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Benicio
Joined: 25 May 2006 Location: Down South- where it's hot & wet
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 2:48 am Post subject: Denied a Galaxy S2 by SK Telecom because (guess) |
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Denied a Galaxy S2 by SK Telecom because I'm a waygook (foreigner).
If I were fresh off the boat, I could understand, but I have been an SK Telecom customer for over 9 years.
2 weeks ago, I put my name on the waiting list for a new Samsung Galaxy S2 smart phone and was told that it would be about 2 weeks.
That period passed and no word, so I went to the store today and was informed "Sorry, you're a foreigner, so you can't be on the waiting list".
Thanks for telling me the first time!
One thing is clear, the customer service at this shop is poor!
Basically, if I still want one, I have to wait until the entire waiting list is cleared and all Koreans who sign up get theirs- they say a couple of months now.
I guess it doesn't matter that I have been a customer for over 9 years.
A waygook is a waygook.
Just like with the banks and international ATM cards, blanket idiotic policies win again! |
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Captain Corea

Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 3:08 am Post subject: |
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You'd think that after so many years here you'd know the actual term for 'foreigner'.
Sorry to hear about you getting shafted though. |
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Benicio
Joined: 25 May 2006 Location: Down South- where it's hot & wet
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 3:14 am Post subject: |
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Waygukin
What can I say- I'm lazy!
Not even sure why I posted here. Just had to vent, I guess.
Seriously wondering about the reasoning for this policy.
Is it Koreans first, foreigners wait?
Or, are they afraid of complaints from a Korean when a waygukin has the latest model smart phone before they do?
I know there is a severe shortage & high demand when a new model is released, but do I really have to wait indefinitely at the end of the line just because I'm a foreigner?
FAIL!
Have a stinking suspicion that if I contact the main service center, then I may be served better. This particular shop that I have been going to for years seems to be staffed by incompetents. |
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Captain Corea

Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 3:27 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, I'm guessing you'd be right. Maybe it's worth a try. Heck, maybe they'll give you back your spot on the list. |
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decolyon
Joined: 24 Jul 2010
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 4:11 am Post subject: |
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I got my international debit card from Shinhan no problem. Have had it for years and used it all over the place. Japan, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. I just have to find an ATM with plus (+) symbol and it's all good (Note: finding a atm plus was only a problem in India.)
I know that wasn't the topic, but you did mention that.
As for being kicked off the waiting list, that's balls. I'm pretty sure that demotes you to second class citizen status if all the Koreans have to get theirs first and then you get yours. That sounds like something we need to raise H-E- double hockey sticks about. A hundred or so "letters of disappointment" to SK, followed by a few stories in the English newspapers could straighten that out. |
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Jake_Kim
Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 9:00 am Post subject: |
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Was it some random SKT shop on the street or a proper branch office of SKT? The former is just a retailer who certainly wouldn't handle foreigners. Banners and signboards and shop interior with logos don't make a retailer a branch office.
Or did you get the same result - or at least a detailed excuse - from SKT themselves? Like their English call center and all? |
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3DR
Joined: 24 May 2009
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 9:25 am Post subject: |
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Have you tried the SK store or Qook store in Itae? I just got my iphone there and I'm pretty sure they have the Galaxy S as well (Qook). Those two stores are always foreigner friendly. |
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Wiltern
Joined: 23 Sep 2009
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 10:53 am Post subject: |
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Benicio wrote: |
Seriously wondering about the reasoning for this policy.
Is it Koreans first, foreigners wait?
Or, are they afraid of complaints from a Korean when a waygukin has the latest model smart phone before they do? |
SK Telecom used to be more lenient towards foreigners until so many of them left the country leaving a balance on their bills.
So, you can thank the Waegukins who tried to buck the system for your misfortune. |
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big_fella1
Joined: 08 Dec 2005
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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Wiltern wrote: |
Benicio wrote: |
Seriously wondering about the reasoning for this policy.
Is it Koreans first, foreigners wait?
Or, are they afraid of complaints from a Korean when a waygukin has the latest model smart phone before they do? |
SK Telecom used to be more lenient towards foreigners until so many of them left the country leaving a balance on their bills.
So, you can thank the Waegukins who tried to buck the system for your misfortune. |
All the data I have seen shows that "foreigners" default rates are lower than Korean citizens.
To the OP go to another store, you are probably being lied to. Someone as the shop has decided it's not fair for you to get a phone ahead of Koreans. Explain you would rather buy a Galaxy S2 than an iPhone 4 because the Galaxy S2 is better because it is made in Korea, not China. Or try KT as they have the Galaxy S2 as well and you can also get a better rebate when you switch companies. |
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whitestboyalive
Joined: 09 Dec 2010
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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It's funny they can't think outside the box and make you pay a reasonable deposit. |
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big_fella1
Joined: 08 Dec 2005
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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whitestboyalive wrote: |
It's funny they can't think outside the box and make you pay a reasonable deposit. |
SK Telecom used to do this until the telecommunications regulator pointed out that it's illegal.
It is also unnecessary, foreigner default rates are lower than Korean default rates. |
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Adam Carolla
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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big_fella1 wrote: |
Wiltern wrote: |
Benicio wrote: |
Seriously wondering about the reasoning for this policy.
Is it Koreans first, foreigners wait?
Or, are they afraid of complaints from a Korean when a waygukin has the latest model smart phone before they do? |
SK Telecom used to be more lenient towards foreigners until so many of them left the country leaving a balance on their bills.
So, you can thank the Waegukins who tried to buck the system for your misfortune. |
All the data I have seen shows that "foreigners" default rates are lower than Korean citizens.
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I don't doubt that. However, it's probably easier to track down Koreans and squeeze money out of them than a foreigner who's probably in another country by the time the phone company realizes somethings amiss. |
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big_fella1
Joined: 08 Dec 2005
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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Adam Carolla wrote: |
I don't doubt that. However, it's probably easier to track down Koreans and squeeze money out of them than a foreigner who's probably in another country by the time the phone company realizes somethings amiss. |
I don't accept this argument as Koreans can leave the country too. Also the company has your end date, it's on your Alien Card. Surely not too hard to manage. |
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Adam Carolla
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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big_fella1 wrote: |
Adam Carolla wrote: |
I don't doubt that. However, it's probably easier to track down Koreans and squeeze money out of them than a foreigner who's probably in another country by the time the phone company realizes somethings amiss. |
I don't accept this argument as Koreans can leave the country too. Also the company has your end date, it's on your Alien Card. Surely not too hard to manage. |
How many Koreans leave, never to return? How many foreigners leave, never to return?
Also, have you ever tried getting money from someone who's fled the country? It's a lot easier if the person you're trying to collect from is in the same country. I'm not sure what's so hard to understand about this concept. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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Wiltern wrote: |
SK Telecom used to be more lenient towards foreigners until so many of them left the country leaving a balance on their bills. |
And exactly how many was that? Is there anything at all resembling statistics for this? Or is it yet another "standard excuse"? |
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