Verizon gets rid of 20month upgrade

[xemtra]

In alignment with the terms of the contract, customers on a two-year agreement will be eligible for an upgrade at 24 months vs. today's early upgrade eligibility at 20 months. This change aligns the upgrade date with the contract end date and is consistent with how the majority of customers purchase new phones today. The first customers impacted by this change are customers whose contracts expire in January 2014. As always, customers may purchase a new phone at the full retail price at any time.

Verizon Wireless Upgrade Policy - Verizon Wireless Upgrade Eligibility

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so instead of march 2014 its july now. man this blows

 

[MrDoh]

Yeah, I heard about this yesterday, and it is a bummer, I agree. Technology moves along quickly, and Verizon lengthens their upgrade period, these don't play together well. I think that it may be a plot to get more people to buy full-price phones *sigh*, we'll see what the upshot of this is.

 

[Algus]

Honestly, with how poor the life of a phone is, you should be up for a partial discount after a year. Being mired in the second year of a contract on an antiquated phone sucks and while I like my service, I don't see the appeal of taking an unlocked phone to my contract. Good news for me is that my upgrade is in August so I won't be affected by this yet.

Sent from my Samsung Stratosphere using Tapatalk 2

 

[HalizDad]

I've never really had a phone last more than 22 months. I usually get rid of them prior, or at the first signs of messing up. 24 months is unacceptable and stupid actually since the contract ends at 24 months. They could entice people to resign with a new phone at 20 months before, but now there is ZERO incentive to stay with the company as long as someone else offers coverage. I for one will be switching to T-Mob again after this contract is up. I've used all 4 carriers over the years, and if I had to rank them off of plan pricing, followed by coverage, T-Mob kills on pricing now, and has the same coverage as Verizon in my area. So, my list would go:
T-Mob (Dropping prices while increasing coverage without a contract...They're onto something, and I hope it's not crack)
Verizon (Highest pricing next to AT&T, but keeps taking away incentives while raking in the ca$h)
Sprint (Great pricing, limited LTE)
AT&T (Overpriced, overrated)

 

[pizza_pablo]

We are off the "upgrade discount" wagon.
We have been buying phones outright, from swappa or eBay, in order to maintain our unlimited data plan.
Sure it costs more up front, but we have no contact and are free to get a phone and sell a phone when ever we feel the "need", on top of retaining unlimited data.

 

[HalizDad]

But you're paying the same $$$ amount I am, so it's kinda' silly not to get a subsidized phone...especially if you're not planning on leaving Verizon, as I suspect you're not. That's the problem with Verizon; it doesn't matter if you by your phone outright, susidize it, or bring your own...you're gonna' pay as much as the next guy.

 

[pappy53]

But you're paying the same $$$ amount I am, so it's kinda' silly not to get a subsidized phone.

Not if he has unlimited, and wants to keep it.

 

[dpham00]

Not if he has unlimited, and wants to keep it.

So long as you have at least one line without unlimited unthrottled 4GLTE, you can transfer the upgrade from any of the unlimited unthrottled 4GLTE lines to the non - Unlimited unthrottled 4GLTE line.

If you have 4 or less lines, you can add a dumb phone line or a dummy line to push the upgrade to, yes you have to pay $10 plus taxes and fees, but do the calculation, it may be more cost effective. Plus remember buying new has warranty buying used does not, unless you buy it.


Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

[dpham00]

In alignment with the terms of the contract, customers on a two-year agreement will be eligible for an upgrade at 24 months vs. today's early upgrade eligibility at 20 months. This change aligns the upgrade date with the contract end date and is consistent with how the majority of customers purchase new phones today. The first customers impacted by this change are customers whose contracts expire in January 2014. As always, customers may purchase a new phone at the full retail price at any time.

Verizon Wireless Upgrade Policy - Verizon Wireless Upgrade Eligibility

- - - Updated - - -

so instead of march 2014 its july now. man this blows

I doubt the savings over full retail would be very large, but yeah, they will be bringing the device installment plan to Verizon. On tmo, you are saving less than $100 over current full retail. Knowing verizon, saving would be even less.

Imo, if you find a good deal on a phone on contract, you would be better off signing a new contract, and paying etf. For example there was a deal for the note 2 for $50,paying etf and paying one days service would put you at $405 no contract.



Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

[HalizDad]

Not if he has unlimited, and wants to keep it.

