Well, here we are. Yesterday I stopped by AT&T in the mall to check out the Samsung Impression. Despite having a somewhat over zealous customer service rep help me, she refused to show me a live version of the phone or plug one in so I could see the menu screen and functionality of the it in person. I told her she'd be losing a sale by refusing to do so. What did she do? Tell me that she was "not allowed" to show me the phone plugged in. What did I do? Walk out. lol
After the mall, my boyfriend (of seven years...he definitely knows how to deal with me after an experience in a store like that rofl) suggested we go to the AT&T store on the highway by his house. I reluctantly agreed. We walk in and loved the newly remodeled store. Someone came over to help me and guess what she was able to do? Show me a live Impression. I played around with it for a little bit all while the brightly lit iPhone display was just cackling in my face...it was definitely reminiscent of Kevin's chuckle on the show. I decided I didn't like it. The home screen was kind of weird and I wasn't crazy about the widget scrolling bar on the left. It just looked odd to me.
I looked at a few other phones while talking to the saleswoman. She basically told me that every phone I looked at required a different phone plan/package than what I currently had. She then said I couldn't use the phones with what I had because they were Internet-based phones and "all" of the features run on the Net. I looked at the Impression, Eternity, the Pantech Matrix, and a few others.
As time went by, she left us to browse and would come back. She again said all of the phones required a better package and I could not continue using the one I had. By this point I was getting thoroughly aggravated. My tone was louder and I made a point to say how I thought it was ridiculous AT&T was trying to sock me with a $75/month phone bill just to get a new phone...one that had a charge for longer than a day...one that wasn't falling apart...one that was a bit more modern. I must have said this at least five times during the 45 minutes I was in the dang store.
Just before I left, the woman finally admitted that I could get a new phone using the plan and package I currently have, but I wouldn't be able to use any Internet program at all. I asked her why when I can check my email on my Razr several times in one bill cycle and never run over what I am allotted with the now obselete "Media Basic Bundle" I pay $9.99/month for. She didn't have an answer for that.
I left the store very irritated. I feel like they are trying to force me into an enormous bill just because my phone is about done with. I did take two pamphlets with info. Here's the basics for those wondering...
AT&T Nation Phone Bundles
450 anytime minutes, 5000 night & weekend minutes, talk, text, & web (unlimited) - $69.99
450 anytime minutes, talk & text (unlimited) - $59.99
450 anytime minutes, talk only (no text or Net - pay per use for these) - $39.99
I currently have 450 anytime minutes. I never go over and have loads of rollover minutes as well. My media package is no longer in existence, but they will honor it with my next phone (even though they didn't want to admit it at first). It includes 200 text messages and limited Net use/picture texting. I pay $39.99 for the phone plan and $9.99 for the media plan. I also get a discount for being in the NJEA. I believe it is 10% or something like that. After taxes, gov't fees, etc., I pay $48 and change each month.
AT&T Plans for iPhone 3G
450 anytime minutes, 5000 night & weekend minutes, unlimited data (email/web), visual voicemail, rollover, unlimited mobile to mobile, wi-fi access at hot spots nationwide - $69.99
To add text messaging, I'd have to pay an additional $5 per month for 200 messages or more for even more messages. I never go over 200 and would choose that.
Right now, I am totally undecided. I am tempted to just wait until my phone 100% dies and go from there. Part of me is wondering if I can find a pink Razr somewhere and just use that (I've wanted a pink phone for awhile). The other part of me is thinking I should just quit and cave. Still, that bill bothers me and I can't justify it.
To be continued???