Locating AT&T corporate store only!!!!

I myself would never have guessed that:

- One cannot filter on corporate vs. authorized

- One must assume that not-authorized means corporate

- Only a corporate store can program a new SIM card for an existing line.

My friend lost his phone.  He bought a new one at Best Buy, but was told that Best Buy cannot program a new SIM card for an existing line.  He then went to the closest AT&T store, but it turned out to be a mere "authorized retailer" who could not program a new SIM card for an existing line either.

Since this is Sunday at 6 p.m., he will be without a working phone until tomorrow at 10 a.m.

Can you please share the link to that search? Thank you

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@Ericadawnwright wrote:

Can you please share the link to that search? Thank you

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It’s at the bottom of every At&t webpage.  ⤵️

TOTALLY frustrating!!! authorized retailers provide no trained technical support and bat almost 0 at solving technical problems. They don’t admit they aren’t qualified or explain the difference between their store and a corporate store. They are there to sell phones and service plans, period. They make ATT corporation appear to have terrible customer service. I have repeatedly suggested ATT make the difference clear; instead, they have made it more difficult to distinguish the two.

You can use the appointment scheduler to find COR stores, they are the only ones we can schedule appointments at. It's a lot faster than the store locator too.

https://www.att.com/storeappointment/

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@Ksloan1945 wrote:

TOTALLY frustrating!!! authorized retailers provide no trained technical support and bat almost 0 at solving technical problems. They don’t admit they aren’t qualified or explain the difference between their store and a corporate store. They are there to sell phones and service plans, period. They make ATT corporation appear to have terrible customer service. I have repeatedly suggested ATT make the difference clear; instead, they have made it more difficult to distinguish the two.

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Honestly, corporate stores aren't going to be a whole lot better at solving technical issues. They might have a bit more incentive to help as much as they can, but they too are primarily sales people. 

For tech support, you should call. 

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@Ksloan1945 wrote:

TOTALLY frustrating!!! authorized retailers provide no trained technical support and bat almost 0 at solving technical problems. They don’t admit they aren’t qualified or explain the difference between their store and a corporate store. They are there to sell phones and service plans, period. They make ATT corporation appear to have terrible customer service. I have repeatedly suggested ATT make the difference clear; instead, they have made it more difficult to distinguish the two.

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@Ksloan1945 

ATT company stores do not do much tech support these days either.

Using tips from this site I think I figured out that if you select the store, then click on "About This Store" an Authorized Dealer will list "Authorized Dealer" after the name of the store.  Corporate stores don't say anything.  But you have to click to the About this Store page.  The first page that shows up when you select the location does not mention authorized.  My example is Chicago at Lincoln and Damon is authorized and Glenview, IL is corporate.  So, I tested it and it seems to work. 

Thanks for going the extra mile to provide information I requested only by implication. I still think ATT would find its customer service ratings improved if the distinction between authorized dealer and company store were easier to find. I learned the difference by trial and error; how nice and timesaving it would have been to know before I drove 45 minutes one way to an authorized retailer who lacked the skills to solve my technical issue.