Beginning to dislike Verizon

[tnkr_bell]

That is very intersting, I wonder why it says the word optional on it then? Makes no sense.

I think it means that the higher data plan is optional. You have to at least have the 9.99 plan, but you can choose to go with the higher data plan.

 

[disney1990]

I think it means that the higher data plan is optional. You have to at least have the 9.99 plan, but you can choose to go with the higher data plan.

It is definitely not clear. All of the other descriptions say "required".

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

I went onto thier website and got myself a package together and put that phone in my cart and it did have the pay per use option beside it, so yes it is an option, for now anyways. I upgraded my phone, just for the heck of it no joke, at the beginning of January, and I had no idea this was coming. I got the LG chocolate tough without a data plan. I just lucked up.

 

[bonoriffic]

Yes, the costs of these phones are WAY overpriced. Believe me they are not "giving" us a break with their $50 phones with 2 year contract. All the pricing is way inflated...

That is the exact opposite of my point. The Motorola Droid can be had for $50 at Best Buy. The actual cost of raw materials for this phone is $187.75. This is not speculation, entire websites are devoted to breaking open every phone and determining the exact parts inside and their actual cost. This of course is just raw material cost. It does not include shipping costs, research and development costs, and marketing costs.

My point is the $50 phone you are getting really cost closer to $400. That doesn't include the cellular carrier's infrastructure cost which is in the billions. People seem to assume phones should be free and the monthly plan very inexpensive. Get over it. Companies need to make their money back, and have very slim (if any) profit margins on your one phone. You have a phone that is also a camera, a video camera, an MP3 player, GPS navigation device, internet browser, movie player, and is the size of a deck of cards. It cost you $50. If you don't like the data plan, then get the crappy phone that didn't cost millions of dollars in research and development. But keep in mind you are still making calls on a network that has cost billions of dollars. I'm frankly amazed they offer service for under $1000 a month.

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

That is the exact opposite of my point. The Motorola Droid can be had for $50 at Best Buy. The actual cost of raw materials for this phone is $187.75. This is not speculation, entire websites are devoted to breaking open every phone and determining the exact parts inside and their actual cost. This of course is just raw material cost. It does not include shipping costs, research and development costs, and marketing costs.

My point is the $50 phone you are getting really cost closer to $400. That doesn't include the cellular carrier's infrastructure cost which is in the billions. People seem to assume phones should be free and the monthly plan very inexpensive. Get over it. Companies need to make their money back, and have very slim (if any) profit margins on your one phone. You have a phone that is also a camera, a video camera, an MP3 player, GPS navigation device, internet browser, movie player, and is the size of a deck of cards. It cost you $50. If you don't like the data plan, then get the crappy phone that didn't cost millions of dollars in research and development. But keep in mind you are still making calls on a network that has cost billions of dollars. I'm frankly amazed they offer service for under $1000 a month.

I don't misunderstand your point. I just don't agree. I am amazed you believe their "costs" are valid. They are so cheaply made....like I said they are not giving you a break when you pay $50 up front - they make their money back. You will require a repair or a new battery somewhere between when your warranty ends and your 2 year contract ends....so you are stuck in the contract with a piece of junk phone. If somehow your phone does "live" the whole 22 months, you will end up with added costs somewhere else

 

[Wonderlandmom]

But keep in mind you are still making calls on a network that has cost billions of dollars. I'm frankly amazed they offer service for under $1000 a month.

Do you know what they charge for texting and what it actually costs them? They make PLENTY of money off of people who text! It cost the cell phone provider next to nothing so is pretty much pure profit.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Do you know what they charge for texting and what it actually costs them? They make PLENTY of money off of people who text! It cost the cell phone provider next to nothing so is pretty much pure profit.

Here's an article for you:

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/news/1001/gallery.americas_biggest_ripoffs/index.html

The messages are such a tiny piece of data that they cost carriers only about one-third of a cent to deliver, according to computer scientist Srinivasan Keshav, who testified before U.S. senators on the issue last summer.

But on a pay-per-text plan, the 160-character messages typically cost 20 cents outgoing and 10 cents incoming. That's a markup of as much as 6,500%.

 

[tiredsigh]

Just looked at this and it looks great! My concern is that I know FIL has verizon and only gets one bar at our house, but friend with ATT gets five bars here. Does anyone know if ATT has similar co-branded company?

Keep in mind that the antenna in the phone has something to do with it. I couldn't complete calls while with AT&T without it dropping the call. I switched to TMobile after that. That service was good. It was just the fees and charges.

