Verizon plan pricing...um, are they serious?

[scuba_steve]

I have a three line family plan on Sprint...with unlimited text, unlimited data, free mobile-to-mobile, weeknights starting at 7pm, mobile nav, Sprint TV, and TEP...and we pay about $150 for all three lines with my corporate discount. I can also tether my TouchPad and work laptop while I am on the road....for free.

I am now looking at VZ given Sprint's poor network - coverage more than download speeds...although download speeds are pretty poor as well...and I am in a major metro area.

In looking at VZ pricing, I am shocked. Yes, many of you are grandfathered with unlimited data, but that's not available to new customers, so let's set that option aside for this thread. Is the VZ network that much better to justify this cost?

$50 per phone just to get 5GB each?! That's $150 before I even start adding unlimited text and a phone plan....and I have no idea what insurance costs...and if tethering is included (after rooting). These VZ data plan prices are ridiculous....and unlimited data isn't even an option. My wife watches Sprint TV on her commute each morning...and usually uses at least 5GB of data each month. My daughter and I use 3 to 4 GB each...for streaming audio, tethering, etc. We will end up doubling our bill and getting less...just to get more coverage. I also understand that the corporate discount doesn't apply across the entire plan - just to the primary line.

Seriously, this is pretty outrageous. Am I missing something? Any other recent Sprint defectors have any insight on how to make VZ a bit more affordable? I may just suck it up and stick with Sprint at these prices...although I will admit, I have Nexus lust.

cheers,
Scuba

 

[JDHunz]

I would suggest, instead of solely looking at prices, either stop in at a store or call CS and explain what you and your family needs - there is always a chance they can work something out, but no guarantees.

For our purposes, and we are grandfathered in, VZW makes the best sense as they provide the best coverage where we live and where we travel. AT&T? Nope. Sprint? If you want to stand on one leg while holding your phone at a certain angle, etc., and we're not even "rural" by any means.

In all reality, I'd rather pay more for service when I need it, rather than pay less and hope my phone can make a call when that emergency comes.

But again, I would call them or talk to them and see what your totals would really be.

 

[cgardnervt]

I feel your pain Scuba Steve!

For now I am staying with Sprint until they change their plans. If its the same for Verizon then I would jump ship...sadly I dont like being charged so much per line!

 

[scuba_steve]

I would suggest, instead of solely looking at prices, either stop in at a store or call CS and explain what you and your family needs - there is always a chance they can work something out, but no guarantees.

For our purposes, and we are grandfathered in, VZW makes the best sense as they provide the best coverage where we live and where we travel. AT&T? Nope. Sprint? If you want to stand on one leg while holding your phone at a certain angle, etc., and we're not even "rural" by any means.

In all reality, I'd rather pay more for service when I need it, rather than pay less and hope my phone can make a call when that emergency comes.

But again, I would call them or talk to them and see what your totals would really be.

Well, the emergency issue does not seem like a big deal to me. If VZ has coverage, my Sprint phone roams on to it. If I dial 911 and it doesn't go through, it probably wasn't happening with a VZ phone in my hand either. 911 from a cell is always sketchy anyway. Sometimes necessary, yes, but a hard line is always better...and I say that as a firefighter who has frequently been dispatched late because the call jumped through dispatch centers in three jurisdictions before our dispatch got it.

I suppose that I don't object to paying more for something that is better, but this seems ridiculous. It is not better in many ways, especially tethering and data limits, and I will most likely need to pay at least 100% more than I am paying now. I just don't see how someone who is not grandfathered into unlimited data and is aware of what Sprint charges being able to justify that premium. Sprint's coverage is not that bad. Not $150 extra a month bad.

 

[Eclipse2K]

Well, the emergency issue does not seem like a big deal to me. If VZ has coverage, my Sprint phone roams on to it. If I dial 911 and it doesn't go through, it probably wasn't happening with a VZ phone in my hand either. 911 from a cell is always sketchy anyway. Sometimes necessary, yes, but a hard line is always better...and I say that as a firefighter who has frequently been dispatched late because the call jumped through dispatch centers in three jurisdictions before our dispatch got it.

