Purchase from Amazon instead of Verizon

[dryfly]

Forgive my ignorance, but why would I pay $300.00 to Verizon for the Droid Razr instead of $230.00 from Amazon. I am on a family plan which is coming up for contract renewal (Currently have the Dinc). I've always purchased direct from Verizon so I was wondering what the downside was to purchasing from Amazon (or other retailers - BestBuy, etc.)

Thanks.

 

[sdrawkcab25]

Forgive my ignorance, but why would I pay $300.00 to Verizon for the Droid Razr instead of $230.00 from Amazon. I am on a family plan which is coming up for contract renewal (Currently have the Dinc). I've always purchased direct from Verizon so I was wondering what the downside was to purchasing from Amazon (or other retailers - BestBuy, etc.)

Thanks.

I believe it only effects if you if you try to return the phone in the "return window" ie.. You are returning the phone because it was damaged during shipping or you decide you don't like it. After that, normal warranty claims or requests for repair can be done through Verizon.
I bought my original incredible through best buy, but have made a couple warranty claims through Verizon corporate with no problems.

 

[jamala00]

Forgive my ignorance, but why would I pay $300.00 to Verizon for the Droid Razr instead of $230.00 from Amazon. I am on a family plan which is coming up for contract renewal (Currently have the Dinc). I've always purchased direct from Verizon so I was wondering what the downside was to purchasing from Amazon (or other retailers - BestBuy, etc.)

Thanks.

Also, I have found out, if u are like me and have an old Altell plan u don't want to lose, you can not go through the 3rd party place like Amazon, Walmart... Etc... These places do not have access to all of Verizon's information and or plans and can only keep u signed up for the National Freedom plans. So if you have a plan like me that is from 1997 that you want to keep, you have to go to Verizon to renew.

 

[7runx]

Also, I have found out, if u are like me and have an old Altell plan u don't want to lose, you can not go through the 3rd party place like Amazon, Walmart... Etc... These places do not have access to all of Verizon's information and or plans and can only keep u signed up for the National Freedom plans. So if you have a plan like me that is from 1997 that you want to keep, you have to go to Verizon to renew.

I had to look this up as our wireless provider here was Midwest Wireless at the time. I was unaware Alltel was that old!

But he is correct, I attempted to buy a phone at bestbuy and essentially the savings wasn't worth the huge spike in my monthly bill.

 

[timelord65]

Forgive my ignorance, but why would I pay $300.00 to Verizon for the Droid Razr instead of $230.00 from Amazon. I am on a family plan which is coming up for contract renewal (Currently have the Dinc). I've always purchased direct from Verizon so I was wondering what the downside was to purchasing from Amazon (or other retailers - BestBuy, etc.)

Thanks.

The downside is you have to sign a second contract with the 3rd party dealer. You can't change anything, min,data etc for 6 months or something like that. With Verizon you can change anything without penalty.

So if your sure you won't be changing anything, then yes a 3rd party deal is best.

 

[borlandi72]

Best Buy was great for me, I got my Dinc for $0.00 on a free phone friday. No rebates, etc. 100% free, no hidden costs or rebates. Of course this was with 2 year contract, but the same phone for same contract was $200 at Verizon on the same day. In fact, the verizon store is in the same strip mall. I walked over and told them the phone was free, and why should I get it at Verizon instead. Their answer was NOTHING! You can do everything at Best Buy that you can at Verizon, including Assurion insurance. Just keep in mind if you geek squad it Best Buy may be out of biz before you can cash in.

 

[euph_22]

Best Buy was great for me, I got my Dinc for $0.00 on a free phone friday. No rebates, etc. 100% free, no hidden costs or rebates. Of course this was with 2 year contract, but the same phone for same contract was $200 at Verizon on the same day. In fact, the verizon store is in the same strip mall. I walked over and told them the phone was free, and why should I get it at Verizon instead. Their answer was NOTHING! You can do everything at Best Buy that you can at Verizon, including Assurion insurance. Just keep in mind if you geek squad it Best Buy may be out of biz before you can cash in.

Great experiences from Best Buy as well. They gave me $50 bucks on Incredible to price match Sears/wirefly (I'm 90% sure the sears store in town doesn't sell phones, but I still got the deal). And Just Thursday I bought my brand new Droid Razr for $100, half of what Verizon is selling it for, and they didn't try to get me to do ANYTHING with my contract (which is great, cause in the last 2 days I've used 12GB of LTE data. Unlimited data FTW).
The Geek Squad coverage is however, a complete and total rip off. They don't cover lost/stolen devices, they don't cover dropping it in water (they cover spills, but I'd imagine having problems convincing them that it wasn't immersed in water). They will repair the phone if they can, and they will Always attempt to repair it. So you're phone is sent off somewhere for 3weeks before they even look at the phone.

 

[fiskadoro]

I'm due for an upgrade right now and though my DInc is fine, I was thinking of moving on.

So, from what I'm understanding, if I wanted to take advantage of the cheaper price of the Galaxy Nexus at Amazon Wireless, I wouldn't be able to be 'grandfathered' into my current unlimited data plan I've had for a few years if I upgrade through them instead of Verizon? That initial $100 saving might not be so valuable if it means a limited data plan for the next two years!

 

[Medion]

Here are some of the key differences from upgrading via Amazon/Wirefly/LetsTalk/etc. as opposed to Verizon;

-resellers such as the above only have CURRENT carrier plans in their system, so if you are on any kind of grandfathered plan, you will lose it (IE, unlimited data). You essentially sign up for a "new" plan when you purchase through these places, even if you're simply picking the same plan that you already have.

