Verizon announces $30 upgrade fee for existing subscribers

35. 714reyesj posted on 11 Apr 2012, 11:40 1 0

Not early! Upgrades are 20months not 2 years! Like i posted above. It's been like that

41. forgingsteel posted on 11 Apr 2012, 11:53 1 0

Right, but can't you get an upgrade like a year early if you wanted?

44. 714reyesj posted on 11 Apr 2012, 12:00 1 1

Verizon used to offer early upgrades with a little fee but they stopped doing this a while ago. If u had it before they stopped then u still have it. I can understand the fee because u are doing it early but now they're doing it for ur standard upgrade

45. forgingsteel posted on 11 Apr 2012, 12:06 1 0

Oh okay, I finally get it. Thanks. This does suck.

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52. atheisticemetic posted on 11 Apr 2012, 13:21 0 0

they still do upgrades early called an "annual" (not literally annual like 1 year, just simply put 'annual')

some accounts have them...some dont. it's hit or miss. I think it depends on what rate plan you're on and the primary is the only line that can do so

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77. 714reyesj posted on 11 Apr 2012, 22:00 0 0

Verizon stopped giving people annual upgrades. Again if u had one before they stopped it u still have it but no more annual upgrades.

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78. VZAZGuy posted on 11 Apr 2012, 22:15 0 0

You are correct. People still have Annual upgrades though but once they use it, they won't be getting another one. Any new customers that sign up, will NOT get an annual upgrade but they will be eligible for a new phone every 20 months.

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47. Beholder88 posted on 11 Apr 2012, 12:33 4 1

Right, to get the cost of the iJunk down low enough for people to afford it, VZW (and others) have to subsidize the price. They need to make up for that cost somewhere I guess. This is going to be a nightmare when customers start calling in and asking about this. Not what I am looking forward to at work. (Yes I work for VZW)

50. networkdood posted on 11 Apr 2012, 13:17 0 0

I have the DROID RAZR....love it on ICS 4.0.4. I can tether without extra cost on my 4GB 30.00 plan...thanks VZW and XDA!!

51. networkdood posted on 11 Apr 2012, 13:18 1 0

....and DROID THEORY...

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55. ukfan15 posted on 11 Apr 2012, 14:01 0 0

You realize the company you work for now, Sprint, charges a $36 upgrade fee right?

56. networkdood posted on 11 Apr 2012, 14:18 0 0

I doubt this poster is telling us the truth as he is looking pretty stupid critiizing VZW while working for Sprint and is complaining about an upgrad fee. Either that or he/she is really a noob at Sprint.

74. tedkord posted on 11 Apr 2012, 21:47 0 0

But, even with the upgrade fee (which they wave online, BTW), Sprint is till cheaper than Verizon without the fee. Now that Verizon is adding the fee, they look even worse by price comparison.

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87. rvpilot457 posted on 12 Apr 2012, 08:39 0 0

You pay for the service you receieve.

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57. italiapride503 posted on 11 Apr 2012, 14:41 0 0

I love Verizon for the coverage that they provide...its just the fact that they are charging for upgrades...I don't like that the idea...it is cheaper than Sprint which I like the fact...I loved working for the company I previously worked for...excuse me for venting...if you have an issue with that...i don't know what else to say...

64. networkdood posted on 11 Apr 2012, 17:24 0 0

no prob

65. networkdood posted on 11 Apr 2012, 17:24 0 0

verizon overages are still good? How so?

75. tedkord posted on 11 Apr 2012, 21:48 0 0

Yeah, kinda wondering that myself, seeing as Sprint has unlimited data, and therefore no overages.

95. smallcolabear posted on 12 Apr 2012, 11:03 0 0

No overages are good but sprint does have overages which are 52.00 bucks a gigabyte on plans that do not have unlimited data. Whereas Verizons are only 10.00 same with AT&T.

96. smallcolabear posted on 12 Apr 2012, 11:05 0 0

Plus other carriers throttle their data even on unlimited plans when you go over a certain amount whereas Verizon does not. I have unlimited before they did ceased to offer it, and I never notice a change it is still as fast as my husbands who has limited data.

