I know this from personal experience. Every dang thing had kerfuffle’s. Every. Ding dong dang. Thing.
First don’t buy a new house. We went through germy houses and had to be sterilized. I considered having a steam room installed in my house that we had to go through before entering. Visitors too. We were fortunate to buy one not yet on the market meaning the only germy person who touched stuff was the owner.
Don’t sell your house during a pandemic. Germy people come through and you have to sterilize before feeling comfortable living in your own house.
Don’t move. We had three days to get out of our old house when the movers arrived. It was the height of the pandemic and they said they can’t work with a mask. I was sure we would all die. I directed traffic from at least six feet away. We had a miracle and no one got sick.
Don’t buy a car. There is no inventory. No choice. No negotiating. Just cha-ching, cha-ching.
Don’t buy a cell phone. Again not much inventory. The lovely phones at a reasonable price are not available. You can buy a bottom level version or a $$ one. There isn’t staff to help either at the buying end or set up. What should take a half hour takes days, waiting in phone queues and driving cross town.
You’ve heard me complain about all the other stuff. Here is my cell phone experience. I had to buy a phone as mine was dying. At one store there wasn’t a techie to help with the set-up and at it’s sister store they didn’t have the model I wanted. I bought at one store and drove to the other store clear across town to get help with set up. I stood in line. There were three people ahead of me. Not too bad or so I thought.
It took two hours for my turn to come up. The techie was working on multiple people and texting on her own cell. She had zero multi-tasking skills. She spent a half hour on my phone (we are now at 2-1/2 hours in the store, way beyond my limit. My brain is fried. Claustrophobia is setting in and I just want to get out.). She says she can’t transfer data. Something happens on the phone and I see some contacts and numbers appear. She sends me on my way and I am all too happy to get out.
When I tried to make a call I had no cell reception. The message said there was no SIM card. (I now know more about SIM cards than I want to!). After much diddling around plus google and YouTube, I figured out she put my SIM card in wrong. Sigh! I still had issues which required a call to my service provider. I was in queue for almost an hour. Fortunately I had the option of getting a call back so I didn’t have to sit there.
Service is fixed. The next morning I looked at my contacts. Only half of my contacts were transferred. There was no rhyme or reason on which ones they chose. Maybe they were sending me a message on my choice of friends. Rather than go through trying to transfer the rest, I added them manually. One. By. One. I had to install all my apps and give permissions. I felt like I was giving away my underwear sizes.
I now have a working cell phone that is too big for pockets and awkward to use. I put a date on my calendar when I will trade it in for one that is simple, easy and works with my small hands. It will be after the pandemic and when those doggone ships stuck at seas with all the cargo can sail. I don’t need to carry around a whole computer screen.
Yes, I’m blaming all this on the pandemic. During normal times I would have consulted with techies on which phone matched my needs. They would have been delighted to make a sale. There actually would have been knowledgeable people working and inventory. Maybe that has become a fantasy these days.
Anyhow I’m back in service.
I’m so sorry for all these hassles, Kate! None of this sounds like any fun at all. Glad you got a new phone, but sorry that it took so much carrying on to find and set up, and that it isn’t what you would have wanted.
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I bought a case for it in pink. Makes me happy although a nice bright purple (which wasn’t available) would have worked too!
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I wanted to buy a new phone this month too and change the plan and get some help with an app, as I hate my newer big screen model, it’s just too big and awkward, but when I went to the Telus store I saw a Help Wanted sign and that was that! I just renewed the contract on the old one for another year rather than deal with it as I am hopeless when it comes to tech stuff.
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It’s easier than it used to be. Not sure where all the qualified techies went.
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I have, on occasion, dreaded going into Best Buy … more often than not I get someone who talks a mile a minute and looks at me like I’m the man in the moon if I look slow to comprehend. I had to get two new flip phones in the last few years because AT&T no longer supported my cute little 2G phone, then I just got used to the new phone and oops … we no longer support 3G, so I had to get a 4G phone. I don’t want to connect to internet, so I really needed something simpler. Give them another year and 5G will be mandatory.
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My new one is 4G and they said that would be around for several years. The timing between my old one crashing and needing a new one was too short to dally around. After the fact I know which one I should have bought. At the time it looked like a bunch of money for a phone but there is really no such thing as a cheap phone anymore. My first phone (flip) was $30.
