Looking for a way to get a different phone without paying full price

[Andy847]

Hi, last august I bought a GS lll with my phone upgrade on Verizon. I like my phone a lot, but am really wanting to switch to a Galaxy Note ll on Verizon. I don't have an upgrade until August of 2014. Is there any way to get one without paying full retail price?
Is there a way to add another line to get the discount on the GN ll? I want to sell my GS lll and replace it with the GN ll . I'm just looking for the cheapest way to get a Galaxy Note ll

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[dpham00]

You can add a line, buy the note 2, then move it to your line. Put a dumb phone or dummy (no physical phone) phone on the new line, and pay $10 plus taxes and fees, assuming that you are on the individual plan now. Make sure to convert to the family share plan, not the share everything plan.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

[androidluvr2]

Is there a way to add another line to get the discount on the GN ll?

Are you on an individual plan now or family plan? Do you have unlimited data?

 

[Andy847]

I'm on an Individual Plan, not a family plan. I lost my unlimited Data plan when I got my GS lll. That's not a big deal though, since i'm paying for the 1GB plan on my individual plan. I use well under that. Do you get the same benefits being under the Family plan? Meaning that I get unlimited Talk and Text?

 

[Andy847]

You can add a line, buy the note 2, then move it to your line. Put a dumb phone or dummy (no physical phone) phone on the new line, and pay $10 plus taxes and fees, assuming that you are on the individual plan now. Make sure to convert to the family share plan, not the share everything plan.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

Well, I just checked the Verizon website and it's not just $10 plus tax and Fees. If I add another Dumb Phone it's another $30 for that device, Not $10 plus tax and fees. So will really raise my bill. That option will not work. Plus I don't want to have to pay for the two phones for the next two years. I'm going to go to Verizon and see what my options are. I'm wondering if I cancel my contract and pay the early termination fee, then get the GN ll on a new contract, it will be cheaper than paying full price for the device?

 

[androidluvr2]

I'm on an Individual Plan, not a family plan. I lost my unlimited Data plan when I got my GS lll. That's not a big deal though, since i'm paying for the 1GB plan on my individual plan. I use well under that.

I take it you are on share everything. Adding a line is not worth it on share everything. Cheaper to just buy the GNote2 outright.

 

[androidluvr2]

Well, I just checked the Verizon website and it's not just $10 plus tax and Fees. If I add another Dumb Phone it's another $30 for that device, Not $10 plus tax and fees.

on a nationwide plan it is $10 but on share everything it is $30. It is not cost effective to add a line if you are on share everything.

I'm wondering if I cancel my contract and pay the early termination fee, then get the GN ll on a new contract, it will be cheaper than paying full price for the device?

How long do you have on your contract? Don't forget the $36 activation fee if you start a new contract. Also, I don't think you will be able to keep your number if you do that.

The GNote2 is $199 at Best Buy this week and $99 at amazon wireless for new contracts.

 

[Andy847]

I'm 9 months into the contract, it expires on 8/7/14. So at $10 a month from the $350, I'm looking at $260. Why wouldn't I be able to keep my number? I kept it when I switched carriers. So $260 plus $199, sounds cheaper than the full price.

 

[dpham00]

on a nationwide plan it is $10 but on share everything it is $30. It is not cost effective to add a line if you are on share everything.

How long do you have on your contract? Don't forget the $36 activation fee if you start a new contract. Also, I don't think you will be able to keep your number if you do that.

The GNote2 is $199 at Best Buy this week and $99 at amazon wireless for new contracts.

Amazon has a secondary etf of $400 on top of Verizon's $350 etf For certain changes made within 181 days like transferring the equipment to another line even within the same family share plan.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

[jneusch]

Buy a Note 2 on Swappa, AC marketplace or ebay. It will be cheaper in the long run. Just make sure the ESN is clear before buying. Swappa verifies ESNs.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Android Central Forums

 

[diesteldorf]

Buy a Note 2 on Swappa, AC marketplace or ebay. It will be cheaper in the long run. Just make sure the ESN is clear before buying. Swappa verifies ESNs.

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I would agree. Better to buy used.

 

[Andy847]

Yeah, went to Best Buy, Verizon (Even the guy at Verizon said to do the Ebay thing and sell my GS lll on there), and finally went to T Mobile, because I heard that they offer some good plans. Here's the thing though, I'd pay 1 dollar more a month for T Mobile and get unlimited data, unlimited talk and text, up to 500mb of Mobile hotspot, and they have 4g, but should have LTE by the end of the year. I'd be paying $20 a month towards the phone. That $1 extra a month also covers insurance, so definitely getting more with T Mobile.
My only thing is, I left T Mobile about 4 or 5 years ago, because of Dropped calls. That's when I went to Verizon and have never had a dropped call. I like Verizon's dependability, but I'm paying for it definitely. It's been a lot of years since I was on T Mobile and they didn't even have 4G back then. So probably best thing to do is just not get the phone. I do like my galaxy S lll. I just don't want to spend too much for a phone, just because it's the newest thing and I like the features.
I may consider the Swappa thing, If I can get at least Half of the money towards a GN ll from selling my GS lll, then may reconsider. I'll check on Ebay too. Thanks for the input everyone. I'm not going to rush into anything yet, I want to make sure I have all the info I can.

