This fee will help us continue to provide customers with the level of service and support they have come to expect which includes Wireless Workshops, online educational tools, and consultations with experts who provide advice and guidance on devices that are more sophisticated than ever.
I guess that makes my decision when to upgrade my DINC to a Razr Maxx easy.
Why not just raise the phone prices by $30 then? Oh yeah, it's always more appealing to the eye to advertise a certain price but then knowingly end up at a higher price through fees.
Don't like. I would actually put this in the "shady business practice" category. Yet it's done all around the country on a daily basis by companies large and small so vzw is in good company I suppose.
From what I have read it looks like this will apply to anytime you renew your contract so regardless of the vendor expect to pay this given you are renewing after this goes into effect.
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So, we're all equally screwed. Everyone bend over and say "Thank you Verizon! May I have another?" :-P
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I had verizon I had at&t they are all the same.
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I had verizon I had at&t they are all the same.
They are the 2 reasons that my credit is screwed up today
They are both vampires that will bleed you dry and try to keep you smiling while they do it
Apparently both AT&T and Sprint charge a $36 upgrade fee, so we should be thanking both AT&T and Sprint, because if they weren't charging it my guess is neither would Verizon.
Anyway here's the Verizon official printout regarding who pays ans when,
As a longtime Verizon Wireless customer and being anti-Apple, this isht really pisses me off. Apple has the largest amount of cash on hand of any company in the US. As someone who has not ever purchased an Apple product, am I paying into that? YES!
VZW is now charging $30 they never used to charge because of decreased profit margins. Why a decrease? Partly because of the huge subsidies VZW pays to Apply for the iPhone. This is not the first thing VZW has done like this since they got the iPhone, they also eliminated the New Every Two program.
So all you @$$(*&|e iPhone users on VZW costs *me* more so you can drink your koolaid. You all owe me a lunch.
To be fair, they should raise the price of iPhones by $30. But that's not going to happen of course.
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Right now, I'm ready to upgrade our phones to the RAZR Maxx next weekend unless I hear something more definitive about the Fighter. Of course, if I hold off, the phone price for the Maxx could drop by more than $30 making it worth waiting. Even better is if something goes up for BOGO.
I don't think this is due to apple or android rather the fact that more and more people are opting to not have a landline and only use cell service...the price of a landline has dropped so much there isn't much profit so companies want to make profit however they can
It says it's in part because they are backing up all your contacts and stuff to your new phone but Google already does that LOL! and its easy enough to back up / transfer photos off your SD Card yourself. Total BS.
It used to be a free every two. then it was $100 price break for re-signing into a two year contract, then $50...now we pay $30 for a phone upgrade.
Does "V for venal" really need that extra bit of our blood? Check out their profit statement.
Quote:
Wireless Financial Highlights
Total revenues were $18.3 billion in fourth-quarter 2011, up 13.0 percent year over year. Data revenues were $6.3 billion, up more than $1.0 billion or 19.2 percent year over year, and represented 41.6 percent of all service revenues. Service revenues were $15.1 billion, up 6.4 percent year over year. For full-year 2011, total revenues were $70.2 billion, up 10.6 percent over full-year 2010, and service revenues were $59.2 billion in 2011, up 6.3 percent year over year.
It seems that one possible way to protest would be a large number of Verizon customers going back to old non-data, "feature phones" for a couple of months. The loss of the $30 per month data revenue might be noticed. I'd be willing to do it, if enough others would also do it. How many people doing that would it get to have Verizon notice? It would have to be a lot. Verizon has tons of money, they might not even care.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dweezle
It seems that one possible way to protest would be a large number of Verizon customers going back to old non-data, "feature phones" for a couple of months. The loss of the $30 per month data revenue might be noticed. I'd be willing to do it, if enough others would also do it. How many people doing that would it get to have Verizon notice? It would have to be a lot. Verizon has tons of money, they might not even care.
Then those grandfathered into unlimited data plans would lose them. I'm sure Verizon would love to see people do that.
Last edited by dautley; April 12th, 2012 at 02:46 PM.
