VZW offered me a replacement for my Charge. Thoughts on which one I should consider?

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standupdad

Senior Member
May 27, 2009
155
39
The following phones were offered to me by VZW as a replacement for my Charge...

Rezound
Bionic
Spectrum

Though Nexus was mentioned, the rep wasn't sure that they could offer it to me. I told them that since I wasn't asking for a replacement, that these offers were something that'd I'd consider. Sounds like the Nexus might still be a consideraton.

Nonetheless, any thoughts of one over the other? Should I try to convince them to offer the Nexus?
 
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QBall45

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2011
334
147
Stop thinking and jump all over the Rezound. Hands down best. It's a sleeper of a device. The development community is started coming around as if late. A stellar device with outstanding performance out of the box that is greatly improved by upgrading to the latest sense/ics ruu.
 

shrike1978

Senior Member
Jun 28, 2011
3,577
3,077
Atlanta, GA
Rezound. No doubt. I've used the Rezound and Spectrum. Both great devices, and both better than the Bionic, but the Rezound is the better of the two devices from the standpoint of the dev community. As soon as someone gets S-OFF on that device it's going to be unstoppable.
 

standupdad

Senior Member
May 27, 2009
155
39
Rezound. No doubt. I've used the Rezound and Spectrum. Both great devices, and both better than the Bionic, but the Rezound is the better of the two devices from the standpoint of the dev community. As soon as someone gets S-OFF on that device it's going to be unstoppable.

Alright, dumb question, and because I've been burried with work, life, and bringing home one of them there newborns from the hospital, what's S-Off?
 

shrike1978

Senior Member
Jun 28, 2011
3,577
3,077
Atlanta, GA
Alright, dumb question, and because I've been burried with work, life, and bringing home one of them there newborns from the hospital, what's S-Off?

HTC devices have a flag that allows or disallows certain portions of the device to be written to. S-ON means that it's locked from writing, and S-OFF means that it's unlocked and can be written to. It's the equivalent of a locked vs. unlocked bootloader on a Moto device.
 
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BlackHoleSlam

Senior Member
Nov 25, 2010
3,364
177
Houston
no doubt go with the rezound but when you go to talk to the rep bring up the nexus again see if you can get it if not take the rezound i was trying to get a replacement today and all the lady would do was to factory reset my phone
 

jkat797

Senior Member
Feb 13, 2011
549
13
may I ask what problems you were having that they offered you a replacement? because I have a lot of problems but don't want to call them about it because all they do is just tell me is to factory reset...so if I have the same problem it might be worth while for me to call!

Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
 

DirgeExtinction

Senior Member
Sep 24, 2010
2,055
324
How did you even get offered a replacement, if you don't mind me asking.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium
 

standupdad

Senior Member
May 27, 2009
155
39
may I ask what problems you were having that they offered you a replacement? because I have a lot of problems but don't want to call them about it because all they do is just tell me is to factory reset...so if I have the same problem it might be worth while for me to call!

Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App



How did you even get offered a replacement, if you don't mind me asking.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium

First one overheated when charging because I was not told that it should be considered mandatory to install samsung drivers even if you just want to chage. Since not all laptops output the same voltage through their USB, or even all of the multiple usb ports on the same laptop, you can overcharge to the point of warping your battery and cooking eggs.

Second one was a horrible audio issue that has plagued all of my phone replacements.

Next one was overheating and a battery replacement and audio I believe.

This is the 4th one, and it's still got the audio issue where random calls will squelch or scream so loudly in your ear piece that its deafening... and the other person can't hear it. There are also pops and other phone audio issues and long of the short, it's related to the hardware version of your phone and the software used to equalize the sound. Since it can't equalize it, you get fog horn like blaring sound.... that's the big that gave her issue to offer the replacement. There are at least 3 or 4 revisions, if not more, for this phone.

With the difference in hardware revision, at least one version doesn't give the audio issues, but they can't cherry pick the version that they send to you.

Overheating is another reason they'll replace, and this one gets to 125 degrees, which they say is within specified acceptable range. But 125 is hot when it's just sitting there taking a charge or just sitting at your desk.

Typically, after your 3rd replacement, they consider offering you a different manufacturer phone replacement. Sometimes they'll do it on the 3rd one, but one way I've always had them initiate the offering of another make and model is I question the reliability of the maker of the phone.

"Is it me, or do I see a lot of complaints about this phone on the Verizon boards? I mean, I've spoken to a couple of your support reps, and they even confirm that there seem to be a higher quanity of complaints than other brands. What phone do you have?" Etc.