I live in a metro area and have great coverage. There is a website that provides coverage details in cities based on user reviews. I can't remember what it was. I remember doing a google search for verizon coverage memphis and it came up. Maybe try something similar

 

[disney1990]

That is the exact opposite of my point. The Motorola Droid can be had for $50 at Best Buy. The actual cost of raw materials for this phone is $187.75. This is not speculation, entire websites are devoted to breaking open every phone and determining the exact parts inside and their actual cost. This of course is just raw material cost. It does not include shipping costs, research and development costs, and marketing costs.

My point is the $50 phone you are getting really cost closer to $400. That doesn't include the cellular carrier's infrastructure cost which is in the billions. People seem to assume phones should be free and the monthly plan very inexpensive. Get over it. Companies need to make their money back, and have very slim (if any) profit margins on your one phone. You have a phone that is also a camera, a video camera, an MP3 player, GPS navigation device, internet browser, movie player, and is the size of a deck of cards. It cost you $50. If you don't like the data plan, then get the crappy phone that didn't cost millions of dollars in research and development. But keep in mind you are still making calls on a network that has cost billions of dollars. I'm frankly amazed they offer service for under $1000 a month.

You talk like you are part owner of a cell phone company. You sure are going a long way to defend them. But, I am talking about putting a cell phone that I already own on my plan. This has absolutely nothing to do with what that cell phone cost to make and/or develop. I should NOT be required to have a data plan just because my phone is capable of using it. Do they require your home phone to have caller ID just because it can? Let's compare Apples to Apples.

In addition, when you advertise a phone and then require add ons, you are talking bate and switch and there are going to be repercussions down the road.

 

[WeLuvDiznee]

I have Verizon,and have 4 lines/phones. 2 are Blackberry Tours,the other 2 just have unlimited text.We are on a 1400 min.family share plan,the 2 BB's have the data plan/internet usage, we can call 10 people in our "circle" and not be charged minutes.(1 of these phones is an LG Envy3,but I haven't "hooked-up" the v-cast yet) my total bill monthly is only $205.00, which I have been thinking is been pretty reasonably,after hearing some of the prices my friends have been paying monthly. Am I paying too much? I have been with Verizon for 12+ yrs.

 

[bonoriffic]

I don't misunderstand your point. I just don't agree. I am amazed you believe their "costs" are valid. They are so cheaply made....like I said they are not giving you a break when you pay $50 up front - they make their money back. You will require a repair or a new battery somewhere between when your warranty ends and your 2 year contract ends....so you are stuck in the contract with a piece of junk phone. If somehow your phone does "live" the whole 22 months, you will end up with added costs somewhere else

I know the cost of the phones are true because A) It is widely published data from third party analysts and B) I already said I work for a cell phone manufacture and know the true cost.

I've never had a phone battery need replacing or the phone break during the life of the contract. I also don't mistreat the phone or buy a poorly made phone to begin with. If your phone is getting that abused you should get the insurance.

I'll say it again, if you buy a Droid for $50 with the cheapest plan available (which nobody here seems to think is cheap) Verizon will most likely have lost money on you over the length of the 2 year contract. This is if you don't do any texts, nothing else extra. Just make phone calls and use the internet. I'm not asking you to feel sorry for them. There are plenty of people buying ring tones and text plans to allow them to make a profit. I was only offering a realistic point of view for all the people whining about having to spend an extra $10 on data for their $400 phone they got for free.

If you don't like paying for data, it is time to start investing in stamps because the future of cell phones are consolidated operating systems that all support the internet. Paying for data won't be an option, it will be paying for faster data.

 

[ohlas]

$10.00 internet fee/cell phone ... $15.00-$25.00 checked luggage fee/airline ... new credit card annual fee ... I think there might be a pattern here ... nickle and dime the consumer = $$$$$ profit ...

bullet prices are rising too lol

 

[ohlas]

I know the cost of the phones are true because A) It is widely published data from third party analysts and B) I already said I work for a cell phone manufacture and know the true cost.

I've never had a phone battery need replacing or the phone break during the life of the contract. I also don't mistreat the phone or buy a poorly made phone to begin with. If your phone is getting that abused you should get the insurance.

I'll say it again, if you buy a Droid for $50 with the cheapest plan available (which nobody here seems to think is cheap) Verizon will most likely have lost money on you over the length of the 2 year contract. This is if you don't do any texts, nothing else extra. Just make phone calls and use the internet. I'm not asking you to feel sorry for them. There are plenty of people buying ring tones and text plans to allow them to make a profit. I was only offering a realistic point of view for all the people whining about having to spend an extra $10 on data for their $400 phone they got for free.

