The Great Cell Phone Misadventures of 2011: Part II

Philip and I left the Best Buy.  I was still pissed off completely over the huge mess that this simple phone purchase had become.  But, of course, Philip can always cheer me up.  He decided that we should grill some chicken and have baked potatoes and corn on the cob for dinner (even though it was 9:30pm).  It sounded delicious and I was starving.  

However, that meant we would need to stop by Target for a few things before going home.  I tried to use Philip's phone to see if my neighbor needed anything from Target (my numbers weren't in my phone yet -- the Nexus doesn't use SD cards and that's where all of my information was stored, so I had to go home and transfer everything using the computer).  

However, Philip's phone kept giving me an error message.  It wouldn't let me call out or send text messages.  So, I just got the number from Philip's phone and sent a message using my phone.  It sent, but something was off.  The photo next to the text message was not mine.  It was Philip's.  

So, I went into the phone information and, sure enough, my phone had Philip's phone number.  They had put Philip's number onto my new phone, which meant that Philip's phone didn't work either.  

I was seriously ticked that they messed up our phones, but I took a few deep breaths and called back Best Buy (while Philip went into Target to pick up what we needed).  The guy who had helped us had already left for the night so I talked to his manager.  He called Sprint while still on the phone with me and attempted to fix things.  Then he told me to shut down both of the phones and restart them.  He said if they weren't fixed right away, to update the profile.  

So, I did all that.  And then NEITHER of our phones worked.  This is a photo of about how well that went over for me:

(Source)

So, not only did they NOT fix our phones, I couldn't call them back to bitch them out about it! So, we drove home and I went to my neighbor's house to use her phone to call back Best Buy. Somehow, I didn't flip the hell out on the guy.  He was eventually able to get the phones working again.  

I was absolutely exhausted and I'm sure my blood pressure was much higher than normal after dealing with all of this (along with the other crappy stuff to happen that day -- details soon, I promise!).  But, at least I had a new, awesome phone.

Not!  Yep, that's right.  This series of misadventures still isn't over!  GAH!

The Great Cell Phone Misadventures of 2011

At the end of June, I told you all about my new phone.  It was an HTC Evo Shift.  I really liked the phone (it did everything!) but the batter wouldn't last longer than 8 hours (and that was when I wasn't using it at all) and the alarm only worked when it felt like it.  So, on the last day I could return it, I did so.  I just exchanged it for a new Evo Shift.  

The exchange took place on Saturday, July 23rd.  On Monday July 25th, I woke up at 8:30am because my STUPID PHONE alarm did not go off (I am supposed to be at work at 8am!).  I was pissed!  I quickly jumped out of bed and shot off a text to my boss explaining that I was running late.  As I ran into the bathroom, the phone slipped from my hand and fell.  It shouldn't have been an issue.  My phone was in its super expensive, supposedly awesome case AND the phone only fell about 5 inches from my hand to the bathroom counter.  

However, that was enough to break the stupid effing phone.  The screen no longer worked on it.  I was so pissed.  It was not a good day.  

Anyway, last Saturday, July 30th, I finally had time to return the phone to Best Buy to exchange it AGAIN.  I explained to the guy what had happened and he told me he would replace the phone no problem but recommended that I try a different phone because the Shifts are not good phones.  Duh!  Figured that out!  I asked him if my Buy Back Program would transfer if I got a different kind of phone.  He couldn't find any record that I had bought the Buy Back Program for it or that it had insurance on it.  The last Best Buy had never transferred the insurance plan or the Buy Back Program to phone #2!  

By this point, I was FUMING.  If I hadn't asked about it, I would have gone to Best Buy in 2 years and not gotten anything for my phone despite paying extra for them to buy back my Phone at the end of my contract.  He assured me that he would fix all of it and make sure it all applied to my new phone.  He recommended the Samsung Nexus.  I wanted to just go with the regular Evo 4G but he told me that if we went with the Nexus, we would get $100 back.  So, I went with the Nexus.

It takes over an hour to get everything sorted out (not a happy camper) and then when it comes time to check out, he tells me that I owe money.  I asked what happened to getting $100 back and he said that he had thought I was a new customer but since I was an existing customer, that credit didn't apply to me.  I swear I was ready to spit venom into the guys face just like the Dilophosaurus in Jurassic Park.  

(Source)

It was not going to be pretty.  But, I took a few deep breaths and just left.  I didn't want to have to deal with anymore.  So long as I had a working phone, everything would be just fine.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case...

Auto Update

I am still loving my new CR-V.  It gets fantastic gas mileage (for an SUV).  I'm getting 27mpg combined city and highway.  And my drive is about half and half.  It's almost as good as what my car was getting, so I'm really happy with it!  

I have someone interested in buying Sam (my Grand Am).  I wasn't going to sell her, but I feel kind of bad just having her sit in the garage without being used.  However, the thought of selling her makes me tear up a bit.  She's been a good car to be for a lot of years.  I know.  I am irrationally attached to my car.  I can't help it.  I'm sure that with time, I will be irrationally attached to Lucius (my new CR-V) as well.  

In other auto news, exactly what I thought would happen has happened.  I knew that when I bought my new car, Philip would start wanting a new one.  You see, Philip does not get nearly as attached to vehicles as I do (like a normal person!).  He just likes having new vehicles.  ;)

Sure enough, about a week after we bought Lucius, we got a letter in the mail from Planet Honda basically begging us to sell them Philip's Honda Civic SI.  Philip was interested in trading it in on a new Honda Pilot but because his car was in an accident where the airbags went off, they cannot offer us as much as we'd like for it.  

So, we are waiting until later this year when the 2012s arrive.  Then we will have paid a little more on the Civic and we will hopefully be able to get a good deal on the 2011s.  :)  

It doesn't stop there though.  Philip is worried about losing his "race car."  He loves how sporty his car is.  A Honda Pilot is a large SUV and will not be nearly as peppy.  So, we will be buying a motorcycle next spring/summer to feed his need for sportiness.  

This way, we can have the best of both worlds.  He can have a large family vehicle (even though the kids are still several years away -- it still fits the dogs really well!) and have something sporty to drive when the urge strikes.  The motorcycle will also be nice for gas mileage in the summertime!  

So there you have it.  Lots of auto news in our household.  It's pretty exciting stuff!

What Really Grinds My Gears

Sorry I've been away so long.  I've been swamped trying to get our wedding invitations put together.  But, they're finally done, so I'm back!

I want to talk about something that really "grinds my gears" (if you haven't seen the Family Guy episode that this is in reference to, shame on you!).  

I work in a large commercial office building.  When I use the restroom here at work, there are often other ladies using the facilities as well.  It really bothers me when in a fake attempt to wash their hands, they simply run their hands under the water for a second or two.  

What good is that doing?  I mean, even if you had mud on your hands, two seconds wouldn't be enough time to wash it off.  So, what makes you think that two seconds of cool to lukewarm water is going to wash away whatever bathroom cooties are on your hands??  

Stop being gross.  Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.  It's not that hard.  Those extra 18 seconds are not going to kill you.  But it saves the rest of us from having to touch things that your filthy poo-hands have touched!  ;)