Ineligible for upgrade...

[Shadow_Rider]

Best Buy (and several other online retailers) are currently offering the HTC Droid Eris for FREE....with a 2 year contract renewal. So, I've lurked in these forums and have read up for a little while...and the other day thought that from all I've seen, read and heard (and from playing with the phone a little at the Verizon store)....that I would go ahead and agree to a 2 year contract renewal/upgrade and get the Droid Eris.

Only one problem. Verizon cancelled my order through Best Buy stating that I am not eligible for a phone upgrade for another 3 months.

Hearing that the Eris is close to EOL....I wonder if the Eris will still be available for the "free" type upgrade offer that it currently is....or if I would be better served looking at upcoming models like the Incredible, etc.

If anyone else was in this position, and would be looking for an android smartphone around late May/early June....what would you be looking at, and what would you do?

Thanks!

 

[soulfetcher13]

We are pretty much going to tell you to get an Eris. We love ours. Or, we may say wait for something you like better. Some will politely question the motive for posting here, but all of us want you to be happy with your choice. Choose wisely, the wrong Android phone will melt you down like the wrong holy grail did.

 

[jamezelle]

if something better comes out by then, i would be a fool to tell you not to get it and get the eris, well unless the price is unrealistic/unaffordable to you.

but i do love my eris very much

 

[AwesomeIT]

I don't know where you heard the Eris is near EOL. It was only released a couple of months ago.

 

[grvthang]

Check your email, if you're like me and don't usually look at your Verizon Wireless emails.

I wanted the Eris in late December, and was told by VZW that I wasn't due for an upgrade until April, and if I wanted the Eris I'd have to pay $500.
Coincidentally, the very next day I needed to look up an old email that I had recieved in late November and next to it was an unopened email from VZW saying "Your Early Upgrade Is Here!". I opened it and it said that since I'm such a good customer, blah, blah blah - they're giving me an early upgrade and one of the phones they were offering was the Eris (it was $99 then, after rebate).

I called VZW back and the woman I spoke with repeated that I wasn't due until April. I told her about the 'early upgrade' email, and she said "Oh, that must be from our Promotions Department - I don't know anything about that; I'll have to switch you over to them." Evidently the two departments don't communicate with one another.

She switched me over and within 5 minutes I had ordered the Eris. The only catch was that it had to be sent to me by Fedex; I couldn't pick it up at a VZW store.

So take a look through your mailbox for the last couple of months, just in case.

 

[Gevis]

I would wait until the nexus 1 comes to Verizon unless physical call and end buttons are important to you.

 

[karib]

Check your email, if you're like me and don't usually look at your Verizon Wireless emails.

I wanted the Eris in late December, and was told by VZW that I wasn't due for an upgrade until April, and if I wanted the Eris I'd have to pay $500.
Coincidentally, the very next day I needed to look up an old email that I had recieved in late November and next to it was an unopened email from VZW saying "Your Early Upgrade Is Here!". I opened it and it said that since I'm such a good customer, blah, blah blah - they're giving me an early upgrade and one of the phones they were offering was the Eris (it was $99 then, after rebate).

I called VZW back and the woman I spoke with repeated that I wasn't due until April. I told her about the 'early upgrade' email, and she said "Oh, that must be from our Promotions Department - I don't know anything about that; I'll have to switch you over to them." Evidently the two departments don't communicate with one another.

She switched me over and within 5 minutes I had ordered the Eris. The only catch was that it had to be sent to me by Fedex; I couldn't pick it up at a VZW store.

So take a look through your mailbox for the last couple of months, just in case.

That' how I got my early upgrade too. But I missed the email cuz it was sent to my husbands work. I complained and they gave it to me anyways. I also got a flyer in the mail to upgrade early. All in all, I got to upgrade 6 months early...woohoo!!

 

[A User Name]

I got a 1 year discount by simply emailing Verizon, bitching about my Blackberry that sucks and asked if I could somehow purchase a new phone at a discounted price. (only had Verizon since May 09)

The rep said I could replace my BB free because of the warranty, or if I really wanted a new phone, I could get a new one at the 1 year discount.

