About Upgrades....

[nyry]

Hello, this is my first actual post lol, but i had a question. let me give some background info first;

december 2009, i got the moto droid. loved it and all, but the headphone jack came loose, so the gave me a refurb one. that one was defective, and so was the next one, it was like a horror story haha,so i really didn't care how much i had to pay within reason, i just wanted to get a phone that wouldn't bug out on me, so i purchased the samsung fascinate around october of last year. i liked it. but the lack of a major update for 5 months really is starting to get on my last nerve.so, come the release of the HTC thunderbolt on the 17th i was thinking of:

A: moving to sprint and getting the EVO 4G because its cheaper if Verizon doesn't change anything, or negotiate a deal like there sometimes known for doing when threatened with leaving.

or....


B: stay with them and get the HTC thunderbolt. thing is...because im not eligible for an upgrade until oct. 2012...i have a question. if i buy the phone from an outside source, like wirefly...can i just add it to my existing line that my fascinate is on and just deactivate my fascinate? since im not buying it from verzion themselves? or is there a fee or something i have to pay?

pls answer...thanks!

Ryan

 

[RHChan84]

Wirefly or any other 3rd party will charge you full price since you are not eligible to upgrade. They might not show that but once you go through the process, it will tell them you cannot upgrade and you have to pay full price. If you add a line, you cannot deactivate the current line. Only thing you can do is buy a cheap phone with a clean ESN and put that on the account and drop it to the lowest plan.

 

[nyry]

thank you very much!

 

[EmmyStone]

Think Verizon will let you do an early upgrade if you tell them you're going to switch carriers? Could be worth a try.

 

[nyry]

ill try to negotiate something

 

[menschmaschine5]

Don't go to the EVO just yet... it's getting old. Sprint will probably have something new soon. Also, since Sprint's doesn't cover as much area as Verizon, take coverage into account before doing this. It would suck to pay the ETF for Verizon, and buy the phone and pay all the Sprint fees only to find that Sprint doesn't adequately cover your area. Also keep in mind that in addition to service fees, voice, texting and data charges, Sprint tacks on a $10/month "advanced device" charge for all smartphones. It's still cheaper, but keep that in mind.

If you switch carriers, you'll have to pay an early termination fee, which is nearly $300 for Verizon smartphones. Therefore, your bargaining position for an upgrade will probably not be helped by telling them you're going to switch carriers. Also, your next upgrade is 20 months into your contract, meaning June 2012 (assuming you even got a new contract when you got the Fascinate - you may still be on your Dec. 2009 contract meaning you can upgrade in August). That's still more than a year away, but there will be even better phones out by then.

If you really want a new phone, you have two options:
pay full retail price for a Thunderbolt. This is something like $700. Then activate it.
If you have a family plan, add a line and buy a Thunderbolt on contract. You'll still have to pay for your current line, though.

However, I'd really suggest saving money. The Fascinate's a good phone (despite Samsung being terrible with updates), and isn't obsolete yet. If you're bored with your phone, root it and start flashing custom ROM's (most of which are Froyo (2.2) ROMs, and I believe the Fascinate even has some Gingerbread (2.3) ROMS now). Every time I flash a new ROM on my Dinc, it's almost like I have a new phone. You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars just because you're bored with your phone.

 

[RHChan84]

Nope, VZW will not give you an early upgrade unless you call and have like a month or two left. Even is you say you will cancel.

I told them I wanted a new phone instead of the BB since I have gotten over 10 replacement and they said "no you have to wait and also we cannot send out another replacement since I have gone through so many. You have to go to the store and have a tech look at it". I did and they gave me a replacement. Ended up with 2 more replacement before going to the DX and my annual upgrade.

 

[nyry]

Don't go to the EVO just yet... it's getting old. Sprint will probably have something new soon. Also, since Sprint's doesn't cover as much area as Verizon, take coverage into account before doing this. It would suck to pay the ETF for Verizon, and buy the phone and pay all the Sprint fees only to find that Sprint doesn't adequately cover your area. Also keep in mind that in addition to service fees, voice, texting and data charges, Sprint tacks on a $10/month "advanced device" charge for all smartphones. It's still cheaper, but keep that in mind.

If you switch carriers, you'll have to pay an early termination fee, which is nearly $300 for Verizon smartphones. Therefore, your bargaining position for an upgrade will probably not be helped by telling them you're going to switch carriers. Also, your next upgrade is 20 months into your contract, meaning June 2012 (assuming you even got a new contract when you got the Fascinate - you may still be on your Dec. 2009 contract meaning you can upgrade in August). That's still more than a year away, but there will be even better phones out by then.

If you really want a new phone, you have two options:
pay full retail price for a Thunderbolt. This is something like $700. Then activate it.
If you have a family plan, add a line and buy a Thunderbolt on contract. You'll still have to pay for your current line, though.

However, I'd really suggest saving money. The Fascinate's a good phone (despite Samsung being terrible with updates), and isn't obsolete yet. If you're bored with your phone, root it and start flashing custom ROM's (most of which are Froyo (2.2) ROMs, and I believe the Fascinate even has some Gingerbread (2.3) ROMS now). Every time I flash a new ROM on my Dinc, it's almost like I have a new phone. You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars just because you're bored with your phone.

lol i didn't mean to sound spoiled, it was just one of those things where my family wants to save almost 100 dollars by switching, you make very good points and suggestions, and i like my fascinate, it was simply more of a "while i'm at it" kind of question to see some option or other's people's opinions

 

[RHChan84]

I would wait for the dual core phones with Android OS that takes full advantage of the dual core. TB is a nice phone and nothing is wrong with it but me personally, dual-core is the next step and since you have until June 2012, just wait it out. Fascinate is a good phone and will do everything the TB can do except front facing camera and 4g. Not worth the $700 price tag for those two.

 

[nyry]

I would wait for the dual core phones with Android OS that takes full advantage of the dual core. TB is a nice phone and nothing is wrong with it but me personally, dual-core is the next step and since you have until June 2012, just wait it out.

im all for it, but it seems IF i switch for monetary reasons, most likely tomorrow or friday, its not really up to me to decide

btw guys, i really appreciate the help! this community rocks!

 

[RHChan84]

Why isn't it up to you to decide? You can always go to your own line and do your own thing. If you were to cancel or upgrade, your looking to drop at least $400.

ETF-$350 then new phone at least $100
Or $700 for a new phone.

If it came down to those two with no other choice then cancel then go to Sprint and I'm saying it because it's the cheaper of the two options.

But there are other choices like leaving your current family plan to individual plan.
Another thing to do is check ebay for phones but it also seems like you want 4g which in that case, the two options I provided.

 

[nyry]

looks like i'm going back to the big red if the offer me something good, the lines on sprint come out to be ten dollars less than on Verizon, and i'm NOT happy with there coverage, its horrible. Where i took coverage for granted on VZW, i roam on sprint. They called me 3 times in 2 days asking me what it would take to get me to switch back, and that they had "special offers and plans" if i did, i don't like how they do business, i think its sneaky, but i do like saving money, and their coverage.