THIS POST TAKES A FUNNY TURN AT THE END OF THE COMMENTS - PLEASE READ TO THE BOTTOM OF MY COMMENTS

[G+_Joseph Hurtsellers]

THIS POST TAKES A FUNNY TURN AT THE END OF THE COMMENTS -  PLEASE READ TO THE BOTTOM OF MY COMMENTS. (Where I take back most of what I said)

 

 Why I won't be buying hardware ever again from the Play Store. (And why I think YOU shouldn't either).

 

My Nexus 5 completely died through no fault of my own. It's 14 months old (2 months beyond the coverage from Play).

 

Customer support at Play is really good. But they explain to me that they are essentially like any other store - and now the problem is mine. But the truth is - if Google Play is like any other store then why would I do business with them when I have better options available?

 

If I had simply purchased the phone outright from T-mobile I promise you they would have been able to do more for me. They could offer refurbished phones, discounts, have someone from their store look at it, ect ect ect. As it is T-mobile did provided me with a free backup phone to get through this time. 

 

Any store has policies, and you can't warranty products forever - and that's true - but if they are like any other store then I prefer the competition. I think that Play is generally higher priced, takes longer to ship, and is more difficult to work with than many of my other options.

 

I guess I'm guilty of trying to hold Google Play to a higher standard than I would anyone else. I figure - heck - if it takes longer, costs a little more - then their must be SOME reason to buy from Play? 

 

I know - it's because we LOVE GOOGLE! I know - naive and not fair really. But I can tell you this - if you take the passion people like me have for Google out of the mix - then they have given me  no reason to do business with the store.

[G+_joseph]

Its outside or warranty so I don't see what you expected. I have dealt with them with items while under warranty and they have been really good. Even replacing my Nexus 5 that was admittedly damage by me (that's when for a limited time they were giving free replacements). I understand your preference to deal with the carrier. They have more options to offer in your situation. But to say others shouldn't shop there doesn't make sense. I benefited greatly by buying my Nexus 5 from the play store.

[G+_Joseph Cappellino]

While I understand your plight, I have to disagree on one point.  Google Play is/was the cheapest place to get a new N5.

 

When I moved from Verizon, I had to buy my N5 from T-Mobile to have them pay Verizon's ETF.  I could only get the Black 16GB version, as that's the only one they carried.  Additionally, it was the same price as the 32GB version from Google Play.  So, my options were fewer, and $50 more.

 

Also, while it was under warranty, Google was performing a one-time replacement for cracked screens, free of charge.  I am still within my warranty period with a cracked screen.  But, as I got it through T-Mobile, and not Google Play, I have to replace it myself, as T-Mobile doesn't cover this.

[G+_Joe Phelps]

If you want more warranty coverage than is standard with a device, upgrade the warranty or buy a third-party add-on.

[G+_Joseph Hurtsellers]

Joseph Cappellino? great point. To be sure it was less expensive when I bought it. But I don't see anything compelling in the store - and im a motivated shopper. One call to T-Mobile and they were able to offer a discount on my plan that makes tge final cost of my device crush anything play has ever had. My point is simply that play has followed the rules perfectly, but given me no reason to.shop there.

[G+_Joseph Hurtsellers]

+Joe Phelps? not complaining about the issue - just as a consumer trying to figure out a good reason to shop there.

[G+_Dean Penderghast]

It's not the play store's fault that the phone is crap.  That's the phone manufacture's fault.  If you bought the phone from Best Buy would you be blaming Best Buy right now?

[G+_Joseph Cappellino]

Dean Penderghast - The difference is that Best Buy isn't branding it as their own.  I would expect a better warranty from Best Buy if I bought an HP laptop that was made exclusively for Best Buy, under Best Buy's direction/guidance, and finally branded by Best Buy.

 

Though you don't see Google's logo anywhere, there is a giant Nexus logo on the back, which can only come from Google.

 

NOTE: Playing Devil's Advocate.  ;-)

[G+_Joseph Hurtsellers]

Btw Joseph Cappellino? I mentioned the crack screen thing to my representative. (Remeber I didn't drop my phone or damage it in any way, but I woke up and it is completely dead ) She told ne that the cracked screen thing was an internet rumor and not true.

[G+_Joseph Cappellino]

Joseph Hurtsellers - Actually, it wasn't a rumor.  One of my coworkers had his replaced about a month before the warranty was up.  He called, told them about the display, and they sent him a new one.  Then, he shipped back his old one.

[G+_Joseph Hurtsellers]

Joseph Cappellino I know - that's what I heard from multiple sources. I only mention it because I brought it up to the representative. I told her that I knew that Play had gone above and beyond with folks who had cracked screens even though that wasn't covered with the Nexus 5 in the past - but in my case I'm two months out of warranty and DIDN'T drop my phone, root or ROM it, or anything. I literally plugged it in and woke up to a brick. 

That's when she told me the cracked glass thing wasn't true.

 

But I apologize for having gotten off track - my main issue isn't what they did or didn't do. My main point is I am the most motivated consumer ever - and the biggest Android fan in the world! But I think the Play store is not a good choice anymore based on value.

[G+_Mic Cullen]

How is T-Mobile in any way relevant given you've got a plan with them? If you want a plan, then fine, if not, what's the issue here?

[G+_Joseph Hurtsellers]

OK everyone.... I take back most of what I said. I just got off the phone with a Play representative and to make a long story short they are in fact replacing my phone! 

I had an issue back in November with my phone refusing to do a factory reset - it was documented through email - and Google felt that it might have indicated a memory problem WHILE THE PHONE WAS STILL covered. HOORAY!!!!! - I love you Play store again!!

 

I do think the Play store does not look as competitive as it should be. (I really don't see any devices in the store that price and value would make me want to make the pruchase).

 

Mic Cullen - I was trying to say that if I had of bought the phone at a T-mobile store they would have bent over backwards to keep me and could manipulate my bill in numerous ways to compensate for the loss of my hardware - that's all.

[G+_Joseph Hurtsellers]

joseph limandri I was trying to be a little bold to make the post interesting. But the issue did make me rethink the whole idea of buying from someone other than a carrier. It doesn't seem like the old days quite so much where you were so tied to the carrier alone and everything was so locked down. I left Verizon over this issue.

But in the end Play really did come through above and beyond and I am a little red faced about my b**ching. (See my final post above).

[G+_Joseph Cappellino]

Joseph Hurtsellers I'm glad it worked out in the end.