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Well that is good to know because this flip phone really has more bells and whistles than I need but a comparable model to what I had was out of stock indefinitely, at the AT&T store as well as on Amazon. I finally ordered it thru Amazon. I think my original 2G phone was free with the service/subscription (Cingular). On another note – I remember the first cell phone I saw. One of the attorneys bought one – looked like a small piece of luggage. He put it on a desk and we all gathered around like it was Alexander Graham Bell’s colleagues or something. He thought he was pretty cool with it as he liked to golf and hauled it around on the golf course. 🙂
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The first ones were big. Some came in bags to carry around. I didn’t have one until the early 2000s.
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Me neither – they opened up a kiosk in the main floor of our building in 2002, so I got one then. Mine is too big for my pockets. In the Winter I have a polar fleece vest and I always have an extra set of keys in one pocket, the phone in the other. It is heavier than the other one and sags the pocket down.
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Sounds like my new one.
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I really never use my phone – just keep it for emergencies.
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I often text. People seem to prefer that to a phone call.
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I text from my computer, but not from my phone because it’s not a QWRTY keyboard, so it would take forever to make a simple message.
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Do you have an old flip phone? Those were the worst to text and I never did when I had one.
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I do have a flip phone, but a new one I just got this year, but I remember years ago trying to put in some basic contact info with it and you have to press left side/right side or straight down to get a letter … took me an hour just to put in my ICE info.
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Having done all of these things during a pandemic and coming out the other end to warn us, I’d say you’re the super-heroes of the over 60’s set! You’re pretty amazing. I give you all the credit you deserve, with wishes that at the end of this pandemic, should we all be fortunate enough to live to see it completely in our rearview mirrors, you deserve a fantastic vacation. 🙂
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I like your idea!
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I did two of those things during the pandemic: buy a new phone and a new car. The phone was pretty simple since I already knew what I wanted. The car? I had to wait almost three months. That phone “tech” sounds horrible. I don’t think many retail stores are being very picky about who they hire nowadays. “Pulse? Check. You are hired!”
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Much of my angst was caused by the techie. I didn’t know what to do about the SIM card. I even went back the next day but she had called off sick. The person there was not a techie so she gave me another SIM card. That doesn’t work as my phone was connected to the old card. Round and round. I was luckier with the car. I watched the internet for a delivery of one I wanted. Our local dealership (of the brand I wanted) only got 5 cars a week so it took 4 weeks but I did get the model and amazingly the color I wanted. Most of the new cars coming in were either black or white and I wanted red.
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Rough day. Yep, I get it. My Friskies delivery was late 3 times last month!! Stupid pandemic.
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Oh no! Not the cat food delivery! That would cause a lot of distress here!
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I know right? Hope the kitchen gets done quickly and nothing else goes wrong for you. My paws are crossed!
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I’m glad you are back and sorry it was so painful. If rather do anything than get a new phone or computer.
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Me too. My computer is old and prior to the pandemic I was thinking of upgrading. I’ve been trying to hold off and it’s working ok except for freezing up. We have a “computer guy” and I may have him check it out first. My husband is still on a computer with Windows 7. I keep telling him that his days are numbered. It can’t be upgraded it’s that old.
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Windows 11 is out now, and my computer will not be able to install it. I’ll wait to get it when this machine dies. They say it’s good to wait a bit before jumping into a new version of Windows. Maybe your computer guy could hold yours together for a while longer.
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They will support Windows 10 which I have for a few years. My husband’s computer gets hung up as many of the new programs no longer sync with Windows 7. He can’t upgrade/install Windows 10 so he will most likely get a new one within the next year. In the meantime he uses colorful language.
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I laughed at Dan’s colorful language. Computers can be so frustrating.
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Uh-oh! I just ordered my hubby a new cell phone.
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Not everyone has the experience I had. I really blame a lot of it on the techie that was “supposed” to set me up and transfer data. Not putting a SIM card in the proper slot was a really stupid mistake and it cascaded from there. I should have done it myself.
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You deserve a drink.
Or two!
Hope the phone bridges the gap until you can get one you want.
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BTW: I see you left remodeling the kitchen off your list. Is that because it’s been smooth sailing? Or because your brain is fried from the phone fiasco?
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Fried of course. Yes, DON’T REMODEL YOUR KITCHEN DURING A PANDEMIC!
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Phone will do. I use it slightly more than you do! 😉
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Cell phones are going to be the death of us all. Not in the “they’ll fry your brain” way, but in the “why the heck do I have this thing” way. I don’t know anyone who likes their phone. Looking for the perfect one is like the search for the Holy Grail.
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When you find it let me know!
