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Tech Shops

August 13, 2025 09:26PM
Has anyone tried the tech shops that are always posted? Do you only choose the phone company you have? I see you are supposed to choose what type of phone you have, so for me, I would have to do APPLE shops. I'm just wondering what these are like. There isn’t much info in the narrative so I never pick them up, but I’ve always been curious. Can anyone shed some light if you’ve done these? Greatly appreciated smiling smiley
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August 13, 2025 09:31PM
I wait for them to be bonused. They are pretty simple. Just be sure to ask the associate what type of phone they own themselves.

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.
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August 17, 2025 10:36PM
Asking that question must be required. I did that kind of thing years ago on the iSS platform which tacught me a lot as I fell into MS. Knowing that answer informed me better as a consumer to also understand what OS I preferred and why and got me to think about tech in finer details. I can still run circles around my spouse and ask great questions when buying tech with my kids to make them more informed consumers for their phones, etc.
There often is or at least was a difference in the mindset of an iOS vs. and android user.
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August 18, 2025 12:05AM
Luckily most of the reps in the phone stores are more than happy to tell you all about how much they love their personal phones. Just ask the questions as part of conversation, don't just ask a list of random questions.

The new rules seem to be that you can only shop for the type of phone that you own. But with the exception of the pink phone company, you're not required to only shop at your current carrier's stores.

I personally don't shop at AT&T stores for a reason. But all of the others are fair game.

Word of warning: Don't get mixed up in one of those cell phone purchase and return jobs, they WILL bite you in the hiney.
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August 18, 2025 01:44AM
Morled opines--Don't get mixed up in one of those cell phone purchase and return jobs.

Bob agrees-The ONLY exception is if the fee is a minimum of $1000.
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August 18, 2025 02:24PM
Did the company that does the tech shops change? It's always been under IPSOS for as long as I've been doing this. I had to take a half a month off, and started back looking this morning, and they only have the blah tech shops, not the good ones.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/18/2025 02:25PM by lhh531531.
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August 18, 2025 06:06PM
@Morledzep wrote:

Luckily most of the reps in the phone stores are more than happy to tell you all about how much they love their personal phones. Just ask the questions as part of conversation, don't just ask a list of random questions.

The new rules seem to be that you can only shop for the type of phone that you own. But with the exception of the pink phone company, you're not required to only shop at your current carrier's stores.

I personally don't shop at AT&T stores for a reason. But all of the others are fair game.

Word of warning: Don't get mixed up in one of those cell phone purchase and return jobs, they WILL bite you in the hiney.
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August 18, 2025 06:07PM
I appreciate your insight on this. Thank you so much!
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August 18, 2025 07:27PM
these are easy money shops. i feel like they limited these cause I used to do them so much in a month. To the point the associates in the store got tired of me coming. Now I feel embarrassed doing these cause it's the same thing over and over and the associates are definitely annoyed with me.
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August 19, 2025 06:38AM
These always started at 25% less pay than the regular cell shops from the same MSC. But, the report had more than 25% extra narrative slots to fill in. Some of the questions in each narrative box were closely related to a previous box. But you need to have distinctly different verbiage, even if the representative used the same words, logic, selling points, etc. I was only doing them if they were bonused and I liked that they did not require a selfie like the regular cell shops. Not sure if that is still true, I stopped doing them.
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August 19, 2025 02:10PM
@Morledzep wrote:

Luckily most of the reps in the phone stores are more than happy to tell you all about how much they love their personal phones. Just ask the questions as part of conversation, don't just ask a list of random questions.

The new rules seem to be that you can only shop for the type of phone that you own. But with the exception of the pink phone company, you're not required to only shop at your current carrier's stores.

I personally don't shop at AT&T stores for a reason. But all of the others are fair game.

Word of warning: Don't get mixed up in one of those cell phone purchase and return jobs, they WILL bite you in the hiney.

I didnt have an issue with that one. Yeah I had out of pocket expenses, but it was only about $125 if I remember correctly and it was reimbursed. But I also am mot concerned about how long it takes to get reimbursed because I have good cash flow. I think it was about 2 weeks to get paid though.
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August 19, 2025 04:12PM
Jusa posts--I didnt have an issue with that one.

Bob shares--As my experience was extremely aggravating, I am able relate the specifics.

After being denied the return, I phoned the company on between 4 and 6 occasions; I will average it out to 5. I did not track the number of transfers, holds or the hours, but I would guesstimate the total time at 7 hrs. During the final call, it was only stating I would seek the assistance on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio that "did the trick."

That is why it would take $1000 for me to accept a cell purchase and return. As we know, though, one shopper's meat is another's poison. As Jusa stated, such were not a problem for him/her.
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August 19, 2025 07:14PM
The phone purchase and return shops I'm seeing are showing a $700 reimbursement along with shop pay.
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