Now you're letting them talk about themselves.

I started with a Fascinate. They replaced it 4 times, so I had 5 phones. I contact corporate customer service, they replaced it with a retail box Charge, twice. Then the other issues came down to where I am getting satisfaction from your standard Tier 2 Tech Support. I don't even call 611 anymore. I call the 800 line direct for their T2, and they've typically been great people to deal with directly. Even when you ask for TS when you call 611, you get customer service 9 out of 10 times. They're supposed to forward you, but they don't.

If you want to know who I emailed about my original issue from my Fascinate that gave them someone to contact me about giving me the Charge, let me know. I'll post them here. BTW, when they upgraded me from Fascinate to Charge the first time, they wanted me to extend my contract 2 years and pay 100 bucks. I said no (end of summer 2011). This is considered a warranty replacement if you're changing my phone. Then 50 and a 2 year renewal, then 0 and a 2 year renewal, and then they gave in... free retail box replacement and NO renewal. My contract is up this Thanksgiving where I'll get a new phone for a buck at Sam's club on Black Friday.
 

mefloump

Senior Member
May 10, 2010
175
28
Watertown, SD
I can't get them to offer me anything but another charge. I'm already on my 5th cln charge. What number or whom did you email to get the offer?

Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium
 
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xmoox

Senior Member
Mar 24, 2011
175
37
I got offered a bionic and a resound. I took the resound so much better. Never buying Samsung again but might change with gs3 lol. Took me a while to get used to the screen still kinda miss amoled but the GPS is so much faster screens easier on my eyes I think amoled stressed my eyes more than lcd. Only negative so far is battery life seems worse on this phone but I'm always around power so no biggie. Phone feels better in hand and did I mention fast. So yea my vote got to rezound and imo much better than a nexus.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA
 

standupdad

Senior Member
May 27, 2009
155
39
I can't get them to offer me anything but another charge. I'm already on my 5th cln charge. What number or whom did you email to get the offer?

Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium

5th phone? That's rediculous. Here's and edited version of what I posted over at AC about how I got my 3G Fascinate changed to a Charge. Also, I'm at work, so my editing of my own words may seem a bit erratic. I'll apologize ahead of time.

I previously used:

•ivan.g.seidenberg@one.verizon.com
•lowell.c.mcadam@one.verizon.com
•thomas.j.tauke@one.verizon.com

in an executive email carpet bomb and got someone from the executive level customer service to contact me for my Fascinate replacement to give me a Charge. Note a couple of things in how to perform the email carpet bomb before you write your own, and be firm about what you want. I stated that I wanted a retail box, not certified like new, replacement and received it.

Basically, when you carpet bomb these folks, one of them has the issue assigned like a normal tech support ticket that requires someone to RESOLVE your issue. In the course of my resolution, they asked me to cough up $100 and a 2 year renewal to my contract. I said no. Then $50 and a 2 year renewal. Then $0 and a 2 year renewal. Again, I said no. I was not going to accept this as anything less than a warranty replacement with a better device.... and I won. In about an hour, she was shipping me a new Retail box Charge, and though she had to make the modifications that kept my account as not needing a 2 year renewal (which required me to make a call-back to fix the renewall/contract issue because that really was the only ).

So yes, you can get what you want as long as you are firm in your consumer advocacy beliefs, command and don't demand.

All of that said, I'm on my 4th or 5th Charge since September, and the first heated up so hot that you could fry an egg on it; then replaced by another Retail box Charge where the ear piece is went out. At least the next two phones were heat for one, and audio for both. There are even known issues that nobody is publishing, like the audio equalization/modulation and data connectivity staying enabled (which may be resolved per the last patch). I say this because if you can get them to acknowledge the Verizon documented issue with the Samsung device, you might gain yourself some more leverage. Also, if you note an accent in the person's voice, ask them where they're from. Catch them off guard.

Is that a NY accent I hear?
Yes.
Really? What part? I was born in Brooklyn.

yadda yadda ... talk about Sabrett hot dogs, Carvell Ice Cream, Knishes, etc.

"I detect a Southern accent." Same type of dialog as above, just make it match something from the South because they could care less about Sabrett hotdogs and Carvell ice cream, but no matter what, slow down. When you recognize that you're dealing with someone from the South, they don't like rushing through a conversation, and LOVE to chit chat/socialize before business. Talking about golf, whiskey, and the smell of cow pastures irritating you come to mind when I needed to just get the guy to sign a piece of paper so I could leave his office come to mind.

