Nextel-Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[QRTRHRS]

I tried to get a tower up on my hill but I guess there are not enough customers to be benefited by it because no one bit. I figured I could make a few bucks, get some coverage and maybe discourage anyone from trying to rezone some of the more level farms for housing.

 

[Wheaties]

I was thinking on the way in to work this morning (I know. . dangerous habit) that the same folks who felt breaking up the Bells was a good idea, more competition, are the same folks who don't want towers in their back yard. Instead of one company putting up towers there are five(?) good sized, and how many small companies trying to get a toe-hold.



If the Bells were still a monopoly, they'd be obligated to provide service to all areas! Competition for low rates also means the wireless companies are free to go only to markets where it is cost effective for them. No one in Montana? Sorry, can't afford to put a tower there. Same for Maine, the same for Sleepy Valley PA. Unless the population density is there to make it pay, you don't get service.



I know this doesn't help Andy out. We all know it ain't fair, but why can't it be unfair in our favor once in a while?



Matt

 

[klenger]

I have seen cell towers that are shared by 3 or more cell carriers. I'm sure it's in their best interest to cooperate with each other.



Note: The following comments are in no way meant towards any specific TDR member and are not in response to any specific post, so please don't take offence if my comments seem directed at you. They are not.



If getting the best and widest cell coverage is important to a consumer, then you need to shop more than the price of the service. You need to look at the service area, reputation, recomendations from other users, etc. I think that some consumers buy the least expensive service they can find, or buy on the spur of the moment at a kiosk in the mall, and then complain because they don't get service everywhere they go.



I personally use Verizon, and am very happy with their service. They have a very generous 14 day return policy on the equipment and service contract. When considering a cell provider, you need to verify that the service meets your needs within that window, and return it if it does not. Also, it's only logical, given the relatively new lifespan of cell phone service, that service will not be available in remote areas.

 

[Dieselnut59]

Originally posted by klenger

I have seen cell towers that are shared by 3 or more cell carriers. I'm sure it's in their best interest to cooperate with each other.



Note: The following comments are in no way meant towards any specific TDR member and are not in response to any specific post, so please don't take offence if my comments seem directed at you. They are not.



If getting the best and widest cell coverage is important to a consumer, then you need to shop more than the price of the service. You need to look at the service area, reputation, recomendations from other users, etc. I think that some consumers buy the least expensive service they can find, or buy on the spur of the moment at a kiosk in the mall, and then complain because they don't get service everywhere they go.



I personally use Verizon, and am very happy with their service. They have a very generous 14 day return policy on the equipment and service contract. When considering a cell provider, you need to verify that the service meets your needs within that window, and return it if it does not. Also, it's only logical, given the relatively new lifespan of cell phone service, that service will not be available in remote areas.

I TOTALLY agree. If I would have shopped around for the "cheapest price", I would have went with Cingular. My mother, my brother and several friends have had or are with Cingular. I tried them and was run off by their customer NON service. I went with Airtouch (now Verizon) because they were willing to work with me. They set me up on a digital plan with an analog (bag) phone. I bought an external antenna and the phone for $19. 95 and had a one year contract. Since being an established customer, I have bought three additional bag phones (at the flea market or other sources) and had them connected with no service contract. A lot of it depends on who you deal with, but after being an established customer for several years and dealing with the same salesperson, it really helps. I would HIGHLY recommend Verizon Wireless and would recommend AGAINST Cingular due to pi$$ poor customer service and their refusal to offer analog service, even for their rural customers.

 

[Hammer]

Andy. .

Now with your knowledge I would have thought that you would have tapped into that wide base of others knowledge and asked about these plans,LOL. I could have given you the story on them and others and may have used up all your minutes doing it. With my current job I can tell you who has service and where and what is the best plan for the area,why,been there done that. It amazes me how these providers pull the wool over your eyes just to get the service and only when their bluff is called they give you the old "$200" to eliminate it deal.



Nextel's service is VERY poor and second rate at best. their coverage areas as stated above is limited to big cities and along SOME of the major interstates. You think the service is bad here,try going west of the ''Big Muddy" and see what you have,what a joke. sure they work fine in coverage areas,but who stays confined to them. At one point in my west coast travels I had phones from 6 major carriers(Nextel,Verizon,PCS1,ATT,Cingular and Alltel) trying to see who had what or worked where to find the best solution. What I learned was this from that escapade. . There is NO one perfect cell provider,period.



The best digital service from here to Az where i was running was ATT & Cingular,HOWEVER,Alltel had the best desert digital coverage. Verizon's new coverage area's and newer digital signal is clearer,but,their digital coverage is severely limited west of OKC,OK. ATT & cingular are now switching their services over to the newer GSM as Verizon did and one only knows how well they will perform.



I ended up with Cingular as they had the best coverage country wide for me and the easiest customer service people to deal with. I have had no issues once they got me loaded into the systems and towers(Cingular was new to my area 2yrs ago and took a bit to get all loaded into the system)and they even called me back at times to make sure my service was rectified. My plan is now up and time for a change,will I move,nope I'll stay and enjoy it while it lasts. If you have any questions you know how to reach me.



