Temporary Phone?

[cartisdm]

My fiancee broke her phone and is currently doing the whole "job interview stuff" so it's really important she can be reached. I don't have any old phones laying around that I can switch her to. We decided it was a good time to upgrade our stuff so we're considering both getting Incredibles. Since there is a long wait, will they give her a temporary phone in the meantime?

The way I see it, we wanna give our money to verizon and they don't have the item. Can't they help us out? Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[sabrewings]

They won't give you a loaner phone for a backordered item. Tried it.

 

[jamor]

Your chances of getting a loaner are slim to none.

 

[Terabethia]

I've seen them do it for replacements but not for new phones. They expect you to simply use the phone you already have until the new one arrives. Then again, Verizon has never dealt with a backorder like this so who knows? I would ask anyway, worse they can do is say no!

 

[cartisdm]

That's kind of obnoxious. If someone wants their really great product, but it's not available they should do what's needed to keep them from going elsewhere. I have every intention of remaining w/ VZW but I'm just saying, if a customer's contract is up and they need immediate phone calling ability, a company should do whatever they can to keep that customer from hoping to a new network (especially if they are willing to shell out $$$ for a popular phone)

 

[jamor]

I completely agree. Corporate America at it's finest.

 

[Terabethia]

That's kind of obnoxious. If someone wants their really great product, but it's not available they should do what's needed to keep them from going elsewhere. I have every intention of remaining w/ VZW but I'm just saying, if a customer's contract is up and they need immediate phone calling ability, a company should do whatever they can to keep that customer from hoping to a new network (especially if they are willing to shell out $$$ for a popular phone)

You already have Verizon which means that you already have a phone. You KNOW that there is a wait for the cool phone you want. It's not like they are hiding that.

You use your current phone until your new one comes, it's that simple. We all had to do it. If you are not willing to wait you get a phone that they actually have in stock. I honestly don't see what's obnoxious about it.

 

[Ecks]

My LG Dare got wet and stopped working completely, so I ordered the Incredible, but they couldn't provide me with a phone in the mean time, so I asked a friend to borrow his old verizon phone. So, my suggestion is to seek out friends on verizon who have an old phone that you can activate.

 

[Terabethia]

My LG Dare got wet and stopped working completely, so I ordered the Incredible, but they couldn't provide me with a phone in the mean time, so I asked a friend to borrow his old verizon phone. So, my suggestion is to seek out friends on verizon who have an old phone that you can activate.

Yep, this works too. I actually just donated 3 phones to a local woman's shelter that have been laying around my house for 2-5 years.

You could also get her a cheap pre-paid phone while you wait.

I am not saying Verizon won't do it, they might. Go into the store, ask for a manager, explain the situation and see what happens. As long as you are really nice and are not picky about the type of loaner phone they may help you out.

I'm just saying... don't count on it. As a general rule, it's not something they do. They are not Enterprise, they are not in the business of loaning out things. Hell, they are not even in the business of making phones, they are simply a cell phone distributor. They have zero control over the supply.

 

[sabrewings]

Get the insurance claim for the old broken phone. That way you have a phone. If you don't have insurance, this is what happens.

 

[cartisdm]

Get the insurance claim for the old broken phone. That way you have a phone. If you don't have insurance, this is what happens.

She's got insurance but spending $50 seems kind of a waste when we're also getting a new phone. I will look into finding someone w/ a loaner phone so she can at least send/receive calls

(she might also end up getting the Palm Pre Plus, in which case, this whole thread is moo)

 

[jamor]

My recommendation is to purchase a pre-paid/pay as you go phone in the mean time if the most important thing is for employers to have a number to reach you.

 

[jamor]

(she might also end up getting the Palm Pre Plus, in which case, this whole thread is moo)

Has she tried one? I found the physical keyboard to be extremely difficult to use (buttons very small and close to each other) and flimsy/cheap as well.

 

[Terabethia]

Has she tried one? I found the physical keyboard to be extremely difficult to use (buttons very small and close to each other) and flimsy/cheap as well.

Oh man I hated that thing! My boss tried to give me one and after playing with it for an hour I wanted to throw it back at him.

But who knows, maybe she'll like it! Take her up to Verizon to play around with a few phones and see what she likes. If you wait until Thursday she can even try the X. It's a bit big IMO, but she may like it.

 

[cartisdm]

Has she tried one? I found the physical keyboard to be extremely difficult to use (buttons very small and close to each other) and flimsy/cheap as well.

She's a lady and has very tiny fingers. She tried it briefly in the store but we're headed back this evening. We're trying to decided if it's worth spending $200 on a phone she might only use 10% of...

I'm assuming the $199 is how much I should expect to pay for the DINC, right? I didn't look at the price but my friend told me it was like $299 w/ a mail-in-rebate

 

[jamor]

She's a lady and has very tiny fingers. She tried it briefly in the store but we're headed back this evening. We're trying to decided if it's worth spending $200 on a phone she might only use 10% of...

I'm assuming the $199 is how much I should expect to pay for the DINC, right? I didn't look at the price but my friend told me it was like $299 w/ a mail-in-rebate

Yea.. Ironically, the Verizon stores have the worst deal vs 3rd party outlets and Verizon Online.

You get a $100 Debit Card back in the mail through the Verizon Store.

It's $199 instantly at Verizon Online and Best Buy. I've heard others getting it from Wal-Mart for $150.

Not to turn you away from a smart phone, but if she's only using 10% of the capabilities and money is an concern, maybe it's not worth shelling out the extra $30+tax a month for it?

The Media Phones I think are $9.99 a month for limited data.

 

[sabrewings]

The Media Phones I think are $9.99 a month for limited data.

It's $9.99 for 25MB. $29.99 for unlimited.

 

[coolbone]

Get google voice and have her phoneless number forwarded to your google voice, it'll ring your phone and she can answer it from there. If she's not around, tell them she'll call back from an office phone or something. Not perfect, but it's something.

From my Incredible Drooooiiiiiid.

 

[cartisdm]

Not to turn you away from a smart phone, but if she's only using 10% of the capabilities and money is an concern, maybe it's not worth shelling out the extra $30+tax a month for it?

The Media Phones I think are $9.99 a month for limited data.

The Media phones suck when compared to the flashy-ness of the smart phones - especially the DINC. The $30/mo extra sucks but think about how many people out there by the iPhone just cuz it's fun to use. She may not use it, but I'm not gonna tell her she has to get a crappy phone just because she's not a nerd like me.

 

[euph_22]

Get google voice and have her phoneless number forwarded to your google voice, it'll ring your phone and she can answer it from there. If she's not around, tell them she'll call back from an office phone or something. Not perfect, but it's something.

From my Incredible Drooooiiiiiid.

+1 on that.