Buy phone without adding a line?

[Cwey55]

I'm wondering if I will be able to do this, hopefully I can get some help here first rather than go through the runaround with a rep or the website...but ultimately I hope to do the transaction online to keep a rep's paws off a new phone in the store.

So here's what I've got currently:

More Everything 2GB (I know, not a big data plan, it's just single me, and I have never gone over, and no I'm not worried about it or considering changing it.)

LG G4 that I bought on contract on release day in June when they were still doing contract discounts for phones.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 that I bought on the Edge plan in December, so it's less than a year old. It is the LTE version, however I think in almost a year I have actually used it on mobile data rather than wifi once. It was an impulse buy, just had to have it. In hindsight I would really like to pay it off and get it off my bill if I could because I don't use it that much.

Here's what I'd like to do:

I am interested in switching over to the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ because I'm getting sick of some of the issues with the G4. (Touch screen issues drive me CRAZY mainly, and not a fan of the LG UI) Anyways, I don't wanna turn this into a phone vs. phone thread so...

What I'd like to do here is buy the S6 edge+ on the device payments, WITHOUT adding a new line. So I would be getting the phone and deactivating my G4 from my line and then activating the S6 edge+ on my line, essentially wanting to be able to activate them both on the same line so I can try them both out and compare.

It seems when I started the process online all it wants to do is add a new line with the new phone. Is there a way to just buy the phone itself, add the payments to my plan, and make NO other changes whatsoever and be able to activate the phones by myself on the one line of service? I am getting the feeling if I want to buy the phone without adding a line it will have to be full retail up front not on payments.....

 

[dpham00]

Unfortunately, you cannot do device payments while on contract . there are occasionally promotions that allows this but it isn't standard.

You can buy at best buy full retail and then use their 0% financing if you don't have the money up front.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 5

 

[Cwey55]

Unfortunately, you cannot do device payments while on contract . there are occasionally promotions that allows this but it isn't standard.

You can buy at best buy full retail and then use their 0% financing if you don't have the money up front.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Thanks for your help, I guess my question would be why was it about to let me do it online, on payments, with the exception of wanting to add a line of service for the new device which prompted me to cancel the transaction? Leads me to believe the contrary to your statement. Everything else looked like what I wanted except for adding a line.

 

[oscarnyc]

Because you would be adding a new, non contract line. The phone for that new line could then be purchased on the instalment plan.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[dpham00]

Because you would be adding a new, non contract line. The phone for that new line could then be purchased on the instalment plan.

Posted via the Android Central App

Yup. By default, No way to get on a dpp when on contract.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 5

 

[Cwey55]

That bums me out.

You'd think they would be happy to take more of my money. They have my business either way with the plan I just want to add a second phone.

Guess I'll have to see if I can qualify to finance one at Best Buy.

If I did that would I still be getting the Verizon specific variant or an unlocked since I'd be buying the phone itself alone and not a plan via Best Buy?

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[questionfear]

You could try going into the store, explain that your G4 has issues, and see if they will make an exception if you agree to switch to the XS new plan (I forget exactly what that is).

They might be able to bend the rules for you, but you might be too new into your contract. We were able to do it with a phone that was 18 months into a contract, but at 3 months they might not bend for you.

 

[Cwey55]

I was trying to avoid buying in store because I hate how the reps always want to take the phone out of the box and activate it for you right there and have their mitts all through it before you get a chance to, usually on data, and then of course that allows all the crapware on it to auto install/update and then not be able to uninstall or roll back. I want to activate it myself on wifi and (hopefully) be able to sidestep some of the Verizon and Samsung nonsense.

But I digress

Maybe it will come to the local store being made aware plenty of companies are offering to buy people out of Verizon contracts. I've been a loyal Verizon customer for about 6 years and they have the best coverage in my area so I have no real intent to leave them, but they don't have to know that.

I didn't really think it would be a problem for them to sell a phone at retail to a person already locked in with them for 2 years. I'm not the smartest guy in the world but I don't get what's in it for them business-wise NOT to do this.

Posted via the Android Central App on the LG G4
(or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5...merica)

 

[Sergiusz Jasper]

You could try going into the store, explain that your G4 has issues, and see if they will make an exception if you agree to switch to the XS new plan (I forget exactly what that is).

They might be able to bend the rules for you, but you might be too new into your contract. We were able to do it with a phone that was 18 months into a contract, but at 3 months they might not bend for you.

I say try and see if u can get the phone u like with a pay as u go line, I know that with my provider I can pic a phone and a no contract line pay as u go that u don't have to activate and can cancel at anytime with out penalty but u are buying the phone at full price.
Other option is buy out the rest of ur contract and start a new one this can be cheaper than purchase of a new phone.

Sent from my XT1097 using Tapatalk

 

[dpham00]

That bums me out.

You'd think they would be happy to take more of my money. They have my business either way with the plan I just want to add a second phone.

Guess I'll have to see if I can qualify to finance one at Best Buy.

If I did that would I still be getting the Verizon specific variant or an unlocked since I'd be buying the phone itself alone and not a plan via Best Buy?

Posted via the Android Central App

You would need a phone compatible with Verizon's network. For the s6e+,you would need to get the Verizon version. For some phones like the iPhone or n6 or moto x pure 2015, you can get the unlocked version.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 5

 

[dpham00]

I was trying to avoid buying in store because I hate how the reps always want to take the phone out of the box and activate it for you right there and have their mitts all through it before you get a chance to, usually on data, and then of course that allows all the crapware on it to auto install/update and then not be able to uninstall or roll back. I want to activate it myself on wifi and (hopefully) be able to sidestep some of the Verizon and Samsung nonsense.

