AT&T Next - AT&T LG Optimus G

Has anyone else noticed that AT&T has this phone listed as $440, if purchased off contract, but if you purchase via AT&T Next, it can be had for $340 and you get to pay over 20 months with no interest?
Seems like anyone who is paying for AT&T insurance, with its $200 deductible, should cancel immediately.

dbgeek said:
Has anyone else noticed that AT&T has this phone listed as $440, if purchased off contract, but if you purchase via AT&T Next, it can be had for $340 and you get to pay over 20 months with no interest?
Seems like anyone who is paying for AT&T insurance, with its $200 deductible, should cancel immediately.
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Click to collapse
Read this article http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/16/4528404/att-next-phone-upgrade-plans-a-huge-ripoff . But to break it down AT&T next just rips you off. You are better off paying full price for the phone. This is what I do, I take a subsidized phone one year than the next year buy off contract. In the end if you do the math it is more economical to use this approach. You should remember when you sign an AT&T contract they assume that you bought a premium smart phone and the subsidy is already built into your account. If you do not upgrade your phone every two years your paying extra, hence why some people like the t-mobile model because it separates the phone cost from the bill. This makes their business practices more transparent, not necessarily better.

neuroh said:
Read this article http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/16/4528404/att-next-phone-upgrade-plans-a-huge-ripoff . But to break it down AT&T next just rips you off. You are better off paying full price for the phone. This is what I do, I take a subsidized phone one year than the next year buy off contract. In the end if you do the math it is more economical to use this approach. You should remember when you sign an AT&T contract they assume that you bought a premium smart phone and the subsidy is already built into your account. If you do not upgrade your phone every two years your paying extra, hence why some people like the t-mobile model because it separates the phone cost from the bill. This makes their business practices more transparent, not necessarily better.
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Click to collapse
Don't even need to read that article to know that AT&T Next is a rip off, for almost every phone offered. The $100 gap in pricing between list price and making the 20 payments (or you can just pay $340 up front), makes the LGOG a different issue all together. If you are paying $10/mth for AT&T insurance, which has a $200 deductible, at $14 months, you hit break even, between buying a new LGOG or getting a refurb replacement under the warranty plan. In this one case, it would be a financially sound idea, to simply plan to buy the LGOG for $340, instead of doing the warranty (if you damage your phone). Note that the price makes it cheaper than the 16GB N4, also (and you get LTE and a removable/upgrade able simcard).

I totally agree att next is a rip off
Sent from my Optimus G using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2

pcexpress said:
I totally agree att next is a rip off
Sent from my Optimus G using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
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It's worse than I anticipated. I checked with and AT&T rep (was considering buying a new phone for my daughter) and was told that I couldn't buy via AT&T Next because I didn't have an available upgrade. I asked about contract renewal and was told that each purchase via the plan required a renewed 2 yr agreement. No where in the on line documentation does it state that you must have an available upgrade, for the initial purchase and you must renew your 2 yr commitment, for each upgrade (it's clearly stated in the regular upgrade info). The rep just said "it's in there somewhere".

Actually ditched my LG OG today and signed up for AT&T Next (opened a line on my family plan). Picked up the HTC One, and couldn't be happier. Currently converting it to the Google Play Dev. Edition (international).
Can't wait to have a real solid stable Nexus-equivalent ROM on a beautiful piece of hardware. I was just beginning to love the OG too, but I was forced to stay with stock ROM due to how many phone calls (30+) I receive/make daily for work. The lurking modem issues on ROM's other than stock just made it super impractical.

NickS_ said:
Actually ditched my LG OG today and signed up for AT&T Next (opened a line on my family plan). Picked up the HTC One, and couldn't be happier. Currently converting it to the Google Play Dev. Edition (international).
Can't wait to have a real solid stable Nexus-equivalent ROM on a beautiful piece of hardware. I was just beginning to love the OG too, but I was forced to stay with stock ROM due to how many phone calls (30+) I receive/make daily for work. The lurking modem issues on ROM's other than stock just made it super impractical.
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Click to collapse
Most realistic post yet. I love ROMs too but i keep going back to stock as well, nothing like not having to worry about your phone randomly rebooting.
Due for an upgrade. Looking at the G2 and Note 3 when my local ATT store has it stocked! ampeeeddd

Related

How are people getting new phones after vibrant has been out for only a year?

