[jyl]

Well, since I am in a ranting mood, I'm going to dump on Verizon now.

I went by the local Verizon store and ordered a Blackberry for my wife, along with a 1-year contract. The store didn't have in stock, so they said it would be sent from the warehouse. A week later, I called Verizon customer service to find out where the phone was. They said FedEx had left it on my front doorstep, per a signature waiver than FedEx said I had on file, so the loss of the phone was my problem. According to Verizon, I would have to buy another phone, at full $500 list (since I wouldn't be signing a new contract). Also according to Verizon, I couldn't cancel my contract, since I didn't have the phone to return to them. No, they didn't care that we've been with Verizon for 3+ years, during which we've paid them about $1,800/yr. Nor did they care that I would terminate my account and refuse to pay on the contract.

In the end, it worked out. I called FedEx and got them to admit that (1) they did not have a physical copy of the signature waiver, just an entry in their records, (2) the entry said "leave under mailbox at side door", (3) the driver's log said he had left this package on my front doorstep, and (4) that was not propoer under the (alleged) waiver. I brought that information to Verizon, who agreed to send me a new phone (to my office this time!) and to seek reimbursement from FedEx. Now I just have to figure out how to revoke any signature waiver that FedEx claims they have.

Moral: (1) Do not sign any signature waiver for a FedEx package, because FedEx may claim you've waived signature for all future packages, and (2) don't sign a contract with Verizon or any other cellphone company.