Buy from Verizon or Google?

[tspeice87]

I must preface this by saying I recently had a poor experience with Google customer service after a security update turned my Nexus 9 into a brick. Google offered no assistance and referred me back to Best Buy where I purchased it.

Carrying on... I'm strongly considering buying a Pixel 2 and with the current deal Verizon is offering, it seems like a no brainer. My concern is with the issues that some are experiencing, Google will refer me back to Verizon for any issue and that Verizon won't be helpful. Has anyone had any experience with Verizon facilitating a return or to fix any issues with the phone? If Google was offering the same deal, I would definitely buy straight from Google.

Another question, can the phone be used on any network or only Verizon if purchased through Verizon?

 

[Almeuit]

I must preface this by saying I recently had a poor experience with Google customer service after a security update turned my Nexus 9 into a brick. Google offered no assistance and referred me back to Best Buy where I purchased it.

Carrying on... I'm strongly considering buying a Pixel 2 and with the current deal Verizon is offering, it seems like a no brainer. My concern is with the issues that some are experiencing, Google will refer me back to Verizon for any issue and that Verizon won't be helpful. Has anyone had any experience with Verizon facilitating a return or to fix any issues with the phone? If Google was offering the same deal, I would definitely buy straight from Google.

Another question, can the phone be used on any network or only Verizon if purchased through Verizon?

The one from Google or the one from Verizon can be used on all networks.

There is really only 1 difference and that is the bootloader (it is locked on the Verizon version). If you want to root/ROM then you want the Google version. If you don't care for that then the Verizon version is just fine. They're 100% identical except for that bootloader.

 

[mumfoau]

I bought mine unlocked from Google to be used on Verizon

 

[PowrDroid]

My concern is with the issues that some are experiencing, Google will refer me back to Verizon for any issue and that Verizon won't be helpful. Has anyone had any experience with Verizon facilitating a return or to fix any issues with the phone? If Google was offering the same deal, I would definitely buy straight from Google.

Bought my 2 XL from Verizon on the current $300 off deal. (Best Buy has the same deal running now, if you wanted to get it from Best Buy.)

Actually bought three Pixel 2 XL's; 128GB for me, 64GB for wife and 64GB for son. Just had a decent experience with Verizon tech support over the telephone last night.

My wife's phone was having a problem picking up previously created and still ongoing group messages and could not receive texts with images. First Verizon tech support person couldn't solve it, so he escalated the issue. Next guy had us pull the SIM card from the old phone. Now my wife's phone could receive texts with images and also newly created group messages but could not hook up with the older group messages. He promised to create a support ticket and follow up with me the next evening (tonight).

I figured this was a good time to ask for a waiver on the Verizon activation fees of $30 per phone. I asked for and received a $90 credit on my Verizon bill. Within minutes of hanging up with tech support I got a text with the case number and then received an email telling me of the $90 credit to my bill.

So far, so good with Verizon.

 

[dmark44]

Bought my 2 XL from Verizon on the current $300 off deal. (Best Buy has the same deal running now, if you wanted to get it from Best Buy.)

Actually bought three Pixel 2 XL's; 128GB for me, 64GB for wife and 64GB for son. Just had a decent experience with Verizon tech support over the telephone last night.

My wife's phone was having a problem picking up previously created and still ongoing group messages and could not receive texts with images. First Verizon tech support person couldn't solve it, so he escalated the issue. Next guy had us pull the SIM card from the old phone. Now my wife's phone could receive texts with images and also newly created group messages but could not hook up with the older group messages. He promised to create a support ticket and follow up with me the next evening (tonight).

I figured this was a good time to ask for a waiver on the Verizon activation fees of $30 per phone. I asked for and received a $90 credit on my Verizon bill. Within minutes of hanging up with tech support I got a text with the case number and then received an email telling me of the $90 credit to my bill.

So far, so good with Verizon.

You bought it from Verizon and got them to waive the activation fee? Did you have to contest it with any particular reason or argument?

 

[sangs]

You bought it from Verizon and got them to waive the activation fee? Did you have to contest it with any particular reason or argument?

Every phone I've ever activated with Verizon they've waived the activation fee - when I've remembered to ask.

 

[PowrDroid]

You bought it from Verizon and got them to waive the activation fee? Did you have to contest it with any particular reason or argument?

When I bought the phones on Saturday I asked the in-store rep to please waive the fees. He wouldn't. He was quite terse about it. "No sir." "Can't do it, sir." I figure he had me pegged as a buyer no matter what. I couldn't use the waiving of the fees as a bargaining chip, eg. "I'll do the deal if you waive the fees." He already knew I was sold.

When I had to call for support yesterday I figured this was the perfect time to ask for a reversal of the fees. So I said, "Considering I've been on the phone with tech support for almost 45 minutes, that this is basically an activation problem and that I've been a Verizon customer for almost ten years now, would you be able to reverse the $90 activation fees for these phones I bought on Saturday? It just doesn't seem fair to charge me for something that is causing me these problems." Guy put me on hold for about a minute and came back and said there would be a $90 credit appearing on my bill.

 

[pseudoware]

I understand most people don't care about what an unlocked bootloader gives them, that's fine.

With that said, a carrier actively trying to prevent me from doing something to a device I own outright is BS, whether I intend to or not. I have older PCs where I've installed Linux or whatever. I think anyone would agree that if HP, Lenovo, Comcast, or whoever tried to dictate whether or not I could do that would be unacceptable.

 

[SupraLB]

I bought from Verizon online this week.

The biggest advantage of buying from Verizon is you can return the phone until January 15 (holiday returns). Buying from Google you only get the standard 14 days.

So basically I have 6 weeks of trying this phone out, and all it will cost is the $35 restocking fee (If i choose to return). That's important to me because its my first Google phone after three straight LG phones. Lots of differences, good and bad, so its good to have the extra time to decide.

 

[bbycrts]

I must preface this by saying I recently had a poor experience with Google customer service after a security update turned my Nexus 9 into a brick. Google offered no assistance and referred me back to Best Buy where I purchased it.

Carrying on... I'm strongly considering buying a Pixel 2 and with the current deal Verizon is offering, it seems like a no brainer. My concern is with the issues that some are experiencing, Google will refer me back to Verizon for any issue and that Verizon won't be helpful. Has anyone had any experience with Verizon facilitating a return or to fix any issues with the phone? If Google was offering the same deal, I would definitely buy straight from Google.

Another question, can the phone be used on any network or only Verizon if purchased through Verizon?

My son's original Pixel had issues with the display. I took it in to a Verizon store and they took care of it no questions asked. I was very pleased with the service (I've been with Verizon since 2000 and have never had customer service issues with them).