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My husband was at the car dealer today starting the paperwork to just keep our lease rather than go through trying to find another car. They had zero new cars on their lot. We traded phones the first of the year, during the pandemic, but in between the supply shortages. We got two iPhones, the same models, but when they update mine does it seamlessly and his takes me a half an hour to work through all the security hoops they want me to jump through just to have it work. I will never understand it, and for sure I can’t go find someone who can help. I guess that’s why everything is disposable these days – there’s no CS so when you get fed up, you buy something else.
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I know that feeling! I wanted to take back the model I bought and buy something different that was easier!
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I managed to set up my own phone and it works fine. I did get the same model as my daughter so I knew I could ask for help if I needed it. I have an android and transferred most stuff via google. I do have grandchildren so I think I will be alright for the next few years. The pandemic is making us more self-reliant.
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I got the same model too and I should have tried to set up myself. I think my problems were caused by the techie.
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I have been on the same mobile provider for about 20 years. Not a problems, except my new phone kept cutting out, typically after the warranty ran out. Not my phone apparently. The provider service does not like our house. Stand in the garden or in the road, no problem, but indoors? Nada. Transmitter mast is bust and the substitute insufficient. So, we got a new sim card for a different provider on what we thought was the same PAYG set up we have. That’ll be a no then as you have to set up a monthly payment which isn’t always carried over to the next month. Don’t like that. It went in the bin.
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I don’t know what your solution is. Reception isn’t the best in our house either but it’s sufficient. I’m not sure where the nearest cell tower is.
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It’s not a problem once we found out what;s going on. If it’s something important, we ask them to ring us on the landline which is now seeing more traffic and costing us more . Never mind!
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Sometimes it feels like you can’t win!
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I know. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t sort of thing………..
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I’m sorry to hear about all of the issues with your new phone. Hope that it is smooth sailing from here, Kate. You more than deserve it! 😀
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It should be good now. Everything is transferred. I just need deeper pockets (in more than one way!) 🙂
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Tech stuff is the worst! So frustrating. My kids have left the “Apple-verse” (which I joined because they were all on Apple products) but I am staying because upgrading my phone or computer is so much easier (and I don’t feel I have the energy to learn Android, at this point). I know it’s pricey but dammit, it is worth it to me to not have to tear my hair out or gnash my teeth down to nubs every time I get a new tech-thingy.
Deb
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I wanted to try an iPhone this round but I stayed with the same android manufacturer thinking it would be easier and it should have been. In normal times with skilled staff it would have been easy peasy. My last one was.
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You really have managed to accomplish some amazing things during the panDAMNic. As for the phone debacle…jeez. While the brick & mortar provider I went to had pretty much no inventory and a 3+ week wait for delivery, I managed to buy and pick up one same day through the manufacturer over the weekend. I did a backup on the old phone and voila! looks like all my apps, contacts and settings migrated during the activation of the new phone {patting myself on the back for doing it without sobbing or swearing (mostly) on my own}. I’m no phone genius but actually managed to do it (normally I’d leave that up to those freshly scrubbed faces of the millennials at the store). My only hiccup has been with the WiFi but that’s another story/battle in progress. I think tech companies are disciples of the devil.
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I bought my first smart phone on-line and set up myself. It wasn’t so bad. I don’t know why I didn’t this time. Oh yes! I didn’t want to spend a lot of time “learning or relearning” how to do it. Well, that boat sailed!
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Oh Kate! I know how frustrating all of this is – I feel your pain about the phone thing. I probably never would have tried moving during a pandemic (you were so brave!) but I HAD to do the phone switch from 3G. Reading your experience had me giggling (no offense but it did!) but there is hardly one dingy dang thing we try to do these days that doesn’t turn into a MOUNTAIN when it should be a molehill. It’s ridiculous – frustrating – and no end in sight but like lemmings we continue to march to the cliffs because WE – HAVE – NO – CHOICE! Sigh.
Hugs, Pam
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For the past 2 years I’ve been thinking about upgrading but I didn’t need to. Over the past year, I started to do more things on my phone but then…well…pandemic. However, when it takes me 10 minutes to order my mocha I knew it was time. One day it would just die. With the renovation going on, the contractors text and I don’t want to miss that. If it weren’t for all that, I’d be sitting here with my old, slow phone.
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Guess I will hang onto my old phone for awhile. My patience isn’t what it used to be, in fact, it has nearly disappeared. I don’t understand how someone can use their phone while serving a customer. In my world personal calls while working are a no-no. Guess my world is shrinking.😐
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I tried to not judge. Maybe she had a sick kid but she texted constantly through all the customers sometimes fouling things up. She was transferring data for someone else and it timed out. She didn’t see it. They came back an hour later only to find out it wasn’t done. Perhaps getting an iPhone and going to an Apple store would guarantee better service.
