T-Mobile Reminds Me That the Customer Is NOT Always Right
Author: Nick
Category: Money
Topics: business, technology
Here’s a story you won’t soon be reading on The Consumerist.
A few weeks ago, I bought this outdated but cheap T-Mobile pre-paid phone directly from T-Mobile’s website for $59.99. So far I’m absolutely satisfied with it–great reception, easy to use, long battery life, and dirt cheap refills.
I was less than thrilled, though, to see the price of the phone drop to $29.99 a couple days after I bought it.
Having successfully obtained a price-drop refund from Amazon.com just a few weeks ago, I decided to try my hand with T-Mobile and ask them for a refund on the difference between the price I paid and the current price. I knew T-Mobile didn’t have a policy about offering price adjustments after a purchase, but I figured five minutes of my time would be worth it for a chance to save $30.
Here’s the e-mail I sent to T-Mobile’s Customer Service:
Dear T-Mobile Customer Service,
I am writing in regard to a recent order (#*********) I placed for the Nokia 6030 T-Mobile To Go prepaid phone. I recently activated my phone and am very happy with my new service.
When I placed the order on January **, 2007, the phone was priced at $59.99. Just a couple days later, I noticed that the price of the phone dropped to and remains at $29.99.
I’m hoping that you would be willing to refund the difference between the price I paid and the current price of the phone. Please refund $30 to the credit card I used for this order. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Nick
I received an automated reply immediately stating that I’d hear back from a real person within 48 hours. Sure enough, I did. (Emphasis below is mine.)
Dear Nick,
Thank you for taking the time to contact T-Mobile regarding our promotions.
Before going any further, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for being a new T-Mobile customer since January 21, 2007. It is our pleasure to provide you with the best possible assistance for all questions and concerns you might have. T-Mobile is proud to be a leader in the field of wireless services.
We understand that you see our new promotion for the Nokia 6030 phone and like to get a credit on your phone purchase made earlier. This can be frustrating when you see the price change occur after purchasing the phone. We would be pleased to check for you.
Currently we do not have a price match available for our new promotions that come out. Sorry for the inconvenience this has caused.
If you have any further comments, questions, or concerns feel free to contact us at anytime. Did you know that you may check your minute usage and balance directly from your phone? Simply dial #999# to see the amount of minutes you have remaining and the dollar balance. Alternatively, our support number is 1-800-937-8997 or dial 611 from any T-Mobile handset at anytime.
As a valued customer Nick, thank you for choosing T-Mobile. We appreciate your business.
Sincerely,
Ray
Web Correspondence Specialist, T-Mobile USA
In short, the e-mail was a big “you’re outta luck” from T-Mobile.
At this point, I weighed my options. I could:
- Waste a few hours throwing a fit on T-Mobile’s Customer Service hotline, hoping they’ll cave to my demands.
- Register t-mobile-wont-give-me-my-money-back.com, post hourly about the horrible agony I’m enduring at the hands of the fiendish T-Mobile Customer Servile Representatives, and wait for the call from the New York Times.
- Throw in the towel.
Instead, I decided to go with Secret Option #4: Realize that T-Mobile is 100% right and shut my mouth. And no, that’s not the same as Option #3.
You see, T-Mobile has every right to refuse my price adjustment request. After all, as I stated earlier, they don’t have a price adjustment policy. While it would have been nice of them to offer a refund on the price difference, they certainly weren’t obligated to do so. In fact, it was probably unreasonable for me to request the refund in the first place.
Perhaps I’m a coward who’s deserting from the war between Big Business and Little Customers. Or maybe I’m a traitor for actually commending a company for sticking to its policies and not bending over backwards to meet my every desire. But T-Mobile won’t be receiving any hassling phone calls or lengthy demand letters from me. The only things they’ll be getting from me are a hearty thanks for promptly and courteously handling my situation, and my continued business.
Verizon, on the other hand, can continue to bite me.
Loading ...
54 Responses »
1.
LSD
January 31st, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Can you return the phone? If so, just return and rebuy it. Not having to deal with returns is the reason retailers have the price matching policy.
2.
English Major
February 1st, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Way to go with that. Whining bad, maturity in face of unfortunate circumstance good.
3.
Robby G
February 1st, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Very impressive, starring out the date when you bought the phone; and then not starring “January 21″ in the response email
4.
Nick
February 1st, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Oh crap. Now you’re going to steal all my… uh… I don’t even know why I starred it out in the first place.
LSD,
I needed the phone immediately, so I didn’t have time to do a return and reorder. But that’s a good tip for everyone out there.
5.
steve
February 15th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
I wish you would have went w/#2!! I am counting the days to get out of my T-Mobile contract. I don’t even get service in my own home!! Drive down any street outside my home and lose service.
Not too mention the worst customer service ever!! I purchase a new Razor for $45.99 which I was very grateful. I have been a customer for 4 years, after 3 asked to purchase a new Razor and the gave me a great deal at $45.99. Well, unfortunately the Razor broke (my fault) and was willing to purchase another one. But now……they wanted $120, becuase i signed a new 2 yr contract and they had me for 2yrs. I’m counting the days until i can get another service!!
6.
Adventures In Money Making
February 19th, 2007 at 3:39 am
they usually have a 15 day return policy. i would’ve told them that if they didn’t refund the difference i’d get my refund and then re-buy just to save a lousy $30 – if that didn’t work I’d then push to see if they’d atleast split the difference.
but giving up without a decent fight isn’t in me!
7.
