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Radio Shack - Liars and Cheats. Classic Bait and Switch
Radio Shack Warranty - Complaint
Review by leutholtzps on 2013-01-20
Rating: 
SURPRISE, ARIZONA -- I purchased a cell phone from Radio Shack and was offered a warranty that would replace my phone if there were any issues with it. I was told all I need to do is bring the phone back, they would ship it back to their warranty team and once it was received I would be sent a gift card in the amount of the phone I purchased. So I purchased the warranty thinking if anything happens to my phone I would get a brand new one, like I was assured.
Well, over the last few months my phone has been crashing and/or rebooting on me for absolutely no reason, like there is a short in my phone. It`s gotten to a point this happens daily so I decided I would take take advantage of the warranty I purchased. Well, I took my phone back and explained the situation. The guy at the store was helpful however when he called to talk to the warranty department he was informed my warranty was a "repair" warranty which is absolutely not what I was told I was purchasing.
They told me to send my phone back and they would try to "fix it" and if they can't they would send me a gift card. When I told them that's not what I purchased they told me that they do have a replacement warranty but I purchased the repair one, which is not what I was told I was buying. Had I known that they were going to pull the old bait and switch on me I would not have wasted my money on this warranty.
What makes this even worse is the store manager is the one who sold me the phone and replacement warranty. He is the one that told me that they would replace my phone if there was a problem within the first year. I even confirmed that that with him before I purchased the plan otherwise I would have not purchased the warranty. Now that there is a problem they are telling me that I don't have the right warranty.
I feel like they pulled the bait and switch on me and totally ripped me off.
Well, over the last few months my phone has been crashing and/or rebooting on me for absolutely no reason, like there is a short in my phone. It`s gotten to a point this happens daily so I decided I would take take advantage of the warranty I purchased. Well, I took my phone back and explained the situation. The guy at the store was helpful however when he called to talk to the warranty department he was informed my warranty was a "repair" warranty which is absolutely not what I was told I was purchasing.
They told me to send my phone back and they would try to "fix it" and if they can't they would send me a gift card. When I told them that's not what I purchased they told me that they do have a replacement warranty but I purchased the repair one, which is not what I was told I was buying. Had I known that they were going to pull the old bait and switch on me I would not have wasted my money on this warranty.
What makes this even worse is the store manager is the one who sold me the phone and replacement warranty. He is the one that told me that they would replace my phone if there was a problem within the first year. I even confirmed that that with him before I purchased the plan otherwise I would have not purchased the warranty. Now that there is a problem they are telling me that I don't have the right warranty.
I feel like they pulled the bait and switch on me and totally ripped me off.
Comments:
Posted by At Your Service on 2013-01-21:
Any time you are offered a warranty, there should be some form of documentation so this kind of confusion does not exist.
With that said, however, the 'service' warranty doesn't appear to be that bad. The fact that they're willing to either fix it or replace it if they can't is still a win/win proposition. I would ask this, if they were to offer a refund on just the warranty portion now, would you take it?
With that said, however, the 'service' warranty doesn't appear to be that bad. The fact that they're willing to either fix it or replace it if they can't is still a win/win proposition. I would ask this, if they were to offer a refund on just the warranty portion now, would you take it?
Posted by clutzycook on 2013-01-21:
Always read the fine print befoee you sign. Never take anyone's word for it. It stinks, but that's the way it is nowadays.
Posted by trmn8r on 2013-01-21:
Most cases that people believe are "classic bait and switch" are not bait and switch. I don't believe that what you describe, worst case, is bait and switch.
Maybe false advertising, IF they told you that any repair needed would result in a new phone. Do you have that warranty in writing? I find it hard to believe that a warranty would have those terms, unless it is a premium warranty. Otherwise, they would throw a lot of repairable phones in the trash.
Maybe false advertising, IF they told you that any repair needed would result in a new phone. Do you have that warranty in writing? I find it hard to believe that a warranty would have those terms, unless it is a premium warranty. Otherwise, they would throw a lot of repairable phones in the trash.
Posted by shayen on 2013-01-21:
I don't bother with Radio Shack and their warranties anymore. I purchased a blackberry phone and bought a warranty. No, I didn't read the terms (my bad) but instead listened to the employee's promises that my phone would be replaced at anytime during the year covered for any reason. I spilled soda on my phone and it died. I took the phone To Radio Shack and they gave me a gift card to purchase any phone I wanted. At that time, I was offered a two-year warranty for my new phone. Feeling good about RS and their warranty plans, I again did not read the terms and just listened to the employees who gave me the same sales pitch. About 1 1/2 years go by and I once again spill liquid on the phone and ruin it. Radio Shack refused to replace it or do anything. They said their warranties only cover manufacturer defects. I asked why I was able to get a new phone before on the same warranty plan and they wouldn't answer. Bottom line: read the fine print before buying, ask questions and don't just listen to what an employee verbally tells you. Lesson learned.
Posted by Susan on 2013-01-21:
What did the contract you signed say about the terms of the warranty? This is not "classic bait and switch" - this is a matter that you believed what the sales person told you instead of reading the contract.
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