First, I bought my Note 7 online from verizon.com. When the phones were announced as recalled I decided I wanted to stay with the Note (a decision which would have been harder if the V20 were available now).
Having done a fair amount of reading seemed to me that holding onto the phone (in a drawer powered down while the sim was in a 6P) and waiting until the new ones were available would be the way to deal with the situation. I've read a number of pundits who felt that replacements were about to be seeded into carrier stores so on a hunch I took mine with me to work.
Verizon Corp stores are about 40 mins from my house both North and South of me, and I choose the Corp store on Airport Rd in Bethlehem, PA, in the end I'm glad I did.
Met the greeter and told him I wanted to exchange my "explosive Note for a non-explosive one" and he very nicely told me there were 2 people in front of me but they would be right with me.
Took about 15 mins, was interesting the folks who had been there were buying iPhones, the 2 in front of me one also was buying an iPhone and the other was also exchanging his black Note, mine is black too. While I was sitting, waiting, others came in mostly to buy iPhones but 2 came in to exchange Notes, one had a blue one and was hoping they had another blue on to give him - they did and he too was asked to wait his turn.
Once it was my turn a very nice young lady came to me and asked what she could do for me, I explained again I wanted a non-explosive Note (and noted again she really didn't find the humor in that
). She asked me to identify myself and the phone number to be replaced, and then, gasp, asked me if I had the box with me - I did not. Damn I meant to put that in my briefcase last night and over looked it. I asked if she could please deal with this exceptionally as I had come from about 40 mins away. She asked me if there was another Verizon store closer to my house and I explained only 3rd party stores and for a matter like this I had been told to access a Corp store. At this point the manager came by and asked the young lady to come with her to the back.
He (the manager) came out first and said "we are going to help you out, don't worry" and I smiled profusely and said "thank you" in my most grateful voice I could muster.
The young lady came out quickly with a new Note and explained the manager said we could do this and she would just keep the new box - "fine with me I only need to walk out of here with a good phone" and she said "don't worry - you will".
We did the necessaries, powered on the old Note and wiped it, showed my proof of ID (remember to take your license as well as the original box), got the new Note activated. She asked if she could help me set up the phone I told her that was not necessary - I am very capable with such matters and she said something like - that's so nice to hear.
And so I am the proud owner of a non-exploding Note 7 with a green battery icon (that only turned so after a quick update to the software after signing in). Its reloading apps as we speak!
That just doesn't sound right.
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