Why is Verizon support for Backup Assistant so limited?

Question

Folks, I have wasted a whole day looking for a solution to this problem. Perhaps this posting will save someone from wasting their time.
After over an hour on the phone with two customer support people and a wasted hour at the local Verizon corporate store, and endless hours searching for an answer online, I am at a dead end. There are hundreds of reports in these forums about problems with Backup Assistant (BA). There are instructions on the Verizon website that indicate BA will work if you follow the steps. It just ain't so. Seems to me all Verizon cares about is selling the latest and greatest smart phones.
Here's the story. Backup Assistant was working on an LG VX6100. It is a tedious program, but at least contacts could be backed up when it worked.
Today I transferred the 6100 to a new number for a family member, and activated an LG VX8300 for myself. The first phone customer support person directed me through the same steps numerous times and just couldn't believe that the menu options they spoke of were NOT on the phone. I was finally turned over to a second customer support person who directed me through exactly the same futile steps. I read them the same error message over and over again. It was: "Unable to retrieve catalog. Please try again later (3332)." Then I was directed to go to a Verizon store in town for help. Another useless venture. I brought along the following instructions which I found in one of the forums here:
https://community.verizonwireless.com/message/826595#826595
Correct Answer Re: VX8300 "No Application" Message, also an Error (3332)
SuzyQ CommunityLeader
SuzyQ Feb 29, 2012 8:42 AM (in response to Grove)
This response several months ago from MikeS_VZW - there IS a fix but as rep may have to look to find it -
We hear your!  I have posted several things about not being able to access the Get It Now catalog on some older devices.  Before, there was no way to get your access back to the catalog.  You had to upgrade to a new device if you did not access the catalog between September and March 25, 2011.  There has been a lot of feedback about not being able to access the catalog, so we made it possible to get it back.
Here's what you need to do to get your Get It Now access back on your older phone:
1) Ensure you are able to access other data on your phone (go to settings & tools> My Verizon or My Account) this does not charge megabytes, but does connect to data.  This will ensure other data is working.
2) Make sure you don't have blocks on your line that is preventing you from accessing the Get It Now catalog (app blocks, etc.)
3) Take it into any Verizon Wireless corporate store (authorized dealers/premium retailers will probably not have this ability).
4) Explain your issue to them.  If you are getting error 3332 when you bring up Get It Now, let them know.
5) A representative will plug your phone into a computer and flash the certificate/update onto your phone (we have articles in our information database to walk them through that if it's their first time.
6) Enjoy having access to your Get It Now catalog again!
This is new information. Before, the only option was to get a different phone.  I know this sounds cheezy, but we do hear you. Lots of feedback came about due to this change, and although we tried to be proactive as possible to alert the affected users, there were some that fell through the cracks.  Feel free to PM me or call customer service at 800-922-0204 for further information about this.
Good luck!  And note it specifies CORPORATE STORE - that may be why you weren't getting anywhere before.  Use the Store Locator (top right of your screen) to make sure you are dealing with a corporate rather than "authorized reseller".
The store clerk read it. After dinking around with the phone for 15 minutes he said he thought a software update for the LG VX8300 might help. He took it in the secret back room, and came out a few minutes later and said that they didn't have the latest version because the IT people hadn't made it available to them and probably wouldn't because the phone was an older phone. Apparently anything older than 4 years is ancient in Verizon's eyes. He suggested I might be able to get it directly from LG. He also said I could bring in the VX6100 and maybe they could transfer the contacts directly from it to the VX8300 if they could find a cable. However, that still leaves me with no Backup Assistant. That was that.
LG does indeed have updates available online, but it requires a special LG USB cable which I do not have. For instructions visit
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/985182-Tutorial-VX8300-How-to-upgrade-downgrade-your-firmware-W-Pics
http://www.lg.com/us/support-mobile/lg-VX8300
Ideas, anyone?
This whole ordeal does not make me want to commit to a 2-year contract that comes along with new equipment.

Answer 1

I noticed that you posted this a couple of months ago...  I just activated an old VX8300 as well and am having the same error messages.  Did you have any luck getting it figured out?
I agree with you as well.  I am getting married in June and do not want to upgrade to any kind of data plan for 2 years and after we get married we're switching to Sprint, not this Verizon garbage with the worst customer service that only cares about screwing people over in this terrible economy. (Sorry, enough ranting from me, just curious if you ever got it fixed? Thanks!)