Come home from Comicon

[fbhjr]

Our flight home was at 8. It is the same plane going back to Boston as the one we took down the morning before. But, as it has to get there from Boston, we got to get to the airport two hours later.
Al drove us again, which was very nice of him.

So, at the airport, nice and early.


And, up, up and away.



Again, mostly cloudy.


It did clear up as we got closer to Boston.


We flew near our normal Sunday sword practice area.

You can see the dam in the bottom left and where we live in the upper right.


Soon after we got to Boston.



The harbor was an interesting color.


Two weeks ago we went over Castle island. This time we were over the harbor.


I always like when the land and runway show up…

And, there we were.


Just after we paid for parking and left the airport, I got a text.

It was Best Buy saying the phone they were supposed to have for me Friday was now ready and I should come and get it.
Since the store was more or less on the way home, we decided to stop and get it.

As we came to the exit with the store, there was a multiple car accident. It did put later frustrations in perspective.


Despite a text 30 minutes before saying I could come and get it, when we got to the store it wasn’t open yet.
So, I waited. I went in when they opened.
There was my phone.


But, when activating it, the young man asked "why don’t you have a data plan?"
"I do," I said. "4gb a month."
"Nope. It says you pay by the megabyte as you go."
"That is not what I’ve been paying for over the last 5 years I’ve had it."
"It’s what you have now. Do you want to change it?"
"Yes, please."
So, he took out his phone and called AT&T for me.

30 minutes later when they answered the phone, he had a long conversation with them.
He set me up with a new plan that was less expensive and came with more.
I was happy.

Then, his boss came over and said he had done it all wrong. I wasn’t allowed to get a new plan because I had bought an iPhone only plan 5 years ago and that was that.

The young man who had helped me expressed skepticism that the AT&T help line had been wrong.

Then, they went away with the new phone.


But, he hadn’t gone far. He was using his own phone to sit on hold another half hour to get the AT&T people to get my plan straightened out.

This made me think highly of him.

Meanwhile the manager told me the bench I was sitting on was "for customers" so I should move and make room for people waiting.

This did not make me think highly of him.
Especially as there was already an open work space he could have used.

So, the helpful guy finally got through, got it all worked out and then took me to what I called "The Batcave" to do all the paperwork.


Then, new paperwork in hand he returned me to the starting place and gave me my phone.


Two weeks ago we got home 2 1/2 hours late because the plane was late. This time we got home 2 1/2 hours late because of the phone. We flew these trips because last time we drove we stuck in 2 1/2 hours of bad traffic.
So, coming home from Baltimore, add 2 1/2 hours. Just the way it is.

But, we got home. Yay.

Good trip.
Tiring trip.
Yay!

Comments

[hindustar.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, those gifs are neat. I guess something put its foot down and said you all are never to arrive at home on time from Boston. =) lol.

So sorry it was a fiasco to get your new phone.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

It is the first time I have bought an iPhone other than in an Apple store.
It does not encourage me to continue this trend.

[hindustar.livejournal.com]

If you have better luck in the apple store and better service, then I agree.

BTW, we had awful luck and service at best buy trying to get new phones, now we just go to our T-mobile store.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Cool gifs.

I happen to really like takeoffs, it's very exciting, but I also like landings as I find it fascinating to see the world coming back, larger and larger.
Not a fan of bumpy touchdowns though, but I doubt anyone is.

Not a fan of your best buy experience, either.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

That first guy spent 2 1/2 hours of solid time getting my problem fixed.
While I don't like how his manager treated me, the first guy was GREAT!
So, I try and concentrate on that aspect of it.

[musesrealm.livejournal.com]

I've had similar experiences at BB where Joe Regular employee is infinitely more helpful and wonderful than the manager.

But yay for new phone and better data plan!

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

Are you a Best Buy 'Rewards Zone' member or something similar? If you send them feedback, at worst they'll send you a $5 gift certificate. At best, they might kick a manager in his rear end. They know damned well you can Say Nothing and Go Elsewhere.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Oh yes.

This is not my first problem of this type. The only reason I got the phone there is because Apple and AT&T said I had to have it shipped to my home. Having had other things stolen from my front foyer, I didn't want a $900 phone sitting there.
So, I went to the store.

But, I do have methods of feed back straight to corporate. I'm sure it will be a "Wait, it's him again!?!?" when they read it.

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

I made a few detailed complaints about some folks and a phone case I was seeking (including 'does {specific name} imagine he's clever when he points at things with his middle finger? He isn't') and ching! Five bucks.

[meathiel]

Sounds complicated with your phone ...

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

It wasn't supposed to be.
But, you're right, it was...

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

i'm so fricken happy the phone plan had a happy ending, even as i'm annoyed at the manager who made it an hour longer than it needed to be. wth

[cosmicirony.livejournal.com]

What is it with managers? They seem to be dedicated to obstruction at all costs.

[merilune.livejournal.com]

I like those photos from the plane. When I used to travel by plane often it was at night so I missed a lot of the interesting things out the window.

What a pain getting a new phone. Every time I renew my contact I go to my provider to choose a phone and they just update my contract and give it to me. It usually takes a maximum of 10 minutes!

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

What you describe with the phone is my usual experience as well. And, what I had expected this time.
Ah well, hopefully next time it will be better!

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

I love all the photos
especially the take off sequence

I'm glad you finally got your phone but wow what a wait :(