Free ebooks
June 22nd, 2009 at 4:18 am
Man, i’d never thought about that before ..:(
8.
cosplay
July 26th, 2010 at 4:01 am
I completely agree with you , all of the thank you emails that I get at work eat up so much of my time. Not only that but I also usually feel obligated to reply which wastes even more time and resources.
9.
kevin
July 26th, 2010 at 4:28 am
thanks for sharing thoes informations , It is interesting, i like it!I hope you do better and better on your website,And popular more and more!
10.
chanel outlet
August 31st, 2010 at 7:58 pm
I don’t even get service in my own home!
11.
منتديات
November 28th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
thanks for admin.nice sharing.very nice
12.
JUs blog
December 2nd, 2010 at 8:54 am
They pretty much started to not care about their clients after they have achieved some sort of monopoly. All big companies do that!
13.
دلع نجد
December 2nd, 2010 at 10:59 am
Thank you for the article useful view the article and I hope you write again
14.
Jocuri
December 21st, 2010 at 9:03 am
Pretty nerve racking to know that you mobile telehpony company doesn’t offer you support!
15.
zara
March 25th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
http://www.vibramfivefingershoes2011.com/
16.
haiying
April 12th, 2011 at 2:39 am
http://www.mylouisvuittonoutlet-sale.com/
17.
xx
April 27th, 2011 at 1:39 am
http://www.coachpursestores.com/
18.
Property Marbella
July 6th, 2011 at 6:22 am
Having successfully obtained a price-drop refund from Amazon.com just a few weeks ago, I decided to try my hand with T-Mobile. Property Marbella
19.
Virtual Server
July 11th, 2011 at 11:10 am
Thats not cool at all
20.
عراق3
July 26th, 2011 at 7:17 am
دردشه عراق3 1
21.
جات عراقي
July 26th, 2011 at 7:17 am
شات عراقي 2
22.
جات العراق
July 26th, 2011 at 7:18 am
شات العراق 3
23.
دردشة العراق
July 26th, 2011 at 7:19 am
دردشه العراق 4
24.
دردشة عراقية
July 26th, 2011 at 7:20 am
دردشه عراقيه 5
25.
شات
July 26th, 2011 at 7:20 am
جات 6
26.
دردشه
July 26th, 2011 at 7:21 am
دردشة 7
27.
دليل المواقع العراقية
July 26th, 2011 at 7:37 am
دليل المواقع 8
28.
دليل
July 26th, 2011 at 7:39 am
دليل عراقي 9
29.
منتديات العراق
July 26th, 2011 at 7:40 am
منتدى العراق 10
30.
منتديات عراقية
July 26th, 2011 at 7:41 am
منتدى عراقي 11
31.
منتديات عراق3
July 26th, 2011 at 7:42 am
منتدى عراق3 12
32.
شات
August 2nd, 2011 at 5:05 pm
March 30th
33.
nike shox shoes on sale
August 11th, 2011 at 3:16 am
Thank you shanring this information with us
34.
Hire SEO Company
August 18th, 2011 at 6:32 am
Wow… nice post here Nick. Where are you from? I ‘d like to read more to your next post.Please keep continue.
35.
الرياض
September 3rd, 2011 at 8:48 am
they usually have a 15 day return policy. i would’ve told them that if they didn’t refund the difference i’d get my refund and then re-buy just to save a lousy $30 – if that didn’t work I’d then push to see if they’d atleast split the difference.
but giving up without a decent fight isn’t in me!
36.
chat iraq
September 10th, 2011 at 12:42 am
Thank you shanring
37.
دردشة عراقية
September 10th, 2011 at 12:43 am
Great Article very nice
دردشة عراقنا
38.
شات مصرى
September 14th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
great, thats very good for us
39.
Property Marbella
October 4th, 2011 at 4:16 am
Perhaps I’m a coward who’s deserting from the war between Big Business and Little Customers. Property Marbella
40.
Property Marbella
October 4th, 2011 at 4:16 am
As a valued customer Nick, thank you for choosing T-Mobile. We appreciate your business. Property Marbella
41.
ماليزيا
October 25th, 2011 at 3:21 am
thank you a lot’s bro
42.
منتديات العراق
November 18th, 2011 at 11:33 am
thank you
thank you
thank you
thank you
43.
replica jewelry
January 25th, 2012 at 11:57 pm
Nice hosting! It’s my first time to read like this article.ikyfgiy
44.
شات
January 28th, 2012 at 8:14 am
good man this topic very good
45.
دردشة العراق
February 14th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
I think this is one of the most significant info for me. And i am glad reading your article. But should remark on few general things, The website style is perfect, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers
46.
Marbella apartments
March 10th, 2012 at 8:06 am
T-Mobile has every right to refuse my price adjustment request. After all, as I stated earlier, they don’t have a price adjustment policy.
47.
handbags
March 17th, 2012 at 11:57 pm
The party is on, you are very got at making fun o serious problems
48.
شات صوتي
March 20th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
49.
دردشة صوتية
March 20th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
yeeeeesssssssssssssssssssssssss
50.
Marbella apartments
March 21st, 2012 at 8:42 am
They are difference on customers and customers.
51.
اغاني عراقية
March 26th, 2012 at 9:44 am
thank u >> nice
52.
Marbella apartments
April 4th, 2012 at 5:08 am
I needed the phone immediately, so I didn’t have time to do a return and reorder
53.
العاب بوابة حواء
April 9th, 2012 at 2:32 am
This is a very informative article. I was looking for these things and here I found it. I am doing a project and this information is very useful me. Some things in here I have not thought about before
54.
العاب 2013
May 8th, 2012 at 6:27 am
thanx this topic very very good
Leave a comment
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>