A elderly client called me,
"I went to BEST BUY in
Emeryville to buy an iPad mini. I wanted the 3G one, that uses a cellular network for when I travel, but the salesman
convinced me to get a Verizon device that allows me to connect to the internet
that I can carry with me anywhere called a Verizon Jetpack MiFi. It was only
$20. He said that would allow me to but the less expensive iPad and use this
little thing to connect to the internet. How is this possible?"
Since this is the 3rd time this month that a senior citizen client has complained about high pressure and misleading sales techniques at our local Best Buy (am I allowed to use their name online?)I just had to speak up. Unfortunately, like more and more customers, this client was the victim of an over zealous salesman, who gets a commission for
each Verizon account he sells with this MiFi device, which means “mobile
wireless”. This device, the Novitel Verizon Jetpack 5510L, also called a
dedicated mobile hotspot, allows you to connect up to 10 devices to a wireless
network that attaches to Verizon’s 4G cellular network, the same signal your
cellphone uses. The technology is great, but what is happening more and more to
unsuspecting seniors, is that the salesman does not explain the fine print of
what the true cost will be. For Verizon to sell these devices at $20, they require you
to sign up for 2 years at $50 a month or higher, depending on the plan. So
instead of spending an extra $129 on the 3G capable iPad, if for example, you
signed up for the $50 a month plan, you will end up spending at least $1200,
assuming you don’t go over the limit of the plan.
Now when you buy an iPad that
has 3G capability, you will also pay a monthly charge if you use the cellular
network, but there is no contract required, and you can use it only when
needed, for example, if you are traveling to a place that does not have WiFi.
These days, almost all hotels, many airports, and even airplanes have WiFi that
is either free, or can be purchased for a day, a week or a month. And in
reality, since most of us have WiFi at home, and connecting your iPad to a
wireless signal is a free connection, it is rare that you will need to connect
to the cellular network. Remember, the cellular network costs money for data
downloads on your iPad and even iPhone(email, web pages loaded, photos and
videos downloaded), while your wireless network does not. So when you are home,
you should connect your iPhone or iPad to your WiFi network as a rule. This is
not to say that the device you purchased must be used with a contract. But to
be able to sign up for a month-to-month plan, the MiFi device price goes up to
around $200.
As I
said, this is becoming an all too common story among my customers, a senior
citizen goes into a store to buy a digital device, and comes out unknowingly
have signed a contract that will cost an exorbitant sum for something he or she
does not even need. Remember, WiFi is free, MiFi has strings attached.
What did we do? FIrst, we called Verizon, cancelled the contract, which was at first a bit difficult untilI explained the situation. There is usually a 2 week period where you can cancel if you are not satisfied. When the Verizon representative started her own hard sell, I interrupted her with, "Would you like someone to take advantage of your mother this way?"
I sent her to take the iPad back, told her to speak to the manager, and
explain that she was misled and insist on exchanging the iPad for the 3G model
(since she felt that she needed that capability). I sent a note with her, with my business card, and told her to tell them, "The MacMama said, 'DON'T MAKE ME COME DOWN THERE AND TALK TO YOU'".
Another happy, but watchful ending.