Verizon Customer Service is Pretty Useless

Verizon FiOS is coming to my area, but its not here yet. I wanted to do a comparison of FiOS to my local cable company to see which one I should switch too (and whether I should wait for FiOS). Unfortunately, if FiOS is not in your area, they make it difficult for you to find any information. Below is my conversation with a customer service representative:

You are now chatting with ‘Sam’

Sam: Hello. Thank you for visiting our chat service. How can I help you bundle up and save with our High Speed Internet and FiOS packages?

Sam: Hi

Sam: How may I assist you?

you: hi. I know fios isn’t available in my area yet but it should be soon so I wanted to get a head start and look at the available bundles to compare them to my local cable company. Unfortunately, the verizon web site isn’t making that easy to do

Sam: I will be happy to help you with that.

you: are the bundles easily accessible from somewhere on the site?

Sam: In that case FiOS may not be available at this to your location. However, you can order High Speed Internet service annual agreement online offer with me today and you get the first month free. We’ll also waive all High Speed Internet early termination fees when FiOS becomes available. You’ll receive a link in your email to upgrade to FiOS online. It’s that easy.

you: I’m not interested in that at the moment. I’m interested in seeing the FiOS bundles so that I can do a comparison. I know its not available yet, but I also know it will be soon.

Sam: You can make the selection of the plans and equipment after making the selection you will get total monthly bill mentioned on the review order page before placing your order.

you: I understand that but since FiOS isn’t in my area yet the site won’t show me the FiOS bundles which is what I want to see.

Sam: Is there anything else I can help you with?

Sam: Yes, you are correct.

you: But I want to see the bundles so I know whether its worth waiting for FiOS or if I should just look at the cable company’s bundles

you: because what you’re saying right now is there is no way I can see what your typical fios bundle prices and packages are

Sam: Yes, you can make the selection of the plans and equipment and you will get your total monthly bill before placing your order to make the decision.

you: but it doesn’t show FiOS options

Sam: FiOS service is not available at your location.

you: I know that

you: but it will be coming

you: and I’d like to be able to compare plans so I know whether its worth waiting for FiOS or if I should just get one of the cable company plans

Sam: We are also working to update our serving offices and systems to provide you FiOS, but the exact timeframe varies on the other work still being completed. Make sure you are on our future notification list by qualifying your phone number or address and look for FiOS information in the mail.

you: I am

you: but that doesn’t show me the package information

you: you guys have packages that you offer in areas that already have fios

you: I can’t imagine it varies that much by region

you: that you can’t show it

you: even for people who can’t get fios yet

Sam: You will get the package information only if the service is available at your location on your page.

you: why?

you: why can’t I see it now?

you: do you guys purposely make it hard to compare?

you: I just want to determine whether its worth waiting for FiOS

you: or if I should look at other options

you: from my cable company

Sam: I understand your concern and your patience is truly appreciated. Unfortunately I am unable to assist you with that information as it is out of my support boundaries because I am an online representative for new set up however let me provide you an appropriate link to the customer service and they would be more than happy to assist you with that.

I don’t know how they’re going to get people to sign up if they’re making it extremely difficult to find out information! I don’t think I asked a hard question!