Verizon Makes Contract and Upgrade Rules Stricter; Abandons Early Upgrades

[OleManDan]

I'm one of those who WAS due for an upgrade in January. Now it looks like I'm pushed back to about May.
I have a major problem with Verizon. As good as their coverage is it's hit or miss at my house for phone service.
Independent cell tower owner not putting out adequate wattage for coverage.
When I complained they turned it up for a couple of days, then back down.
I got 0 to 1 bar, complained then I had 3 bars... then back to 1 bar.
I live about 3 miles from their cell tower, with no obstructions.
My problem is worse because Verizon is still better than the coverage with ATT, or Spring, or T-Mobil.
Parts of North Alabama are truly a no mans land for cell service...

I can leave my house and go a couple of miles and have a reliable 4 bar signal...
Verizon says my signal will get better when they switch phone signals to 4G...
I'm pretty much trapped with crappy cell service at home, and fantastic service just a few miles away.
END OF RANT...

 

[52brandon]

Does this mean everyone who's upgrade is after the 15th has to wait until 24 months now? Also can you still use an upgrade for another line then transfer the phone to another line?

I don't see how they could say no as long as you keep that other line active

 

[Lars]

This is frustrating. I keep my electronics in immaculate condition, but smart phones are dated within 20 months (often far quicker) due the the rapid pace of technology. Unlike a computer, you can't simply swap out some components or upgrade memory to make an old device run like new (at least this is not feasible for the average user), so it is imperative to be able to upgrade as early as possible. Some people mentioned that four months is not a huge difference, but I have had a very different experience. My rooted and overclocked OG Droid was running on its last legs when I upgraded to the Razr in November 2011, and my Razr is becoming sluggish as I work through the final few months until my next upgrade (both devices are physically flawless). To that end, I am not one who downloads an excessive amount of apps (almost zero games), and I don't store music on my device. Both devices were top-of-the-line when purchased and were simply 'tired' by the time my upgrade arrived due to the mandatory upgrades to the operating system and app updates that were more appropriate for more powerful devices. If Verizon wants to extend upgrades to 24-months, then I argue the subsidized price should reflect this additional four months of usage. I fail to see any benefit to Verizon by making this change. Instead of gouging customers for $200 every twenty months, it must now wait twenty-four months, with the potential of customers leaving because their contract has expired.

 

[Mustang02]

I'm past my upgrade date and have the unlimited data plan. Once the get rid of my unlimited, verizon goes with it. T-Mobile looks better and better every day.

 

[kodiak799]

You guys do realize that after that first upgrade you already go 24 months between upgrades? The only difference is you still had 4 months to go on the contract when your upgrade comes.

Kind of a nuisance to have that 4-month lag to transition, but only in the gotta-have-it-now tech-geek world is that really an issue.

 

[iGrizz]

I am eligible for an upgrade on Septemeber 23, 2013 and my contract end January 23, 2014. I love my Galaxy Nexus so I won't have a problem holding onto it until my contract ends.


Goodbye Verizon, hello TMobile. DancingNexus

 

[heath223]

Verizon thinks that B/C they have the best coverage that they can do what they want and get away with it. NO LONGER WITH ME! I have 5 lines 2 smart phones(1 has unlimited) and 3 dumb phones. My plan is 700 minutes and have never gone over on minutes normaly use under 300. for the past 3 years both smart lines used under 3 gigs combined. One of the ways they have kept me as a customer was by letting me upgrade early at 20 months B/C I like new phones. Now having to wait till 24 and my contract being up will make it a lot easier to leave them. As others have said Verizon is shooting themselves in the foot with all their crap. Looks like my wanting the HTC ONE will happen a lot sooner(Verizon with their crap wasn't getting it anyway). I did some figuring and I can go to Tmobile and pay about the same and sell the phones I have now to cover the fees for ending all 5 lines early. Looks like I will be visiting TMobile soon I checked their coverage map and it looks like I am covered I just need to try out a phone and make sure.

 

[TheOldFart]

You guys do realize that after that first upgrade you already go 24 months between upgrades? The only difference is you still had 4 months to go on the contract when your upgrade comes.

Kind of a nuisance to have that 4-month lag to transition, but only in the gotta-have-it-now tech-geek world is that really an issue.

I don't believe that's correct. I've been with Verizon for at least 10 years and have always been eligible for another upgrade at 20 months.

 

[TatDroid]

I fail to see any benefit to Verizon by making this change. Instead of gouging customers for $200 every twenty months, it must now wait twenty-four months, with the potential of customers leaving because their contract has expired.

The benefit to Verizon is not in the $200 you pay them, it comes from the $400 you DON'T pay them. You pay only $200 for a $600 phone. Verizon subsidizes the other $400. They then spread that $400 over 20 months - which costs them $20/month. Now, they can spread that $400 over 24 months - which costs them $16.67/month. This savings of $3.33 per month, every month, for tens of millions of customers adds up to HUGE bucks for Verizon!

As you also state, the real danger for Verizon in this change is that by not allowing an upgrade until people are ALSO out of contract (free to leave), you increase the risk of customer churn (leaving for another provider). That was the genius of the previous deal: you could upgrade after 20 months - but you couldn't leave (kind of like the Hotel California)

 

[LoneWolfArcher]

Oh Verizon... why can't you leave well enough alone? It has been quite some time since they have come out with some new policy or statement that infuriates their customers. It would have been nice to see them continue that trend. I guess the story of the scorpion and the frog comes to mind.

Verizon just officially released a new and stricter policy regarding their contracts and upgrade policies. Here's a quote below taken straight from their website which explains it,



So, there you have it. At a time when companies like Sprint and T-Mobile are offering much more competitive rates and policies, Verizon is squeezing customers a bit harder when they already have the lion's share of the pie. Some of this new policy isn't really that bad, and probably makes sense, but its timing still has us scratching our head a bit.

Source: VZW

Doesn't matter to me. I will be buying at full price to keep my unlimited data plan anyway.

 

[PereDroid]

I thought VZW ditched early upgrades a long time ago.
I know I wasn't offered one this time. My contract just ended on Friday...

 

[guidot]

I thought VZW ditched early upgrades a long time ago.
I know I wasn't offered one this time. My contract just ended on Friday...

They ditched the "money off" over and above the standard subsidy of the phone for a new two year.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[xeene]

all the recent changes that verizon is implementing is because they have no competition in this country. they can get away with murder and they will still attract more subscribers then all other networks combined. there is a reason they're voted #1 cell service in the country for god knows how many years, and the second largest provider(att) rated the worst. that's a HUGE gap in customer service between two largest providers.

before other companies can provide the same quality of service as verizon, people will still prefer to pay premium and get service then save a few bucks and go with 2nd grade provider.

 

[jseah]

They ditched the "money off" over and above the standard subsidy of the phone for a new two year.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

And they also ditched the early annual upgrade on primary lines at the same time they ditched the new every two discount.

 

[jseah]

I don't believe that's correct. I've been with Verizon for at least 10 years and have always been eligible for another upgrade at 20 months.

Correct. When you upgrade at 20 months, you sign a new 24 month contract that begins on the date you upgraded. Then when 20 more months pass, you get to upgrade again. Basically having the upgrade date at 20 months allowed the customer who was upgrading and renewing the contract to essentially end their contract 4 months earlier, so long as they were upgrading and renewing the contract, since it started the "clock" when you upgraded.