How are people buying new phones from Tmo when they are still on contract? I've seen users posting about how they were on contract and just bought the G2x. Im tired of my vibrant as of late and I want to know how are people getting early upgrades. Is tmobile just letting people upgrade early? Thanks.
They might be just selling their vibrants and buying them outright. When I got my vibrant on launchday I had to call tmobile and start a new 2 year contract to get the discount.
We're comin from a pure power source.
Most people I think just buy the phone at full price. Because while in contract you are able to buy any phone you want, because the contract isnt for the phone its self but for the service.
So, in theory you could buy the newest phone from Tmobile every month and not break your contract.
Note: Only do the theory above if you are rich and have nothing better to do with your money.
buying any upgrade usually means you will end up with a different contract no matter what they say, also upgrading usually is not a good, better to just but the phone it is always cheaper in the long run
i bought my vibrant at full price. i will buy my next phone full price. i'm on a no contract plan (which is cheaper than the contract plans), and haven't had a contract with tmob for the last 3 or 4 years. as it stands right now, though, i'm not looking to replace the vibrant for probably 6 months or so. the current phones coming out don't really have any large technological jumps or must have features so far.
what's the price difference between a contract and a non-contract?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I would say, this is very hard to find a better phone than samsung vibrant. Because this phone on 2nd hand market is very frisky. You can get it very low price. The specs is not bad. I feel good with the process speed. I bought htc desire hd after samsung vibrant, but I sold it and buy vibrant back.
are we talking plan to no plan or phone with contract price to phone with out?
phone with out contract price is substantially higher circa 500 while on contract as low as 100 for a good phone. however even if you were to get the 500 dollar phone for free you would still pay more over the course of teh contract than the person off contract who purchased the phone at face value.
I used some tax return skrilla to get away from my Vibrant - G2x in da house!
-bZj
I'm surprised a lot of you went to G2x. Considering LG's history of cra handsets, and an AOSP stock ROM withOUT the backing of google. This, to me, seems like a good way to find yourself with a phone that has a lot of potential, but not a lot available in the modification department (though being with vibrant for awhile, I can see why some of you may not notice a difference) I'm holding out for a dual core HTC.
You can call customer service and ask them if you can have an upgrade. They always let me. They are more concerned with keeping you on their contacts. I sold my vibrant for the same price I bought my g2x. 260 with tax.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
iynfynity said:
what's the price difference between a contract and a non-contract?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it looks like, for my plan, it's $30/month cheaper for my two lines.
Buying full price is the way to go
As has been stated before. Buying a phone full-price with T-Mobile is the only way to go.
Now, I myself got a 2-year contract when I bought my Vibrant, but immediately started regretting it. I found out that the required internet service was $35/month (I negotiated them down to $25/month on account of I Just bought my wife a Motorola Cliq the month before, and I refused to pay an additional $10/month for no reason).
The fact is, if I had added 3g to my plan before buying a syndicated phone, it would have cost only $10/month.
In addition to this, any time you "upgrade" your phone with a new contract, they Upgrade your contract.For this reason, now and in the future, I will never again buy a contract phone so that my contract stays at the nice, comfortable place it is at.
I love T-mobile, and hope beyond all hope that this merger with AT&T stays as copacetic as they claim it will be
-Tex.
Yup, I was looking at getting a sidekick for my girl, but it was gonna take her from 66/mo off contract to around 95ish to upgrade.
I'm waiting for the sgs2, bring on the samoled!
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
There's a relatively good chance I'll just sell my vibrant and buy a gs2 when it comes out, depending on how crazy expensive it might be.