If you don't like paying for data, it is time to start investing in stamps because the future of cell phones are consolidated operating systems that all support the internet. Paying for data won't be an option, it will be paying for faster data.

ok but verison isnt paying 400 retail silly,,, and 10 a month for what 2 year contract is 240 and more then they pay for the phone they gave you for free duh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ATAfamily]

I just upgraded two of our phones on our plan this month and I was not happy about the new data charges on the so-called cool phones.

I got my daughter and myself the Samsung Intensity which is a basic phone that does not require a data package. I paid extra for this phone because I only renewed for one year instead of two. Next year all four of our phone contracts expire and then I will start researching other cell phone companies and probably drop Verizon for T-Mobile as their 700 minute/unlimited text plan is $20 cheaper than Verizon's.

 

[luvmy3]

Look at Page Plus cellular!

Do a search on customers who like it and all the ins and outs. I am not technologically patient If I can't figure it out pretty quickly, I don't want to deal with it. I went to howard forums to learn about it. That forum does not sell anything but it is a message board about cell phones and plans.

I switched because I was on an old TMobile plan and couldn't add another line to it. So I started doing my research. I don't need a data plan for my personal cell since I have a work blackberry already.

I do the $29.95 per phone a month plan. No tax. No fees. Nothing. While it is prepaid, you can set up automatic drafts from your account so it is as easy as my postpaid.

It runs on the Verizon network. Great coverage. The only limitations are the phones. You must use a verizon enabled phone. It can be one that is meant for prepaid or you can use a verizon phone from the store that is for a postpaid account. No discount on phones, but I don't care. The savings are substantial.

$29.95 plan is for 1200 anytime minutes and 1200 texts a month.

$39.95 is for unlimited talk and texts.

Since you do it by phone, you can have the smaller plan for people who use less and the higher plan for those who use more.

They might even have local stores for you to visit.

Not having taxes and extra fees is also huge

If anyone is interested in this, just keep in mind that you cannot go into a store (Walmert, Target, etc) and purchase a prepaid verizon phone and use it with this plan. If you already have a pre-paid phone, you can port the number but you have to already be a Verizon pre-pay customer. There is alot of info on PagePlus that can be found on slickdeals.

I stand corrected. I think that the Motorola Rival does not require the data plan. I think.

You are right. I just recently was looking into getting a Verizon family plan because dd is starting to use her phone for texting and we are currently doing the Verizon pre-pay. When I was picking out phones they were having a special B1G1 on an EnV something or other, but when I went to check out it would have been an extra $20 a month just because we choose those phones. I went pack and picked the Rivals for us both, and there was no mandatory $10/month charge for that one.

 

[elgerber]

Nevermind, I read something wrong LOL.

 

[bonoriffic]

ok but verison isnt paying 400 retail silly,,, and 10 a month for what 2 year contract is 240 and more then they pay for the phone they gave you for free duh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your math is nice and simple if you only figure the cost of the phone. They will eventually make back the subsidy they are giving you for the phone. I was including the disproportionate cost internet enabled devices demand on the network. If every "chunk" of the network you use through voice or data had a cost, many internet enabled users are bleeding the carriers dry.

 

[omghidanielle]

My sister recently flushed her phone down the toilet, and I had to go to the Verizon store to meet up with her because she called to tell me this new 'policy' and I was so convinced that they were just trying to rip her off that I flew over there like I was on fire! She is so into having a 'cool phone', that she was all about paying the extra $10 a month, even though she had no intentions of using the internet. Lucky for me, I didn't give her privileges to make any changes on our account, and now she has a QWERTY phone that she has since deemed 'ugly'. My response was 'whoops, shouldn't flush your phone'

 

[MaumeeMom]

I haven't read this whole thread but I'm thinking of switching from Verizon after they tried the old bait and switch with me. I wrote about it in my blog:

http://maumee2dis.posterous.com/on-verizon-disney-and-best-laid-plans

 

[bonoriffic]

I haven't read this whole thread but I'm thinking of switching from Verizon after they tried the old bait and switch with me. I wrote about it in my blog:

http://maumee2dis.posterous.com/on-verizon-disney-and-best-laid-plans

That doesn't sound like bait and switch, just a really bad salesman. Bait and switch would be advertising a lower rate to get you into the store, then only offering the higher priced plan. In this case, you weren't lured to the store with a false claim. You were just subject to a really bad salesman. Although I agree the whole phone buying process seems ridiculously long. I don't understand why it takes 45 minutes. I've bought cars faster than I have some phones.