108. smallcolabear posted on 12 Apr 2012, 13:55 0 0

But AT&T sprint tmobile etc has a 38 or 30 or 36 dollar upgrade fee so even if you end with Verizon your not getting away from the upgrade fee

112. smallcolabear posted on 12 Apr 2012, 14:13 0 0

And by going to sprint you will dun dun dun have upgrade fees.

79. 714reyesj posted on 11 Apr 2012, 22:16 0 0

Read the article bro no one gives a s**t about the early upgrade fees associated with annual upgrades most people already know this. What we are complaining about it a $30 fee on ur standard upgrade at 20 months. Now theyre telling us "congratulation valued customer u qualify for ur standard upgrade with a $30 upgrade fee but dont worry our fee is about 15% less than our major competitors. If u don't want to pay this fee wait 4 more months until your contract is up." they have pretty much pushed the standard upgrade back 4 months and made what used to be ur standard upgrade an early upgrade because of the fee.

81. VZAZGuy posted on 11 Apr 2012, 22:41 1 0

Your awesome and a joke. This is why that are doing his..... "This fee will help us continue to provide customers with the level of service and support they have come to expect which includes Wireless Workshops, online educational tools, and consultations with experts who provide advice and guidance on devices that are more sophisticated than ever". Verizon is spending a ton of money for people like your mom and grandma that are getting smartphones and they don't know how to even use them. They then go into a Verizon store to attend a workshop before store hours. Whether you upgrade at 20, 24 or even 35 months your still going to pay the $30. Its not that hard to switch companies then. Who is the only provider that actually has 4G? Verizon. Exactly. We have the latest and greatest devices then any other company. Come on dude really?

82. 714reyesj posted on 11 Apr 2012, 23:02 0 1

"Effective April 22, all Verizon subscribers who want to upgrade to a new device, be it a smartphone or a tablet, prior to the expiration of their 2-year contract will be required to pay a $30 upgrade fee."

Key word PRIOR... So your "even 35 months" comment is wrong bro. Sounds like u work for Verizon in AZ. Corporate Verizon or retailer?

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92. Hotzb22 posted on 12 Apr 2012, 10:21 0 0

wrong verizon's press release says this..

On April 22, Verizon Wireless is implementing a $30 upgrade fee for existing customers purchasing new mobile equipment at a discounted price with a two-year contract. This fee will help us continue to provide customers with the level of service and support they have come to expect which includes Wireless Workshops, online educational tools, and consultations with experts who provide advice and guidance on devices that are more sophisticated than ever.
While the upgrade fee is not unique to Verizon Wireless, most devices can be traded in with our green friendly trade-in program atwww.verizonwireless.com/tradein as a way to save money or potentially offset the fee completely.

http://news.verizonwireless.com/news/2012/04/bl2012-04-11.html

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94. 714reyesj posted on 12 Apr 2012, 10:58 0 0

Well I'm just going off of what this article wrote. And this article says prior so that's what I thought.

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83. IamTheGodfatherofCell posted on 12 Apr 2012, 06:28 0 3

Actually ATT has 2 different 4g services to offer...better smartphone selection...and.cheaper plans with.more.perks. If you are out of 4g area with vzslow you go.back to their 3g service which is slow and pathetic. Att has 4g lte and hspa + ...so you continually pull in.speeds faster than anything vzslow has to.offer.

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89. atheisticemetic posted on 12 Apr 2012, 09:32 0 0

IF you get ATT coverage that is and deal with their horrible customer service.

i'll pass

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97. bufriend11 posted on 12 Apr 2012, 11:07 1 0

Dude you should punch your self in the nuts, to say you even have 4g is a joke hspa+ bahahaha. Just like with your iPhone SW upgrade that replaced the 3G to 4g bahahaha. Dude I work for Verizon and I do not hate on AT&T we both have the largest network, but to say you have 4g. AT&T is years behind getting a 4g network like Verizon, AT&T's only hope was T-Wack and that didnt work out and had to lay-off employee's adding to more unemployment to the US.

