Did anyone else have a horrible pre-order at Radio Shack?

[PretoEVO4]

I pre ordered the EVO 4G at Radio Shack back when they first started the pre-orders.

No problem I get called and they tell me it is instock.

So I get there and some guy with a manager badge goes and gets my phone. He proceeds to open it up, pulled apart all the packaging (including the plastic screen cover), and then proceeds to set it up. The screen was all smudged with whatever he had on his hands.

Then he says "Hey you need to come over here" and I'm like "OK". Didn't tell me where and why, but I assumed it was important.

NOPE. He takes me over to the accessory aisle and (with out even asking me) pulls off some expensive screen covers, car charger, and a few other things. Then he tells me "these are required for you to buy with the pre-order". I'd guess he probably easily pulled off $70-100 in accessories.

BULL SH** THEY ARE! So an argument begins while he keeps trying to bold face lie to me that it was part of the pre-order deal that these have to be purchased. Eventually he realized I wasn't a moron and proceeded to give me the phone.

This was the first time I stepped in a Radio Shack in 10 years and it will now be the last time. I realize that they must be really hurting for sales considering their store offers practically nothing of any interest to most people other than cell phones these days, but if this is the kind of business practices they are resorting to I doubt they are going to be in business more than a few more years.

Next time I'll just wait a little while longer and order it online. I hate dealing with retailers these days. They are as bad as car salespeople now.

 

[Gekko]

wow. that's awful. the guys at BB try a little upsell too but nothing even close to that obnoxious.

 

[kkacatin]

It all depends on the people. The radioshack I visited was probably one of the coolest in the world. We had a terrible launch day because activations were painfully slow. But they were all laughs and giggles and it was pretty much like a party inside the store. Everyone was cool about it and didn't push anything. They mentioned the accessories deal but they were not total d-heads about it.

Forgot to mention there was free food and coffee provided for us.

 

[anon(22913)]

Not all RS people are like that. I would find a number to call and complain. You showed great restraint by not punching the guy in the face.

 

[jap00_34]

From my experience, it's never a good idea to deal with radio shack. Never ends good. Bad service all around...

 

[u71n4444]

I ordered my EVO 3 weeks ago , and I was in constant contact with the girl that did my preorder at least once a week.
The day before I called and asked if they were officially opening early and she stated no because they were in the mall. She however asked if i wanted to come in early and I said yes and asked if 9:15am would be aok for her. She said she would come in for me, and for herself as i would be the first to get one of the pre-orders in her store. She was there on time, and I was very excited.

Then the sprint slowdown happened. She was very apologetic during the entire 2hr wait. She was on the phone with Sprint and trying on the PC at the same time. Since t was takigng so long I went in mall and had a battery put in my watch. Came back and still no activation. She eventually got everything taking care of. She was so nice and insisting that I left activated and a happy customer, I even tipped her 10.00 for her to get herself some lunch that day.

I'm a happy EVO owner.

 

[akarol]

My preorder appointment went fine with the exception that there are 3 registers and apparently 5 people scheduled for my time alone. They also had no accessories I was interested in (all they had were screen protectors) and said that I needed to purchase something for the phone otherwise I'd lose the $20 credit (they didn't want to give it to me in a gift card to use when more accessories arrived). So I bought a BT headset which I have no intention of opening and will exchange it for a case when/if it arrives. Figured I'd give them a dose of their own medicine.

 

[jeffeulogy]

sprint went down right after the guy at radio shack took my deposit so i was stuck there for almost 6 hours. this store only pre sold 3 phones and the district manager called after every single appointment they had set up to bug the guy helping me about what accessories and extended warranties he'd sold. i'd guess that's why the guy that helped you was being a ******, apparanttly it's required and compliance is strictly enforced.

 

[slthree]

my experience with the local RS was a dream

very subtle attempts at selling add ons

very professional

 

[alister]

I rolled up to my local RS at 9:30AM which was empty except the two guys working. I didn't pre-order but asked if they had any Evo's and he said "yes". I got to the counter to pay and he mentioned the accessories that were suggested by HTC via a meeting the day before (and RS ext warranty). I declined, paid, and walked out. Easiest/quickest $500 I've ever spent.

 

[ArkAngel06]

Mine was really painless. Took probably 15 minutes total. I ported my number from tmo, and he said the phone couldn't be turned on until my old phone stopped working...so they didn't even open it in the store. He asked if I wanted any accessories, and I just said a car charger. Didn't try to upsell anything. I've always liked radio shack...they have stuff you just can't find anywhere else. Connectors, leds, wiring stuff, etc.