The next day, I walked into a corporate store and walked out with my Eris.

Just shoot then an email or call, they will gladly let you upgrade early since you're only a few months out.

 

[AwesomeIT]

I've asked Verizon numerous times in the past if they could move my new every two upgrade up a few months and I was always stonewalled on every level including numerous stores and calling customer service. I even know VZW store managers who wouldn't do it for me.

On the flip side, a friend of mine has asked for and received early upgrades months in advance on a number of occasions.

I received the promotional mailing and an email about an early upgrade as well. I know for a fact that they can move up your new every two, because like I said, I know somebody who has had it done a number of times. I also know that when they released the two Android phones (Droid & Eris) they were marketing hard to get people into those smartphones, which I'm assuming is why they were offering an early upgrade promotion. I wish I knew what magical words to say to VZW to get them to move up an upgrade, but sadly I do not.

 

[butthead007]

I've asked Verizon numerous times in the past if they could move my new every two upgrade up a few months and I was always stonewalled on every level including numerous stores and calling customer service. I even know VZW store managers who wouldn't do it for me.

On the flip side, a friend of mine has asked for and received early upgrades months in advance on a number of occasions.

I received the promotional mailing and an email about an early upgrade as well. I know for a fact that they can move up your new every two, because like I said, I know somebody who has had it done a number of times. I also know that when they released the two Android phones (Droid & Eris) they were marketing hard to get people into those smartphones, which I'm assuming is why they were offering an early upgrade promotion. I wish I knew what magical words to say to VZW to get them to move up an upgrade, but sadly I do not.

More often than not, they will not move your ne2 eligibility date early. Will they move your eligible upgrade date? Under some circumstances, yes. Your ne2 and eligible upgrade date are 2 different dates in their system.

The ONLY department that will do ne2 for the primary line and upgrade within 30 days is the marketing department (aka cmo).

 

[varkie]

What I have found works with Verizon customer service (and pretty much any company) is if you don't like what you hear from one rep hang up and call again and talk to a different rep. I had a problem with a $600 charge for transfering two phone numbers out of state, they charged us with early termination. I had to go through 3 or 4 before I got a rep who would even help us and get the charges dropped. The rest said sorry can't help you just pay the bill. How helpfull they are or want to be all depends upon their mood and ambition as you'll usually get a totally different answer out of the next rep (except for Sprint they all just say no as it is the only word in English they know).

 

[karib]

I've asked Verizon numerous times in the past if they could move my new every two upgrade up a few months and I was always stonewalled on every level including numerous stores and calling customer service. I even know VZW store managers who wouldn't do it for me.

On the flip side, a friend of mine has asked for and received early upgrades months in advance on a number of occasions.

I received the promotional mailing and an email about an early upgrade as well. I know for a fact that they can move up your new every two, because like I said, I know somebody who has had it done a number of times. I also know that when they released the two Android phones (Droid & Eris) they were marketing hard to get people into those smartphones, which I'm assuming is why they were offering an early upgrade promotion. I wish I knew what magical words to say to VZW to get them to move up an upgrade, but sadly I do not.

Would verizon consider you to be a VIP customer of sorts? Long time user, pay your bills on time? Those factors could have something to do with it. I'm not sure they would bend over backwards for someone who's account is not in good standing. Just an idea. Not saying you're a slacker or anything. lol

 

[AwesomeIT]

Would verizon consider you to be a VIP customer of sorts? Long time user, pay your bills on time? Those factors could have something to do with it. I'm not sure they would bend over backwards for someone who's account is not in good standing. Just an idea. Not saying you're a slacker or anything. lol

I honestly don't know. Like I said, I've never had an ounce of success, but a friend of mine, any time she wants a new phone, simply calls VZW and they move up her NE2 date. I ask how she does it, and all I get in response is "IDK, I just call and they do it."

 

[Caddyman]

I would get the iphone when it comes to verizon if i was you

 

[Drumminraider204]

if you dont want to wait 3 months you can add a new line and pay $10 a month and when you get the phone switch the esn #'s on both lines to get the Eris on your current number and not the new number