Another Best Buy Question

Trying to decide if I want to pre order from best buy or straight through ATT. I wish Amazon Wireless would announce something already!
Anywhoo . . . I don't have any real reason NOT to order from BB apart from the fact that I don't like and have sworn never to shop there again. Long, unrelated story, but so far I've made good to myself on that promise.
If I do order from BB, is there any downside? Am on contract with them in any way, or only through AT&T? Can I still take my phone to ATT for warranty claims or do I have to take it to BB?
Thanks!
You will not be in contract with BB in anyway. For warranty I'm not sure. If you order through ATT it ships out on 02/16 while supplies last. If you order through BB it ships out 02/19 with the official flip case (free) while supplies last.
LiquidArrogance said:
Trying to decide if I want to pre order from best buy or straight through ATT. I wish Amazon Wireless would announce something already!
Anywhoo . . . I don't have any real reason NOT to order from BB apart from the fact that I don't like and have sworn never to shop there again. Long, unrelated story, but so far I've made good to myself on that promise.
If I do order from BB, is there any downside? Am on contract with them in any way, or only through AT&T? Can I still take my phone to ATT for warranty claims or do I have to take it to BB?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Plus you can register your number(s) with Best Buy for their "Phone Freedom" promo and get a $50 gift card per line when you activate the new phone. Can use the card immediately on the phone purchase or on a future purchase. And you can upgrade anytime during 2012.
I registered my number and will use the $50 on the note. Registered my wife's number, who's due for an upgrade in late summer.
Thanks...had no idea it ran all year
mikegehl said:
Plus you can register your number(s) with Best Buy for their "Phone Freedom" promo and get a $50 gift card per line when you activate the new phone. Can use the card immediately on the phone purchase or on a future purchase. And you can upgrade anytime during 2012.
I registered my number and will use the $50 on the note. Registered my wife's number, who's due for an upgrade in late summer.
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Click to collapse
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Plus keep in mind @ best buy Black Tie protection Plan with no deductibles and buy back program.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
dmbrown81 said:
Plus keep in mind @ best buy Black Tie protection Plan with no deductibles and buy back program.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
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Keep in mind the BB insurance does not cover lost / stolen and is more expensive than AT&T insurance.
Maroon Mushroom said:
Keep in mind the BB insurance does not cover lost / stolen and is more expensive than AT&T insurance.
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Click to collapse
If you buy the Black Tie protection upfront, it's $170 for 2 years (+$30 buyback). That's only $2 more than AT&T at $7 a month.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App
00mred00 said:
Thanks...had no idea it ran all year
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Click to collapse
It does - but I believe you have to register any and all lines/numbers sometime this week. Nothing to lose - no obligation to actually do the upgrade. But $50 off per phone isn't shabby.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App
mikegehl said:
It does - but I believe you have to register any and all lines/numbers sometime this week. Nothing to lose - no obligation to actually do the upgrade. But $50 off per phone isn't shabby.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App
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hahaha..you don't know me that well yet...I have had 6 phones in the last 6 months lol. I know I will get more.
best buy wins hands down.
not everyone has the luxury of six lines but this is what we do
We have 6 lines on our family plan (5 phones, 1 pc connect {cross upgrade HELLO})...
1.Buy device, purchase buyback, get discount on buyback for purchasing black tie (cancel black tie after 30 days)
2.Sell back Device
3.Use store credit from the buy back to purchase new phone on another line due an upgrade
4.use left over amounts for other toys, or save towards next upgrade.
I always get the newest device
It's worked out pretty well so far. Currently we are out of upgrades until September..but have a few phones that are eligible for buy back should I decide to trade them in towards one device at full price (unlikely)
our next round of upgrades start in September..right about time for the s3
sept, oct, dec, feb, then the following January '13
Oh, and you can't forget price matching...this is a very important part of the process
Maroon Mushroom said:
Keep in mind the BB insurance does not cover lost / stolen and is more expensive than AT&T insurance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lost and stolen for most people isnt an issue, its broken screens. While ours is slightly more expensive if you do the 9.99 a month, there is NO deductible for breaking you phone. The note will be classified as a tier 3 in att's insurance which means its a $200 deductible on top of the $7 a month. That is just ****ing insane lol if you do our outright price for the protection at best buy its $170 for the two years, putting it right under $7 a month. All without a deductible and unlimited claims. And Im not just trying to push our protection because I work there because frankly, you wont be buying from my store so it wont affect me. I just fully support our protection, coming from 3 broken iPhone 4's and most recently a skyrocket.
Side note, I have a concession line with ATT which I cannot get BB protection on and broke the phone. $200 to replace the vivid lol I just cancelled the line and threw the vivid in the trash
imitenotbecrazy said:
Lost and stolen for most people isnt an issue, its broken screens. While ours is slightly more expensive if you do the 9.99 a month, there is NO deductible for breaking you phone. The note will be classified as a tier 3 in att's insurance which means its a $200 deductible on top of the $7 a month. That is just ****ing insane lol if you do our outright price for the protection at best buy its $170 for the two years, putting it right under $7 a month. All without a deductible and unlimited claims. And Im not just trying to push our protection because I work there because frankly, you wont be buying from my store so it wont affect me. I just fully support our protection, coming from 3 broken iPhone 4's and most recently a skyrocket.
Side note, I have a concession line with ATT which I cannot get BB protection on and broke the phone. $200 to replace the vivid lol I just cancelled the line and threw the vivid in the trash
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you buy the protection Plan outright and need to service your phone you'll have to subscribe to the 9.99 afterwards or purchase it again.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
dmbrown81 said:
If you buy the protection Plan outright and need to service your phone you'll have to subscribe to the 9.99 afterwards or purchase it again.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Yikes. Idk which best buys you guys are going but theres tons of false info here. Right now, most phones fall into the rapid exchange program. With this, the phone is sent away and a refurbished phone is sent at the same time, making the turn around time about 2-4 business days. This does NOT fulfill your protection plan, meaning it is still active and can still be used again and again with no limit to the amount of claims. If you chose to send your phone as a repair instead of exchange the typical wait time is 14-30 days. If they are unable to repaid your phone in a cost effective manor to them or it exceeds 30 days they will issue you a gift card for the full retail value of the phone so that you can pick out a new one. This WILL fulfill the protection plan. So in a strange, completely misleading way, your initial statement was kind of accurtate. If we give you a $600+ gift card to replace your phone with a different model, yes your $170 protection plan is void. What would you expect?