 

[croaker76]

Stopped buy my RS at lunch on friday and was told of the sprint meltdown. They were really having a bad day and you could tell the people waiting were feeling the same. I have to give them credit though, the RS guys did not complain and remained upbeat and polite all day. They even held the door open a little longer that night so i could come back after work and pick mine up. There was no push for add ons and he was very cool during the whole process.

 

[hopesmasher]

Sounds like a crap experience. Think I would be out my cost of the Evo and the bail money to get myself out of jail for monkey smacking that twit.
The guys at BB were very cool. They pitched the case and screen protector which I took because I wanted them anyway but then they threw in a bluetooth headset that they told me came with the package. Ill just use it for my playstation. Cant remember the last time that I bought something from RS. Looks like Ive been making the right decision to keep going to BB.

 

[ToothVore]

Radio shack was fine for me on launch day. I went there at 6am (central) and was in and old in 20 minutes. I picked up their horrible screen protectors for free and told them I didn't need a car charger since I knew the one I had for my pre would work with my evo. Now I'm just looking for a better screen protector.

 

[brittonx]

My experience was great!
I went in on the 2nd to ask about getting one. They said the pre-orders were closed out but that they would have a small number above their pre-order count. They took down my information. I got a call on the 3rd saying they would have one for me on the 4th. On the 4th, I got a call at 7:00am asking if I was going to pick it up. I showed up at the store at 7:30am. I was out the door no later than 7:45am with no pressure to purchase additional accessories. They asked, of course, but didn't fuss when I said no.
I would buy from them again in a heartbeat.

 

[BullVon]

Radio Shack

Radio Shack. You've got questions? We've got blank stares.

 

[eyecon82]

i had a good experience..they tried to upsell me, but i told them i already had a case (was already in my pocket from the seidio preorder) and i already had a micro-usb charger...

the guy was nice and just took $20 off the phone with the $10 coupon, so I got my phone for $170+tax

 

[Fried Rice Mofo]

I pre ordered the EVO 4G at Radio Shack back when they first started the pre-orders.

No problem I get called and they tell me it is instock.

So I get there and some guy with a manager badge goes and gets my phone. He proceeds to open it up, pulled apart all the packaging (including the plastic screen cover), and then proceeds to set it up. The screen was all smudged with whatever he had on his hands.

Then he says "Hey you need to come over here" and I'm like "OK". Didn't tell me where and why, but I assumed it was important.

NOPE. He takes me over to the accessory aisle and (with out even asking me) pulls off some expensive screen covers, car charger, and a few other things. Then he tells me "these are required for you to buy with the pre-order". I'd guess he probably easily pulled off $70-100 in accessories.

BULL SH** THEY ARE! So an argument begins while he keeps trying to bold face lie to me that it was part of the pre-order deal that these have to be purchased. Eventually he realized I wasn't a moron and proceeded to give me the phone.

This was the first time I stepped in a Radio Shack in 10 years and it will now be the last time. I realize that they must be really hurting for sales considering their store offers practically nothing of any interest to most people other than cell phones these days, but if this is the kind of business practices they are resorting to I doubt they are going to be in business more than a few more years.

Next time I'll just wait a little while longer and order it online. I hate dealing with retailers these days. They are as bad as car salespeople now.

Well, I'm sorry that you had a bad experience with a particular sales rep at your particular store. That being said, I think it's somewhat unfair to heap the entire company into it.

And to bad mouth as a company is complete BS.. Who shops at Radio Shack? Plenty of people do.. For such a crappy company, we manage to stay in the black on a consistent basis. Which is a big reason why larger companies are looking to buy us out.

Friday was hell, but that was on Sprint, not us. We had no control over what Sprint was doing. In your case, he probably crossed the line, and I apologize for that as a representative of the company. But don't lump me, my store, or my company with one particular person. For every bad employee, you'll find 10 good ones. And that's the way it is with EVERY company.

 

[DocPeanut]

It was bad for me, they couldn't get my upgrade to ring through. Wasted 3 hours there, finally ended up at the Sprint store where I got my EVO. Problem is now I have a $50 gift card and there really isn't anything I want/need from there.

 

[eyecon82]

Guys, not only was RS having issues, but Best buy and corp sprint stores all had issues...

so no matter where u would have gone, you would have run into issues....the sprint stores jam cleared up before BB and RS