Verizon would not sell me a phone full price.

[Cyder]

SO I just called the store. They were selling only the ones that were on presale from customers before hand. They are expecting another shipment from fedex for the people who were un able to buy the phone at retail.

I will be calling them later tonight to see if they have any left.

 

[BoNg420]

Call and complain to the store manager. You should of got the store manager. Never take crap from no CSR. You get what you want, or at least try getting a manager. They only didnt sell you it because they make more with upgrades or new customers. Go back to the store, talk to that manager. Also call in a complaint to their corporate. You could get some kind of money off your bill or something if you push for it.

 

[Cory Streater]

Looks like it's a good thing you ordered when you did. They are now out of stock online and their site now says due to high demand they will ship by 5/4.

 

[bart151]

Called in and they have them in but they don't have any to test out on the floor. Not sure I wanna lay Down 500 bucks on something I can't try.

 

[CSI Guy]

Well I am still upset but being upset won't get my phone here any sooner. It will get here by 3:00pm tomorrow. Oh well I guess that I just have to live with the poor service that I got from the store. Live and learn. Tomorrow will be a great day, I get the Incredible and the iPad also. Fun day ahead.

 

[WV Jillybean]

My Incredible First Day Experience

I've chased an Incredible all day. One store I went to did not have any in stock yet. Called another store and they told me they had "plenty" so I drove 1 1/2 hours to get there only to be told they would not sell me one at full price. They would not let me pay off my old contract and start a new 2 year contract unless I could stand to lose my phone number I've had for ten years. The only way they would sell me one and keep my phone number is if I added a third line with a data plan at $9.99 + $40 per month and sign a new two year contract for it!! I was really disappointed but not willing to go for that deal so I drove home, another hour. Decided to call Verizon and got a really nice woman on the phone who was willing to sell me an Incredible for $529 but I'll be darn if my rural address would not work for her FedEx shipping address. She tried and tried but the computer would not let her enter it. Wanted me to have it sent to a relative but by then I didn't particularly want to wait around at someone's house the next two days to sign for the thing!!!
Thought I'd share my complaint on here because I thought -- only on Android Forums would anyone have sympathy for someone with $500 to spend on a phone who wants to complain because they couldn't seem to get anyone to sell them one!

 

[bbfunnyman]

VZW is greedy, they want the sales (read:contracts) that are going to make them the most money.

Unfortunately, that is the downside of capitalism. I think its bogus also, they are making tons of money off of us each month, a (effective) $1 for $1 sale isnt going to throw the books off. But all the pressure in the stores is towards contract re-ups without question.

 

[markhunsaker]

Verizon doesn't gain much at all to gave you but a phone at retail...some stores won't sell them at full retail because the phone just launched and they are guarding their stock.

 

[dr.duct_mossburg]

A lot of the stores had a limited number and were really looking for those port over's from at&t.

Im surprised you all encountered this practice though. My store sold them however. Customer's talk, and you want them to talk good, not bad. I apologize for the way you all were treated.

 

[YourMobileGuru]

I've never experienced this myself, but hears of it happening during the original Storm and Droid launches.

My guess would be that the OP was in a store with low stock on this phone. I've heard of this happening before because they have quotas as far as how many new or extended contracts they have to get. They actually don't make any real money on the phone (even at full retail they basically make about a hundred to a hundred fifty bucks but make about $700 over two years (on the data plan alone), plus calling plan and features and loose about $200 on the sale itself.

They point is, selling the phone to you they basically make $150 or so on the deal. A new contract or upgrade is gonna get them hundreds (thousands, if the calling plan is right) over the next two years.

Sucks I know, but that's how they look at it.....

EDIT: For what it's worthy I got mine full retail but I pre ordered mine and had it they day before release.

 

[YourMobileGuru]

Hey bud how you enjoying the phone so far?

I have a Moto Droid and highly considering purchasing the Incredible at retail price(ouch I know but it may be worth it). I will be selling my Droid IF I decide to buy the Incredible so hoping to get some feedback on if its worth the switch.

You do realize that by the time the holidays come around and you are probably eligible for an annual update there will be a new crop of phones that blow both the Droid AND Incredible AND Evo out of the water.... just think long and hard before you do something like that.

 

[ecksit]

I renewed my contract last fall. 3 months later I bought a blackberry at full price. Last week I bought a Droid Incredible at full price. I'm the only one on my plan.

The people that tried to tell you that have no frickin clue what they are talking about. Maybe they are running low on the merchandise? Idk...

 

[dr.duct_mossburg]

I've never experienced this myself, but hears of it happening during the original Storm and Droid launches.

My guess would be that the OP was in a store with low stock on this phone. I've heard of this happening before because they have quotas as far as how many new or extended contracts they have to get. They actually don't make any real money on the phone (even at full retail they basically make about a hundred to a hundred fifty bucks but make about $700 over two years (on the data plan alone), plus calling plan and features and loose about $200 on the sale itself.

They point is, selling the phone to you they basically make $150 or so on the deal. A new contract or upgrade is gonna get them hundreds (thousands, if the calling plan is right) over the next two years.

Sucks I know, but that's how they look at it.....

EDIT: For what it's worthy I got mine full retail but I pre ordered mine and had it they day before release.

Depending on the location, retail price may only be $40. Factor in over night shipping and now its about $30.

Yes their are quota's and if the store has low inventory than they might be reluctant to sell. Bring up the phrase Bait and switch.

 

[the tree]

I went into Verizon today to pay full price for a Incredible. They would not sell me a phone at any price. They said that I had to either buy a second line or upgrade which I am not able to do. This is not the best way to do business. I am in sales and when a customer wants to give me money you take it and make the sale.

it's actually a great way to do business.

You can buy it full price online, the stores are keeping the lines they have in store for customers extending contrcts to thank them for extending their contracts.

they don't make as much off you buying it at full retail as they do off locking a guy in for a 2 year contract...so(think as a business here), you give the in stock item to the more valuable customers while the less valuable are forced to get them full retail online.

don't like it?
shoulda pre-ordered at full retail like me, and got it wednesday.