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98. smallcolabear posted on 12 Apr 2012, 11:23 0 0

Thank you I was trying to explain this on a different post for sprint and AT&T and a sprint user got all pissed about it so I am happy someone else can see it too (I work for verizon as well ha ha ha)

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99. smallcolabear posted on 12 Apr 2012, 11:27 0 0

AT&T ,as mentioned below, does not offer nearly the market for 4G as Verizon does not even by 1/3. Their CEO being quoted that they are 2-3 years behind Verizons technology. Verizon has over 200 markets right now that will be more than doubled in 2013 and AT&T will still be behind. Their HSPA+ is just as equivalent to 3G 1/2 where 4G LTE works faster even in a 3G network.

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88. tedkord posted on 12 Apr 2012, 08:58 1 0

See, now this is the kind of arrogance and ignorance that is all too common in correspondence with Verizon. Sadly, you are much more typical of a Verizon CSR than one would expect.

I have, in 10+ years with VZW, never once been charged a $20 (or any dollar) upgrade fee. And I don't mean they tried to charge it and I disputed so they removed it. It wasn't even brought up, or trust me, I'd have gotten it waived.

And, let's not lie here. THIS is why they are doing this - "Because other carriers are, and we feel we can get away with it." Period. They were supplying these bogus workshops for years now while still showing a healthy (obscene) profit.

Hey, here's an idea! If people don't know how to use their smartphones, charge THEM for the classes to learn it, and not me, who's never had or needed any workshop for my phones.

Also, best selection of the latest and greatest devices? Are you on crack? You got the iPhone, what, 4 years after ATT? The SGS came out 4-6 months after every other carrier in the US had it, and you didn't even get the SGS2. In fact, the only "latest greatest" you can legitimately claim is the Galaxy Nexus, and it's honestly just a middling phone, designed to be a stable reference, not a performer. Verizon always gets the latest phones last, right before the next generation is coming. And, they've usually castrated it in some way - half the ram or storage of the same model on other carriers.

My personal smartphone contract is up in May, and my wife's and daughter's are up around December. I'm holding off on an upgrade, because nothing you have is in any way intriguing. If, when we all three come up, you try to charge me an extra $30 upgrade fee, you'll never see another penny from my family. I'll go Sprint, or prepaid. Hell, my 4G service from VZW is spotty at best, and your 3G is so pathetic as to be a joke. It's 2G speed. Sprint 3G is fast, and still unlimited.

Also, ATT does have 4G now. It's not rolled out as far as Verizon's, but it will be.

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90. remixfa posted on 12 Apr 2012, 09:38 0 0

dude, i worked at VZW for years. chill. VZW is a great company but they also have the highest profit margins in the business.

This is probably also to help offset the iphone subsidies.. again, everyone gets to chip in and pay for apple's greed.

As far as speed goes, Tmobile has a larger 4g network to start with and is only marginally slower in actual speed tests, yet half the price. Your phone cant process data fast enough to tell the difference between 15mb/s and 30m/bs. So its just a bragging game. And for 140 bux with data overages, u can keep your bragging. I'll take the $60 unlimited plan without data overages

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128. tedkord posted on 12 Apr 2012, 18:49 0 0

Then you'll probably be pissed. According to the press release, it's any time you upgrade, not just early.

105. tedkord posted on 12 Apr 2012, 13:10 0 0

I didn't want the iPhone. I specifically hoped Verizon would never get it, not for the increased costs, but for the network congestion on Verizon's already painfully slow 3g network. The costs are just an added bone in the rump, I guess.

106. tedkord posted on 12 Apr 2012, 13:12 0 0

Glad to see there's someone like you in the company.

107. tedkord posted on 12 Apr 2012, 13:14 0 0

It doesn't matter who else charges it, it's unnecessary. Verizon is already making huge profits, and is already the most expensive.

As for the trade in program, that's a joke. They take your phone, give you half what you could get on Ebay or craigslist, then resell it at a profit. It's not about offsetting anything for the customer, it's about getting a product cheap and reselling it at a markup.

110. smallcolabear posted on 12 Apr 2012, 14:10 0 0

Actually AT&T are the same price as verizon so that would make them both the most expensive they just offer different data packages. At least here in wyoming thats the way it works.