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My phone is old, just hoping it lasts a while longer after hearing your experience.
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Mine was about 4 years old but “they” tell me that’s about a normal life for techie stuff these days.
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Mine is about a year older, so I expect I’ll have to replace it soon. When I text, sometimes I have to hit the send button a few times before it works.
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Mine slowed down considerably. I was still able to use it but it was so slow that apps sometimes timed out. I was hoping to eek out until the spring but that didn’t happen.
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And here I was debating about getting a new phone, for there was a special offer. I do believe that now I will wait! 🙂
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If you can get what you want go for it. I didn’t know what I wanted and I couldn’t look at models. The one I bought is big for my hands (and my pockets). Hard to pass up an offer!
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I wouldn’t want a big one either. It is hard to pass up a good deal but at the same time I hate learning new phones and having to transfer everything. I just want to wave a magic wand and have it all done. LOL!
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Me too. I saw there is an iPhone12 mini with the smaller size. I should have gotten that.
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Google and YouTube videeohs are my friends!
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Yes! They are miracles!
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Oh Kate! I am so sorry… I truly feel your frustration. You truly did all the big stuff at the peak of pandemic pandemonium! We thought we had a good experience with our phones but we did spend over two hours purchasing them… ridiculous. You are a brave woman. I am telling when this is all over with you will need a therapist… don’t ask me how I know! Hugs!
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Looking for a mocha IV now! It’s been crazy but good news. I was able to change the clock on my new car easy peasy. I decided to start with google instead of the manual and that worked faster.
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Setting new car clocks is a breeze now compared to older models where you manually did it while trying to figure out why your manual seems to be written in Yugoslavian instead of English because it sure doesn’t make sense. 😉
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It was so easy. My last car had a button to press up or down to change the time. This time I clicked off for daylight savings time and it was done. I remember when you had to push for each minute starting at 0. Some things have gotten a lot better.
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Boy do I ever. I just found that DST button. Hallelujah! Buying a new car for me has been like moving from an abacus to a super computer!
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🙂
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Yay! Back in service. Way to go, Kate! ❤
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Yes, days of angst but back in the saddle again!
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Just be thankful you’re no longer in the workplace, Kate. It’s a different world.
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I’m sure it is. Back then cells weren’t allowed in the workplace. Now they use them for work.
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Not for work…for play…that’s part of the problem. 😦
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I really do understand when it’s just one d&*^ed thing after another, complicated by anything and everything having to do with this d&*^ed pandemic. I need to buy another car before the end of May as mine will no longer pass inspection and the cost of fixing what ails it is 1/3rd of its value. I’ve had to table looking seriously (other than some searches online) because I’m also a part of the filing of a civil suit against the personal representative of my dad’s will and that has a lot of money tied up in a retainer. Not to mention that my medical issues do not only not seem to go away, but new ones keep getting added with every visit! Oh yea, and my landlord just informed me of a rent increase! I feel your pain and hope we both come out on the other side of all of this stuff!
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Sometimes it does feel like things are piling on. Hoping you see the end of some of these things.
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OMG, that sounds excruciating. Kudos to you for your patience in the phone store.
We got all new phones this past year, but my spouse is technically proficient. The phones arrived in the mail. He transferred all the data, and then I just grumbled over having to learn the new “improvements” in the buttons and operating systems. It’s been months and I think I’ve finally stopped trying to hit the nonexistent “home” button. Finally.
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I said (more than once) I need a 12-year-old! A personal techie to live next door. At this point, I will do the activation and transfer myself next time. I had to learn it this time after the “real techie” failed me.
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I have a nephew who started a business helping his older neighbors set up everything from phones to new TV/ streaming services.
He’s doing very well for himself…at age 13.
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He needs to move here!
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I love Consumer Cellular for phone service and replacement phones. No glitches and fabulous service folks on the phone, based in the US and speak English!! And I have a wonderful computer guy who fixes my computer as needed, and also does all my exchange from one phone to the new one. I will count my lucky stars!!
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I couldn’t get what I wanted through CC’s Target affiliate. I really like to see before buying but that didn’t help in this case. Normally their customer service is great and fast but right now the queues are long. Once you get through, their people are knowledgeable and we cleared out some errors the on-site techie made. I’m going to transfer myself next time. They now have a button on the phone that does it easily. Not sure what the techie did to screw everything up.
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