half years I decided I wanted a new one. I wanted the new(ish) model that looks like a blackberry. And I found one! An LG Neon. It was grey and blue and had a camera on it! (I know iPhones are all the rage now, but I've always been at least one model or one clothing style behind. I think about my purchases for a LONG TIME before I spend my money.) $20 dollars later it was mine and I took it home. For about a month it worked perfectly. And then I dropped it.

The first time, it seemed to be okay. After the second time, it was fine.

I'd had it two months when I dropped it the third time. And then... I noticed that when I tried to call my mom, I didn't hear the phone ring and I couldn't hear her for about 10 seconds. She could hear me, though, so I was the creepy person who breathes on the phone while she says "Hello? Hello?"

As the weeks progressed, it got worse and worse. I had the problem with other phone numbers. My grandmother hung up on me. I missed the beginning of all of the voicemails I received and had to replay them in order to hear who the heck had called me. Drove me NUTS!

So, I called AT&T for a new phone. Since I'd dropped it (should have kept that quiet) it wasn't covered by the warranty. I do have insurance, so I called them. They said they could send me a new LG Neon, but it would cost $50. I wasn't happy about it, but I paid it. I wanted a phone that worked!

I did NOT get my wish. The second phone I only had to drop ONCE before all the old problems came back. Except, this time I had trouble with the buttons for text messaging. UNCOOL! This phone has been even more frustrating than the previous.

I don't see how it's too much to ask for, a phone that still works even if I drop it a few times. After all, that first phone worked just fine for three-and-a-half years!

I talked with an AT&T salesman at Sam's Club, and he verified that my phone sucks. He recommended that I call AT&T, angrily describe how crappy the phone is, demand a new phone and say I don't want to have to sign a new contract or pay full price. He even recommended a new model -- a Samsung Solstice. I've done some research on that model and talked to a few people who have it, and it looks like a good one.

I called AT&T and was uncharacteristically grumpy on the phone. I don't like being angry with service people. I worked in customer service and I know what it's like. But I was grumpy. He couldn't offer me the Samsung Solstice for free, but he said I could get it at a discount when I'm due for my next upgrade in September. Of the options he gave me, I took the option to buy a cheap, prepaid phone. It's not a great one, but I can keep my phone number, and it should see me through the next six months. At least, I hope it does.

I just want a phone that WORKS! I don't want to be the creepy breather anymore!