BTW,have you asked the Nextel customer service if its a load issue or not. Might be something to check on... ... ... . Andy

 

[QRTRHRS]

A bit off topic but,

it seems like a good post to ask this. I need to get a phone that I can send email on. Not just a text message to another cell but email so I can communicate with my hearing impaired wife via her computer. Any advice on both carrier and device would be appreciated.

 

[fest3er]

Re: A bit off topic but,

Originally posted by QRTRHRS
it seems like a good post to ask this. I need to get a phone that I can send email on. Not just a text message to another cell but email so I can communicate with my hearing impaired wife via her computer. Any advice on both carrier and device would be appreciated.

Verizon CDMA phones seem to have that capability. But, again, it all depends on which system you are on and whether it has digital modem service or not.

As to country-wide service, I've got USCellular because they have the *only* service here where I live. Since I'm out and about often enough, I got the nationwide plan. I've had nearly continuous digital coverage in the eastern US (Atlanta to VA to Boston, VA to KY to Chicago to Sioux Falls, Chicago to Detroit to VA), except for SE Ohio, which seems to have absolutely *no* digital service.

Nextel is most definitely an Urban Service Provider, as are Sprint and the smaller GSM providers. Technically, Nextel is compatible only with itself. It is based on GSM protocols and hardware, but is quite different. Only the long-established companies (Verizon, USCellular, Cingular) will have really wide-spread coverage.

I would expect all service providers will loan you a phone for a day or so so you can drive around and discern what coverage you have in the areas you will use the phone the most. I borrowed an Ntelos phone, and it roamed onto USCellular's network here at home. Verizon told me up front that there was only *one* tower here, and only one service: USCellular.

So, buyer beware.

• Learn your (expected) usage areas and patterns.
• Borrow a phone from the service provider to verify coverage, or lack thereof, in those areas.
• If you expect to be roaming out of your home region more often than 'almost never', pay for the wider coverage plan; roaming charges are still quite hefty.
• Prepare a realistic estimate of your monthly usage and pre-pay those minutes, as per-minute charges are also still hefty; if you consistently go over, upgrade your plan.
• Don't buy the cheapest phones; they're cheap for a reason. Don't buy new-technology phones; software and hardware bugs can be quite rampant. You're best off with a phone that was released at least six months in the past; that should be enough time to have fixed the hardware and software bugs.

Well, this should be a start for folks looking to get, or change, cellular service.

N

 

[klenger]

QRTRHRS



I have a Kyocera 7135 shown on the Verizon website at http://www.verizonwireless.com/ics/plsql/pf_start.intro?p_section=EQUIPMENT (bottom of the page). It has internet emila capability in addition to text messaging. It's a Palm PDA and cell phone in one package. Most of the cell companies offer something like this. Verizon has a couple of other options also.



#ad

 

[SmokinRam]

Originally posted by Hammer

Andy. .

Now with your knowledge I would have thought that you would have tapped into that wide base of others knowledge and asked about these plans,LOL.

I know I know I know...



I basically jumped the gun and dove into Nextel because I thought their plan looked ideal for my calling needs. With hindsight being 20/20, I would have researched it out a bit more, to say the least.



At this point, it is not even the issue of the $200 to break the contract, it is the principal of the whole situation. I have NEVER worked with a company before that is so good at blowing-you-off, when you ask technical questions. Today being Thursday, it is one day shy of one week since I submitted my original complaint. Every person I speak to, tells me my engineering request ticket is still open and I will recieve a call in 24 hours as to the solution to the problem. Every email I get back, well, here is a copy of my last reply, that I recieved this morning:





Dear Andrew Sebek,



Thank you for contacting nextel.com.



Thank you for notifying us of your concerns on nextel.com. We

sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you have experienced.

We regret that your experience with Nextel did not meet your

expectations and that we did not achieve our goal of complete

customer satisfaction.



Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please

do not hesitate to contact us at https:

//nextelonline. nextel.com/NASApp/care/WCCustomerCareServlet/.



Sincerely,



Customer Care On-Line







Does this reply hel me at all???????????????



I am not going to let them win this battle. I am waiting to hear what they suggest I do, before I really fight them...



Very frustrating...

 

[willyslover]

Come on Andy. . your in business, think like a business man



If you want to get something done where do you go... to the horses mouth, go on line and look up the Corporate info. . then write a very nice business letter to the President,CEO and Board Chairman [one each] about the lack of customer service and your particular issues and what was said at the time of sale Ect. Ect.



Look at your contract first and see what is says about coverage and you rights, so you don't look stupid with your letter.



Also state that your next actions will be with the appropriate Government agency to seek relief and that you wanted to give them the chance to rectify the issue.

 

[klenger]

we did not achieve our goal of complete customer satisfaction

They make it sound like your satisfaction is totally beyond their control. I realize they may not be able to setup a new tower in your back yard, but they could let you out of the contract.