History and mystery and my history

I have been a U.S. Cellular customer for over 9 years. For the most part I have been happy as a clam there was that time with the blackberry curve that still leaves me saying NEVER AGAIN. Over the years many things have changed in the phone world as have I. I went from using the most basic phone the "Phantom" to using the Samsung Galaxy S4, one of the most advanced phones out there. I have also gotten quite good at figuring them out. How to know what short cuts get you where and how to trouble shoot them.


A couple years ago my local store asked me if I would come sit in on their smartphone workshop. They wanted me there to help people with some questions that they were getting that they just weren't sure about. So I started showing up on the first Saturday of the month and helping out with questions and showing the customers how to do this and that on their phones. At this same time frame I started a cell phone help page on Facebook called "The Coffee Shop". The page has over a 100 members and is very active. Most things are not phone related as we have become a close nit family. But we do talk about things going on in the cell world. Now my cell phone store is about the same. I walk in there and they turn and see that's its me and they greet me and go back to what they were doing. Now you may say that they should greet me and see what I am there for, and you would be right...except. I have told them Over and over and over before they really understood I meant it. that when I come in I know what I am there for and if I really want something I will let them know, but that most of the time I am there to chit chat, and if I am there and there is a line...move me to the back of the line. This took about a year to complete but now they are all comfortable with this.



Now while all of this was going on I was being asked buy customers to meet with them outside of the smartphone workshop. Something that at first I was not sure I wanted to do. But as more and more people requested my help, I started to give into the idea that there was a real need. I started meeting people at Starbucks and teaching them how to get the most of their new device. AT&T found out about this and the next thing I knew they were sending me customers as well. Now I am meeting with clients 3 to 6 times a week. ranging from showing them how to just do the basics to how to make their phone their own.


So I decided that I need to put a name to this little business and what better than the one place I can not start my day without. So I named it "The Coffee Shop" and I model it after that. Friendly and fun, a place where all are welcome no matter their level of phone "Smartness" where the only dumb question is the one you don't ask. Now the one catch is that the customers I have only are with me for a short time, as the learning curve is short. Once a person gets comfortable navigating the phone they will no longer need me. I'm good with that, and the sooner it happens the better job I am doing. I still get to meet some really great people and I hope some will remain friends for a long time yet to come. They also know when the step up to a new device where to come for questions.


But back to the beginning here, remember me saying that I had a bad taste in my mouth with Blackberry... well it was that bad experience that pushed me to android. I traded in my POS Blackberry Curve for a LG Apex. A low end android, perfect for starting off. Most people had many issues with this phone, I had one and was able to figure out how to fix it myself.... That's how it started. I then started jumping from phone to phone culminating to a 6 different phones in one year (last year). This year I am slowing down a bit, I don't need every phone that comes out no matter how cheap I can get them. (USCC lets you use a point system to not only push your upgrade date, but to purchase phones and accessories as well) I know most of the tricks and features of phones before the phone hits the street due to many friends that are as crazy about phone tech as me and the many blogs and video's that are out in the world today. I have been using Samsung devices for the last year and a half, I am not stuck on Samsung, I am using them because to me they are the most advanced and have the most features. There are phones out there I would be more than happy to own, HTC and LG both have a new super phone I would love to have, but my carrier doesn't have them at this time. I am not willing to switch to another just to get a phone, besides why switch to another carrier when you are so happy where you are at. I am not dissing the other carriers just stating that I am happy where I am at. I have a friend that works at AT&T that understands this and never try's to pressure me into switching.



So I guess what all this is about is me, me being happy at my place in time and looking forward to what comes next. I often wonder where all this will lead... And that is kind of the best part. It is leading somewhere and only time will tell.


I am Ken "Duck" Gearths and I am a USCC Customer Crew Member