Wow, an awful lot of one star reviews. Maybe that's a subtle, little hint, fellas . . . like being hit on the head with a brick. According to my one star rating, I guess I'm not a special customer, after all. I'm the norm.
I went to the Watsonville store one Sunday to purchase a 100 gig per month mobile hotspot (prominently advertised and promoted by ATT). I explained what I wanted before waiting, nearly an hour, to be summoned by one of the staff members. I repeated what I wanted to purchase and, after a minute or so of punching stuff into his tablet, the staff person said they couldn't sell me what I wanted. If I wanted, I could get a 40 gig monthly plan, just not the 100. Why not? I was told they didn't know why, they just knew they couldn't. Plus, it would take nearly a week for them to send me a hotspot device and activate the 40 gig plan. The helper wasn't aware ATT sold 100 gig plans . . . was I sure? Yeah, check your own website. After being told I would need to do it online or call, I complained about not being able to buy something they allegedly offered and wanted to sell. Why call this place a "store" ?. . why not a "disappointment factory" . . . in which you have to wait an hour to be disappointed. He consulted with someone (posing?) as the "manager." No luck . . . and more complaints from me.
Then the staff got busy. After about five minutes of tablet time, the staff member said he had "good news." If I bought an ATT compatible hotspot device (router) and brought it into the "store" they could take care of everything I needed. "100 gigs a month?" I asked. Yes, indeed.
At this point I'm just mildly disappointed, but that's just not good enough for ATT Watsonville. They aim to crush all your hope. So, I leave and purchase a $400, ATT compatible hotspot router and return to the "disappointment factory" two days later. Short wait, this time. I explain what I'm here for and here's my ATT compatible hotspot router device thing. Oh, sorry, they can't sell me the 100 gig plan . . . they still don't know why, but they say I've got to do it online or call. (Nowhere does it say this ATT product can't be sold in ATT stores) Are they kidding? No . . . of course not . . . they want to ensure my complete disappointment. More and slightly louder complaints from me.
Now, the "manager" hears what's going on, comes over and says he remembers me from Sunday . . . and he remembers the conversation and remembers they said they can't help me (yeah, no sh*t!). If he actually heard the conversation on Sunday, why in Hell didn't he tell me that buying and bringing in my own ATT compatible hotspot router wouldn't change anything? Now THAT'S some good managing . . . playing dumb. (I don't think he was playing)
After hours and hours and hours of phone calls to robots (and supposed ATT people), failed attempts online, and more calls, I was about to search for another company to be disappointed by, when I tried one last call and got someone who was nice, pleasant and knowledgeable (His name was Ken, good luck trying to find him). Whole thing done in 20 minutes. Oh yeah, the $400 router I was told I had to buy and bring in? It won't work with this ATT plan. (Thanks again, Watsonville "store") I had to buy different one from ATT.
Do I need to add this one last thought to an excruciatingly long and sad review? Why not . . . Like them, I don't know why, I just have to:
THE WATSONVILLE ATT STORE IS ABSOLUTELY, TOTALLY, COMPLETELY AND THOROUGHLY WORTHLESS. Go there if you're a sadist. read more