Any of you ever ordered phones from Amazon?

[KAL-EL]

Hello everyone! I just returned my Samsung Moment and am looking for another phone. Noticed on amazon the Droid is going for $49.99 with a 2 year deal. Looks like a pretty good deal to me. Just wanted to get some opinions on going through with a possible cell phone buy there. Thanks!

 

[anjoga]

Are you kidding me???? I got my phone at the very end of January through amazonwireless. I can't believe they dropped the price that quick!!!

And it looks like I'm screwed:

Do you have a price guarantee?

If a price changes on an item you have already purchased, we are not able to refund the difference. We do, however, consistently work to maintaining competitive prices on everything we carry.

http://wireless.amazon.com/help/200307850/

 

[KAL-EL]

At first it seemed to be to good to be true. Not sure how amazon could offer such a low price. As the phone is going for $199 at all my local verizon store. I called about an hour ago and was told all I had to do is agree to a 2 year contract. I am now phoneless and not sure which carrier I am going to go with. The Droid seems like a really good phone (save the physical keypad)

 

[KAL-EL]

Are you kidding me???? I got my phone at the very end of January through amazonwireless. I can't believe they dropped the price that quick!!!

And it looks like I'm screwed:


AmazonWireless

Oh that does suck, sorry to hear hat. I thought maybe amazon had a 30 day program going on.

 

[anjoga]

Oh that does suck, sorry to hear hat. I thought maybe amazon had a 30 day program going on.

They do have a 30 day return policy, but that is it. Returns only. No exchanges, no price matching, etc. If you have a problem with a phone purchased through them, you are to go to Verizon wireless to take care of it.

I did have a reasonably good experience with them though. They shipped fast, saved me a decent amount of money (when I bought my Droid they were going for $110 when Verizon still had them for $199), and I had my phone in my hands and up and running very quickly. I'd probably order from them again in the future.

 

[kbayer]

Same pricing at Free Cell Phones with New Cell Phone Plans - Shop Deals from Wireless Carriers - Wirefly.com

 

[KAL-EL]

Same pricing at Free Cell Phones with New Cell Phone Plans - Shop Deals from Wireless Carriers - Wirefly.com

How reliable are they if I may ask?

 

[iPhone2Droid]

I've dealt with WireFly and Amazon for smartphone purchases. No problems with either. (A few years ago.)

 

[markc2]

I almost went through Wirefly but started reading the reviews and there were enough really bad ones, along with some good ones, that I felt better going through the local VZW store. Would be interested in hearing other Wirefly experiences from this forum.

 

[altimax98]

I bought my girlfriends droid there for $100 a month or so ago. They are really good and quick. But the pricing is a pain in the butt. You CANNOT be under any contract of any kind, even the NE2. But if you fall into those guidelines then amazonwireless is good. Also, no extending contracts through them.

 

[JasonRK]

Are you kidding me???? I got my phone at the very end of January through amazonwireless. I can't believe they dropped the price that quick!!!

And it looks like I'm screwed:


http://wireless.amazon.com/help/200307850/

At least you got yours before the price dropped. Mine is waiting at the local FedEx. I paid $99 last Friday.

 

[anjoga]

At least you got yours before the price dropped. Mine is waiting at the local FedEx. I paid $99 last Friday.

Ouch. Oh well, what can we do, huh?

 

[JasonRK]

Ouch. Oh well, what can we do, huh?

Yeah, stupid Moore and his stupid law.

I'm so bitter I don't even feel like using the price drop to feed a Verizon N1/Desire/Incredible release rumour. ;-)

 

[alostpacket]

The real question is, who has ordered Amazon women from their phones.

 

[inssane]

Watch out if you do a contract.
"Other" websites extend the year comittment and/or increase cancellation fee.

 

[JasonRK]

My last post may have been premature, but for the moment I'm sold. I called Amazon Wireless and explained that I purchased the phone 3 business days ago. The guy I talked to was very polite and said he would refund the difference. You'll hear if this doesn't work out as planned.

He did provide one word of warning on ordering phones this way: "Be sure this is the phone you want." Verizon's policy is that if you return a phone from a third party you will not be eligible for the subsidized price again -- from anyone -- and will have to buy the phone from a Verizon store or VZW online. Maybe this is common knowledge to everyone but me, but I thought I'd put it out there.

 

[anjoga]

My last post may have been premature, but for the moment I'm sold. I called Amazon Wireless and explained that I purchased the phone 3 business days ago. The guy I talked to was very polite and said he would refund the difference. You'll hear if this doesn't work out as planned.

He did provide one word of warning on ordering phones this way: "Be sure this is the phone you want." Verizon's policy is that if you return a phone from a third party you will not be eligible for the subsidized price again -- from anyone -- and will have to buy the phone from a Verizon store or VZW online. Maybe this is common knowledge to everyone but me, but I thought I'd put it out there.

This is what I was told by the rep at amazonwireless as well, but he didn't offer to refund the difference on my phone. Granted, I did purchase my phone just over 3 weeks ago, so maybe since you only bought it a few days ago they worked with you more than they would me. I'm wondering if I should try calling again?

I also believe that this warning you recieved was meant to be "during your current contract period". When you are up for a new phone after 2 years, I believe you can again order from a 3rd party reseller.

EDIT: Just called amazonwireless again, talked to somebody completely different, and again they denied me a partial refund. The person I talked to was very courteous, but wouldn't budge.

 

[KAL-EL]

So can anyone tell me how internet companies (like amazon) can sell the phones so much cheaper then at a verizon store? I still find it amazing that the Droid is still going for $199 at verizon stores and is only $49.99 at Amazon. I mean were not talking about saving a little money here. its $150 less and thats very significant to me. I am guessing they have special "partnerships" of some kind.

 

[JasonRK]

So can anyone tell me how internet companies (like amazon) can sell the phones so much cheaper then at a verizon store?

It is crazy. Does anyone on this thread know what typical mark-up is for consumer electronics? The device retails for about $499 these days. If they can break even with $50 and a $250 ETF (presumably the same amount they get from Verizon after 6 months) the phone is selling at a MINIMUM 66% markup. That doesn't include the cost of the sale or the fact that they're probably making money on the transaction. The retail cost is potentially greater than 100% mark-up!

Here's an exerpt of an e-mail from an Amazon Wireless rep (I was making sure I wasn't getting a refurbished phone):

AmazonWireless only sells new cell phones, and they are offered at low prices because when you purchase your device with service from AmazonWireless.com, we automatically pass along an instant discount from the carrier to you. This discount has been provided to you based on your agreement to (a) activate a new, or extend an existing, line of service for this device with the carrier, and (b) maintain this service in good standing for a minimum of 181 consecutive days. If you do not activate or extend a line of service in connection with this device, or if your service is canceled/disconnected before 181 consecutive days, AmazonWireless.com will charge you $250 per device, plus applicable taxes.