Cutting the cable, lets talk options and media setups

I had a rather disappointing encounter with Amazon tech support today. It was just as bad as Comcast if that tells you anything. I'm really ticked because I have been using Amazon more and more and just recently signed up for Prime.

I ordered a Fire Stick and unpacked it today. Set it up and it can't find the remote. I got the logo screen on the tv, then it went to a screen saying it is searching for the remote and giving a couple of pointers, replace the batteries, make sure the remote is close enough, etc. Did all that, then went online. Couple of more things, how to reset the stick, etc. Did that too, no go. So I called them.

First lady was just awful. Had no clue what I was saying. She wanted me to plug the fire stick into a different wall outlet, restart my router, change the HDMI port that the stick was plugged into. I kept asking her how any of that could possibly make the remote connect to the fire stick. I pointed out that the fire stick itself was obviously working with my tv, and that I hadn't even gotten to the point where you set it up on my network, so I can't believe it had anything to do with my router. Plus the little red light on the remote had never come on with either set of batteries.

Finally, I just said, I'm sorry, but I need to talk to somebody else. She put me on hold and then disconnected me. I called back, got a man who after putting me on hold to do "advanced troubleshooting" which is such BS, came back and said "it looks like your remote isn't working. I will give you a code for $15 off so you can order a new one."

WTH? I said, no, you need to just replace this one. It's brand new right out of the box today, I shouldn't have to order anything else. He says their "system" is down right now and he can't process a return. So I need to take the code. I refused. I said, please let me talk to your supervisor or somebody else.

After waiting on hold another five minutes, a different man came on and started asking me to do the basic troubleshooting again. I said, look, we've done all that more than once. I've been on this call more than 30 minutes, I just want a new remote. Why wouldn't the other guy send me a new remote? He said, let me see what we can do. On hold again, came back and now they can miraculously send me a new remote.

Cliff Notes: they were extremely unhelpful and seemed shady. I don't usually do business with a company that acts in this manner if I have a choice. Pretty ticked off at Amazon right now.