Cricket wireless now open

Maricopans who are scared of commitments and tired of counting their wireless minutes have just found their knight in shining armor.

The newly-opened Cricket store in the Fry’s shopping plaza offers hassle free cell phone service without any multi-year contracts, featuring month-to-month plans that offer unlimited text messaging as well as both local and long distance calling.

“Our business is based on offering the best business in town, not just the best business without a contract,” said the store’s manager Enrique Diaz, Jr.

Diaz said since the store opened five weeks ago he has seen countless customers of other cellular providers walk through his door to sign up. “People are sick of contracts,” he added.

While people have been coming into the store, Diaz noted the first few weeks have not been without challenges. “The first week or so it was rough because we didn’t have a computer set up yet in the store, so we could not connect people easily.”

Another hurdle the store ran into was signage, according to Diaz. The company purchased signage for the front of the store, the back of the store and along the entranceway, but it ran into difficulties getting permits for those signs from the city. “We have been waiting five weeks to get our signage approved, and it is a little frustrating,” he said.

Diaz added that at the company’s other store in the Valley getting signage approved typically only took a matter of days, not weeks.

Despite the delay in signage, Diaz said he still views the area as a ripe market for a Cricket dealer. “There isn’t another Cricket dealer for 20 miles, and the way our contract is worded there won’t be one either,” he said.

The store is open now but will host an official grand opening event Feb. 15.

“We are excited to be in the area and look forward to serving the good people of Maricopa,” Diaz said.

Business details:

Name: Premier Wireless/ Cricket
Address: 21101 N. John Wayne Parkway
Hours: Saturday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Phone: (520) 868-6482
Web: coming soon at www.mypremierwireless.com

Photo by Michael K. Rich