Pressured on an early upgrade to buy Iphone

[PKiefer131]

Hello Forum!

HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS HAPPEN YET???

So interesting little story, I got a text from the big V yesterday saying I was eligible for an upgrade. It seemed odd since I'm not due until October (eight months out) so I called customer care.

I was advised even though I was not eligible they pushed it for me and I could get a phone at 2 year pricing and I was IMMEDIATELY flogged with Iphone chat, news and offered to have one ordered right then even though my account was past due.

Any of you that have been with the big V for more than 3 years know very well the upgrade policy, changes and loop holes and being a former rep and still having folks on the "inside" I knew this seemed fishy.

When I started talking droid and the fact I have the HTC INC currently and was waiting for The Thunderbolt the rep kept trying to push the Iphone. Could this be a tactic to get people to increase sales on a mostly failed launch?

What do you think? Anyone else get this "special promotion"???

 

[Bnice]

Thats because sale is below expectation for the iphone. Like I said, if you have experience a high end android phone your not worried about an iphone.

 

[Vihzel]

I don't understand how it's a mostly failed launch? The iPhone already broke the sales record for single days. I guess all other phones were even bigger failures.

 

[PKiefer131]

I don't understand how it's a mostly failed launch? The iPhone already broke the sales record for single days. I guess all other phones were even bigger failures.

Verizon iPhone sales fall short of expectations

http://www.betanews.com/joewilcox/a...-Three-lessons-and-some-humble-pie/1297458812

http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/v...ate-expected-wave-of-atandt-defecto/19840944/

http://venturebeat.com/2011/02/16/verizon-iphone-sales-slow/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20032267-260.html

 

[Vihzel]

I'd appreciate it if you didn't post multiple articles that contain the same "source" from BGR. Also, you need to see it in the context of launching a phone that has already been out for so many months, especially with the next one only a few months away. SO many people are waiting for the iPhone 5 to come out and then upgrading. Also... contracts, contracts, contracts. There aren't many people who are willing to pay ETF to upgrade to a phone, where they know a brand new and upgrade version is coming up relatively soon.

It may not have met the very high expectations, but that doesn't make it a failure. Keep in mind that there's a strong distinction with that. If everyone's expectations was 500,000 iPhones sold, then it would've been a complete success. If everyone's expectations was 2 million iPhones sold, then it would be considered a failure.

 

[bigbadwulff]

Our rep we've used for quite a while (because he doesn't fill us with B.S.) advised my kid to get the DX even though the iPhone was out.

 

[bigbadwulff]

I'd appreciate it if you didn't post multiple articles that contain the same "source" from BGR. Also, you need to see it in the context of launching a phone that has already been out for so many months, especially with the next one only a few months away.

Sounds like we are hedging there a bit from the past statement.

I have a feeling people are waiting for their AT&T contact to expire and will switch when that happens, meaning there will be a constant (slow) flow from AT&T to Verizon. AT&T will gouge you with that "ending a contact early" (as will Verizon) but AT&T is relentless in pursuing you. Ask me how I know. No, I didn't abandon a contract per se but it's a long story. Just trust me I had reasons to leave them hanging.

 

[PKiefer131]

Sounds like we are hedging there a bit from the past statement.

Either way folks I'm ot trying to start a debate over sales. I simply wanted to know if anyone else suddenly without notice got a pushed upgrade.

 

[Vihzel]

Sounds like we are hedging there a bit from the past statement.

Not at all. Beating any Verizon phone's first day sales records from 3AM-5AM EST on a workday is not a failure at all. With the rumor that 550,000 were preordered on that day alone, which excludes the other preorder days... that's very impressive.

Either way folks I'm ot trying to start a debate over sales. I simply wanted to know if anyone else suddenly without notice got a pushed upgrade.

You're right. I apologize. Just found that "mostly failed launch" an incorrect statement, but we can disagree!

 

[PKiefer131]

Not at all. Beating any Verizon phone's first day sales records from 3AM-5AM EST on a workday is not a failure at all. With the rumor that 550,000 were preordered on that day alone, which excludes the other preorder days... that's very impressive.



You're right. I apologize. Just found that "mostly failed launch" an incorrect statement, but we can disagree!

