bid chronicles

To continue the saga of the cellphone that I didn’t complete last time, I finally got a phone. The phone was not a Blackberry Pearl 8100, so I gave up on trying to sort it out, and just decided I’m going to sell it off and get the phone of my dreams. They just so happen to be around the price range also. So week before last I sold of the two phones I had gotten for renewing the contract, and used the money on the dream phone.

I mean, it’s a Nokia! Come on. The phone so far is awesome. It has as 4 freaking bands, which was reducing the performance for the w800i that I was using. There are still things that I am finding and features I am missing, but so far I love it. I mean you gotta love the screen, which is as big as the one on the back of my camera.

However, according to this research, this means I am settling down. Apparently people who buy Nokia phones are like Toyota owners. Oh shit! I own a Toyota!

Wirefly (which is also Buy.com cellular store) provides awesome prices for some of the phones. In fact, many times 2 awesome rebates makes the phone free or gives you money back. Of the two rebates, one of them is a “Customer Loyalty” rebate, whereas the other one is a data package rebate. One might be wondering how they can be a loyal customer, if they haven’t ever had a contract with a particular wireless network. You see, it’s the requirements of the rebates that makes sure you that.

Copy of your wireless bill dated 150 days or more after the Activation (or Process) date on your sales receipt…

Isn’t that wonderful? I mean, you can’t even submit the rebate form as one of the requirements is that you have to wait 5 months.

Now you are like me, you have the lowest logical plan that works for you. In most cases that’s the popular $39.99 plan or the $59.99 family plan. Yes, you guessed it right, sometimes they won’t allow you to select that. Even then you argue that you are paying for those extra minute anyway, true. I agree. Point noted. But how about that data package rebate, which claims:

To qualify for this rebate, you must activate and maintain a Cingular Voice Plan of $29.99 or higher with a BlackBerry Connect, BlackBerry Email, Data Connect, Media Max or Smartphone Connect feature of $29.99 or higher along with a purchase of the…

Same thing can easily be applied to here, but what if you are like me who doesn’t even care about the data plan and rather save the money. Would you rather wait 5 months to get the $75 rebate check, or cancel the $30/month data plan and not spend $150? Not to mention that you will probably get spoiled you force yourself to use it

I don’t know about you, the Blackberry had to be bought with a Blackberry plan, which Cingular does not require, but instead of paying $34.99/month, I decided to forget about the rebate.

This must be my worst online shopping experience that has just left me confused. Over 2 weeks back, I ordered a BB Pearl and Sony w300i from Wirefly. In 2 days the w300i shipped and I got an email that BB Pearl was not in stock - which is not mentioned anywhere on the site. On checking the order status, I notice that it says they expect new stock in 72 hours.

72 hours later, I have the w300i at hand, and there is still no news on the Pearl. The status however, changed to processing. 12 hours later the status reverted back to where it was - expecting new stock in 72 hours. Another 72 hours later - repeat.

I chatted with their online customer service - Sumon. The dumbass knows nothing more than it says, on the site. I repeated the experience the next day. Thankfully he gave me a customer service phone number this time. 3 hours later, I call and get the same thing - expecting new stock in 72 hours.

The next day I call again and talk with “Jim” from Jimanankar or something probably. He says new stock will be in 24 to 48 hours and they will bump the shipping to next day.

Last Friday, the thing finally ships. I check the tracking; shipping in standard ground expected to arrive this Tuesday. Bastard Jim.

Yesterday, I get the package. Finally, I can play around with the Pearl that I have been waiting for 16 days. I have managed to leave early just to sit in traffic for 1 hr. And then at last, the package!

All elated I open it…. Alas! It’s not the Pearl! Those idiots!

Ok, Arjun. I admit it. It was a very much worthed 1.2 GB demo. Though, I still think it is a crazy download for a demo. Took me 2 freaking hours. Looks like unlike C&C Generals, they are going back to story lines that go all the way through the campaign. Not to mention that all the cinematic are once again live action instead of CGI. Also it looks like they are pouring tons of cash into it. I mean come on look at the cast list - Michael Ironside (Stargate SG-1), Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), Josh Holloway (Lost), Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica), Jennifer Morrison (House MD), Billy Dee Williams (The 70’s show), etc. Doesn’t these catch your eye?

The intriguing one was Joseph D. Kucan. Looks like he was always Kane; even back in 1995.