imitenotbecrazy said:
Yikes. Idk which best buys you guys are going but theres tons of false info here. Right now, most phones fall into the rapid exchange program. With this, the phone is sent away and a refurbished phone is sent at the same time, making the turn around time about 2-4 business days. This does NOT fulfill your protection plan, meaning it is still active and can still be used again and again with no limit to the amount of claims. If you chose to send your phone as a repair instead of exchange the typical wait time is 14-30 days. If they are unable to repaid your phone in a cost effective manor to them or it exceeds 30 days they will issue you a gift card for the full retail value of the phone so that you can pick out a new one. This WILL fulfill the protection plan. So in a strange, completely misleading way, your initial statement was kind of accurtate. If we give you a $600+ gift card to replace your phone with a different model, yes your $170 protection plan is void. What would you expect?
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Click to collapse
that is one of the negative sides AND positive sides to the black tie protection plans.
in some cases it just isn't worth the expense (i.e. when the cost of the plan exceeds about the 50% mark, I don't buy it)
it's rare, but in some cases it just isn't logical.
In this case...$300 for the phone plus $170 for the plan...it's a hard choice.
You realistically are looking at $470 vs $600 which isn't much of a difference...unless you utilize the plan towards the end of its life
00mred00 said:
that is one of the negative sides AND positive sides to the black tie protection plans.
in some cases it just isn't worth the expense (i.e. when the cost of the plan exceeds about the 50% mark, I don't buy it)
it's rare, but in some cases it just isn't logical.
In this case...$300 for the phone plus $170 for the plan...it's a hard choice.
You realistically are looking at $470 vs $600 which isn't much of a difference...unless you utilize the plan towards the end of its life
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry but that logic doesn't make much sense to me. Buy a phone at 300, break it and pay 650 that equals 950, which is twice the price of the upgrade and coverage for unlimited replacements. I guess its just that I see a lot of customers coming in after multiple broken screen replacements that I don't see the logic of buying other protection or buying outright replacements. To each his own tho I suppose
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA App
Maroon Mushroom said:
Keep in mind the BB insurance does not cover lost / stolen and is more expensive than AT&T insurance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Consider BB insurance has no deductible. ATT charges a $200 deductible if you phone needs repair.
No you are right...my point being that breakage occurring in the first 6 months to a year the plan makes sense...beyond that it wouldn't .
Its a gamble...otherwise best buy wouldn't offers it haha. The odds are in their favor. Unless of course one pretty much knows they are going to break the phone, or manipulate the program later to get a new device.
Curious question, only because I receive multiple asnswers in store
Does best buy black tie cover cosmetic damage? I have been told yes and have been told no.
Is there a wear and tear clause? I know att has a wear and tear clause and can deny coverage. Reading their fine print I also notice they can deny if its manufacturering related as well.
imitenotbecrazy said:
Sorry but that logic doesn't make much sense to me. Buy a phone at 300, break it and pay 650 that equals 950, which is twice the price of the upgrade and coverage for unlimited replacements. I guess its just that I see a lot of customers coming in after multiple broken screen replacements that I don't see the logic of buying other protection or buying outright replacements. To each his own tho I suppose
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Click to collapse
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA App
00mred00 said:
hahaha..you don't know me that well yet...I have had 6 phones in the last 6 months lol. I know I will get more.
best buy wins hands down.
not everyone has the luxury of six lines but this is what we do
We have 6 lines on our family plan (5 phones, 1 pc connect {cross upgrade HELLO})...
1.Buy device, purchase buyback, get discount on buyback for purchasing black tie (cancel black tie after 30 days)
2.Sell back Device
3.Use store credit from the buy back to purchase new phone on another line due an upgrade
4.use left over amounts for other toys, or save towards next upgrade.
I always get the newest device
It's worked out pretty well so far. Currently we are out of upgrades until September..but have a few phones that are eligible for buy back should I decide to trade them in towards one device at full price (unlikely)
our next round of upgrades start in September..right about time for the s3
sept, oct, dec, feb, then the following January '13
Oh, and you can't forget price matching...this is a very important part of the process
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U can go to att website and upgrade for 299 even if line is not ready till 2013.u still get the cheap peice untill pre orders ends
For whatever reason it does not work for any of our lines. I tried.
mintu123 said:
U can go to att website and upgrade for 299 even if line is not ready till 2013.u still get the cheap peice untill pre orders ends
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Click to collapse
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA App
00mred00 said:
No you are right...my point being that breakage occurring in the first 6 months to a year the plan makes sense...beyond that it wouldn't .
Its a gamble...otherwise best buy wouldn't offers it haha. The odds are in their favor. Unless of course one pretty much knows they are going to break the phone, or manipulate the program later to get a new device.
Curious question, only because I receive multiple asnswers in store
Does best buy black tie cover cosmetic damage? I have been told yes and have been told no.
Is there a wear and tear clause? I know att has a wear and tear clause and can deny coverage. Reading their fine print I also notice they can deny if its manufacturering related as well.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my store, and I assume in most stores, if a customer wants their phone to be sent out AND they have GSBTP, they are fully entitled to send it out. There is almost no way coverage can be denied, although the plan does specify that submersion and extreme damage (i.e, running it over with a car) is not covered. As long as the customer doesn't explicitly say that was the issue, it is usually fine.
I will say, in two years at BBYM, I have never seen a customer who purchased the protection be denied a phone being sent out. While my store is pretty good at making sure the customer is treated fairly, I can assume that BBYM wouldn't be gaining the market share it is if customers were not being treated properly.
Corvette06 said:
In my store, and I assume in most stores, if a customer wants their phone to be sent out AND they have GSBTP, they are fully entitled to send it out. There is almost no way coverage can be denied, although the plan does specify that submersion and extreme damage (i.e, running it over with a car) is not covered. As long as the customer doesn't explicitly say that was the issue, it is usually fine.
I will say, in two years at BBYM, I have never seen a customer who purchased the protection be denied a phone being sent out. While my store is pretty good at making sure the customer is treated fairly, I can assume that BBYM wouldn't be gaining the market share it is if customers were not being treated properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool cool. I have not had any claims on mobile purchases. I have run into issues on laptops in the past (worn mouse tracker) where I was told it was wear and tear/ cosmetic and had to physically show them that the tracker no longer worked properly. The same with USB ports.
Thanks for chiming in!