*sigh* I don't really care about the launch, or the iPhone, or for that matter anything apple. i bleed green. Just wondering if im the only person that got a magic upgrade or not.

 

[PKiefer131]

I just find it ironic in the 8 years I've been with Verizon I've never once got an upgrade pushed by the company without asking and it just so happens a few weeks after the iPhone launch, then further more the sales rep only talked about the iphone. it seems connected, not that I care or am mad at all or anything like that jut plain surface value it seems strange.

DID ANYONE ELSE MAGICALLY GET AN UPGRADE RECENTLY??

 

[Roze]

I've moved the thread to the Verizon forum as it seems you're specifically asking Verizon customers. Furthermore, I've edited your title to reflect what's this thread is about.

 

[IOWA]

VZW just experienced it's first dose of iPhail. Lolz.

 

[bamaredwingsfan]

I don't care if the Iphone is free, an they offer to pay my 1st months bill, the Iphone can kiss my ass as far as im concerned.

 

[Clementine_3]

When they released the Droid initially they were doing all sorts of upgrade 'deals'. I still had many months left before my upgrade but they just changed the date. They did the same thing for 2 other family lines when I wanted to upgrade them to Droids as well, but would not move 1 line that I just wanted a feature phone on.
They will do what it takes to get the latest hyped phone out there.

 

[butthead007]

The text message you received is a reminder of your early upgrade eligibility, not 20 month upgrade. No dates need to be "pushed" or "moved."

There are no specific phones attached to the offer either. So let's all adjust our foil beanies and get back to business as usual

 

[IOWA]

I don't care if the Iphone is free, an they offer to pay my 1st months bill, the Iphone can kiss my ass as far as im concerned.

Ok if the iPhone as free, and it paid my first bill I'd take it. THen I'd turn around and sell it lol...

 

[kyler13]

I don't care if the Iphone is free, an they offer to pay my 1st months bill, the Iphone can kiss my ass as far as im concerned.

I do. I would have gladly gotten the iphone 4 for my wife if it had been free. However, I'm not keen on subsidizing stock price just because the phone is shiny and has a specific logo on the back. Normal market trends dictate that the phone is overpriced for what it offers. Hell, I got a Continuum for free and it's been out for something like 3 months.

To the OP... It wouldn't surprise me at all if iphone sales expectations prompted Verizon to overtly solicit you for your annual upgrade. With annual upgrade going away, it benefits Verizon for you to not exercise it one last time before your contract is up so I can't see why they'd contact you unless it was in their interest. Jobs and company are very selective and precise about how they negotiate contracts, and if things aren't going as expected, it may be in Verizon's best interest to push the iphone hard lest they be forced to cough up minimum guaranteed revenue to Apple.

 

[Taylored]

Hmm.. If I was wanting a new phone this might be a good way to get an early upgrade and then pull the switcherooo.
Get them to lock in the upgrade on your account. Tell them over the phone that you prefer to order online. Then just get a nice new Thunderbolt.
If that does not work:
"Sure! I'd love the iPhone." Then return it within the first 2 weeks, pay the restocking fee and get your new Thunderbolt.

 

[Gevis]

I got a pushed upgrade also. I'm not due til December. I had just used my brother's upgrade for the Fascinate, so I wasn't really in a hurry, I have no interest in the iPhone, so now I'm stuck waiting on news of the Merge or Bionic or going with a remodelled Evo.

I'll probably be waiting a while to see if the Merge ever happens.

 

[IOWA]

I got a pushed upgrade also. I'm not due til December. I had just used my brother's upgrade for the Fascinate, so I wasn't really in a hurry, I have no interest in the iPhone, so now I'm stuck waiting on news of the Merge or Bionic or going with a remodelled Evo.

I'll probably be waiting a while to see if the Merge ever happens.

Wonder if they'd let you use that upgrade for the bionic hmm..

 

[gruss]

Doesnt surprise me, ATT offered 3gs customers early upgrades for the 4, gotta boost those sales numbers! I hope they offer me one, iPhone is perfect for my 65 year old mom....I mean it would be just a tad better than the storm she has now

 

[sergey]

Of course this will sell poorly. Who's going to buy a phone that's going to be outdated in a few months. It's like being shocked that the Droid X is selling poorly now... uh, hello, Droid X2 anybody? I'm not paying full price for old tech. I made that mistake once with my Droid. If you buy a phone more than a month after it's release date, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. The way smartphones evolve, you need to buy the latest and greatest.