I've lived all over the US, and when you acclimate your speech and mannerisms to the person you're trying to mimic, you actually gain a semblence of control and can lead them if you do it right. I don't state or say this key information lightly. It can be the difference of getting another Certified Like New phone, or you getting them to give you their direct email address, phone number, ext, ect ect. More flies with honey and all that.

Note that nowhere in my documentation did it state that I had to install USB drivers on any Windows based PC or laptop before using the USB to charge my phone. Consider this MANDATORY!! Not all USB ports output the same voltage, and the drivers help to regulate this. This is why my first Charge overheated to the point of overheating. This bit of oversite seems to have gotten their attention. They may tell you that its not hard to see why you had USB issues by not installing drivers, but insist that they note that you do not use the PC USB ports to transfer data. You use them for charging your phone only.

Good luck to anyone that needs to beat on Verizon to do the right thing. If you need, I can even send you a copy of the bloviated email I sent to the executive team that got me these results. Just make sure that you PM me for it, as I can only rarely come back here and play in the XDA sandbox. Just brought home one of them there newborns from the hospital, and after taking two weeks off and then going back to work, my ADHOCDD is in overload.

SuD

PS If you want to learn about effective email carpet bombs, the Consumerist has greate info.

You may have to do a little bit of work, but my EECB's always get attention, and nearly always get exactly what I want. And "What you want" should be considered BEFORE you contact them. They'll ask you straight out... "What would satisfy you today?" Know that what is, don't expect the Stars when all you deserve is the moon.

In the past few weeks...

$33 refund from Sears, and they felt inclined to give me an additional $30 GC for the store.
$30 GC for another store that understood why I didn't believe that I should have went to another one of their stores to fix an issue.
I just wish that I could EECB about my Ex-Wife. I'd like a redux.
 
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wrarvoz

Senior Member
Mar 27, 2011
109
18
Take the rezound. It is hands down the best on that list, maybe even the best phone available, period.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA
 

piizzadude

Senior Member
Feb 26, 2011
451
58
Harrisburg
Well I took the Rezound so i am off to learn all there is. I needed to get away from Samsung if for no other reason just to try something new.

If I hate Sense 4.0 (I cannot go without flashing the latest and greatest) I can always come back to Sammy with the GS3 or whatever they want to call it in a few months.
 

piizzadude

Senior Member
Feb 26, 2011
451
58
Harrisburg
yeah i have been trying to read up on it all. So much different than sammy and even the TB I used for a few days.....but that is progress I guess.
 

standupdad

Senior Member
May 27, 2009
155
39
Well, I just got off of the phone with them, and I'm getting the Rezound much to my chagrin. I was really hoping that they'd turn the table and reconsider the Nexus. In the end, they wouldn't because...

It had a dual core processor.
+Ummm, so does the Rezound

It's got a worse camera.
+ ummm, shouldn't the downgrade be my choice?

It has internal flash vs external.
+ Whatever.

Maybe I'll canvas Craigslist got a trade. I wanted the Nexus because I got into stoop development last year and am about to jump back in. What better phone to have than the nexus?

With my contract coming up in November, I'll have the Rezound and whatever Sam's is selling for a buck on Black Friday. I just hope that it's not a Rezound.

Thanks for the input folks. I'll be heading over to the Rezound forum to start reading up. At least they're giving me a week to 10 days to test run the Rezound.




Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA
 

trevormalachi

Senior Member
Feb 2, 2011
267
3
Denver
So i take it that everyone feels about the same in that the Rezound is the better phone through Verizon?

I am currently going through the same process with them about this phone sucking. They offered me any phone they have besides the new RazrMaxx.

So ive been stuck between the Rezound, Nexus, and Razr.

Any one have any thoughts between those?
 

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    They just released an S-OFF method for the Rezound, so the dev community should explode. Have fun! Wish I could join you.. :)

    Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2
    1
    Alright, dumb question, and because I've been burried with work, life, and bringing home one of them there newborns from the hospital, what's S-Off?

    HTC devices have a flag that allows or disallows certain portions of the device to be written to. S-ON means that it's locked from writing, and S-OFF means that it's unlocked and can be written to. It's the equivalent of a locked vs. unlocked bootloader on a Moto device.
    1
    I can't get them to offer me anything but another charge. I'm already on my 5th cln charge. What number or whom did you email to get the offer?

    Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium

    5th phone? That's rediculous. Here's and edited version of what I posted over at AC about how I got my 3G Fascinate changed to a Charge. Also, I'm at work, so my editing of my own words may seem a bit erratic. I'll apologize ahead of time.