I don't really see it as that big of a deal...yeah another $30 every 2 years added to a contract that will cost you over $2000...If you don't like it you can always not renew the contract and stick with the phone you have, pay for your next phone without any discounts, or just go to another carrier...there are alternatives.
Yup, you're right. I hadn't thought about the grandfathered folks. I just feel generally pissed off about thinking that I "NEED" a smart phone. I got along fine for years without one. I guess Verizon will just keep up with their usual "nickel and dime" pricing increases, until they hit the point where I say, "I've had enough". I remember when they released the Moto V710 as their first phone with bluetooth. They had bluetooth file transfer crippled so I would have to pay to get a picture off my phone by messaging or email, at $0.25 a pop, rather than transfering them directly to my computer. I'm not inviting them over for Christmas dinner this year, then they'll be sorry.
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Is it that big of a deal really? yes they do spend more time transferring stuff. helping people on how to use it. and other general support.
if you buy it outright or off ebay it doesnt look like you will be charged.
Quote:
upgrades that do not extend the contract.
for those that are mad saying they will buy iy outright so they dont have to pay the fee is just stupid imo.
outright cost is say $599. discounted price with new contract extension is $199 or even $299.
$229 or $329 compared to $599... now your screwing yourself out of even more money just to prove a point to VZW that you dont want to pay the $30 fee.... they will love you as they get more money from ya.
i dont like it either but the $30 is not going to stop me from getting a new phone.
**edit***
think some of the cost too is all the people that come in look at the phones waste salespersons time and walk out with no new phone... they are just trying to recoup some of that money.
and honestly i think it might be a new spiff for the employees
Last edited by rabiddawgs; April 12th, 2012 at 05:51 PM.
think some of the cost too is all the people that come in look at the phones waste salespersons time and walk out with no new phone... they are just trying to recoup some of that money.
I don't know about your Verizon store but the one I go to is usually pretty empty, I almost think the employees welcome some time-waster shopping. Besides, isn't that what they are there for in the first place...to allow people to oogle the new phones and get (usually incorrect) information? I don't think they are charging $30 to pay, or not pay, employees.
I think they are charging $30 simply because they CAN and folks will pay it. You are right, it still makes more sense to buy a phone on contract...if you are willing to be on a contract. I'm honestly not sure I want to be on contract anymore. However, it won't matter on my monthly bill, still exact same either way. A conundrum indeed.
The real grind for me is that it's called a "loyalty fee". That just rubs me the wrong way.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rabiddawgs
think some of the cost too is all the people that come in look at the phones waste salespersons time and walk out with no new phone... they are just trying to recoup some of that money.
I'd prefer it if they would just leave me alone when I go into the store, so I can look at the phones in peace, rather than being pestered by some sales rep who knows less about what I'm looking at than I do. By the time I go to the store I've already answered most of my questions; with the remaining questions requiring some hands-on time. If I didn't know anything about the phones, the store would be the last place I'd think to go.
I don't know about your Verizon store but the one I go to is usually pretty empty, I almost think the employees welcome some time-waster shopping.
mine is usually really packed.. atleast 15-20 people everytime i go there
i have had sprint, at&t, friends with t-mobile and boost... they all suck around here. central ohio. have had verizon for atleast 13-15 years i think. well wife has had it while i tried the others. so i dont mind being on contract.
but i do agree the people that work there are for the most part idiots.
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The one here where I live is usually packed for some reason, the thing that ticks me off is they always have someone right by the door that asks your name and number to put in there computer. I went in one day just to look for a case I liked so I could order it off Amazon for one tenth the price and tried to walk on passed the door person without giving the requested info and they actually reached out and almost grabbed my arm to stop me from walking on in the store.
All I can say is the manager made sure that employe had a understanding by the time I got done talking to them.
I heard authorized retailer's wont be charging the fee.
The printout says,
When you purchase from and indirect Integrated system, (I take this to mean authorized reseller) The upgrade fee is automatically charged to the customers next monthly bill.
So, it's true the reseller won't be charging the fee, but that doesn't mean you won't be paying it.
