lg vx-10000 verizon not worth it

[cmag3175]

PHONE: LG-VX10000 ($407.79) with Nationwide Premium Unlimited Anytime Minutes ($139.99)


Problem 1: Car charger not charging properly

After plugging in car charger, I noticed the battery icon blinking on and off while charging. It wasn’t the normal flashing the battery icon does when fully charged, but rather a flicker like there was a bad connection or a bad plug between the two. I brought my problem to the Verizon store where I set up and bought my new account and phone. They promptly replaced the charger with no problems. I then tried the new charger with the same flickering results. Brought the charger back into the store and said maybe it could be the phone. Customer service person told me, “That’s normal and you should charge your phone with the wall charger instead.” I asked if this happens a lot and his reply was, “I see this happen all the time and car charger usually and can mess up your phone and you should only use the car charger during emergencies only.” (Really???!!! I must have idiot written across my forehead) Well, he apologized sincerely, as probably trained and instructed by his higher ups, and sent me on my way.

Resolution: None. Problem still exists and I now have to manipulate phone and charger to work properly.

Question: If the phone and car charger sporadically work now, what will happen when I do have an emergency?


Problem 2: Service or signals limited to U.S. only

While I can understand the use for global service or technology that works in other countries is unnecessary because my phone is primarily used here in the U.S., I sometimes travel outside the U.S. where service or at least some kind of signal is a must. Take for example, while traveling abroad, South Africa to be exact, my wife and I were in a situation where our luggage had been lost somewhere between New York and Johannesburg. We were going to be in Africa for two weeks and would be in different places throughout our stay. Locating our bags was a must and to do so we used her cell phone (AT&T) instead of the hotel phones, which would have been expensive, plus limit our time being away from our room. Well needless to say her cell phone worked flawlessly while in Cape Town to locate our bags and to call for taxis and transportation during our stay. I would say the convenience of being able to use her cell phone without having to have “Global Service” is enough for me to want to rethink and switch my cell phone service to AT&T. We did not even have to buy a local sim card for her phone to work. While this is going on I’m trying to figure out why I do not have a signal on my phone thus rendering clock useless and all appointments, alarms and reminders disabled as well. Which now leads to problem number three. Read on.

Resolution: None. I’d have to buy “Global Service” to get signals in other countries other than the U.S.

Question: Why would Verizon not explain some of the different options when purchasing a phone or service when shopping for plans that would allow phones to work outside of U.S.?


Problem 3: Clock does not work unless there is a signal or service in that area to sync phone with

If no signal or service, no clock. If no clock, no alarms. If there are no alarms, there are no reminders. If no reminders or notifications, no medication taken and I die. Death is a little exaggerated, but for some people this could be the difference between life and death.

Seems that even though phone is in “Standalone Mode” or sometimes known as “Airplane Mode” and there is no signal or service to sync with the clock does not work at all. That means any time setting or alarms set for you to remember appointments, important alarms or notifications will not work. If you are dependent on your phone for an alarm clock and you have no service, then that will not work either. After spending about $400 on a phone, one would think that this clock function would work with or without service. I cannot believe there is no option to manually set the clock in situations like this. So, in order for a simple clock to work on this phone, Verizon says, “I have to have ‘Global Service’ for this clock feature to work outside of the U.S.”

Resolution: None. I’d have to buy “Global Service” to get a signal just to have a working clock for me to have alarms and reminders outside of the U.S.

Question: Does it seems ridiculous to have to buy “Global Service” in order to have a working clock other than in the U.S. even when the phone is in “stand alone” mode?


Problem 4: Blue tooth capabilities limited

Blue tooth is a great technology for wireless applications if you were able to use it to the potential it was made for. Seems like Verizon does not want to be held liable for someone tapping into your phone information via Blue Tooth, so they have limited Blue Tooth on this phone to probably about 25% of its intended use. Verizon says through third party you could activate the rest of the Blue Tooth capabilities. This would be enable you to send pictures via Blue Tooth, print pictures via Blue Tooth printer and also be able to share whatever information you choose to if Blue Tooth discovery mode was on. Again, I am surprised that I am unable to utilize 100% of my Blue Tooth capabilities on such as expensive phone. When asked Verizon why Blue Tooth functions are limited, they said to call LG and ask them because they did not know how the Blue Tooth functions on the LG phones. Well, I called LG and they said, “Verizon has put a limit on Blue Tooth capabilities because they do not want to be held responsible for information stolen from other users phones.”

