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Major changes at Verizon Wireless?

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Major changes at Verizon Wireless?
Those who want to take full advantage of the largess at Verizon Wireless need to open an account very soon because  huge changes are apparantly coming to two of Big Red's most popular programs to grab new wireless customers and keep them. If a leaked memo to Verizon employees is the real thing, starting on February 15th, Verizon will eliminate their Test Drive program. This deal allowed new Verizon subscribers to try out the service for 30 days with no risk. If the customer left Verizon by the 30th day and had his number ported to another carrier, Verizon would waive all charges on the account including activation fees and usage charges. Again, this deal will not be offered by the carrier after February 14th. The other change is to the New Every Two program which basically allowed Verizon customers to get a new phone at a subsidized price after two years with their current model. The change deals with the amount of discount that Verizon will now give to new accounts. Those paying a monthly rate of $34.99 to $79.98 on a wireless account that was opened after February 14th will now get a discount of $30 toward a new phone after two years, compared with the $50 received by subscribers whose account was opened between 2/5/06 and 2/14/09. Those paying more than $79.99 a month for an account opened between 2/5/06 and 2/14/09 receive a discount of $100 when using the New Every Two discount. Accounts that open on 2/15 or later will have the discount cut in half to $50. Sounds complex, but the bottom line is that if you want to take advantage of the Test Drive and the higher New Every Two discounts, you better run over to Verizon and open a new account before February 15th. Circle that date on your calendar in Big Red ink.

source: BGR

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34 Comments

1. LessthanZach posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:42

That won't make too many consumers happy...

2. msb175 posted on 31 Jan 2009, 08:06

That stinks.

3. LGVX1993 posted on 31 Jan 2009, 08:29

Whats up Verizon? This doesn't make sence.

4. The Godfather (unregistered) posted on 31 Jan 2009, 08:42

the WFG is always going to be there, I am not certain about the Test Drive Program but that has always been offered as a promotional. I think these changes are lame and I work for this company. The ne2 credit is going to start all sorts of problems.

5. willieg3 posted on 31 Jan 2009, 08:48

Thats business. Every company wants to make sure that they are staying profitable, especially during bad economic times. As far as I know Verizon is still the only company that gives an additional discount to existing customers when they upgrade their devices (if I am wrong I apologize and someone let me know if any other companies give additional discounts to existing customers). I used to work for Sprint and I know for a fact that they at least used to give a bigger discount to people signing up for new accounts and shafted existing customers. Yes it stinks but thats the way things go when a company is trying to keep on building.

16. shayshaybhai posted on 31 Jan 2009, 17:14

Not really, Sprint dealer here and prices are the same for customers who qualify for a full upgrade and new customers. No difference in price. Very rare where there are deals that are for new customers only at Sprint corporate stores or exclusive/preferred retailers.

6. Jango_Fred posted on 31 Jan 2009, 08:51

I'm not saying this is a good move... but it will only affect new customers after 2/15. So, if you become a new Verizon customer on the 16th, at least the new customers will know going into it. However, if they don't like the service, guess they are screwed. Life is a gamble.

7. remixfa posted on 31 Jan 2009, 09:08

hopefully that means they are subsidizing the phones more. last time they did a major cut like that, was when they took away the extra upgrade to data devices. they just incorperated it into the regular pricing to make it easier.

8. vzwemp87 posted on 31 Jan 2009, 09:27

yes this is very true but you guys also need to understand as far as the New Every Two goes verizon is the only company that provides any additional money off other than normal elgibility pricing and besides after all the years of me working for verizon i havent seen test drive be used once.

15. Kiltlifter posted on 31 Jan 2009, 15:43

Where do you work? We do the test drvie in the call centers all the time. Mostly people that live in crazy rural areas (populations like 200 for a town) want to see if it works... flat out, no company is goign to drop a couple million dollars for a tower to give service to 200 people.

9. TopBanana posted on 31 Jan 2009, 09:49

Blame it on the iPhone, it caused everyone to futher subsidize prices on cell phones. Look at the LG voyager before the iPhone 3g came out it was $300 now just over a year later its still a hot seller but its only $80. Verizon is lowering the new every 2 credit but if you compare what you paid before to what you will be paying you are still getting a bunch of phones for free and still paying a little more for nicer phone so really no loss

25. *HOVA* posted on 02 Feb 2009, 15:38

I don't see how you can blame this on the iPhone. Competition drives prices down, not just one phone released. Nearly all phones retail for high prices like the iPhone was when it first came out. Phones also drop in price quite a bit after being released and the Voyager has been out how long?

10. dragonex14 (unregistered) posted on 31 Jan 2009, 10:22

wow..... there gonna lose a lot of customers. especially because when you paying $80 a month you only get a $50 discount. But when you pay $35 a month, you get $30. $80 is more than double $35. But $50 is LESS than double the $30 dollars. Hopefully they drop the prices of phones as well....

33. mikel45365 posted on 07 Feb 2009, 09:36

The whole world economy is in a recession, so Verizon Wireless is not excluded in the column labeled 'companies who need to make smart financial decisions.' They are THE ONLY carrier to offer a BETTER PRICE for existing customers then for New lines. The fact that they are cutting back what they are giving customers is a better move then for them to lay employees off or degrade network quality (END USER experience).

11. The Godfather (unregistered) posted on 31 Jan 2009, 10:25

where are they gonna all go dragonex? att? t mobile? sprint (lmao)? none of those companies ever offered money off your upgrade sales pricing and all of those companies charge upgrade fees, so you actually pay more than just the 2 year pricing.

12. VZWEMP posted on 31 Jan 2009, 11:13

well verizon implamented an upgrade fee in the 3rd quater of 08 and it pissed many people off. we ended waiving about 95 percent of them. eventually verizon got rid of the upgrade fee. so im really not too worried.

13. The Doc posted on 31 Jan 2009, 11:14

Foul Play! Being employed by a company that strives for customer service and satisfaction, I can't see this change helping out at all. Bad move.

14. trentsinmypants posted on 31 Jan 2009, 14:57

I work for VZW and i havent heard anything about this. Perhaps its a regional thing?

17. vzw fanman posted on 31 Jan 2009, 17:44

do you have to have a college degree to work for verizon?

18. Blazeralb posted on 01 Feb 2009, 01:17

youd think theyd cut us a brake and lower prices seein they have the most custemers but i guess they see this as they have more people to rape monthly

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