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Wireless Advocates Costco.com Misrepresentation / Fraud Internet
The following is a letter explaining the type of Fraud and misrepresentation I have experienced with Wireless Advocates.
I made a complaint to Costco explaining that they have a vendor that is useing bait and switch methods of advertising. I wanted to notify Costco that they may want to independently resaerch this company. I suggested that the shear numbers of complaints may suggest to Costco that they may want to use another vendor for their on line phone sales. It turns out they just refer the case to Wireless Advocates. Like this company will investigate complaints on itseld. Shame on you Costco!
Wireless Advocates offered a Black Friday / Cyber Monday Deal for $150.00 rebate on a AT&T IPhone 6 with 128 Gb. I figured that it was pretty good as I was in the market for an I phone 6 and this rebate was going to give me a 128GB for the cost of a 64 GB.. It was not a burning desire to have so much memory but what the heck it was a deal.
I checked their button for upgrade eligability and it told me I was eligable. I stayed on the AT&T phone add and ordered it.
God the pain began. I never received a receipt during or after the transaction explaining that I was going to get a $150.00 rebate. In fact no mention of the rebate on my receipt. I began to get suspicious after the deal. They have told me on my various phone calls that I must have been mistaken and saw the Verizon add. Nope. I would have received the Verizon phone. I received the AT&T phone. Turns out one of their employees actually admitted that I was correct they did offer a $150.00 rebate on the AT&T phone but it was an upgraded survice. Nope. That was disputed by a supervisor and she told me thay would "speak with te employee!"
Then I received my wireless bill. Holy Smoke. They Fraudently activated a spare line that I have as it was eligable for an upgrade and supposedely sent another IPhone 6. Nope. Just Fraud. They have people that access your account and see that it has a line or wo eligible for upgrade and pass the illegial information on to a pal who must receive the IPHone 6 then sell it o the black market.
It took me forever to unscramble the mess with AT&T. I doo see that others have expereinced the same B.S.
Bottom Line .. Go to your Carrier or Apple and do the deal with them. Save yourself the headache.
Shame on you Costco! No way to reach you for a complaint or a heads up that you have a sleazy vendor!
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Danny
California,Online vs In-store
#2UPDATE Employee
Wed, January 14, 2015
I am sorry to hear thaty you had a bad experience with an online purchase. There are some key differneces when purchasing a produt online compared to going into the kiosk in costco directly. You might have had the same experience if you bought your phone from appl.com or carrier.com.
Costco has promotions and incentives all the time and they change quite often. They all come with their terms and conditions. The key difference is that online and in store are two different departments and they function as such. The website is automated and takes you step by step on activating and purchasing a phone by yourself. There inlies the problem, as there is no one to help you out and guide you through the process. I would definitely get a hold of their online customer service at 1-800-369-5931.
Many times customers will miss the small disclaimers that online retailers display causing unwanted features or terms and conditions. I do hope that you returned the device and got the assistance that you needed. I would recommend going into the store and have them explain all the details so you walk out content and informed even if you choose not to get the phone, mobile broadband, tablet or home phone service.
Best wishes.