Friday, November 27, 2020

I Got A New Smartphone Because My Other One Had An Accident And Died

About my old phone:

So. One day about two weeks ago, as I was walking through the park, I tripped over my own feet and came crashing down to the ground on my left side. And it just so happened that I had my smartphone in my left hand, which I used to help break my fall so that I wouldn't fall on my face. However, I fell on my left shoulder, which thank God has healed. But let me tell you that for the first 3-4 nights, I didn't sleep very well because anytime I rolled over on my left side, I woke myself out of a dead sleep; yelling, "OUCH...YOU SON OF A BITCH!#@!"

Blessedly I survived the fall, however, my poor smartphone did not.

In fact, the second I heard the phone hit the ground (screen facing downward), I knew it was D-Day (Death Day).

And isn't it funny that I wasn't even concerned about my injured body. Nope, my attention was, "OMG...did I crack the screen?!?"

Which of course, I did.

And so much so, that it looked as though it had been in a head-on collision with a semi-truck on 1-95 going 150 mph.

Therefore, I had to invest in a new phone.

Now to be totally honest, I had been pondering the thought of getting a new smartphone because the battery-life in the phone I had was getting shorter and shorter every day. When I would turn the phone on at 100% charged, within a few hours, it would decrease down to 50%. I had the phone for over three years, so it's only natural that the battery would go.

So yes, it was time. The cracked screen merely caused me to do it immediately.

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About my new phone, including a customer service rant, but also a praise: (my dear friend, Bijoux, will love this)

I had no idea what brand of phone I wanted to get this time, so I googled various brands and did some research. I also went into a few different smartphone stores in Philadelphia, so that I could see (and touch) them in person. I know I've shared this on my blog in the past, but overall, the customer service in this city is a big fat O. I'm shocked that the businesses here have any business at all because most of their associates act as if they're doing you a huge favor by acknowledging that you walked in. And to get them to help you with questions you might have is a bigger task because that would mean they would actually have to do something, other than stand there and take up oxygen.

Philadelphia should officially advertise itself as "a self-serve city" because that's what it truly is.

You know, I wouldn't be surprised if even one day all the Italian funeral home businesses in South Philly make you do your own self-serve embalming after you die.

Anyway, the customer service I received in the smartphone stores that I visited was beastly. I actually walked out of one while the sales associate was talking to me because I knew she was totally bullshitting me.

About buying a smartphone:

Buying a smartphone can be as daunting and painful as buying an automobile because it's like walking into a den of hungry vultures with foam on their lips and dollars signs in their pupils.

Unless they know that you're going to purchase an expensive smartphone (say, $400. and up), they have no interest in helping you because they make commission and bonuses. And someone like me who is on a prepaid plan and won't spend more than $150.00 (including tax) for a phone, they look at me like, "Sorry dude...not interested." Which is sad because I've been a loyal customer for many years and consistently pay my monthly bill on time.

However...

Every so often you get lucky and encounter an associate who knows how to serve their customers with integrity. Which is what happened to me at one particular AT&T store, not far from where I live. As a matter of fact, I was so impressed with her customer service that I wrote an online review and then called the company to rave about her. Not only was she extremely helpful, but she had a personality that was warm, fun, and natural. She took the time to transfer my SIM card over to my new phone and answered all of my questions. She was a delight!

I walked out of that store completely satisfied with the service I had received, and very happy with the smartphone I purchased.

Which incidentally ended up costing me only $140.39 (tax included).

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About my smartphone:

One of the most joyful things about getting a new smartphone is setting it up because every phone is a little different. I love the whole "investigation process" of finding out how everything works.

I'm amazed (and so was the sales associate who helped me) by how quickly this new phone responds. And it came with twice the amount of storage space than my previous phone. The call sound is awesome, and so is the speaker sound. Which is important to me because I use my phone a lot for streaming music. And being a photography enthusiast, it was important to have a good camera. Which it does.

And speaking of photography, I would like to share several photographs I took using my smartphone.

Here, take a look...

Me and my shadow...

The day after I got my phone, I met up with a friend for an early morning coffee date at Federal Donuts. Right next door was a gorgeous new hotel, so we stopped inside to look around. In the lobby was a beautiful Christmas tree, so she and I sat down on one of the couches; sipped our coffee; talked; enjoyed the ambiance; and then went grocery shopping together.