-You enter into a second contract specifically with THAT reseller. Should you reduce or cancel your plan within 180 days of purchase, you owe that reseller an ETF. So, if you cancel your plan or switch carriers, you would own an ETF both to Verizon and Amazon. Again though, the merchant contract is only 180 days.

 

[euph_22]

I'm due for an upgrade right now and though my DInc is fine, I was thinking of moving on.

So, from what I'm understanding, if I wanted to take advantage of the cheaper price of the Galaxy Nexus at Amazon Wireless, I wouldn't be able to be 'grandfathered' into my current unlimited data plan I've had for a few years if I upgrade through them instead of Verizon? That initial $100 saving might not be so valuable if it means a limited data plan for the next two years!

No, you can keep the data plan. And you can always check with Verizon before you upgrade, but you can definitely keep the unlimited data.

 

[Medion]

No, you can keep the data plan. And you can always check with Verizon before you upgrade, but you can definitely keep the unlimited data.

First I've heard of this. I've never heard of anyone upgrading through Amazon and retaining unlimited data. They force you to select an existing data plan.

EDIT: Just verified through attempting to use an available AT&T upgrade. There is no way via the online purchase to retain a grandfathered unlimited data plan. You could always take the new data plan and then call the carrier after the fact, but there is no guarantee that they will give it back, especially when they didn't get the sale.

EDIT 2: Some more info on this;

Source:

I just got off the phone with Amazon Wireless and was informed that as an existing AT&T customer with an unlimited data plan, I am unable to retain this unlimited data plan if I upgrade through Amazon. Once you get to the "Select Service Options" page, the only data plans available are the tiered plans. Amazon Wireless suggested that AT&T may have the ability to switch me back to unlimited data after purchasing the phone, but there is no guarantee.

Source:

If you upgrade your current smartphone to another smartphone recognized by AT&T, you can keep the unlimited data plan appropriate to the device. You may get a smartphone such as an iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7 or other smartphone operating system. If you upgrade through a reseller such as Amazon or a big box store, they might switch you to a tiered data plan. You would have to call Customer Service to fix it. When you upgrade from the AT&T website or at a corporate store, your unlimited data plan will be maintained.

So to reiterate, if you upgrade through Amazon rather than AT&T/Verizon, you will initially lose your unlimited data plan. You can then call customer service at the carrier and request a ticket be opened to restore your unlimited data plan (Verizon gives you 60 days to do this, AT&T I'm unsure of). However, given that you sent your money to someone else instead of them, and they have a new 2-year contract with TWO early termination fees (carrier for 24 months and vendor for 6 months), they have no motivation to restore the unlimited data plan. So, do this at your own risk.

 

[sdrawkcab25]

I've read from a couple people on here, some of which are resellers themselves, that you can keep the unlimited data. But those were in person sales (best buy, Costco, BJs), not online.

 

[fiskadoro]

This is all valuable info. Buying online (say at Amazon) and then contacting Verizon and just hoping they might allow you to keep your old plan seems quite a risk. It'd certainly be at their discretion. Really, what's in it for them?

The info about trying it in a physical store like Best Buy is interesting. Might be worth a shot, however, I don't want to go through the whole process of checking-out only to be told it won't be possible.

No wonder Amazon can offer the Nexus for $99** while Verizon want $269 to upgrade! I think I'll keep the DInc for a while longer. Prices will eventually come down.

** I should have looked more closely. The $99 is for a brand new sign-up, it's $229 as an upgrade, so only a $40 saving on Verizon (and the possibility of losing your unlimited plan)

 

[euph_22]

First I've heard of this. I've never heard of anyone upgrading through Amazon and retaining unlimited data. They force you to select an existing data plan.

EDIT: Just verified through attempting to use an available AT&T upgrade. There is no way via the online purchase to retain a grandfathered unlimited data plan. You could always take the new data plan and then call the carrier after the fact, but there is no guarantee that they will give it back, especially when they didn't get the sale.

EDIT 2: Some more info on this;

Source:


Source:


So to reiterate, if you upgrade through Amazon rather than AT&T/Verizon, you will initially lose your unlimited data plan. You can then call customer service at the carrier and request a ticket be opened to restore your unlimited data plan (Verizon gives you 60 days to do this, AT&T I'm unsure of). However, given that you sent your money to someone else instead of them, and they have a new 2-year contract with TWO early termination fees (carrier for 24 months and vendor for 6 months), they have no motivation to restore the unlimited data plan. So, do this at your own risk.

When I was shopping for my Razr a couple weeks ago, I'm 95% sure it would let me buy without changing the data plan. There was an option to "keep your current data plan", or some such (I'm not 100% because I never executed that purchase, and bought from Best Buy instead with no issues whatsoever). I was going to post the several links I found on both Verizon's and Amazon's official support forums saying you can upgrade on VERIZON (I'm really not sure why you're mentioning AT&T at all, they would probably be COMPLETELY different), but then I decided not and to just say this. Just call up or email Verizon and Amazon and ASK them if you can do it or not.

 

[euph_22]

This is all valuable info. Buying online (say at Amazon) and then contacting Verizon and just hoping they might allow you to keep your old plan seems quite a risk. It'd certainly be at their discretion. Really, what's in it for them?

Keeping a customer. You have a 14 day window after you buy the phone to back out and return the phone with no penalty.

The info about trying it in a physical store like Best Buy is interesting. Might be worth a shot, however, I don't want to go through the whole process of checking-out only to be told it won't be possible.

No wonder Amazon can offer the Nexus for $99 while Verizon want $269 to upgrade! I think I'll keep the DInc for a while longer. Prices will eventually come down.

You absolutely can do this at a store like Best Buy, and if you're at all worried about whether they can execute it or not ASK the vaguely helpful guy in the blue shirt: "Can I keep my unlimited data plan with Verizon if I upgrade with you?"