Verizon expected to modify its restocking fee policy?
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This article contains unofficial information.
Thanks to our anonymous tipster!
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31 Comments
1. allboutverizon posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:45 0 0
I guess that is their way of saying, "Well the Gov made us stop charging you a $350 termination fee, lets see them stop us from charging you a restocking fee on everything. We always get our money". I wonder if the return rate on the Palm phones have anything to do with it, I hear alot of them come back to the store from complete exchanges.
6. DonLouie posted on 13 Apr 2010, 12:22 0 0
They still have the $350 ETF but you could be right this may be in preparation for the reduced one. There are so many zealots here justifying the added cost that no other carrier is doing, it's silly to pay a restocking fee because a phone is broken, that has nothing to do with researching the right phone.
15. jundibasam posted on 13 Apr 2010, 13:49 0 0
I believe DonLouie and allaboutVerizon are wrong on this. $350 ETF is still being charged, and the $35 restock fee currently only on exchanges but does not currently apply to straight returns for refunds. The $35 restocking fee also doesn't apply to broken phones either. Its only the customers who exchange a working phone for another new phone in the 30 day return period because "they don't like how it functions" or "they want a different color". Best Buy, Target, Walmat, and many other companies charge a version of a restocking fee for returning electronics because electronics cant be sold as new again once they have been opened and used. Why do you think Best Buy always have those open box buys where they give like 30 to 40% discounts off the sticker price of a new product? A compnay shouldn't lose money because they're offering a return policy for the customer's benefit just because the customer doesn't like their purchase and/or changes their mind on it.
2. AZNphoneGeek posted on 13 Apr 2010, 11:59 0 0
it's a business. they loose money with each exchange and people abuse the policy. i champion restock fees. make the right choice the first time eh?! and if you need to exchage, it's just $35 people. stop crying about it.
19. tedkord posted on 13 Apr 2010, 22:18 0 0
The problem is, so many cell phones are pure crap. And it's not always easy to know if it works right for what you need without using it a while. My Omnia is almost unuseable out of the box. Luckily, there are custom ROMs, WinMo 6.5 hacks and third party UIs. Without these, I would have had to return it. And, research would have been nearly useless, as most reviews on the Omnia were very positive.
21. cellgeek82 posted on 14 Apr 2010, 01:41 0 0
We must remember: This article contains unofficial information. I like Verizon's service but I have to admit, don't they make enough money already? Restocking fee, hmm ok. But the forced data package?! I wish they'd drop that. I have Android so I'm not affected by it but my family who have dumb phones hate that move.
3. jmill75 posted on 13 Apr 2010, 11:59 0 0
Makes since, why should you get to borrow a brand new phone for x number of days and return it, what are we suppose to do with a phone that is pre owned.
4. bobrhine posted on 13 Apr 2010, 12:19 0 0
you guys actually got it backwards. exchanges always had the restocking fee. returns didn't.
8. agentoj posted on 13 Apr 2010, 12:27 0 0
Yeah you're right, I thought phonerena.com would check their articles, but nah what for?
23. PhoneArena Team posted on 14 Apr 2010, 02:15 0 0
Thank you for the note! We have fixed the article and apologize for the mistake!
5. icesick06 posted on 13 Apr 2010, 12:19 0 0
This posting has it backwards. currently you get charged a $35 restocking fee if you bring the phone back in 30 days to exchnage it for a completely different phone (the same phone of a different color is considered a different phone as well). What they are adding in is the fact that if you do decide to upgrade and then change your mind after the fact and return the phone all together, you still get charged the $35 dolloar restocking fee. Now if its a defective phone, and you are bringing it back to exchange out for the exact same model, there is no restock fee.
7. CRICKETownz posted on 13 Apr 2010, 12:26 0 0
Verizon has been charging $35 restock fees on exchanges for months now PA. The new policy change is to start charging for returns. To the earlier poster's point...the 30 day exchange policy has been abused with every carrier...so Verizon decided to do something to combat that. Get the right phone the first time...instead of blaming the salesperson. When I go into a store to buy I at least have an idea of what I'm lookin for...your tipster needs to get his facts straight or maybe you need a new tipster....
9. Lylefk posted on 13 Apr 2010, 12:55 0 0
A buyer can always go to some indirect dealers to avoid this restocking fee, such as Costco. They also provide a 90 day exchange policy which can be handy.
11. downbeat3 posted on 13 Apr 2010, 13:08 0 0
COSTCO!!!! Ya, let me go to Costco and have some idiot fu$k my account up...and them waste a real sales rep's time getting my sh!t fixed...Do they accept Wal-mart gift cards at Costco????? Restocking fees....i vote yes.
10. JagerDJ posted on 13 Apr 2010, 13:04 0 0
The truth to this change the the returns is this: In the past, if you opened a new line of service/added a line, you got a $25 or $35 activation fee that remained even if you returned the equipment the next day. That part is going away, however now this $35 will apply to all returns, not just new add a lines, but also upgrades. Basically, You're not hit with an activation fee, but you do get the "restock fee", so it balances out in the end. The activation fee will remain for those that keep the line for 30 + days. This is the company quietly recouping more money without fully disclosing how it works so a shit-storm of mis-information doesn't come out. Internally, this is the explanation.
22. VZWuser76 posted on 14 Apr 2010, 01:42 0 0
I though you said the activation fee is going away, then later you said the acivation fee will remain for those that keep the line for 30+ days. So which is it? And if they're keeping the activation fee, they're getting you on the front end and the back end. I don't have a problem with the restocking fee. The only time I ever returned a phone in the 30 day window was the Dare and that's because all of the stores within 200 miles only had dummy units and I couldn't tell how bad the touchscreen worked for me. But that was when only the activation fee was there . I think it's a good idea to charge people if the only reason they are changing the phone is the color, that way people who research the phones don't pay for people who practice this. But if they ARE still charging the activation fees as well, then it doesn't help the people who research their phones at all.
12. D-man posted on 13 Apr 2010, 13:17 0 0
VZW can charge whatever they want because ultimately the individual can decide when/if enough is enough - that's the market system at is definition. However, occasionally but not frequently, salespeople do help buyers select the right phone; but it's more common that buyers don't get a thorough demo of what the phone can/can't do. Phone capability is growing so fast, it's almost impossible to even get an adequate test of a phone. And for many buyers, getting a new phone could mean you're switching carriers so you have their network issues untested too. Reviews and recommendations help, but it's not the same as being able to test a product. And you're really not going to get much if you're considering a high-demand phone. I've been two the two carriers most noted for customer service, and the salespeople there would not 1) let me even touch the phones in demand (Droid & HD2) and 2) could not offer a demo on a store phone so I could see the phone in action - seriously, they need displays with service connections and additional features all turned on. Rather than charging fees for change of mind, I'd love to see something bold from the carriers like a phone rental program. I've always found it extremely helpful to rent a vehicle a few times or for a week before buying so I know whether it really does fit my preferences and lifestyle in reality as it does on paper. I don't want anything for free, but I do think being able to test a phone and network before having to live with a 2-yr contract is a reasonable wish for consumers. To some degree, you can test out PCs, TVs, and other electronics as well. In many cases, you're considering something that you're not unfamiliar with so it's easier to pick something you know will work. However even in the case of PCs, I find Apple retail locations invaluable because you can try/test most aspects of a computer if you have the time or schedule an appointment. Not so easy to do that when it comes to buying complex/capable smartphones.
