Verizon Set to Alter their Upgrade Policy

[ilikemoneygreen]

My thing is...is this a result of the iphone "possibly" coming out? Or are they trying to get people to hold on to devices longer? I'd probably have an iphone for two years also if I had to drop $4-600 everytime I lost it cause theres no insurance on it.
But as a phone company, they push out phones often. And even if you keep your phone for two years..it's not like the iphone, where you can go to an apple store and also get help with it. People with ordinary phones..blackberries, androids...****...family planned samsung flip phones...

Once they discontinue your phone (typically 7-8 months later), your phone is obsolete. And they stop giving support for your phone.
So say if you had the phone for a year and a day then all of a sudden the screen goes black. But they discontinued the phone two three months before then. You're practically screwed. They will honor your insurance and give you another phone...but even then..you have no support for it.

Verizon with the swindle award for 2011.

I think everyone including myself misread this as a bad policy. Does anyone remember a month or two ago and Vz was offering special offers that allowed some people to upgrade their phone early? Thats what they want to do, but at the official level, just not as an every now and then sort of thing. I dont think they want us locked in longer on hardware i just think they like the system of offering specials on upgrades better. The only bad thing about this is that it is not in the contract that they have to offer you an upgrade...but its highly beneficial for them to do so as it locks you in for a longer contract. Does this make any sense? I guess i could be stretching out that one sentence in the information add a bit.... VZ-"[...]Beginning January 16,2011, customers will be eligible for promotional pricing as well as special offers that we make available [...]"

 

[Beka27]

I think everyone just freaked out at the implication of "no early upgrades", when in reality, not everyone was getting early upgrades anyways. If I walked into a VZW store in month 13, they'd probably laugh at me. I got my X fully expecting to have it for 20 months, but the more I think about it, the one-year contract is looking more and more promising.

 

[jlukes]

This policy is doing away with early upgrades at twelve months and moving it to twenty months out of a twenty-four month contract. Locking you to your phone eight more months before upgrading at a discounted cost.

With the exception of a few short-term promotional periods, the Verizon (corp) stores around me have never allowed early upgrades (prior to 20 months). I have had Verizon service for nearly 20 years. So this is no big deal to me.

Bob

Same here. I have always waited until my 20th month to upgrade. Looks like this "change" won't affect 99% of customers.

 

[jtcsifl]

Upgrade Policy Changes

I just called the VZW toll free line about upgrade & NE2 policy changes as my upgrade date is 2/10 and "We have no record of any upcoming upgrade or NE2 policy changes". Guess I'll find out for sure on 1/16....

 

[ipawd1]

I agree, it does makes sense to lock you in for a longer contract..But i personally havent been able to have a smartphone device last longer than the 13th month without it either being discontinued, a newer model coming out and it being phased out, or simply...wanted a new device. I've been guilty of all three.

When I got my blackberry curve in 2006 I was content... Then they phased out, I upgraded to the Storm... Then the storm 2 came out. Same exact phone. But mine was discontinued. I wasn't going to spend more on the same phone, so I got my Droid. 6 months after my droid came out, it was the incredible, droid x, and a host of others... But my phone did everything theirs could do..I wasnt mad.. Honestly..I would've went on for 2 years with my Droid 1.

Then the custom roms started taking longer and longer. The "apps I wanted" slacked on coming (netflix, hulu..Not their fault), Verizon was pushing to do me like the Blackberry storm did and releasing the Droid 2. Then they discontinued that..for what? Droid 2 global.

I just went in November and got the Droid X. I'm content for now..But then..4g. I WAS TOLD

"Never be the first to get anything"... But it's tempting. I've been got plenty of times.. However..I did pretty good getting the "first android device on verizon" with my Droid 1..."

Not upset with Verizon trying to make a buck off me by keeping me tied to a contract. Will I get 1 year contracts from now on.. certainly. Why? Because..if my phone lasts 12 months and I still want to use it.. I can still use it, or upgrade. With two years..it's slightly impossible.

I fault myself for reading and being so knowledged ABOUT my android devices, and apps, and everything that I always want the newest, coolest one. Because I'm sure thetre are people who have no clue about Droidforums.net that are about to end their two year contracts soon and have no clue or a care.

 

[Beka27]

I fault myself for reading and being so knowledged ABOUT my android devices, and apps, and everything that I always want the newest, coolest one. Because I'm sure thetre are people who have no clue about Droidforums.net that are about to end their two year contracts soon and have no clue or a care.

Well put. So many people pick things just because it's cute, or trendy, or free/cheap... but they don't know what the issues are with it. There is no perfect device. I know my X doesn't have the Fascinate's fancy screen, I know my 8mp camera is hit and miss, but I deal with it. Even these new phones coming out will ahve their own set of issues. When I'm ready to upgrade after CES 2012, hopefully some of the bugs will be worked out.

 

[UrbanBounca]

It has been confirmed by someone on another site that I visit (VZW dealer) that if you have an upgrade available now, use it, because it will be gone after January 16! This policy is retroactive, and because this was considered a promotion, it does not affect your contract.

 

[Neutrino]

It has been confirmed by someone on another site that I visit (VZW dealer) that if you have an upgrade available now, use it, because it will be gone after January 16! This policy is retroactive, and because this was considered a promotion, it does not affect your contract.

To clarify, the (13-20 month) early upgrade is going away. The end of contract (20-24 month) upgrade continues.

 

[Beka27]

It has been confirmed by someone on another site that I visit (VZW dealer) that if you have an upgrade available now, use it, because it will be gone after January 16! This policy is retroactive, and because this was considered a promotion, it does not affect your contract.

Unless you're holding out for CES phones. Assuming the bigger, badder phones will be available in June/July... if you are in month 13, have a working phone, and were offered an early upgrade, WAIT, you can get a new device very shortly after they are released.

 

[sansavi]

to clarify ONCE more. any of those eligible for the 20 month or beyond upgrade ARE in fact keeping their ability to upgrade?

im assuming you mean all those eligible for a 13-20 month "early upgrade" are the ones losing their chance jan 16.

sorry for having to clarify, but if im losing my shot jan 16th im snagging a fascinate.

 

[Beka27]

What month are you in Sansavi?

 

[sansavi]

i havent renewed contract since the blackberry storm..got a motodroid "secondhand" last april.

i wanna say....month 25?

 

[Beka27]

That upgrade should always be available to you then. Are you planning on only doing one-year contracts from now on? That's my new plan. You could get something now and then get something new around November (10 months later)once all those cool new phones are readily available.

 

[author]

ah well... just upgraded to Droid 2 last month so they will like have 16-core with 1 terrabyte SD cards by the time I can upgrade. somethin' to look forward to, I guess. Especially the built in holodecks, eh?dancedroid

--Ralph

 

[joker402]

OK time to chime in.

The NE2 credits are going away and the ablity to upgrade after 12 months on a 2 yr contrack on a priceplan of 49.99 or higher is also going away.


IF you have an NE2 coming up, you will still be eligble but it will be your last and you have to use it with in 6 months of it being active.

This goes in effect on the 16.

This is all according to the leaked PDFS.