You do realize Verizon can, and probably WILL be ending that soon, right? If and/or when they do, yes, you'd be free to leave their network, but with a Verizon phone, where are you going to go? My point is that regardless of whether or not you buy a handset outright, bring your own, or subsidize it through Verizon, everyone pays the same if they switch carriers now, so what is the incentive for staying with them other than their unlimited data plan that some are scared to lose? It's 2013...I'm on WiFi 99% of the time and use well under 1GB of data a month...and I use the HELL out of my phone. I'm done paying like I'm paying for a new phone when I buy it outright, or bring my own in the future. T-Mob's plan might be contagious, and if Verizon follows suit, maybe I'll stay with them. I've still got a year on contract, so I've got some time. Who knows though, I might drop them in a month...I switch carriers whenever I want, and a switch to T-Mob would set me back $300 and some change over a 2-year period with the ETF and buying a Nexus 4. Same plan I have on VzW is $1440 for 2 years on T-Mob,($60 a month) and VzW is $2250. ($94 a month after a 22% discount) I'm not "hating" on Verizon, I've used them a few times over the years. I'm just a stingy MF when it comes to my money, and that's probably why I'm at where I am today.

 

[androidluvr2]

You do realize Verizon can, and probably WILL be ending that soon, right?

idk, it is possible but what I am hoping is that the natural attrition that will happen due to not allowing subsidized upgrades on unlimited data lines will so reduce the numbers of those of us who have unlimited data that they will leave us alone.

 

[HalizDad]

idk, it is possible but what I am hoping is that the natural attrition that will happen due to not allowing subsidized upgrades on unlimited data lines will so reduce the numbers of those of us who have unlimited data that they will leave us alone.

That's very possible too, but then Verizon isn't going to make any EXTRA money off of you...

 

[androidluvr2]

That's very possible too, but then Verizon isn't going to make any EXTRA money off of you...

yes, they do because we don't get to use the subsidized upgrades unlike those on share everything. The subsidy is baked into the contract price. So we are paying for the subsidy but not getting it. That is typically an extra $350 every 2 years we are paying.

 

[HalizDad]

yes, they do because we don't get to use the subsidized upgrades unlike those on share everything. The subsidy is baked into the contract price. So we are paying for the subsidy but not getting it. That is typically an extra $350 every 2 years we are paying.

True...Which was one of my points above...everyone pays the same regardless of whether or not they BYOP, sub it out, or buy it outright. But, in reality, Verizon would love to see everyone paying them $200.00 a month...They're like Comcast....Who I only use for Internet now since TV sucks nowadays. I honestly think T-Mob is onto something with their new plans. It's cheaper for them too...don't pay your bill, you're cut off...No loss of phone subsidy for them.

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

True...Which was one of my points above...everyone pays the same regardless of whether or not they BYOP, sub it out, or buy it outright. But, in reality, Verizon would love to see everyone paying them $200.00 a month...They're like Comcast....Who I only use for Internet now since TV sucks nowadays. I honestly think T-Mob is onto something with their new plans. It's cheaper for them too...don't pay your bill, you're cut off...No loss of phone subsidy for them.

I'm a fan of the new T-Mobile plans, but unfortunately they have zero coverage in an area I frequent regularly...so that's not an option for me.

Verizon has said that they will now also allow you to do a payment plan for a new phone if you want to upgrade early (i.e. buy at full price, but space the payments out instead of forking over all the cash at once). In theory, this sounds like a great option, similar to T-Mobile's new "down payment" system for new phones...until you realize that you're already on a plan with a "phone subsidy" builtin into it (whether you're actually paying off a subsidized phone or not), and then paying out a loan on a full-priced phone on top of that. Essentially, they're now making twice the money if you decide to go that route -- at least t-mobile lowers your monthly bill once you've paid off the device, and does not have phone subsidy automatically built into the plan you're on.

If Verizon really wanted to better model T-Mobile's new plans (and I'm certainly NOT suggesting that they do!), then they would allow your monthly rate to go down if you no longer have a subsidized phone to pay off...but of course all of us still clinging to unlimited plans know this is not the case...

 

[HalizDad]

I'm a fan of the new T-Mobile plans, but unfortunately they have zero coverage in an area I frequent regularly...so that's not an option for me.

Verizon has said that they will now also allow you to do a payment plan for a new phone if you want to upgrade early (i.e. buy at full price, but space the payments out instead of forking over all the cash at once). In theory, this sounds like a great option, similar to T-Mobile's new "down payment" system for new phones...until you realize that you're already on a plan with a "phone subsidy" builtin into it (whether you're actually paying off a subsidized phone or not), and then paying out a loan on a full-priced phone on top of that. Essentially, they're now making twice the money if you decide to go that route -- at least t-mobile lowers your monthly bill once you've paid off the device, and does not have phone subsidy automatically built into the plan you're on.

