Verizon's BlackBerry Storm is a Huge Disappointment

Posted Sat April 11, 2009 12:00 pm, by Zach P. written to Verizon Wireless (Cell Phones)

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I bought the BlackBerry Storm(9530) from Verizon Wireless on Wednesday December 3rd, 2008. I have had nothing but problems with it since activated. Within one week of getting the Storm I had to return it, when updating the software my phone failed to turn back on. My local Verizon Corporate store (Mooresville, NC) is 4 miles away from my house, they said they were unable to fix the problem and sent me to a store 16 miles away (Huntersville, NC). When I arrived to the Huntersville store they said all they could do is order a replacement and could have done that while still in the Mooresville store. Five days after the Huntersville store said they ordered the replacement I called 611 and they had not received an order for a replacement. I have had the replacement phone since the third week of December.

The replacement phone has caused me so many problems that I can't help but to feel ripped off. I have to do a battery pull at least once a day but more often three or more times a day. The inconvenience being that the phone takes anywhere from two to five minutes to turn back on after a battery pull.

At this moment I am running software version 4.7.0.75 and it is so slow when rotating from portrait to landscape that I have quit trying to show it to colleagues and friends because it never works correctly.

I serve as an outreach Coordinator for an international organization and due to the phone freezing and/or crashing I have missed urgent calls and been late to countless mandatory conference calls. I have lost my pride in Verizon which I have touted with numerous others over the last few years.

I want this phone to work, I absolutely love the hardware but the software is so buggy I dread using my phone because it frustrates me so much. The screen also was impossible to push down in the top left corner and bottom right corner. I fixed this click problem by inserting a piece of paper behind the battery (although jerry-rigging a product of this cost is ridiculous and sad). I feel for the money I spent on the phone I would have been better off buying an Apple iPhone or the HTC G1 from T-Mobile. I renewed my contract with Verizon because of the Storm.

The catch line for the Storm was "touch and be impressed." I am not. I need a device that is enjoyable to use and includes the features promised with a BlackBerry.

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Re: Verizon's BlackBerry Storm is a Huge Disappointment by Zach P. Posted Mon April 13, 2009 @ 12:56 PM I just received a Call from Verizon's Executive Office, I was rather surprised. I will report back when we have settled, but I must say I am impressed with their response time(less than one business day). Zach Reply Re: Verizon's BlackBerry Storm is a Huge Disappointment by Zach P. Posted Mon April 13, 2009 @ 12:08 PM RIM, the makers of the blackberry have been developing software and are now in the .200's internally....Verizon has left us at .75 since December. I would say that yes, usually it would be the manufacturers fault but I really do not think that it is in this case because they have developed much better software for it(I just cant use it until Verizon certifies it). I understand many of you will not but a first generation product but I have always been that person that has waited to get the latest and greatest so for this phone it is a no brainer. I am still waiting to hear from Verizon and at this point I am going to request a Windows Mobile phone(the HTC Touch Pro). I will report back. Zach Reply Re: Verizon's BlackBerry Storm is a Huge Disappointment by Nate. Posted Sat April 11, 2009 @ 5:21 PM This phone sounds like Jerry-Made junk. Will they switch you to a regular blackberry instead of the hi-tech one? Reply Give the Omnia a try by Adam W. Posted Sat April 11, 2009 @ 11:58 AM I've had my Omnia for four months and other than the GPS being disabled I don't really have any complaints. Reply Maybe.... by Zach P. Mon April 13, 2009 @ 12:09 PM Re: Verizon's BlackBerry Storm is a Huge Disappointment by Retail Veteran Posted Sat April 11, 2009 @ 10:32 AM At this point I would contact the manufacturer. They are the one who made the defective phone, not Verizon. Yes, Verizon sold it to you and they have tried to help you. Personally, I would never buy any product when it first comes out. I would wait a few months to read reviews from actual users before buying anything new. Perhaps Verizon would be willing to replace the phone with something different? Have you asked them? Since the Blackberry Storms have come out, I have read numerous stories of problems with them. It seems to me to be a manufacturer defect problem with the phones. Reply Verizon is every bit as responsible by Adam W. Sat April 11, 2009 @ 11:57 AM yep, Verizon phones and proprietary software by APCO25guy Sun April 12, 2009 @ 7:26 AM I agree by Zach P. Mon April 13, 2009 @ 12:38 PM