Last minute choice...

[BuMMeR-X]

Bought the wife a Droid 4 and bought myself a spare RAZR MAXX....got at least 2 years before they can try too screw me out of my unlimited data.....but pretty sure they will try to figure out a way.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Android Central Forums

 

[oldAGE]

You're a better person than me. I have complete "cost of ownership" analysis and GIS mapped year and a half data of speed tests for my home, community, and urban area where I spend most of my time when I am not traveling.

After 1.5 hours of proving to Verizon in one of their local corporate retail stores that for four years, I have not received 3G service, them showing me the limitations of their 4G coverage, they still considered selling me one of their smartphone plans for my current two unlimited access accounts and my desire to upgrade two basic phones to iPhone 4S.

They seemed to ignore the fact that they tell me that I will have limited 4G coverage and that I would experience the same dreadful Not 3G service on the iPhones. But wait, that didn't stop them from insisting that they wouldn't wave the $120 (4 x $30) "upgrade fee" for spending over $1000 on contract based handsets (two Maxx's and two 4S).

Then they insisted that I didn't need unlimited data and a 2Gb plan would be just fine for all of us based on their analytics tools. But they couldn't explain why I alone used between 2Gb - 6Gb of data every month from Jan 11-Dec11 and why, all of a sudden, magically, my usage fell starting Jan 12 to less than 700Mb per month for the past 6 months.

So then I asked them to break down all my options (which I already had including fees and taxes) and tell me where my "value" was. Every option fell within $10 of each other.

They allowed me to walk out the door after being a customer for 14 years. Now I will just keep what I have, delay my kids access to smartphones and see where the community pressure takes Verizon. I am not sure people are doing the math just yet and I think they will be surprised when they step from 3G services to 4G services and content starts getting pushed to them and they are forced to pay 1G penalties and change to higher data tier plans.

There is a lot of smoke to clear and Verizon deserves to take it in the shorts in the end. 2.5 months until all my contracts expire... I look forward to September.

AGE

 

[deercreek]

I considered signing a new contract. But I didn't want to give $150 after rebate for a Nexus, $299 for a RAZR MAXX, or $199 for an HTC Rezound (I'm still kicking myself for not jumping on one when they were on sale for $69). My contract is up in a couple of weeks. I'm going to ride it out on 3G for now and if my Droid X quits I'll see what my options are when the dust settles.

I didn't fall for the crap a kid at Best Buy Mobile was trying to sell me on. He was touting their buyback program. He said he got a RAZR and he'll trade in on the S3 and it will only cost him $50 (I'm thinking his math was just a little off). Then he tried to sell my an Incredible 2 for $1. I'd be able to trade it in for half of retail(so it would currently be $300), and buy the S3 for $700. I was like "but the Incredible 2 isn't 4G" and he tried to tell me it was. What a deal. Oh yeah, he said I could trade my Droid X in for up to $60. It makes a pretty kickass NeoTV remote and mini tablet that would be worth more than $60 to me.

 

[eshropshire]

I personally have no loyalty to any provider. I have been an AT&T customer years ago (back in the big analog brick days), then Verizon then Sprint then Verizon then back to AT&T and now back on Verizon. Very easy to switch carriers as long as you start and stop all the lines at the same time. Can port the numbers and keep on going with any company. I don't really understand all the anger - if you don't like Verizon's new plans then don't sign and new contract. Go with an alternative that works better for you.

Right now in my area Verizon offers the best coverage and the best network for voice and data. For me a phone first and foremost must be a phone and be able to make calls at all times. Second I want not only data but fast and reliable data - Verizon fully delivers that in my area. I am willing to pay extra for the quality of service I get from Verizon and this is one of the main reasons I left Sprint (awful voice coverage) and then left AT&T (very slow data - in my area). In 16 months I will decide if Verizon still the best option for me - who knows maybe back to AT&T.

 

[oldAGE]

@eshropshire - I think you miss the general point. Yes, we all have choices but our choices are controlled in 24 month chunks. In the parlance of technology, that's a Generation. It's not "easy" to switch when there is $4600-$5500 on the line. I don't know about your generation but for me, as a 9%'er, I still consider that real money. I first look for phone service, then data at a reasonable modern day delivery rates (any day as long as that day is "today") -- and it has to equal the value of the cost.

In my geography, for 3G it has been four years of empty promises... And that includes over $600 in contract supported hardware costs - and almost $10,000 in monthly recurring costs. The point is that none of the major service providers are a panacea and they will never deliver the "value" that one expects from the marketing hype. As their hype increases, their prices do too.

Simply put, if Verizon would knock off all the BS for their loyal customers, that would be fine by us... Let me buy $1000 in new handsets and forgo another $120 in "upgrade fees." Let me keep my unlimited data plans that never delivered the promise of 1.2Mb... Give me a better pricing model that reflects reality, not marketing. It doesn't have to be much... just fair.

Every carrier allows you to try their network - most for 14 days and that is not enough for some of us. Then they credit your account if you decide it doesn't work for you and they have up to three months to keep your money. Then folks like Verizon will charge you a $35 "restocking fee." Every turn is a charge. You can't simply go out and try Sprint, then ATT, then USCC, then Verizon and see what "works for you." It's a huge time and expense commitment.

What do I do for a living? I architect strategic initiatives for high speed communications networks - design, build, manage, and report. I am in the industry and I am highly critical of the carrier's retail model and I know the real costs as it pertains to the network... and those costs are not small but that does not warrant the raping of the consumer.

In our view, Verizon turned their back on customer loyalty. As you mentioned, I am looking to change and I have gone to the sideline after they let me walk out the door when I promised them over $1000 in handset purchases and over $5500 in monthly revenue. We just need to let them and their shareholders know that we will seek other options -- that may not be any better and potentially worse... but for the hope of "value."

AGE

 

[oldAGE]

I considered signing a new contract. But I didn't want to give $150 after rebate for a Nexus, $299 for a RAZR MAXX, or $199 for an HTC Rezound (I'm still kicking myself for not jumping on one when they were on sale for $69). My contract is up in a couple of weeks. I'm going to ride it out on 3G for now and if my Droid X quits I'll see what my options are when the dust settles.
.

You can get the Rezound for $80 via Verizon Online or Amazon's Wireless process. Or that might be "could have." I am not entirely certain that Verizon has ended the Unlimited Data and tiered pricing option yet.... Might have to look into that on Saturday.

AGE

 

[mesocyclonic]

You can get the Rezound for $80 via Verizon Online or Amazon's Wireless process. Or that might be "could have." I am not entirely certain that Verizon has ended the Unlimited Data and tiered pricing option yet.... Might have to look into that on Saturday.

AGE

Unlimited data will be gone unless VZW had a software goof (wouldn't be the first time). Current subscribers still have the option of tiered data instead of the "Shared Everything" plans.