Keep in mind this is a corporate store and not a third party or franchise.

I dropped my Pixel 7 in a bowl of water. I took it out of the case and wiped every square inch of it off with a clean towel. Despite no cracks in the screen or camera, nor has it ever been opened up (got it new) the 5 seconds it was in 6" of water completely screwed up the phone.

My local T-Mo is an hour from here. I drive there planning to upgrade. They wanted my driver's license to even speak to me.

Which is weird, because I can order a phone online without needing one. Just my account pin. I gave my license to a clerk at a gas station near me and did not have it. I had all other sorts of ID on me, but they would not accept it.

I was expecting a call from the hospital with important info, and could not even take a call on the phone. I asked if I could buy a phone outright, but they stated it would need a new sim card and they can't do that either without my driver's license. I later find out this is BS, you don't need a new sim when getting a new phone, most are the same size anymore.

I come back tomorrow and of course because my phone is water damaged, it can't be considered as a trade in. My other phone is "too old". Of course, I could get a phone for free if I add a new line, but this would result in me changing my number, the same one I've had for 15 years.

I tell them the phone I want (Pixel 8) and 30 minutes later I'm like "wtf is taking so long". Apparently they don't have the phone in stock, and instead of telling me that, wasted 30 minutes of my time just standing around doing fuck all.

But..they do have the Pixel 8a. However the down payment on the 8 is zero, on the 8a...$170, which makes no sense as the 8a is a cheaper phone.

So I had to have it shipped to me, which I could have done online, and wasted 4 hours driving, and over an hour in the store for nothing.

Of course, they would not waive the down payment.