Edit: I was wrong, the price quoted by T Mobile was without tax, so would be a lot more. I'm happy with Verizon, it's cheaper than the other plans on other Carriers. I did find some nice deals for full price on GN ll on Ebay and Swappa. I just think with the ETF now, buying full Price the GN ll, then having to sell my GS lll and all it's accessories, just will cost too much. I'm going to wait until the 1 year mark or a little after on my contract, by that time the GN 3 should be out. I can think about getting one then. Right now, just sticking with my GS lll which still is a great phone and keeping Verizon. Thanks for all the ideas everyone! By the time my next upgrade is due, the GN 4 may be out!!

 

[androidluvr2]

buying full Price the GN ll, then having to sell my GS lll and all it's accessories, just will cost too much.

GS3 on swappa are selling for about $350 and after the $10 swappa fee, $10 paypal fee and $20 shipping with insurance and signature required, that would net you around $310. Mint GNote2 you can get for $525 on swappa.

So you could get GNote2 for about $215 after you sell your GS3.

 

[TheyStoleMyName]

If you didn't damage it. Or get it wet, take it back to the store or call customer care and get a refurbished replacement. Either A. Sell it or B. repeat and they have a policy on exchanges if so many are defective. But youll only get a refurbed different make and model.

 

[Andy847]

Yeah, I saw some on Swappa and about same price on eBay. I'm still thinking about it, it's more a want than a need. Thanks, I didn't know about the small charges in using Swappa. I also have two cases and a ibolt car dock with the 32gb gs lll. I have to do some figuring on what a case and if there is even a car dock for the gn 2 will cost. Do any of you guys have a GN 2? If so, what do you think of them? The phone gets great reviews on the best buy site.
Btw, my GS lll is in mint condition. Works flawlessly and never gotten wet or dropped, has a screen protector so no scratches on screen. I bought it at best buy. I really have no complaints with my GS lll. I have a GN 10.1 and just picked up the GN 8 a couple of weeks ago. I'm spoiled by having the S Pen and love having that feature and read great things about the GN 2, so that's why I want one.

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[androidluvr2]

it's more a want than a need.

Other than food, water, clothing, shelter and what you need to make a living in life, everything else is a want. What you have to do is decide how much of your disposable income you are willing to spend on this particular want.

I have friends who spend $500 on a handbag and give up eating out because their handbags bring them more joy than eating out at restaurants do. You just have to figure out whether that $200 or so dollars could bring you more joy if you spent it on something else.

 

[jneusch]

Yeah, I saw some on Swappa and about same price on eBay. I'm still thinking about it, it's more a want than a need. Thanks, I didn't know about the small charges in using Swappa. I also have two cases and a ibolt car dock with the 32gb gs lll. I have to do some figuring on what a case and if there is even a car dock for the gn 2 will cost. Do any of you guys have a GN 2? If so, what do you think of them? The phone gets great reviews on the best buy site.
Btw, my GS lll is in mint condition. Works flawlessly and never gotten wet or dropped, has a screen protector so no scratches on screen. I bought it at best buy. I really have no complaints with my GS lll. I have a GN 10.1 and just picked up the GN 8 a couple of weeks ago. I'm spoiled by having the S Pen and love having that feature and read great things about the GN 2, so that's why I want one.

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I just bought the GS4 when I moved from VZ to ATT. I had the GN2 on VZ and loved the phone. It is the best phone I have ever owned, and I have owned a lot of them The N2 motivated me to buy the Note 10.1 and give up my iPad. The overall power and battery life of the N2 are amazing. Screen size is, well 5.5". What else can I say. It's huge, which is the reason I went with the GS4 when I made the switch. My only complaint with the N2 is that it is slightly too big for me. This is being nitpicky, but since I had to buy a new phone anyway I figured I would get the latest and greatest. If I had to go back to my N2 I would not be sad at all. BTW, I will be listing mine on Swappa in a couple weeks, as soon as the final bill is paid and the ESN is verified clear. White VZ Note 2 with an OB Defender, flip cover and TPU case.

 

[TheyStoleMyName]

The note 2 is a good phone its great if you can use it two hands all the time, one handed operation sucks. The only thing i dont like about the phone is the lag and slow from pressing the unlock button to the screen turning on.

 

[Andy847]

One thing concerns me about going the Swappa or Ebay route. I have the Best Buy insurance on my Galaxy S lll, on my Tablets I have SquareTrade. I don't know if I buy on Swappa or Ebay if I can get Insurance on a GN ll. Most are probably used. Even if listed New, is there a way to get Insurance on them, since not bought at a B & M Store or through a Regular Vendor? If I'm going to spend all that money, want to make sure I'm covered in case something happens to the phone.
I played with a couple today at Verizon and at T Mobile. It's a big phone that's for sure. I've also read that it's fragile too on some comments.

 

[android5511]

Send an email to AT&T and just ask them. It's funny because I just did this. I had an iPhone 5 and wasn't due for an upgrade until 6/14. I sent an email from the wireless website and asked if I could upgrade to the S4 at a discount. I pointed out my length of service and that I always pay on time. I didn't expect it, but they accepted. So I sold my iPhone for $499 on Ebay and got the S4. My girlfriend also had an iphone 5, fell in love with the Galaxy, so I asked if we could do it for line 2. They said yes. I guess they figure some income is better than saying no and getting nothing. That's a good thing about phones; they hold their value. I couldn't tell you the last time I paid for a phone. I usually make some by selling.