honestly I hate it when we're all excited over a new product and then it all goes wrong
it's gut wrenching. The only thing that can somewhat fix it is excellent customer service which you haven't had.
Closest I had was with an iphone, ordered it, waited for it, arrived completely dead. Called applecare who just didn't believe me, "have you charged it" blah blah. Luckily there was an apple store close. Went in, showed them the phone and the guy must've seen my totally sad face and said OMG cheer up we'll fix it for you! They managed to get me a new phone from another store, set it up, installed a screen protector free for me, gave me a choice of a free case... little things I know but I felt like they put their arms around me and made it better.
If samsung want to REALLY compete with Apple, they need to get their support up to standard because a bad taste not only puts off that person but they tell 10 other people who avoid samsung too.
If Google or Samsung really want to go toe to toe with the Mighty fruit then they are going to need physical locations all over just like Apple.
I know they all want everything to be digital, online, by chat, but we as customers have to push back.
The reason I have a Pixel is despite Googles support and customer service. If I was buying on service or support Google would be dead last in my personal experience.
If Google and Samsung had stores like Apple does all over every major city depending where you live it would make a huge difference from a customer relationship standpoint. But in the Android world it is simply not possible for every OEM to have the physical presence Apple does. It is a huge investment on Apple's part.
Part of the cost of Apple products has to do with offering retail locations and sales and support staff.
From a buyers perspective in my situation it boils down to cost vs risk. How many times do I have hardware issues with a particular companies products? What is the difference in cost to me? What makes sense from this angle?
If I pay hundreds less or even closer to $1k less buying from Samsung say for a phone than Apple. Then say I buy Apple Care or Samsung care. Cost is almost the same and supposedly next day replacement is guaranteed. So either way I am paying much much less and while I don't have access to a Samsung store to exchange my device I can send it in and get a replacement the next day afterwards. So I have negated most of the risk and cost is significantly lower than Apple and I actually prefer the ultra vs Pro Max.
So far, in my personal risk benefit cost analysis Pixel is a bad choice. I get very poor resale value for my Pixel devices which is a big problem cost wise when upgrading. On top of that, if you do have a hardware problem, God help you connect with anyone who can help you and you can’t call and talk to anyone. It is either chat or email which in my opinion sucks. The resolutions offered are generally canned responses that don't even answer the question.
I always end paying more for Google products, get underwhelming specs(until the Pixel 6 and up) and have a higher chance of defects. Sometimes I have bought a product that I spent a decent amount on to be discontinued a year later(Pixel slate Chrome tablet anyone?)
With Samsung I generate get the best specs and pay the least. Hardware is generally good and support is at least able to receive a phone call. Apple is also better in this regard but less of a cost benefit. In other words I pay more for Apple and buy less often, have to save up for a purchase, but tend to keep Apple products for longer because of this. So far Apple products offer excellent performance and despite a lack of some features work well for as long as I keep them and when I do sell I get more money back but it is not as significant as in the past. Apple is now discounting or allowing 3rd party sellers to discount new products which never used to happen which hurts resale value. So Apple is just more expensive overall but still manages to deliver an experience I feel is worth the extra cost.
Which is why I am a Samsung customer and Apple customer mostly. I have always loved true vanilla Android and Pixel is a really good phone to have if you like a pure Google Android experience. Nothing beats it. Which is why despite Google I am still their customer. In terms of phones I am waiting for iPhone 16/17 when the hardware and software really meet. I will probably get an iPhone over a Pixel next year or the year after depending on how those future devices and Apple's implementation of AI solidify. I am pretty sure Apple is going to wow us with its generative AI. Apple could upstage Google of they do it right and until then iPhone doesn't offer me anything unique and doesn't have basic call screening like my Pixel and Samsung phones.
So it just depends I may end up back on iOS with a phone but Apple needs to offer a few things to rip me from the Ultra. I would like a similar size screen. Pencil support. Good AI features like better call screening than Samsung and at least as good conversationally as Pixel. We get that and really good a18/19 then I am back in baby. 😆
The problem I have with Google is using anything other than a Pixel phone in their ecosystem is poorly implemented. So there is no real benefit of having multiple Pixel devices when they don't sync with my PC, current Pixel tablet sucks compared to tab s9 11", I am not buying a Chromebook, I also will probably sell my Pixel watch 2. My galaxy watch 6 classic is so much better. When the watch 7 comes out I will trade my watch 6 and sell the Pixel watch. I get all the same health tracking features but I don't have to spend nearly $100 a year to use it. It is a great watch but the screen is too small for me compared to the Galaxy.
At least with Samsung everything works together like Apple and syncs with my PC so it is a very similar experience to Apple ecosystem but you aren't locked in. You can have other brand devices and they all work together. I can use my Pixel watch in my Galaxy phone and it is exactly like on my Pixel and same with Galaxy watch. Try using any other brand with Apple like a Samsung tablet and Mac? I am not talking peripherals. So at the end of the day I feel my money is better spent with Apple or Samsung than Google although I find Pixel phones a lot of fun and really like the UI.
