Why did my local Verizon store rep try to talk me out of an iPhone? He told me they were made of glass and would break. If I wanted one I should buy it somewhere else. I had to insist on the purchase telling him I have a MacBookPro and iPad.
callenphd
Newbie

Why did my local Verizon store rep try to talk me out of an iPhone?  He told me they were made of glass and would break.  If I wanted one I should buy it somewhere else.  I had to insist on the purchase telling him I have a MacBookPro and iPad and I was upgrading both my service contract and two phones.

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demous
Enthusiast - Level 3

Most likely because they see so many fanboys that they are making sure people are not just getting the iPhone because it is an iPhone... tends to lead to a higher percentage of returns when people are properly qualified into the right device.

HouseofPanda
Contributor - Level 1

If you already have Apple products and cited this in the store, it makes absolutely no sense for a Verizon rep to tell you to go somewhere else and buy it unless they were out.  I myself was steered away from the iPhone recently when I was choosing between the iPhone 4S, the Droid 4 and the Samsung Galaxy S3.  The iPhone wasn't the best option for what I was telling them I needed and they recognized that.  But they never once told me to "go somewhere else," and they only suggested; they never told me flat-out that they wouldn't sell me anything in particular.  If what you're saying is true, someone may be losing their job in the near future.  I wouldn't sweat it too much.

budone
Legend

I think it may be an Apple request. AT&T has been told to push Androids for the short term

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NuDroidUsrr
Specialist - Level 3

budone wrote:

I think it may be an Apple request. AT&T has been told to push Androids for the short term

Why would Apple tell the carriers to NOT sell the iPhone? and to push Androids?

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budone
Legend

Droid Usrr wrote:

budone wrote:

I think it may be an Apple request. AT&T has been told to push Androids for the short term

Why would Apple tell the carriers to NOT sell the iPhone? and to push Androids?

I said I suspect..... Why would ATT tell sale reps to push people to Androids and away from the iPhone short term??

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HouseofPanda
Contributor - Level 1

WILD guess, but maybe to lower production of the iPhone 4S - and spend less resources on the LAST iteration - when the iPhone 5 is right around the corner.  Time to push the next big thing?  Still doesn't make much sense but oh well....

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budone
Legend

Sounds logical to me

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NuDroidUsrr
Specialist - Level 3

budone wrote:

Droid Usrr wrote:

budone wrote:

I think it may be an Apple request. AT&T has been told to push Androids for the short term

Why would Apple tell the carriers to NOT sell the iPhone? and to push Androids?

I said I suspect..... Why would ATT tell sale reps to push people to Androids and away from the iPhone short term??

  Because of stock, because of profit margin, because of insurance, there are a whole bunch of reasons why a carrier would push one thing or another.

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Boodles
Newbie

It seems an odd way of doing business, I think it would make more sense just to say they didn't have any in stock.  However I can think of four reasons.  1) budone suggested the request may have come from Apple, one reason for them to request would be they are running out of the current model of iphone.  Production problems, phone related or not.  2) Whoever has Verizon's insurance on the iPhones may have stated ENOUGH!  Perhaps they have replaced too many iPhones.  3) Verizon will soon be giving away the iPhones (with of course purchase of a (overpriced) phone/data plan contract), so they don't want customers complaining that they had to pay for theirs. Last but not least  4) The salesperson or store manager may have a beef with Apple (or their insurer).  However, These are simply my guesses, why not call the store you purchased from and ask to speak to the manager.  You may (or not) get a better answer.  Hope this helps.

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silver6056
Specialist - Level 1

callenphd wrote:

Why did my local Verizon store rep try to talk me out of an iPhone?  He told me they were made of glass and would break.  If I wanted one I should buy it somewhere else.  I had to insist on the purchase telling him I have a MacBookPro and iPad and I was upgrading both my service contract and two phones.

At a guess, he would get a larger commission on another phone.  Verizon "loses" much more money on the initial subsidy for an iPhone than for the equivalent Android models and I assume that is reflected in how the sales staff get commissioned.  He also probably figured that you wouldn't bother to go elsewhere (and if you had started to, he might have "relented" and sold you the iPhone).  As it is, sounds like you got what you wanted.

HouseofPanda
Contributor - Level 1

Ah, that's right... someone at Verizon told me at one point that they could offer me such-and-such Droid phone for $50 less but couldn't TOUCH the price of the iPhone's because Apple controls that very strictly.  Good point.

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commonsense101
Specialist - Level 2

he gets commission different on different items. You are the consumer though you don't have to agree to anything

kinda like soup of the day at restaurants

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pez420
Newbie

They did the same thing at my local store. I smiled and said "No, I want the iPhone." It's not that they're anti Apple so much as anti 3G. They want to sell you anything 4G because you will end up using more data. Once the new iPhone 5 w/ 4G comes out, they'll be pushing those.

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notarep
Contributor - Level 3

He told you to go somewhere else because he didn't want the comission for anything else other than the droid he was pushing you to. Thats all that matters to salespeople is commission.

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jbishop1
Newbie

buy a lifeproof cover vs. an otterbox. Best investment to protect my iphone4s

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royyvette
Newbie

apple does not have no physical damage warranty and once you have physical damage to your phone it voids your hardware warranty.  My husband has an apple Iphone 4S with a broken screen and the only thing Apple can do is give us a refurbished Iphone for the price of $199.00.

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BDA
Contributor - Level 1

AppleCare+ covers damaged phones. Cost $99 up front and $49 for a replacement. Verizon also offers insurance for breakage that you pay for monthly, the deductible is higher.

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gina7239
Specialist - Level 2

Yesterday they wanted this family to get all galaxy s3 although they wanted iPhones saying how the iPhone you have to pay for locations maps unlike android and how you can't do FaceTime over 3G when iOS 6 comes out

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Bvbena1
Newbie

I had something similar happen to me.  Whatever happened to "listen to the customer .". That is why I delt with verizonwireless .com,  they worked WITH me to make sue the iPhone was the right choice...... It was !

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