How to Upgarde before 'New Every 2'?

[DIGITALpH]

I'm fed up with my Eris. I've done the "Call Log Trim" and fixed my 'slot cycle'. But I'm still frustrated with it. Had I realized how underpowered it is, and how little internal memory it has, I wouldn't have gotten it. It was a good "starter" Android, but I'm ready for something beefier.

But, my New Every Two with Verizon is up until next June. So, my question is, does anyone have any suggestions on how to make an affordable upgrade? I checked my account with Verizon, and I would need to pay full retail for a new phone, $550. Or, I could find one on eBay or Craigslist for about half, but still about $200-300.

Any suggestions on how to get an upgrade cheaper?

Thanks!

 

[n0ct3m]

What, exactly, are the issues you have with your Eris? Have you tried rooting to see if that would fix said issues?

 

[bjf88]

All you can do is call, pray that you get a nice CSR and explain your frustrations, what you've done to try to deal with it, and then ask very nicely for an upgrade as a last resort. The worst thing you could do is suggest an early upgrade off the bat.

I've been able to upgrade about every 15 months using this method... I've been very lucky. This last time to go from my old Chocolate to my Eris it took about 5 phone calls and a few "escalations" to higher-ups, but they finally gave it to me. Granted, I probably screwed myself out of being able to upgrade early this time around, but I can very much still live with my Eris... at least until I see an Incredible on sale for a decent price.

 

[varkie]

I was told by a rep last week that I could upgrade 1 year into my 2 year plan. I would get the phone at the advertised price and have to extend my contract for another year. Not sure how true this is as I still had 3 more months to go before my 1 year was up so couldn't do it. In December I'll call and see if I can upgrade to the Increidble for $99 or to the Fascinate for whatever price it is currently going for.

 

[LED]

Verizon often allows an early upgrade for which you pay $30 for the privilege. You can sometimes get an early upgrade about 1 year into a 2 year contract. This is what I was told when I bought my Eris.

 

[CaptainTwinkie]

If your really desperate, and have a family member that needs a cell phone. You could do what I did, we added my mom to my family plan, since its only $10 extra a month. And depending on how you time it, when you add them to your plan, you could use when you add them to get a new phone, this is what I've been contimplating, since verizon is doing the buy a incredible get a phone free, ive considered getting that along with the fascinate, since I want that one more now, and then you can use the verizon trade in program, https://www.trade-in.vzw.com/Home.aspx and get $132 for it, and if you really don't want or need a spare phone, you could sell the Incredible or Fascinate for like $300 or so, so your walking away with a new phone and around $200ish dollars in your pocket.

Also when you add the new family member, you can move them to a dumb phone, I even went to Wal-mart and bought a $20 pre-paid phone and activated it on my family plan so that is the what my mom uses.

 

[Batbriel]

Well I'm 4 months away from my next "new every 2" should I be able to upgrade before that since its only a couple of months??,, i

 

[Gato]

If you're line is the "My Verizon" account holder you can upgrade every year...I think.

 

[Haxcid]

I am 14 months over my upgrade date. I can change out when ever I like (don't hate). I am waiting for LTE capable phones so save myself the headaches in the future. Run out and get a new phone only to find out I am stuck for another year on the old slow network.

Wait for dual cores and 10gig internal memories lol.

H.

 

[Thornfullessrose]

How many refurbs have you been through?

 

[prj]

If you are the primary account holder you can upgrade every 12 months for a $20 fee and get the phone at the discounted 2 year contract rate.

Keep in mind it's a $20 fee only if you go to a Verizon corporate store. A Verizon retail outlet will charge you a $60 fee.

 

[Gato]

I always do it online and do not recall being charged a fee. 2 Day Fedex shipping is free also.


But again, I've been with Verizon for something like 10 years so maybe I get that fee waived out of some sort of loyalty thing. Dunno.

 

[ErisYarr]

Yes if you are on a family plan you can add an extra line for $10 any time. When you do that you can get a new phone for that line at the 2 year price just like any other new contract or extension. That is what Verizon Wireless told me to do as a last ditch effort to get away from the Eris. (as opposed to just giving me a different model?)