I just don't understand why everybody here gets their open source panties in a bunch when somebody mentions the iPhone. Android is winning. It's a done deal. OK, so somebody likes an iPhone. Big deal.

You have to admit, the iPhone did pave the way for the current smartphone wave, it started it all. I'm gonna get the iPhone 5, a last hurrah to Apple, I liked my iPhone but hated the service. I need to get owning the iPhone out of my system. I think the iPhone platform has peaked here.

2yrs later, I'll pick up a LTE+, 4" Hyper-OLED 3240p holographic display with a octa-core 4Ghz Tegra 8, running Rhubarb Pie with a 35MP RED camera that can record 3240p 3D video and take pictures in 3D with a 15 month standby time. And a neural interface. And when I bring in my iPhone 5, the Verizon rep will say, "Wow, I remember those things! That's retro man! Do you want an iPhone 7? We're selling 'em for $600, but I'll give it to you for free... nobody is buying these things."

And then I'll walk out of the Verizon store with my new Samsung Galaxy^N. I'll download directions to the latest sushi restaurant recommendation by Yelp to my brain via GoogleNeural, while sifting through my work and gmail accounts, getting notified that GOOG has hit an all time high of $2000, posting a review for my new phone here, getting a heat wave advisory from TWC, and displaying the time in the lower left corner of my vision. And I'll get a call from my girlfriend via NeuroSkype, an Android exclusive- kinda like Ghost in the Shell and send her the directions to the restaurant, all the meantime I'm streaming music straight to my brain with Google Music, without the need for silly white headphones.

Then I'll smile to myself as I walk by the poor, deluded Apple fanboy. Who will be gushing over an OLED 3.7" capacitive touchscreen ("OMG, A BIGGER SCREEN!!!") on the iPhone 7 and will be typing away on it.

 

[IOWA]

....open source panties .......

lmfao... that made me LOL.

 

[gruss]

Of course this will sell poorly. Who's going to buy a phone that's going to be outdated in a few months. It's like being shocked that the Droid X is selling poorly now... uh, hello, Droid X2 anybody? I'm not paying full price for old tech. I made that mistake once with my Droid. If you buy a phone more than a month after it's release date, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. The way smartphones evolve, you need to buy the latest and greatest.

I just don't understand why everybody here gets their open source panties in a bunch when somebody mentions the iPhone. Android is winning. It's a done deal. OK, so somebody likes an iPhone. Big deal.

You have to admit, the iPhone did pave the way for the current smartphone wave, it started it all. I'm gonna get the iPhone 5, a last hurrah to Apple, I liked my iPhone but hated the service. I need to get owning the iPhone out of my system. I think the iPhone platform has peaked here.

2yrs later, I'll pick up a LTE+, 4" Hyper-OLED 3240p holographic display with a octa-core 4Ghz Tegra 8, running Rhubarb Pie with a 35MP RED camera that can record 3240p 3D video and take pictures in 3D with a 15 month standby time. And a neural interface. And when I bring in my iPhone 5, the Verizon rep will say, "Wow, I remember those things! That's retro man! Do you want an iPhone 7? We're selling 'em for $600, but I'll give it to you for free... nobody is buying these things."

And then I'll walk out of the Verizon store with my new Samsung Galaxy^N. I'll download directions to the latest sushi restaurant recommendation by Yelp to my brain via GoogleNeural, while sifting through my work and gmail accounts, getting notified that GOOG has hit an all time high of $2000, posting a review for my new phone here, getting a heat wave advisory from TWC, and displaying the time in the lower left corner of my vision. And I'll get a call from my girlfriend via NeuroSkype, an Android exclusive- kinda like Ghost in the Shell and send her the directions to the restaurant, all the meantime I'm streaming music straight to my brain with Google Music, without the need for silly white headphones.

Then I'll smile to myself as I walk by the poor, deluded Apple fanboy. Who will be gushing over an OLED 3.7" capacitive touchscreen ("OMG, A BIGGER SCREEN!!!") on the iPhone 7 and will be typing away on it.

Nice, the Orwell of androidforums right there! Seriously man, good work.