Are one-year contracts truly dead?

Does anyone know? I know they can't be done, but is there some level of customer service that can still provide one-year contracts? The death of one-year contracts is pernicious and unfortunate, especially when corporate discounts so often put the one-year price at only 30 or so dollars over the two year.
tekhna said:
Does anyone know? I know they can't be done, but is there some level of customer service that can still provide one-year contracts? The death of one-year contracts is pernicious and unfortunate, especially when corporate discounts so often put the one-year price at only 30 or so dollars over the two year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sadly i think the one year contracts are done for, it is sad. i love verizon but our bill is far to expensive anymore. id move back to sprint to save some $$ but i cannot afford the eft's on two lines.
mighty_markus12 said:
sadly i think the one year contracts are done for, it is sad. i love verizon but our bill is far to expensive anymore. id move back to sprint to save some $$ but i cannot afford the eft's on two lines.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I left Sprint when I realized that Verizon actually ended up costing the same, or less, for our 4 lines of service once Sprint added in their 10$/smartphone fee.
sprint was about $40-50 cheaper for me.
I could save a ton of money by switching to sprint, but their service is so bad around my area it is virtually unuseable.
jmorton10 said:
I could save a ton of money by switching to sprint, but their service is so bad around my area it is virtually unuseable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same here, that's why i left them last summer.
Alright, well that's great--Sprint sucks, but it's cheaper. Alas, one-year contracts with Sprint are dead too, so let us never discuss that wretched company again.
yeah one year contracts are dunzo, no way to get them at all.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA App
One year contracts, as far as equipment upgrades are concerned, are completely done. If a rep is gonna offer you equipment as a save option, it will come with a 2 year agreement or at full retail (there is also the Certified Pre Owned option, but that's another story and doesn't have a 1 year deal).
There are some save options, as far as Friends and Family for non-qualifying plan or bonus minutes/texts, that do require a 1 year agreement if you accept, but they are unrelated to equipment. Of course, it's been several months since I stopped working for VZW, so things may have changed.
jmorton10 said:
I could save a ton of money by switching to sprint, but their service is so bad around my area it is virtually unuseable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly how I feel. I had the EVO4G with Sprint but did not want to go for another contract. It's true they offer unlimited data for a significantly cheaper cost than Verizon, but what's unlimited data worth if you can't use it? With Verizon, I am paying $30 more than I was paying to Sprint, but at least, I can play my music with MOG Music. I felt so frustrated with sprint because I was paying $10/month for my MOG subscription without being able to use it on Sprint Network.
Wendemixda said:
Exactly how I feel. I had the EVO4G with Sprint but did not want to go for another contract. It's true they offer unlimited data for a significantly cheaper cost than Verizon, but what's unlimited data worth if you can't use it? With Verizon, I am paying $30 more than I was paying to Sprint, but at least, I can play my music with MOG Music. I felt so frustrated with sprint because I was paying $10/month for my MOG subscription without being able to use it on Sprint Network.
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Click to collapse
My biggest problem with sprint is the spectrum they use. Wimax is a joke indoors on a phone. Move 2 feet to the side and it would drop to 3g. What frequency are the building lte out on?
Sent from my Rezound using Tapatalk
tekhna said:
Does anyone know? I know they can't be done, but is there some level of customer service that can still provide one-year contracts? The death of one-year contracts is pernicious and unfortunate, especially when corporate discounts so often put the one-year price at only 30 or so dollars over the two year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sent a letter directly to Mr. Mead voicing this exact thing. They stated that they removed 1-year contracts because no one actually used them. When the truth is that VZW's business model made reps always push you into a 2 year for the added commission.
It's really been downhill for VZW. First they got rid of Annual Online Upgrades, New Every Two, Unlimited Data, and then finally one year contracts. I've been planning to send out a few more emails to executives, maybe if we all voice our disappointment?
isdnmatt said:
I sent a letter directly to Mr. Mead voicing this exact thing. They stated that they removed 1-year contracts because no one actually used them. When the truth is that VZW's business model made reps always push you into a 2 year for the added commission.
It's really been downhill for VZW. First they got rid of Annual Online Upgrades, New Every Two, Unlimited Data, and then finally one year contracts. I've been planning to send out a few more emails to executives, maybe if we all voice our disappointment?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually wouldn't be surprised if people didn't use them, people aren't very smart about their money. It's a no-brainer though if you've got most corporate discounts. And most people don't care about their phone that much to upgrade very year.
It's been downhill since the iPhone. Let's be clear about what caused the problem! I think it's probably too late for them to bring one-year contracts back, but I was wondering since they did promos like this http://www.droid-life.com/2011/07/07/verizon-offers-1-year-contracts-to-out-of-contract-customers/ last summer when one-years were supposedly dead, if they'd do them again. But that was a while ago.
I'd rather just have a European pricing model where I pay for my phone outright and have a smaller monthly bill.
I actually move from ATT to VZ because of the Droid Inc and got it on a one year contract (paid $30 extra for the phone). It's almost been a year since my contract has expired and I don't want to upgrade because of the 2-year contract policy and also since phones are moving so fast, if I wait 6 months for a price drop like the rezound, everyone has already moved onto another phone. Lol.
Side Note: My wife is on the Eris and I'm thinking about getting a Rezound for her. Is it easy to root and flash a custom rom on it?
AT&T is the only I know that offered a 1 year contract, and was typically online only thru Premier. They kept making them harder to get.
I refuse to sign a 2 year contract based on how Verizon treated me in 2004. When you think about it, the ETF difference is virtually the different in phone price buying off contract. So you're paying for it one way or another. I will say I have found that on AT&T and Verizon, they treat you better if you DON'T have a contract. You can threaten to walk out that door immediately and mean it. That puts a lot more power back in the consumers' hands.