What..... you don't think Verizon has thought this through? Didn't you know that Verizon's attorney is "Loophole Louie?"
The $30 fee amounts to just slightly over .04 cents per day on a 2 year contract.
Last edited by dirkbonn; April 12th, 2012 at 11:24 PM.
You must work for VZW customer service. (If you don't get the reference, you must be new to the internet )
You are correct, sir. When I divided $30 by 730 days, my calculater gave me .0416666666 and I mistakenly typed into my post "slightly over .04 cents" instead of 4 cents.
No, I do not and never have worked for Verizon. I've never worked in the Wireless business ever. I do however own a smartphone.
But why is it that just because I tried to break down the $30 fee into a cost per day on a 2 year contract and posted an incorrect answer, you figure I MUST work for Verizon. (and I get the reference to VZW customer service people are all incompetent)
Oh, and I'm extremely happy to learn you've never made a mistake.
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Craigslist! It doesn't extend the contract to put a used phone on your line. Of course, Verizon probably will not insure a used phone. And you have to wait a couple of months for used prices to drop below new (launch date) prices.
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It used to be a free every two. then it was $100 price break for re-signing into a two year contract, then $50...now we pay $30 for a phone upgrade.
Does "V for venal" really need that extra bit of our blood? Check out their profit statement.
It seems that one possible way to protest would be a large number of Verizon customers going back to old non-data, "feature phones" for a couple of months. The loss of the $30 per month data revenue might be noticed. I'd be willing to do it, if enough others would also do it. How many people doing that would it get to have Verizon notice? It would have to be a lot. Verizon has tons of money, they might not even care.
Revenue ≠ Profit. A key quote from the article is missing from your quote as well, specifically the following: "Overall, though, VZW finished the quarter with a net loss of $2.02 billion, compared to the $2.64 billion profit it saw last year." (emphasis added)
Ok, hilmar2k, I have to admit I must have missed the joke. However, I do see it now. I loved the youtube vid btw.
I just have one request, (well there will be more that I have but just one for now. ) and that request is that we keep this friendly. Which you have been doing, so this is not a complaint. Anyway, I enjoy reading all the posts, and we're here for the same reason, to learn.
Best of luck to you and yours,
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My family discussed this last night and our kids will no longer be getting new phones or renewing contracts. Since we dont want them to have data plans they will just be using phones off of craiglist or ebay. As for those of us with smartphones we will be waiting longer as it adds another $90 onto the purchase price for 3 smartphones. That is just not always going to be feasible. But most people will pay it and if they dont get enough income in from that they will just add another fee or increase monthly services.
My family discussed this last night and our kids will no longer be getting new phones or renewing contracts. Since we dont want them to have data plans they will just be using phones off of craiglist or ebay. As for those of us with smartphones we will be waiting longer as it adds another $90 onto the purchase price for 3 smartphones. That is just not always going to be feasible. But most people will pay it and if they dont get enough income in from that they will just add another fee or increase monthly services.
One good benefit of not using contract upgrades is being able to cancel service whenever you need too.
Personally I don't have a problem with the added $30 on my upgrades I have 2 lines with upgrade dates roughly a year apart so. It isn't as dramatic of a change for me as it is for you. With the dumb phone lines I can see why you wouldn't want to pay the extra.
Ok, hilmar2k, I have to admit I must have missed the joke. However, I do see it now. I loved the youtube vid btw.
I just have one request, (well there will be more that I have but just one for now. ) and that request is that we keep this friendly. Which you have been doing, so this is not a complaint. Anyway, I enjoy reading all the posts, and we're here for the same reason, to learn.
Best of luck to you and yours,
Hey, you're the one that got a little froggy when you thought I was making fun of you (which I wasn't).
It's all in good fun over here.
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i dont use any of the "services" offered, ie backing up, wireless workshops, setting up email/voicemail etc. i'm smart enough to do that on my own so i'm essentially paying for nothing. good thing i like my TB enough to keep it for awhile! (though i'm not eligible to upgrade til Nov) thx for the info though. good to know!
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Verizon to charge $30 upgrade fee