I suppose that I don't object to paying more for something that is better, but this seems ridiculous. It is not better in many ways, especially tethering and data limits, and I will most likely need to pay at least 100% more than I am paying now. I just don't see how someone who is not grandfathered into unlimited data and is aware of what Sprint charges being able to justify that premium. Sprint's coverage is not that bad. Not $150 extra a month bad.

Sprint is terrible out here but is cheaper. Verizon is the only carrier without data issues and dropped calls so its a no brained for me. Luckily for me, I'm grandfathered into the unlimited data plan. It's amazing to see bad service out here from every other carrier as I'm just outside of Chicago.


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[Devinator]

I would suggest, instead of solely looking at prices, either stop in at a store or call CS and explain what you and your family needs - there is always a chance they can work something out, but no guarantees.

Yes, you should always call customer service and ask what they can do for you. Even as a current customer, it can't hurt to call. It's funny how if you are nice and get a good CSR they'll throw a promotion your way just because they can.

But, in your situation, tell them you are considering switching but you can't justify the cost. Ask them what they'll do for you to convince you to switch. It can't hurt. If you get no where with one CSR, it can't hurt to call back a few times.

 

[nerdydesi]

The funny thing is that Verizon still offers unlimited data for $29.99 for prepaid customers. However, I believe its only for 3G phones, I don't think it would work for 4G phones.

If I ever lose my grandfathered unlimited data on Verizon, I will ditch them in a heartbeat. Their new tiered prices are absolutely outrageous!

 

[cgardnervt]

Ya they could do a lot better with their prices. So I'm with Sprint for the time being. If they lowered the price then I would change. So It's more likely that Sprint will go up before this changes.

Rocking the HTC EVO 3D

 

[YourMobileGuru]

First of all yes their network and coverage are vastly superior to sprint. Unlimited is really more marketing than anything. 95% of Verizon customers use less than 5 GB of data per month and unlimited was phased out so that the minority who used more would have to pay more and thus be more conturntious about it and use WiFi when a available. Im not a fan of the way they set the data prices and increments but its hardly as terrible as people make it out to be.

 

[YourMobileGuru]

Its a myth that sprint has unlimited access to all of Verizon s network. Sprint simply does not penalize you for roaming more then 50% of the time like some carriers do.

 

[mpciii]

This could help some if you were planning on switching. Now you can get 4GB for $30.

Verizon to begin offering double the data for your buck tomorrow as a limited time promo -- Engadget

 

[Devinator]

Pic shows it's only for 4g phones though. Probably a stunt to get people to buy new phones.

 

[YourMobileGuru]

Pic shows it's only for 4g phones though. Probably a stunt to get people to buy new phones.

Of course its an incentive to get people to buy 4G phones for the holidays, but that does not make it any less if a good thing.. Almost all smartphoes coming out now are 4G and will be going forward.

 

[MiTroll]

Yes if they ditch the grandfather plan, i will do something. No way I'm going to use Sprint though.
I lost my grandfather plan on my modem when it went from 3G to 4G but not on my Smart Phone, so I had to learn how to use my SmartPhone for streaming and more.

Also I question the security on my 4G modem. I don't see how I used so much data this month! My use pattern has never gone over 5G until this month. Of course I didn't have use of my Smart Phone for two plus weeks after the Droid X died and before the Razr came. Still though I'm suspicious of my neighbors hacking in. Recently when I closed down my 4G modem it said others were using computers on my account. No one else was in my condo, except for some cats. Now I am keeping the modem all the way off, all of the time.

Verizon store people said that they are trying to convince Corporate that the new price plans are making folks think about switching. Sometimes things have to flow back up the chain.

Eventually Verizon will realize their mistake and do the right thing by its users. I believe that, but then again I could be wrong.