Verizon brick and mortar bastards won't sell full price

After failing at convincing myself not to get one, since I already own a Note 10.1, I headed to a local Verizon brick and mortar ready to pay full price to retain unlimited data. Upon arriving found...
They have it in stock. Check.
They have it in grey. Check.
I asked to pay full price and that's when things went sour. He pulled up my mobile # then proceeded with the upselling trying to get me to add a line, up my plan, change my plan saying that it won't affect my unlimited data when I know it's a lie then when he couldn't get his way he said he couldn't sell me one even for full price.
Learned my lesson. Dropped by Best Buy with a different approach since they're all obviously giving priority to new contract and contract extension. When it was my turn I said I wanted to buy one full price as a gift and the recipient would come in to choose plan and activate. It rung up $799 but had them price match to Verizon for $699. A kind gentleman here posted a receipt for $670 so will use that for price adjustment towards accessories.
Awesome phone and well worth the effort. Another BB salesperson and a customer noticed I was buying it and complemented it as they bought it too.
It's because by buying the phone outright they don't make commission off of it. Also by buying the phone out of contract, it's one less phone to sell to someone who is planning on upgrading or signing a new contract. Cheers to you though, it's an awesome phone.
I bet if you would have called customer service they would have forced them to do it.
The 1-800 line has over riding power over ANYTHING they say in the store if your account is noted.
You can buy at full retail online and over the phone(I did) and to VZW Coportate offices a sale is a sale.
I work for a Verizon store and can confirm that adding a line will keep your data. What I do is swap the new phone to the number you want and scan an ESN of a crappy feature phone change the last 2 numbers of the ESN and that way you won't get billed for the data on your added line. Works like a charm and I get commission you get your new phone and its a win win.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
I had a similar experience when I picked it up on the 29th when the store first opened. They tried telling me that they could not sell the phone for full price on launch day. The salesman then tried calling the manager to check, but was not able to get hold of him. Luckily another associate said that the store was allowed to sell one phone at full price... which happened to be me as I was waiting for them to open.
Wyatt W.
I bought my gray Note II from a brick and mortar VZ store for full price an hour after they came in with no problem.
From what I understand the policy is that it's up to the store manager's discretion whether or not they wish to sell you a phone at full retail or not.
It's not so much a matter of commission I don't believe, as they do earn some commission on even full retail sold phones, but the thing is it looks a lot better for the store to get a new customer or upgrade an old one, than it is to sell a phone out right. And selling that phone removes inventory that could go to a potential upgrade/new customer.
sorry i am new.
why not add a line and then pay 350 to terminate it? will it hurt your credit or something?
I just had a bought the phone in store for my fiancé using an upgrade on my unlimited line. Didn't affect my unlimited at all. Just have to get a rep that knows how to do it
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Xparent ICS Tapatalk 2
jiwengang said:
sorry i am new.
why not add a line and then pay 350 to terminate it? will it hurt your credit or something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think Verizon charges u another ETF which all comes out to $15 less then buying the phone at full retail ($700) but easier and less of a headache just buying at retail (there is some kind of loop with a dummy line on your account but not everyone has one)
Whatever the Verizon store policy is, it must be manager discretion or it's not followed consistantly.
I called the closest store to verify they had a gray Note 2 in stock and an hour later I was walking out the door with one at full retail with no issues.
I just told the sales guy I wanted to pay full retail to keep my unlimited data, and he said "no problem". I just verified on "My Verizon"...It shows my new phone and my unlimited data is still intact.
BTW...LOVE this phone! Coming from a rooted DX, running CM7...This phone is 'da bomb'!
I got mine full cost, no issues. Wish I had got the gray titanium color though...sigh.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
This isn't the first time I've heard this so I was worried when I went in Thursday trying to buy it.
They let me do it, could tell she was reluctant. Now I know why since they don't receive the commission, which is stupid.
Same thing happened to me... I felt the pain of waiting so long for this phone then telling me they couldn't sell me it.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
I will only buy phones from best buy because they price matched a launch phone heavily and their 9 dollar a month unlimited warranty is amazing. I bent an iPhone 5 in half they took it back laughing and gave me a new one. Assurion would a charged 100 to swap. So far I'm liking best buys phone insurance and price match on a launch day even
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
How do you bend an iphone in half? Lol!
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Ran it over with a forklift wheel
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
mi7chy said:
After failing at convincing myself not to get one, since I already own a Note 10.1, I headed to a local Verizon brick and mortar ready to pay full price to retain unlimited data. Upon arriving found...
They have it in stock. Check.
They have it in grey. Check.
I asked to pay full price and that's when things went sour. He pulled up my mobile # then proceeded with the upselling trying to get me to add a line, up my plan, change my plan saying that it won't affect my unlimited data when I know it's a lie then when he couldn't get his way he said he couldn't sell me one even for full price.
Learned my lesson. Dropped by Best Buy with a different approach since they're all obviously giving priority to new contract and contract extension. When it was my turn I said I wanted to buy one full price as a gift and the recipient would come in to choose plan and activate. It rung up $799 but had them price match to Verizon for $699. A kind gentleman here posted a receipt for $670 so will use that for price adjustment towards accessories.
Awesome phone and well worth the effort. Another BB salesperson and a customer noticed I was buying it and complemented it as they bought it too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you have a link to that receipt? i would like to go get my price adjusted also
If it's a corporate store, they have to sell it to you at full retail. Or at least that's what I've been told by Verizon customer service in the past.
Back when the Droid 3 first came out, I went in to buy one at full retail. The rep said they didn't sell phones at full retail in the store, and that I'd have to order one online or over the phone. I asked to speak with the manager, and he told me the same thing - "We can't sell phones at full retail in the store." I said "Yes you can. Either you don't know that you can for some odd reason or you're just making that up." Having purchased phones at full retail from corporate stores before, I promptly called customer service and told them where I was and what was going on. The manager received a call a few minutes later, and I walked out with my new Droid 3 a few minutes later.
Authorized retailers might be a different story, but corporate stores should sell it to you. If they don't, call customer service right then and there.
bulvine420 said:
I work for a Verizon store and can confirm that adding a line will keep your data. What I do is swap the new phone to the number you want and scan an ESN of a crappy feature phone change the last 2 numbers of the ESN and that way you won't get billed for the data on your added line. Works like a charm and I get commission you get your new phone and its a win win.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly what I did yesterday at my brick and mortar verizon store. Was going to pay full price to get the phone, but the the salesman stated he could convert my two lines I currently have into a family plan without changing the unlimited data I have and add a new line for $10 a month. He then looked at my account and just used an old ESN from an old non smart phone so I won't get charged data rates on the new phone line. Yes I understand the long run I am paying almost $600 for the phone but it is spread out over the 2 year term. Now I have a line I can use for upgrades in the future if I am not forced to dump my unlimited data. I was very pleased with my salesman yesterday.