    I previously used:

    •ivan.g.seidenberg@one.verizon.com
    •lowell.c.mcadam@one.verizon.com
    •thomas.j.tauke@one.verizon.com

    in an executive email carpet bomb and got someone from the executive level customer service to contact me for my Fascinate replacement to give me a Charge. Note a couple of things in how to perform the email carpet bomb before you write your own, and be firm about what you want. I stated that I wanted a retail box, not certified like new, replacement and received it.

    Basically, when you carpet bomb these folks, one of them has the issue assigned like a normal tech support ticket that requires someone to RESOLVE your issue. In the course of my resolution, they asked me to cough up $100 and a 2 year renewal to my contract. I said no. Then $50 and a 2 year renewal. Then $0 and a 2 year renewal. Again, I said no. I was not going to accept this as anything less than a warranty replacement with a better device.... and I won. In about an hour, she was shipping me a new Retail box Charge, and though she had to make the modifications that kept my account as not needing a 2 year renewal (which required me to make a call-back to fix the renewall/contract issue because that really was the only ).

    So yes, you can get what you want as long as you are firm in your consumer advocacy beliefs, command and don't demand.

    All of that said, I'm on my 4th or 5th Charge since September, and the first heated up so hot that you could fry an egg on it; then replaced by another Retail box Charge where the ear piece is went out. At least the next two phones were heat for one, and audio for both. There are even known issues that nobody is publishing, like the audio equalization/modulation and data connectivity staying enabled (which may be resolved per the last patch). I say this because if you can get them to acknowledge the Verizon documented issue with the Samsung device, you might gain yourself some more leverage. Also, if you note an accent in the person's voice, ask them where they're from. Catch them off guard.

    Is that a NY accent I hear?
    Yes.
    Really? What part? I was born in Brooklyn.

    yadda yadda ... talk about Sabrett hot dogs, Carvell Ice Cream, Knishes, etc.

    "I detect a Southern accent." Same type of dialog as above, just make it match something from the South because they could care less about Sabrett hotdogs and Carvell ice cream, but no matter what, slow down. When you recognize that you're dealing with someone from the South, they don't like rushing through a conversation, and LOVE to chit chat/socialize before business. Talking about golf, whiskey, and the smell of cow pastures irritating you come to mind when I needed to just get the guy to sign a piece of paper so I could leave his office come to mind.

    I've lived all over the US, and when you acclimate your speech and mannerisms to the person you're trying to mimic, you actually gain a semblence of control and can lead them if you do it right. I don't state or say this key information lightly. It can be the difference of getting another Certified Like New phone, or you getting them to give you their direct email address, phone number, ext, ect ect. More flies with honey and all that.

    Note that nowhere in my documentation did it state that I had to install USB drivers on any Windows based PC or laptop before using the USB to charge my phone. Consider this MANDATORY!! Not all USB ports output the same voltage, and the drivers help to regulate this. This is why my first Charge overheated to the point of overheating. This bit of oversite seems to have gotten their attention. They may tell you that its not hard to see why you had USB issues by not installing drivers, but insist that they note that you do not use the PC USB ports to transfer data. You use them for charging your phone only.

    Good luck to anyone that needs to beat on Verizon to do the right thing. If you need, I can even send you a copy of the bloviated email I sent to the executive team that got me these results. Just make sure that you PM me for it, as I can only rarely come back here and play in the XDA sandbox. Just brought home one of them there newborns from the hospital, and after taking two weeks off and then going back to work, my ADHOCDD is in overload.

    SuD

    PS If you want to learn about effective email carpet bombs, the Consumerist has greate info.

    You may have to do a little bit of work, but my EECB's always get attention, and nearly always get exactly what I want. And "What you want" should be considered BEFORE you contact them. They'll ask you straight out... "What would satisfy you today?" Know that what is, don't expect the Stars when all you deserve is the moon.

    In the past few weeks...

    $33 refund from Sears, and they felt inclined to give me an additional $30 GC for the store.
    $30 GC for another store that understood why I didn't believe that I should have went to another one of their stores to fix an issue.
    I just wish that I could EECB about my Ex-Wife. I'd like a redux.
    1
    Thanks Cujo, it's been a wild ride and you guys have been great help. If I didn't rely on my phone for business I'd just put up with it.

    Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium
    1
    Rezound came today. It's fast! Will take some getting use to. All I've ever had was Samsung. Omnia, fascinate, and charge. Might root it so I can set all my apps back up.

    Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2