upgrade to S4 now or wait until Aug 25 for Verizon Edge?

[kisby]

I want to upgrade to the S4 now, but if I do can I still join the Verizon Edge program or do I need to wait to upgrade until Aug 25 when the program officially starts? I was hoping to upgrade now, but still join the program later. The person at my Verizon store did not know the answer to this question.

Thanks!

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

Whatever you do, my advice is to avoid Verizon's Edge program. The edge is for them, not for you financially....you pay for the phone twice.

Verizon's Edge phone upgrade plan is the same bad ripoff as AT&T Next | The Verge

The pundits and blogosphere are full of similar articles, or do the math yourself. If you have good TMobile service, the similar TMobile plan is reasonable, though still not cheap.

 

[Rxpert83]

Agreed. Edge is bad for consumers.

You're better off selling your old phone and using that as a down payment on a new off contract one

 

[kisby]

I've read similar articles and seen those numbers. But there's another reality. If I buy my phone outright, my monthly service fees do not go down just because Verizon is not "subsidizing" the cost of the phone. Essentially, I am paying for a subsidized phone, but not getting one. I am on a family plan that includes three phones. Verizon is the only practical carrier in my area due to the superior coverage. I like to upgrade every year or so and don't want to be stuck with last year's technology.

 

[Goodspike]

kisby, I think what is being suggested is that it's better to just deal with it yourself by selling your old phone. It's sort of like the difference between buying a car and leasing a car. You'll do better buying it, but some like the no-hassle of leasing.

Personally I'm a lot different than you. I don't like the hassle of changing phones all that much. I would note that a lot of S3 owners are apparently seeing little reason to upgrade to the S4, so it may very well be that in a year you won't want to upgrade. Just dealing with it yourself (e.g. selling your old phone and not having Edge) will give you that option.

Finally, I would note that as smartphones mature, the technology will start changing more slowly. I remember when a 2 year old computer was ancient, and now a 5 year old computer is still more than adequate. Same thing.

 

[dpcole72]

Edge and other programs by other carriers exist only to increase the bottom line for people who own stock. Paying customers like you and me that don't gamble with other peoples' money should expect to see more "You think we're doing you a favor but we're really doing ourselves a favor." Especially as early-upgrade incentives are no more... Remember the family plans that have text and voice separate but share data (how ironically communist a concept)? All that gets people is their data allotment used up more quickly.

And with early-upgrade gone, it's a matter of time before Edge (and similar plans form "competitors") become the ONLY choice.

 

[WalkaboutDavid]

I've read similar articles and seen those numbers. But there's another reality. If I buy my phone outright, my monthly service fees do not go down just because Verizon is not "subsidizing" the cost of the phone. Essentially, I am paying for a subsidized phone, but not getting one. I am on a family plan that includes three phones. Verizon is the only practical carrier in my area due to the superior coverage. I like to upgrade every year or so and don't want to be stuck with last year's technology.

This drives me crazy. I would be happy to pay full price for a phone if not for the built in subsidy.

 

[rushmore]

Thanks, now I will have Aerosmith's "Livin' on the Edge" in my mind now.

BTW, as far as the S3, it is still a great device, though the recent update tarnished it some. I like my S4 a lot, but the S3 was a great device for the year I had it. That said, the display looks dull compared to the S4, but you do not notice if not comparing.

 

[Benrx]

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around how this works, and I shouldn't be doing that at this late after the day I've had. So I'll save those questions for later.

But do I understand that when you are ready to get your new phone, you must trade in your old phone. So if I have an S4 and want an HTC One, I will not end up with both even having paid for them? because I will have to trade in S4.

 

[eddiesudz]

So..... does this mean that this is a viable option for those of us that have the "All you can eat" plan? Won't affect my unlimited data?

 

[wildkitten]

I've read similar articles and seen those numbers. But there's another reality. If I buy my phone outright, my monthly service fees do not go down just because Verizon is not "subsidizing" the cost of the phone. Essentially, I am paying for a subsidized phone, but not getting one. I am on a family plan that includes three phones. Verizon is the only practical carrier in my area due to the superior coverage. I like to upgrade every year or so and don't want to be stuck with last year's technology.

Here is the thing with these early upgrade programs carriers are starting to offer. If you wait until 12 months or later to upgrade, you are worse off money wise.

Verizon admits there is a subsidy on the phone built in, however they don't say how much. It has been estimated by many to be around $20 a month. When you figure what you pay upfront of the phone, then $20 a month for 12 months combined with the monthly Edge fee, you have essentially covered the retail price of your phone. However, using Edge to upgrade early at any point requires you trading in the device, meaning you do not get to keep it.

I'm not telling you what to do, each person has to make up their own mind. But I do think it would only make sense for the hardcore enthusiast who wants the latest and greatest device every 6 months and doesn't care about the upfront costs (you still have to pay the $200+ for the new phone) or being able to keep the device.

 

[alcohol1511]

here is the question that i have because like some of you i am trying to get the galaxy s4 and i currently have an iphone 5. would you recommend using edge if you dont plan on getting another phone in 6 or 12 months. i plan on paying the phone off early cause my contract ends soon and want to move to tmobile? thanks for any input

 

[wildkitten]

here is the question that i have because like some of you i am trying to get the galaxy s4 and i currently have an iphone 5. would you recommend using edge if you dont plan on getting another phone in 6 or 12 months. i plan on paying the phone off early cause my contract ends soon and want to move to tmobile? thanks for any input

If you don't plan on getting a new phone between the 6-12 month time after getting one, I don't think it would be a smart idea.

Let me use myself for an example. I just got the S4 from Verizon. If I were to take the Edge plan (assuming it was available now) and paid into that and kept my S4 for 12 months before upgrading, between the $250 I paid up front, the built in subsidy in the monthly plan fee as well as the Edge payments, I would essentially have paid for the price of my phone completely. So when I trade it in, I am out basically the retail cost of the phone taking all the payments from above into account and I lose the phone.

Honestly, this is really just a money making scheme on the carriers part. They are going to recoup from the subscriber the cost of the phone in most cases and then get the phone back to resell. It's win win for the carriers.

The only customer I can see this being a benefit for are those who don't care about spending an extra 200-250 every 6 months and do not care whatsoever about keeping their device and just have to have the latest and greatest.

Not to mention, if you are using this plan, you should be keeping up on what is going to be released in the next few months to know if you want anything to upgrade to anyway.

 

[alcohol1511]

Thank you covert death that helps a lot