If Verizon really wanted to better model T-Mobile's new plans (and I'm certainly NOT suggesting that they do!), then they would allow your monthly rate to go down if you no longer have a subsidized phone to pay off...but of course all of us still clinging to unlimited plans know this is not the case...

Yep...It's not the case for us "newer" people either. Verizon "could" switch to that t-mob style of plan, but then they wouldn't make as much money. I have great t-mob service in this area, but right now with my ETF and playing out the numbers, I'd lose around $300.00 if I switched. Otherwise, I'd already be in the T-Mob forums...lol Of course, all Verizon has to do is screw up my bill one time, or let me get slammed with some premium text service and I'm gone. I say that because I called them and blocked all that crap.

 

[meyerweb#CB]

Seems short-sighted to me. If I'm on Verizon, and can get a new phone at 20 months, Verizon gets to lock me in for another 2 years, and because my contract isn't over I'm not likely to switch carriers at that point. If I'm at 24 months, and my contract is up, I'm going to investigate alternative carriers to see if I can get a better deal.

 

[androidluvr2]

I have great t-mob service in this area, but right now with my ETF and playing out the numbers, I'd lose around $300.00 if I switched. Otherwise, I'd already be in the T-Mob forums...lol

Do you have unlimited data or double the data on your line?

 

[dpham00]

You do realize Verizon can, and probably WILL be ending that soon, right? If and/or when they do, yes, you'd be free to leave their network, but with a Verizon phone, where are you going to go? My point is that regardless of whether or not you buy a handset outright, bring your own, or subsidize it through Verizon, everyone pays the same if they switch carriers now, so what is the incentive for staying with them other than their unlimited data plan that some are scared to lose? It's 2013...I'm on WiFi 99% of the time and use well under 1GB of data a month...and I use the HELL out of my phone. I'm done paying like I'm paying for a new phone when I buy it outright, or bring my own in the future. T-Mob's plan might be contagious, and if Verizon follows suit, maybe I'll stay with them. I've still got a year on contract, so I've got some time. Who knows though, I might drop them in a month...I switch carriers whenever I want, and a switch to T-Mob would set me back $300 and some change over a 2-year period with the ETF and buying a Nexus 4. Same plan I have on VzW is $1440 for 2 years on T-Mob,($60 a month) and VzW is $2250. ($94 a month after a 22% discount) I'm not "hating" on Verizon, I've used them a few times over the years. I'm just a stingy MF when it comes to my money, and that's probably why I'm at where I am today.

Verizon is way cheaper than tmo for my usage. I pay $43 for my line with unlimited unthrottled 4GLTE, and $21 for my dumb phone lines. I bought a note 2 on one of my dumb phone lines for $37. A new note 2 runs $700. Even factoring the upgrade fee, the subsidy on my dumb phone line is $26 a month in this case, meaning, based on the carrier subsidy and non subsidized price, Verizon is losing $5 a month in that line. Now, it isn't a real loss since Verizon didn't actually pay $700 for the phone.

I am paying $150 for 5 lines of service, 2 smartphones, 3 dumb phones. If the carrier subsidy was worth $26 per line the subsidy would be $130, meaning that the in subsidized cost would have to be $20 for 5 lines of service total. That isn't going to happen ever. Even if you were to take a more modest $15 per line subsidy, the would be $75 in subsidies for my 5 lines and $75 for 5 lines of service. Which isn't going to happen as tmo true unlimited unthrottled 4GLTE plan is $70 for one line no subsidy.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

[HalizDad]

Verizon is way cheaper than tmo for my usage. I pay $43 for my line with unlimited unthrottled 4GLTE, and $21 for my dumb phone lines. I bought a note 2 on one of my dumb phone lines for $37. A new note 2 runs $700. Even factoring the upgrade fee, the subsidy on my dumb phone line is $26 a month in this case, meaning, based on the carrier subsidy and non subsidized price, Verizon is losing $5 a month in that line. Now, it isn't a real loss since Verizon didn't actually pay $700 for the phone.

I am paying $150 for 5 lines of service, 2 smartphones, 3 dumb phones. If the carrier subsidy was worth $26 per line the subsidy would be $130, meaning that the in subsidized cost would have to be $20 for 5 lines of service total. That isn't going to happen ever. Even if you were to take a more modest $15 per line subsidy, the would be $75 in subsidies for my 5 lines and $75 for 5 lines of service. Which isn't going to happen as tmo true unlimited unthrottled 4GLTE plan is $70 for one line no subsidy.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

You're the exception, not the rule. If you tried to sign up for Verizon today you would not have the pricing.