When I did this I switched the data plan and all that was on my Eris over to my new Phone. All my bill went up was $10 for the extra line which is now a ghost line. Thinking of adding an old flip phone as an emergency phone to put in my wifes car.

Now here is a twist. BEST BUY is currently doing a Free every Friday deal. What does this mean for you? Well, this means you can do everything I just said above at a Best Buy and get the phone for free...assuming they put one up on a friday you like. For instance last Friday was the Fascinate (Thats what I did). This coming friday...who knows.

Edit: I have been through 4 HTC Eris phones and they said all they would send was a Droid 1. Which would still be leagues better but the thought of a Fascinate or a X was too much to pass up.

 

[rick311]

root.

 

[Demache]

You have a few options.

For one, I'd recommend rooting and flashing xtrSense. It will help with performance and your internal memory issues. And its still pretty close to stock while removing bloat issues. That should at least tie you over until you make a hardware upgrade.

As for actually getting a new phone, you can hope to get a streak of bad Eris's and they may upgrade you to a Droid, or Incredible possibly.

 

[kujayhawks77]

If you have had multiple handset exchanges, they will upgrade you to a D1 if you call and explain your situation, you may have to ask to speak with a supervisor but they generally will do this hassle free.

Another option they may offer you if you haven't had multiple handset exchanges they may offer to upgrade you to a certified pre-owned D1 with or without a contract extension ( I have heard it go both ways) for $99.

 

[golfbiz]

If you're line is the "My Verizon" account holder you can upgrade every year...I think.

yes with a $20 fee....I was going to do this but after rooting and going to xtrsense I am now very happy with my eris and will wait for the next new processor and probably 4G...

 

[swabbot]

Yes if you are on a family plan you can add an extra line for $10 any time. When you do that you can get a new phone for that line at the 2 year price just like any other new contract or extension. That is what Verizon Wireless told me to do as a last ditch effort to get away from the Eris. (as opposed to just giving me a different model?)

When I did this I switched the data plan and all that was on my Eris over to my new Phone. All my bill went up was $10 for the extra line which is now a ghost line. Thinking of adding an old flip phone as an emergency phone to put in my wifes car.

Now here is a twist. BEST BUY is currently doing a Free every Friday deal. What does this mean for you? Well, this means you can do everything I just said above at a Best Buy and get the phone for free...assuming they put one up on a friday you like. For instance last Friday was the Fascinate (Thats what I did). This coming friday...who knows.

Edit: I have been through 4 HTC Eris phones and they said all they would send was a Droid 1. Which would still be leagues better but the thought of a Fascinate or a X was too much to pass up.

Wouldn't you be required to have a data plan on your new phone as well?

 

[Batbriel]

I just wanna call Verizon and see if I can upgrade now, even though that I'm 4 or 3 months away from my next "new every 2" I played with the samsung fascinate the other day and I really liked it !!

 

[ErisYarr]

No. It is something Verizon does quite regularly. Believe me I thought the same thing. Then I asked. Either way they are still getting an extra $10 a month from you.

 

[Batbriel]

No. It is something Verizon does quite regularly. Believe me I thought the same thing. Then I asked. Either way they are still getting an extra $10 a month from you.

How many lines can u have under one account tho ? cuz if thats the case,,I think I'm adding two more lines tomo, so me and my wife can have a new Facinate

 

[ErisYarr]

That im not sure of. But I know you can have more that 4. But keep in mind that all those phones will pull from the same pool of minutes.

 

[jeffgman]

That im not sure of. But I know you can have more that 4. But keep in mind that all those phones will pull from the same pool of minutes.

The max lines on a family share plan is 5.

 

[Batbriel]

The max lines on a family share plan is 5.

hhmmm, I've 5 numbers but one is in reference to the mobile broadband or something like that, so not sure if got mi max with that

 

[jeffgman]

hhmmm, I've 5 numbers but one is in reference to the mobile broadband or something like that, so not sure if got mi max with that

Not sure if a mobile broadband line counts toward the max since it doesn't really use any minutes of your plan. I have 5 lines and know that I have to create a new account if I want to add any more lines.