I went to get a replacement for my phone, My Touch Slide, which I paid full price for. I have been a customer for 5+ years and decided to purchase 'handset protection' with this phone. I wanted to replace my phone because the antenna was turning on and off every few minutes not matter where I was. I made my first visit to a t-mobile store in Brooklyn, before going to this store in Huntington. At the Brooklyn location they told me they thought the SIM card was 'old' so they replaced it. I left the store thinking this would fix the problem, it didn't. I then went to this Huntington location to get a replacement phone. The sales associates were sitting with their feet up at the front window of the store eating sunflower seeds and listening to music with their headphones on. One of them got up when I came in and I explained the situation. He told me he didn't have any 'white My Touch slide' phones in stock. So I said, I will gladly take one in a different color. He said the replacement had to be an exact replacement: make, model and color.
I told him this wasn't true according to the t-mobile website:
"Receiving a replacement phone? Your replacement device may be new or remanufactured.
If the same make and model you claim is not available, a like-kind make and model may be substituted.
You may also receive generic manufacturer accessories."
https://support.my.t-mobile.com/doc/tm23694.xml
He then said he would call the next closet t-mobile store in Deer Park to see if they had the phone, I said that would be helpful. He called and I waited for about 5 minutes while he was on hold. My kids were in the car with a family member and I could see them going crazy so I asked him if he could text me when he found out if they had the phone. He never texted or called to let me know. Fine, maybe I was asking for too much but they failed here.
Third Visit:
I went back to the Brooklyn store and went in to replace my phone. He told me a series of confusing things. First, that the insurance is provided by a third party and I have to call them. I bought the phone AT THIS STORE, bought the insurance AT THIS STORE and he was giving me another company to deal with. He then told me he could call customer service for T-Mobile and I could get on the phone with them to get a replacement phone. He said, it will take three business days to get a new phone. This should be available in all T-Mobile stores.
After talking with him a bit more I found out that the phones that you get after a claim on 'handset protection' are refurbished. This wasn't told to me when I bought the insurance nor is it on the Premium Handset Protection page:
https://support.my.t-mobile.com/doc/tm23694.xml
Get your act together T-Mobile, it shouldn't take three visits to be told I need to call customer service to get a replacement phone. Local T-Mobile Stores: You should tell your customers if they can get their phones replaced in your store BEFORE SELLING THEM INSURANCE. read more