 

[YourMobileGuru]

Yes if they ditch the grandfather plan, i will do something. No way I'm going to use Sprint though.
I lost my grandfather plan on my modem when it went from 3G to 4G but not on my Smart Phone, so I had to learn how to use my SmartPhone for streaming and more.

That's what almost happened to me when I wanted to upgrade my MiFi a while back but I read the warnings and backed out of the upgrade. I have a two year old MiFi 220 and in the event that ever dies I am just buying another of the same device to keep the plan. If I want 4G speeds for something I will tether my Bionic.

Also I question the security on my 4G modem. I don't see how I used so much data this month! My use pattern has never gone over 5G until this month. Of course I didn't have use of my Smart Phone for two plus weeks after the Droid X died and before the Razr came. Still though I'm suspicious of my neighbors hacking in. Recently when I closed down my 4G modem it said others were using computers on my account. No one else was in my condo, except for some cats. Now I am keeping the modem all the way off, all of the time.

Probably a good idea when you are not using it, also go into the settings and limit the number of devices you can connect at any time. Obviously you probably want to change the password if you haven't already.

Verizon store people said that they are trying to convince Corporate that the new price plans are making folks think about switching. Sometimes things have to flow back up the chain.

Eventually Verizon will realize their mistake and do the right thing by its users. I believe that, but then again I could be wrong.

Yeah tiered data is costing them customers. As someone who sells both Verizon and AT&T I can tell you that a lot of smartphone customers are going to AT&T for the cheaper data even though Verizon has the phones they want.

 

[CeasareBorgia]

This is why I am against the proposed tmobile att merger. Also, if Verizon would at least be competitive I and about 10 other folks I know would be gone.

 

[TnA206]

I use the app "roam control" it pushes your phone into constant roaming. I have sprint and at home I get 1-2 bars with this app I am always at 5 bars. Try that instead of switching. This is only for voice. Data can not be manipulated.

 

[YourMobileGuru]

This is why I am against the proposed tmobile att merger. Also, if Verizon would at least be competitive I and about 10 other folks I know would be gone.

With the exception of data, Verizon and AT&T pricing are almost identical. Also Verizon offers texting options which AT&T does not (ie less than unlimited) and still has Friends and Family (AT&T ditched A List). The only real things that AT&T has over Verizon are Unlimited Any Mobile included in their unlimited texting plan (which VZW will get around to adding eventually if the past is any indication), and Rollover which is more of a gimmick than anything since most users use less than 200 billable minutes a month and after 12 months rollover minutes expire anyway. It's nice but not really that much of a competitive advantage..

 

[Cares]

This could help some if you were planning on switching. Now you can get 4GB for $30.

Verizon to begin offering double the data for your buck tomorrow as a limited time promo -- Engadget

Apparently now you can get unlimited for 29.99 with a little work.

 

[trivor]

With the exception of data, Verizon and AT&T pricing are almost identical. Also Verizon offers texting options which AT&T does not (ie less than unlimited) and still has Friends and Family (AT&T ditched A List). The only real things that AT&T has over Verizon are Unlimited Any Mobile included in their unlimited texting plan (which VZW will get around to adding eventually if the past is any indication), and Rollover which is more of a gimmick than anything since most users use less than 200 billable minutes a month and after 12 months rollover minutes expire anyway. It's nice but not really that much of a competitive advantage..

For anyone with VZW they have by far the best and most reliable network. Yes, they charge for it. As for texting plans - get Google Voice and use it to text with (no charge). As for unlimited data, unless you stream Netflix or music you won't use much data. Even though VZW is expensive. look for some discounts through work or any other affiliations you might have - maybe you can get 20-25% off. Another biggie for me is I don't need many minutes because lots of my calls are to other Verizon customers. If you get anything other than the bottom minutes plan you get 10 free unlimited numbers to add to your list. If you want the best network Verizon is going to make you pay for it and don't think that is going to change any time soon.