[Q] Loophole?! T-Mobile paying ETF to switch carriers

Hello all, just a quick question for those who have done this, or are thinking about doing this.
[If this is in the wrong forum, please let me know!]
So I have 5 lines on Verizon and 2 of them are due for an upgrade. I want to:
1. Use the upgrades and get 2 new iPhone 5S handsets (extends contracts for those 2 lines for 2 more years)
2. Activate and deactivate them
3. Reactivate the 2 old phones
4. Sell the brand new iPhones on ebay/craiglist (so I'd be paying around $200/phone and selling for around $550/phone
5. Go to T-Mo and have them pay the ETFs for all lines (thus canceling the contracts with Verizon
5. Use the cash from the iPhone sales to purchase 2 Nexus 5 handsets instead (and therefore keeping a little money for myself
6.???
7. Profit!!
Is this possible? Has anyone done this?
I know that it is possible to sell upgrades; people do it all the time. They get subsidized phones for cheap and deactivate them so they can reactivate their old lines for another 2 years, and they sell the brand new phones for their market value. Because as far as I can tell, Verizon doesn't give a crap as long as they have you tied in for another 2 years (which I will be bypassing by switching to T-Mobile).
Yes, the 2 lines that are due for an upgrade are old dumbphones that are around 3 years old. I asked a T-Mobile rep and she told me that those phones are eligible to be traded in so long as they are in contract (she looked them up in the system).
Thanks in advance!
HashtagNoFilter said:
Hello all, just a quick question for those who have done this, or are thinking about doing this.
[If this is in the wrong forum, please let me know!]
So I have 5 lines on Verizon and 2 of them are due for an upgrade. I want to:
1. Use the upgrades and get 2 new iPhone 5S handsets (extends contracts for those 2 lines for 2 more years)
2. Activate and deactivate them
3. Reactivate the 2 old phones
4. Sell the brand new iPhones on ebay/craiglist (so I'd be paying around $200/phone and selling for around $550/phone
5. Go to T-Mo and have them pay the ETFs for all lines (thus canceling the contracts with Verizon
5. Use the cash from the iPhone sales to purchase 2 Nexus 5 handsets instead (and therefore keeping a little money for myself
6.???
7. Profit!!
Is this possible? Has anyone done this?
I know that it is possible to sell upgrades; people do it all the time. They get subsidized phones for cheap and deactivate them so they can reactivate their old lines for another 2 years, and they sell the brand new phones for their market value. Because as far as I can tell, Verizon doesn't give a crap as long as they have you tied in for another 2 years (which I will be bypassing by switching to T-Mobile).
Yes, the 2 lines that are due for an upgrade are old dumbphones that are around 3 years old. I asked a T-Mobile rep and she told me that those phones are eligible to be traded in so long as they are in contract (she looked them up in the system).
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
seems like it should work, but also seems like a nightmare haha good luck
HashtagNoFilter said:
Hello all, just a quick question for those who have done this, or are thinking about doing this.
[If this is in the wrong forum, please let me know!]
So I have 5 lines on Verizon and 2 of them are due for an upgrade. I want to:
1. Use the upgrades and get 2 new iPhone 5S handsets (extends contracts for those 2 lines for 2 more years)
2. Activate and deactivate them
3. Reactivate the 2 old phones
4. Sell the brand new iPhones on ebay/craiglist (so I'd be paying around $200/phone and selling for around $550/phone
5. Go to T-Mo and have them pay the ETFs for all lines (thus canceling the contracts with Verizon
5. Use the cash from the iPhone sales to purchase 2 Nexus 5 handsets instead (and therefore keeping a little money for myself
6.???
7. Profit!!
Is this possible? Has anyone done this?
I know that it is possible to sell upgrades; people do it all the time. They get subsidized phones for cheap and deactivate them so they can reactivate their old lines for another 2 years, and they sell the brand new phones for their market value. Because as far as I can tell, Verizon doesn't give a crap as long as they have you tied in for another 2 years (which I will be bypassing by switching to T-Mobile).
Yes, the 2 lines that are due for an upgrade are old dumbphones that are around 3 years old. I asked a T-Mobile rep and she told me that those phones are eligible to be traded in so long as they are in contract (she looked them up in the system).
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YOU SIR ARE BRILLIANT!!
Keep us posted with how this works!
Just be careful, I heard that if you cancel your contract before it's up they will ask for the phone back, I could be completely wrong but I wouldn't want you getting screwed when verizon asks for $1000 worth of phones back.
part of the TMobile etf thing is you buy your TMo phones thru TMo
OneArm said:
