Hey, I've been a "lurker" on droidforums for a while now, finally made an account a little while ago, and this is my first post... Nice to be here! I hope I can contribute, at the very least, 1/1,000,000th as I've already learned from you all!
That said, I'm another one of the many; holding onto my OG Droid, waiting for a phone that was truly "groundbreaking" before upgrading, and not getting stuck with a Bionic or Thunderbolt or something like that (no offense, owners of aforementioned phones who actually like them...).
As a techie-geek (self-proclaimed), I am the kind of person who is willing to wait an extra month or three for the phone I REALLY WANT to come out, patiently sitting on my (now last) $100 upgrade, with the cash stored away for the specific purpose of a new phone. As a dual-degree college student (Biochemical Engineering and Psychopharmacology), I have not a lot of free time and not a lot of extra cash, as one can probably imagine.
So, I saved $10-20 a week until I had $220 (plus my $100 upgrade, which went into effect ONE DAY before the cut-off where it would've dropped from $100/50 to $60/30), checking here and on Google every day for the last few weeks for updates about the Galaxy Nexus: when it was coming, how much it would cost, 16GB or 32GB, vanilla 4.0 or Samsung-modified 4.0, etc, etc, etc...
I've been fretting like crazy about whether or not I'd keep my unlimited data (have had unlimited 3G data plan since March'10 for my OG Droid) when switching to the 4G Galaxy Nexus, and even after reading a hundred posts saying "YES YES YES", I've read just as many saying "I GOT SCREWED, SCREWED, SCREWED!", and as much as I use my phone's data (I do a lot of web browsing/research), Verizon would have to pry my unlimited data from my cold-dead hands.
So the other day, I went into the local VZW Store and spoke with the manager regarding the Nexus: "When is it coming? How much? When is it going to be here? Is is 16 or 32 GB? Will it be here soon? Is it identical to the GSM model released in Europe? So will it be here on the 11th or the 9th? Can I preorder it or will I have to take my chances on launch day? Speaking of launch day, when will that happen?"
You know, the basic stuff
Anyone, I got around to asking about switching from Unlimited 3G to the Nexus and it's 4G while retaining my Unlimited Data, and he confirmed that YES, I can! Woohoo, yay me! I know that's common knowledge, but it's good to hear it from the company rep himself, you know?
So, then I told them that I was notified of an upgrade ~2 months ago, and that I should have $100 towards a new phone according to what I was told, and can I apply that to the Nexus? He said yes, if it's there, and to let him check on my account... I'm on a family account, five people total, and I was the primary line up until ~18mo ago when my father's work offered us the chance for a 20% discount, so since I'm locked in with my data, I stay on the family plan (plus it's cheaper for me).
He pulls up the computer, looks up my number, and tells me my upgrade balance is $0.00!!! I just about sh1t myself, because I knew it was there... I'd checked, I had snail mail confirming it, and I'd be d@mned if they screwed me out of $100!
Turns out, the upgrade had been used... six days after it became available...
My brother, who is a dumb@ss little sh!t (freshman in college), got an HTC Incredible (2?) just like three weeks before the unlimited data went away, so late-May 2011. He has since: dropped the first in a pool (got a replacement), dropped the second in a lake (got a replacement), spilled beer on the third (got a replacement), and just straight up smashed the fourth. After the fourth broken phone in as many months, Verizon was getting upset...
Also, I was wondering why, the last time I saw him before Thanksgiving (about 3 weeks prior), he had a Droid X 2...
I was told that they were sending him a new model, when it turns out, according to the Rep, he REQUESTED a new model because "customer thinks phone is too slow, yet all have been in 100% perfect working condition prior to his damaging them just before replacement-period ended".
Turns out he went to the store, after finding my SS#, and used my $100 credit to get a phone that was, at the time, only $49.95!!!! According to the Rep, it's already been replaced once as well!! I swear I'm going to strangle him! He still gets everything paid for, so he could've gotten a new phone if he'd asked, but instead he takes my upgrade... Now, the only upgrade left out of all 5 phones is a $50 one, and I'm getting grief because "It's not my upgrade to use". Jesus Christ. I called him and told him that either I get my $100 or he'll find that his data is going to very quickly get throttled way back, but nope...
Anyway, I told the VZW Rep that he had been taking his phone swimming with him, and that all the previous times he'd sent in for replacement, it wasn't an unintentional case of water damage... So next time he goes in there, I'll be getting a phone call and it's up to me to determine whether or not he can get a replacement or will have to suffer without a phone or *GASP* pay for it himself! Also, he has been blocked from accessing anything regarding the account, even how much data/texts/min he's used, because I'm not gonna lose my Unlimited Data for that nonsense.
However, after explaining what happened to the Rep, I was told that I could take the current $50 upgrade from the other line (I made him swear to me it wouldn't take away my unlimited data), but that's pretty much it... So I'm kinda f'ed. Poor college student here, overworked and severely underpaid, and my lifeline just got cut in half. Not looking for pity, that's not the point.
I'm just trying to figure out what to do... I WILL be in the store when it opens on the 9th for the phone, and I WILL be leaving with it, but I'd like to take as little of a hit as possible when it comes to the weight of my wallet... Does anyone have any advice or suggestions? I'm a decent negotiator (DVR Service/Showtime/HBO FREE for LIFE, as well as an upgrade from TWC Road Runner 15Mbs "Broadband Turbo" at $39.99/mo to Road Runner 50Mbs "Wideband" for only $49.99/mo for 3yrs, and the Wideband normally goes for $99.95/mo!) Actually, come to think of it, I'm a really good "negotiator"... In the last year, I've gotten: an LG 120hz 55" LED-LCD TV for $975 new-in-box (MSRP was $1995), two pairs of Polk Reference Series Towers (4 total speakers, 6 drivers each) for $135/pair instead of $600/pair, and a Denon 9.3(11.3) Receiver for $1700 instead of $3500, and a lot more that I can't remember... I just figure, I set a price range, and I got in and get the absolute best I can get in that price range, even if it has to be haggled down into it.
Not trying to brag, just trying to say that I'm willing to do what I have to... And haggling over $50 or $100 may seem insignificant when compared to above, but two things: 1- The reason I could afford the above at the time was because I am careful with the little amounts, and 2- PRINCIPLE!!
Whew, sorry about the long-winded post, everyone. I can be a bit, uh, "verbose" at times
Thanks for having me here, and I'm glad to be a part of this kick@ss community!!!
-nleksan
I remembered that my sister stole my upgrade to get an iphone after 4 months of using a blackberry. So if I steal my mom's or brothers upgrade the soonest I can get a new phone is July 2012.
