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I purchased a new smart phone 3 months ago because Verizon sent me a text stating that my old phone would no longer be supported within 3 or 4 months. I had it for 12 years. It was a 3G flip phone. I've been a Verizon customer for 16 years. When I went to the Verizon store, I expressly stated that I needed a phone that would get reception as well as my flip phone did, which was SUPERIOR to my wife's newer smart phone. They insisted that upgrading to the new 4G should have no impact on getting a signal or making calls. I finally relented and paid them $480 plus an activation fee plus state taxes. The total was $525.29. When I tried the phone about a month later at my cabin, where I need the reception, it was clearly NOT as good as my old phone. It wasn't even as good as my wife's 3 year old smart phone. I installed a $500 WILSON amplifier. Really didn't help. I took the phone back yesterday and asked for a refund after researching and finding the best brand and model for internal antennae and reception. They said they wouldn't take it back as a refund and if I wanted, I could trade it in on the new phone I requested. They offered me $15 for the phone I just paid $525.29 for 3 months ago. Let me repeat that, in case you thought I made a typo. FIFTEEN DOLLARS. That's 3% of what I paid. In other words, my phone depreciated 97% in 3 months. Oh, then the Verizon store employee gave me the number to call to see if Verizon technical could do something else for me. So I called, waited on hold for 20 minutes, and when the person answered, he patiently listened to my plea, then started telling me that I was completely right and that he would be willing to give me a new phone and a discounted rate. Wait, it gets better. I was talking to ATT. Yes, the Verizon store employee wrote down an ATT service number for me to call. I had to call the store back and get the number again. The employee who gave the number originally said they gave me the right number. I told him to read it back to me. It wasn't the same as he had written down on his Verizon business card. Yes, I still have the card. Bottom line. I finally got a hold of Verizon manager. She (Michelle)was sympathetic, but wouldn't refund me for the phone. She reiterated the trade value of $15. I asked how she would feel if she was a customer for 16 years and was forced to buy a new phone, then relied on Verizon to steer her towards the right phone to purchase, then it doesn't work as well, so you end up returning it for another one and they offer you 15 bucks? How would she feel? Insulted? Used? Like an piece of crap that they could care less about? Is this how she would treat a 16 year customer? Oh, I've learned a really good lesson. One, Verizon is a cut throat business that has ZERO customer loyalty. Two, think long and hard before buying a phone based on what they suggest. Do your own research beforehand, because if you end up in the situation I did, you're going to get raped by them. I don't mean taken advantage of. I mean A $15 take it or leave it refund policy for a $525 three month old phone. That's not an offer, it's a raping.