So, let's take a look at Verizon. I needed, for the second time in a week, to go into one of their strip mall locations to attempt to solve a product "failure." This was one of many of their "convenient" locations around where I live. But, some of them are not "official" Verizon "authorized" stores or service centers. Of course, the consumer is, at first, completely unaware of the difference.
So my wife and I go inside. The first thing that is very noticeable is - looking around at the wall display of "phones" - that 99% of them are out of date. What I see online is very much different from what is being presented here in the store as new. There was one Blackberry model that is kind of current, the HTC Incredible and two older versions of the Motorola Droid. There are a lot of clearance items and accessories for old model phones. And most of the "hot" new product, like the Incredible, is, no big surprise, out of stock.
OK, so you meander around wondering what to do and where to go. You know nothing is going to be simple. Everyone, who seemingly works here, is busy. There is a gentleman in the back talking on one of the display phones. He has a clip board in his hand. Since the customers are all in shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops and he is wearing a tie and slacks, he must be with Verizon.
Doorbell, be back...