But I digress

Maybe it will come to the local store being made aware plenty of companies are offering to buy people out of Verizon contracts. I've been a loyal Verizon customer for about 6 years and they have the best coverage in my area so I have no real intent to leave them, but they don't have to know that.

I didn't really think it would be a problem for them to sell a phone at retail to a person already locked in with them for 2 years. I'm not the smartest guy in the world but I don't get what's in it for them business-wise NOT to do this.

Posted via the Android Central App on the LG G4
(or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5...merica)

If you want to buy at full retail,just buy it online.

As for dpp, you can ask. There was a promotion going around recently wherein you trade in your current phone and they let you get a new phone on dpp.

As for why, keep in mind that even though dpp is full retail, Verizon is losing some money financing your phone at 0% for 24 months.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 5

 

[Cwey55]

If you want to buy at full retail,just buy it online.

As for dpp, you can ask. There was a promotion going around recently wherein you trade in your current phone and they let you get a new phone on dpp.

As for why, keep in mind that even though dpp is full retail, Verizon is losing some money financing your phone at 0% for 24 months.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 5

While that may be true, my monthly bill still goes up, so they can either get more money per month or the same the way I see it. Why not let the guy pay more, Right?

I had kind of gotten the sense with all this talk about them doing away with contracts and subsidized phones, it meant sure you can get a new phone whenever you want, as long as you're prepared to pay full price for it, I didn't realize that meant only if you pay all at once.

Just seems crazy to me they have a person here WANTING to buy a phone at retail price, just on payments, but won't do it because I want to stash the phone already paid for as a spare and activate the new one on the current line. *shrug*

I have a loan on my car, but that wouldn't stop the dealership from cutting me another loan on a second car if I wanted one and was able to make the payments lol.

I guess fine print reading and phone business savvy is not my forte' because I'm not getting it haha.

Oh well thanks for the info guys

Posted via the Android Central App on the LG G4
(or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5...merica)

 

[gone down south]

Why would Verizon want to give you an interest free loan with no commitment in return? World your credit card company not charge you interest for 2 years on the phone?

 

[Cwey55]

They have a two year commitment from me anyways on service...

No you're right though a credit card wouldn't give me two years interest free (though Best Buy does do 12mos @ 0% for qualified buyers as was mentioned so that's a possibility).

Posted via the Android Central App on the LG G4
(or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5...merica)

 

[dpham00]

While that may be true, my monthly bill still goes up, so they can either get more money per month or the same the way I see it. Why not let the guy pay more, Right?

I had kind of gotten the sense with all this talk about them doing away with contracts and subsidized phones, it meant sure you can get a new phone whenever you want, as long as you're prepared to pay full price for it, I didn't realize that meant only if you pay all at once.

Just seems crazy to me they have a person here WANTING to buy a phone at retail price, just on payments, but won't do it because I want to stash the phone already paid for as a spare and activate the new one on the current line. *shrug*

I have a loan on my car, but that wouldn't stop the dealership from cutting me another loan on a second car if I wanted one and was able to make the payments lol.

I guess fine print reading and phone business savvy is not my forte' because I'm not getting it haha.

Oh well thanks for the info guys

Posted via the Android Central App on the LG G4
(or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5...merica)

You can pay off the contract, then get on a new dpp. You can then pay off the dpp at any time and get a new device on dpp.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 5

 

[Cwey55]

Any idea off the top of your head how much it costs to buy out of a 2yr contract 3 months in? If I had to guess...a lot...enough for me not to bother logging into VZW and looking right now haha.

 

[Tarah Sorber]

Buy a used one off of eBay ?

♡~Live life,love life~♡

 

[Cwey55]

Maybe, prefer not to since buying off ebay comes with risks but who knows.

I guess I'll slog it out with the G4 for a little while longer or maybe go through the runaround with VZW/LG about trying a replacement but judging by what I've read a lot of the folks getting replacement devices through Verizon are not getting much positive changes in regards to touchscreen issues, lag, or battery life.

I do like the phone, but if the S6 edge + was released at the same time as the S6/S6e, I would have gone that route. The only reason I didn't buy the regular S6e was the piddly battery, and they've beefed that up on the + so I wanted to give that a shot without having to break the bank up front is all.

 

[Mr. Toad]

You can add a new line, and get the device payment plan. You can then cancel the line right away. You will then make the payments as long as you still have an account. It might take a couple phone calls to actually cancel the line. Some reps think you need to wait 14 days.

Cheapest option would probably be the Best Buy credit card as was previously mentioned.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[Cwey55]

I was actually contemplating the idea of just buying out the contract as was mentioned earlier.

I looked it up it would be $320 right now ($350 - $10 for every month passed since contract beginning [in June])

If I did that would it totally cancel that line though or would it just drop me onto month-to-month as if I had let the contract expire?

Adding a line and then immediately cancelling it is another option I suppose. Never really thought of that. I'm sure VZW has some pretty big hoops to jump through to complete that process but it could work.

I applied for a BB credit card online and got declined. I dunno why, I'm a SSG in the military and I don't pay rent or mortgage. I have a car that is a few months from paid off and one credit card and my VZW account and that's it. Weird....