Amazon Wireless

[msminniemouse]

Has anyone ever purchased their cell phone through Amazon wireless? I am due for upgrade and the Verizon phone I was interested in is only $50 as opposed to $179 through Verizon, but I'm a little leery about purchasing through them.

 

[Straycat]

We just purchased my DS21 a Samsung Epic from Amazon Wireless last week. It came in yesterday via UPS (they provide free 2 day shipping for cell phones) and it was no problem activating the phone. He was porting his number from ATT and had to call Sprint's 888 number to complete the activation process. Within 10 minutes of calling, his old phone was deactivated and his new phone was up and going. I wouldn't hesitate to shop with Amazon Wireless again for my next cell phone purchase.

 

[msminniemouse]

We just purchased my DS21 a Samsung Epic from Amazon Wireless last week. It came in yesterday via UPS (they provide free 2 day shipping for cell phones) and it was no problem activating the phone. He was porting his number from ATT and had to call Sprint's 888 number to complete the activation process. Within 10 minutes of calling, his old phone was deactivated and his new phone was up and going. I wouldn't hesitate to shop with Amazon Wireless again for my next cell phone purchase.

Do you know if there are problems and you need to have phone repaired or exchanged, if you have to go through Amazon, or can you bring in to the carrier's store? Also I thought I read somewhere that if you use Amazon for phone upgrade then you can't change any features on your current plan, and you are locked into the current plan that you have.

 

[HM]

Check out Virgin Mobile phones. You can get 300 minutes voice, and unlimited texting email and web for $25 a month.

 

[TheRatPack]

I upgraded last month and went through Amazon Wireless because they were much cheaper than AT&T. It's worked out fine so far...but I've not had to exchange or anything so I don't know how that would work. I do know you can get warranties through Squaretrade on cell phones, even smart phones now....that might be a better deal for more expensive phones.

 

[medicjch]

I bought a Nextel phone from them YEARS ago and had no problem getting it set up.

 

[msminniemouse]

Well, I called Amazon Wireless and found out that this won't work for me, because I want to use the phone for a different line than the one that is due for the upgrade, and Amazon said that you have to use the upgrade only on the line it is meant for and you can't switch. With Verizon you can use the upgrade on any line, even if it is not due yet for upgrade.
I also found out that within the first 30 days you have to return or exchange phone through Amazon, but after that you can go through Verizon, and basically you will have a dual contract with Amazon and Verizon for the first 6 months. It would be a good deal but since I won't be able to use the upgrade for the line that really needs the phone, I guess I'll have to go through Verizon.

 

[acefoxtrot]

Just ordered from Amazon Wireless. So far I'm not impressed. They advertise 2-day free shipping but actually sent it ground and they're estimating 6 days arrival - next week. They weren't helpful when I called customer service and tried to tell me it was UPS that screwed up but it was their error. The phone was cheaper than anyplace else so, hopefully, it will be worth the wait.

 

[Fire14]

Well, I called Amazon Wireless and found out that this won't work for me, because I want to use the phone for a different line than the one that is due for the upgrade, and Amazon said that you have to use the upgrade only on the line it is meant for and you can't switch. With Verizon you can use the upgrade on any line, even if it is not due yet for upgrade.
I also found out that within the first 30 days you have to return or exchange phone through Amazon, but after that you can go through Verizon, and basically you will have a dual contract with Amazon and Verizon for the first 6 months. It would be a good deal but since I won't be able to use the upgrade for the line that really needs the phone, I guess I'll have to go through Verizon.

couple of ideas to try:
1. log onto Vzw acct online and see if you can switch upgrade to line that needs it, i know there is option but not sure if it will work and allow you to go thru amazon than.
2. shop other places for phone ( best buy, Radio shack, target, walmart, verzion online). Might save you money that way.

 

[bumbershoot]

First off, the original post here is almost 2 years old. Things might have changed since then. Though I bet the OP is approaching upgrade time again!

Just ordered from Amazon Wireless. So far I'm not impressed. They advertise 2-day free shipping but actually sent it ground and they're estimating 6 days arrival - next week. They weren't helpful when I called customer service and tried to tell me it was UPS that screwed up but it was their error. The phone was cheaper than anyplace else so, hopefully, it will be worth the wait.

Just to make sure, their info states:

Orders placed by 3PM Eastern Time will be delivered in two business days. Orders placed after 3PM eastern time on Fridays will ship out the following Monday and arrive Wednesday, unless there are intervening holidays. Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico also qualify for FREE Two-Day Shipping though in some cases orders may take an additional 1-3 days for arrival. Packages to U.S. Virgin Islands are sent via Standard Shipping. Please review your order confirmation email which will state if you are in an area which requires additional transit time. For new lines of service, the physical address you provide for your credit check request must match the order shipping address. Upgrade and replacement phone orders may be shipped to P.O. boxes, but new individual and new family orders may not. Please note shipments to P.O. boxes will be sent via Standard Shipping and will arrive 3-5 business days from the ship date.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Whether Amazon's changed things or not, it's interesting that the poster who bumped this old thread apparently registered here solely to complain about the shipping

 

[scrapquitler]

Has anyone ever purchased their cell phone through Amazon wireless? I am due for upgrade and the Verizon phone I was interested in is only $50 as opposed to $179 through Verizon, but I'm a little leery about purchasing through them.

My husband bought his phone from Amazon Wireless last December. It was almost $100 less than purchasing it directly from Verizon. We had absolutely no problem calling Verizon directly to activate it. We purchased insurance on it directly thru Verizon, so I suppose that if we had an issue with the phone it would have been handled thru the insurance. I can't say for sure that is the way it would have worked, because we had no problems at all.

I wouldn't worry about it because I've had issues with products in the past, and my experience has been that Amazon has been wonderful about handling problems and returns/exchanges with them are easy.