Liquid "damage" and Verizon Scam
Over the past few years wireless companies have become increasingly ruthless with their customers (e.g., have you tried porting your existing # to a new provider?). One of the strategies they find increasingly profitable is handset insurance/replacement costs. My provider, Verizon Wireless, bills the 24 Month Upgrade as a "benefit" of their service. However, if you damage your phone and need a replacement prior to that 24-month period they'll stick you with a crazy high handset cost. Alternately, you can pay $5/month (+ a $50 claim fee) for handset-insurance. This insurance merely shifts the probability of profit for them. Without insurance, you assume a risk of damage in which case you may pay $150 for a new phone. With insurance, they assume the risk, but pay themselves $60 just in case you have a claim, and $110 if you actually file a claim. So, in essence, you're paying $60 for the option of getting a phone for $50 instead of risking a $150 fee if you lose/break your phone. Thus, unless you need an expensive smartphone, this is probably not a good risk for a consumer.
Those of us who have experienced "liquid damage" to our phones have already experienced the frustration of dealing with the issues above. But now, wireless providers are making it more difficult for consumers by adding a litmus paper dot to the back of your mobile phone to test for water damage. According the the article, these "dots" may change color whether the phone has ever been exposed to liquid or not.
Well, last week I had a funny talk with my Mom. She had just fallen into the pool at home (you've got to hear her tell the story!) and she had her phone on. She went to the Verizon store and tried to have her phone replaced. They went through the usual run-around about she wasn't due to upgrade for another 14 months and without insurance she was liable for the entire costs of the phone. If you know my mom, you won't be surprised to hear that she sweet-talked her way into the the gentleman's heart. After 30-minutes of discussing it, he finally relented and offered...
If I'm able to get the phone to work, will you pay a $40 service fee?
She agreed, and he
simply replaced the battery and it worked flawlessly! I was amazed, because I had "lost" a phone last summer to liquid damage. So, I went online and ordered a new battery for it for $6 on eBay. The battery arrived last night, I charged it up and the old phone now works flawlessly! So, if you ever accidentally fall in the pool, or dive in after a little one (like I did), or lose your phone in the toilet (like I've nearly done...) try replacing the battery before you go pay Verizon $150 for a new phone.
Update: check out this link for more info on rescuing a wet phone.
Buy.com has a sweet deal on this 8GB mp3 player today. I now use (and LOVE) a 2GB 