Resolution: None. After buying a $400 phone, I am still unable to use Blue Tooth file, picture or music sharing.

Question: Why did Verizon give me the run around to have me call LG when Verizon could have told me this themselves or not tell at time of purchase?




I switched to Verizon, after 9 years with Sprint/Nextel, on March 28, 2008 with belief of better service, phone and technology. I have yet to say I am satisfied with any of the above. Verizon does its best to give the customer the run around and does its best to get you off the phone or out of the store. Their customer service has done nothing to resolve these problems and has even agreed with some of the points I have made about their phones and services. VCast Mobile TV?…When is that going to happen in Charlotte, NC? I definitely have made a mistake signing on with Verizon and have not thought very long in my decision to switch to a different carrier. After only four months of having Verizon, my decision to break my two-year contract for their $175.00 dollar penalty sounds very reasonable. I would actually be saving money because at $140 a month, for two years, I would no longer have to deal with two more years of headaches, unresolved problems and incompetent representatives. Unless a Verizon rep wants to contact me and gives me a deal I cannot refuse, I will hold true to every word written here. For those Verizon customers who are happy, more power to you. For those deciding on which phone or company to sign with, please take in all you have read and not make the mistake I did. DO NOT SIGN VERIZON!

[eds222]

Kinda sounds like you shuold have done a little (more) research before you made your purchase and signed a contract. Your needs, although not all that unusual, are not average.

[Quint101]

I am having a hard time believing that the Voyager has almost Bluetooth capabilities... According to the verizon site, VZW.com/Bluetooth , you should have been able to transfer the user created files to another device by BT. With regards to the international roaming issue, a little research and/or few more questions would have yielded some answers. As of now, there are only 3 world phones, Motorola Z6c, Z6cx, and the BlackBerry 8830. They come with a SIM as well. All other phones only work where there's a CDMA signal available, like the Americas, Korea, China. A visit to vzw.com/international would have shown you where your Voyager would have worked, or not. Also, you should have informed Verizon prior to leaving the country that you were leaving to insure uninterrupted service. They would have offered you options, like rent or buy a phone. Regarding the lack of TV service, most of the country doesn't have it on most of the carriers since spectrum isn't available everywhere.

Regarding the phone issues, I would have been more persistent with the representatives... Evidentally it isn't a charger, perhaps its a defect...

Not completely defending Verizon, but consumers have to do their research before signing on the dotted line... Since you're paying so much per month for abysmal service, I would leave...

[Mobile Mike]

cmag3175, you are entitled to your opinions, but speak for yourself. Not everyone with the Voyager has the same complaints as you.

You are dead wrong about restricted Bluetooth. This is one of the most open BT phones Verizon's ever sold.

As others have said, you should have done more research, especially after being with Sprint for so long.

[cmag3175]

Originally Posted by Mobile Mike

cmag3175, you are entitled to your opinions, but speak for yourself. Not everyone with the Voyager has the same complaints as you.

You are dead wrong about restricted Bluetooth. This is one of the most open BT phones Verizon's ever sold.

As others have said, you should have done more research, especially after being with Sprint for so long.

the voyager i have cannot share photos. even when syncing with another voyager to transfer photos i get an error message on my phone "not supported by receiving device" all the time. my wife, again with at&t, with her phone, can access my info and others info (alltel) via bluetooth and transfer pics as well. not sure about being the most open BT phone to my knowledge.

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by cmag3175

the voyager i have cannot share photos. even when syncing with another voyager to transfer photos i get an error message on my phone "not supported by receiving device" all the time. my wife, again with at&t, with her phone, can access my info and others info (alltel) via bluetooth and transfer pics as well. not sure about being the most open BT phone to my knowledge.

I need to make a correction on what I mentioned about the Bluetooth on the Voyager not being restricted at all. Verizon has severely restricted BT on their phones in the past (mostly to get people to get their pics, ringtones, etc. from "Get It Now"). Only in recent years have they opened it up considerably more, though it is not completely open. Phone to Phone BT transfer of pix is not one of those actions that can be done, but you can send pix from a PC with BT. I've done this without any problem.

So the fact is, there are some BT limitations, but very few. It's just the way it is. If the Voyager isn't doing what you want it to and Verizon isn't cutting it as your carrier, pay the ETF and go with another carrier. Were any of the issues you've had experienced within the first month of service? This would have been your free out, unfortunately you're stuck with an ETF now.

Now you know Verizon isn't for you. Cut your losses now and go with another carrier that does everything you need (especially a GSM carrier for your international travels).