part of the TMobile etf thing is you buy your TMo phones thru TMo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. As stated in the OP, I would be trading in those 2 dumbphones. The T-Mo lady told me that those specific models are perfectly eligible to be traded in (they are in the T-Mo database). However, they would give me $0 credit for trading in the dumbphones and getting a new phone from T-Mobile. That wouldn't really matter since I would be using the money from the sale to put a down payment!
Triscuit said:
Just be careful, I heard that if you cancel your contract before it's up they will ask for the phone back, I could be completely wrong but I wouldn't want you getting screwed when verizon asks for $1000 worth of phones back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the thing---what's to stop me from telling them a lie they can't prove is wrong? I can totally just tell them "So yeah, I totally loved this iPhone. Too bad it fell into the snow yesterday and completely died, it sucks. Welp, guess I just have to reactivate my old phones I use to have a couple days ago!"
I mean what if my phone really did fall into some snow/water and died...
HashtagNoFilter said:
Yep. As stated in the OP, I would be trading in those 2 dumbphones. The T-Mo lady told me that those specific models are perfectly eligible to be traded in (they are in the T-Mo database). However, they would give me $0 credit for trading in the dumbphones and getting a new phone from T-Mobile. That wouldn't really matter since I would be using the money from the sale to put a down payment!
That's the thing---what's to stop me from telling them a lie they can't prove is wrong? I can totally just tell them "So yeah, I totally loved this iPhone. Too bad it fell into the snow yesterday and completely died, it sucks. Welp, guess I just have to reactivate my old phones I use to have a couple days ago!"
I mean what if my phone really did fall into some snow/water and died...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could they then blacklist the phones?
riker147 said:
Could they then blacklist the phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mean I'm not sure it really matters. I can activate the old phones online on the MyVerizon website. People sell their upgrades all the time. The part I'm mainly concerned with is if this Verizon will actually do anything if I renew my contract and then leave like a week later lol.
HashtagNoFilter said:
I mean I'm not sure it really matters. I can activate the old phones online on the MyVerizon website. People sell their upgrades all the time. The part I'm mainly concerned with is if this Verizon will actually do anything if I renew my contract and then leave like a week later lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as the ETF is paid I don't think there's anything they can do.
Triscuit said:
Just be careful, I heard that if you cancel your contract before it's up they will ask for the phone back, I could be completely wrong but I wouldn't want you getting screwed when verizon asks for $1000 worth of phones back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what the etf is for, to pay for the phone.
UPDATES!
1. Used both upgrades to purchase 2 Gold iPhone 5S handsets at $150 each (plus shipping and taxes = $176). Total investment so far: $352
2. Activated them online using the IMEI.
**NOTE** I called Verizon multiple times to confirm if it was possible to activate them WITHOUT opening the box. They told me this was possible, but when I tried to do it, they ended up saying it wasn't possible, and that I HAD to dial *228 in order to finish the activation.
3. Put ad on Craigslist. Phone goes off every 5 minutes until some dude offers me $600 for each. I told him they were sealed, but that I had to open them and activate them. He said he would pay me the same so long as I opened them in front of him to confirm they were sealed!
4. Met dude, deactivated iPhones, reactivated old phones. Profit: $1200 - $352 = $848.
5. Found used iPhone 4S on Craigslist for $150. Deactivated my GS4 and activated the iPhone. Total thus far: $848 - $150 = $698
6. Sold GS4 the next day for $380. Total thus far: $698 + $380 = $1078.
7. Walked into T-Mobile, and switched!
8. GS3 for my dad, Nokia Lumia 521 for my mom, two Nexus 5 handsets for me and my brother (OMG SO MANY ROMSSS!!!), and a Galaxy Light for my little bro (he doesn't get a legit smartphone until he's in college next year lol)
9. Made a down payment of $500 for the phones in order to decrease the bill. And I still have a $21 credit on the bill after all the trade ins!
Previous Verizon bill: $250.82 with 2 smartphones and 3 dumbphones.
New T-Mobile bill: $183 for 5 smartphones.
Equivalent Verizon bill: $250.81 + $90 ($30 x 3 for adding 3 smartphones @ 2GB/month) = $340.81
10. ???
11. PROFIT!
I have had my phone for a couple of days now, and the speed is great. I get LTE in all the areas I got LTE with Verizon, and the speeds are about the same, if not better.
If you have any questions, let me know and I will try my best to answer you! Thanks

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