Complaint Review: Verizon Wireless

About 4 months ago bought a Kyocera Brigadier phone from Versison. I purchased it becasuse it was a 'tough' phone and I am accident prone. It is a rather tough phone; Saphire screen, drop & water resistant etc. No complaints of the phone as a whole, but it has plastic covers that fit into the earphone jack and the charging port to make them water resistant. Unfortunately the plastic 'ribbon' that keeps the phone attached to the phone when cover removed to charge is rather fragile and mine broke when trying to open the port to charge the phone, and although it would stay in if not removed

I eventually misplaced it and now the phone is not water resistant, which is a major reson I purchased it. The cover is small, less than an inch long and quarter inch wide. It realistically should be very inexpensive to replace. However both Verizon & Kyocera have told me to get a replacment I must send my phone off to a reapir center. They absolutely refuse just to send me a replacement cover which should only be a few dollars. Repair would simply require snapping the new piece in place and in no way requires a technician to put it on. I looked for alternatives and fould one seller on Ebay selling one but they have it priced at a rediclous $40!

I believe Kyocera/Verzion will cover shipping cost of the part BUT the inconvience of having to back up all my phone data, be without a phone for several days and risking damage or loss is just far to much to just simply snap on a small plastic piece. I think this is piss-poor customer service and they should just send the part as my phone is under warranty. IF the phone were out of warranty I would even be willing to pay a reasonable fee for the part. I just want consumers to be aware of the hassle and poor service exibited in this situation and pressure Kyocera/Verizon to change the policy on this issue and at least allow Verizon to obtain the part and put it on in thier stores rather than having to send a phone off.