Verizon to offer a $100 trade-in for basic phone customers to get a smartphone
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1) Current customers with a basic phone that are eligible for a 2-year upgrade will have to purchase a new smartphone at the discounted upgrade price, re-sign a 2-year contract and add a smartphone data plan.
2) Current customers with a basic phone, but are still under a contract may be eligible for an early upgrade. If so, they purchase the new smartphone, re-sign a 2-year contract, and add a smartphone data plan.
When this is done, the customer will receive a special PIN Number to be used on the Verizon Trade In site, which will instruct them to mail in their basic phone within 30 days. After the phone is received, they will be sent a $100 Verizon Wireless Gift Card within 3 weeks.
Our tipster informed us that this info was given to Verizon Employees in the Western region, so it's not clear yet if other regions will be offering the same promotion.
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30 Comments
1. nerdydesi (unregistered) posted on 14 Aug 2011, 00:44 2 2
Having worked at VZW recently, they really do want to push as many customers to smartphones as possible, wanting to generate higher ARPU (average revenue per unit), with required data plans and now capped data plans.
There was a recent article where a VZW head is expecting people to move from the 2gb/$30 plan to the $50/5gb and $80/10gb plans. They want to get people hooked on Pandora, Netflix, etc. and then milk them dry for data charges as much as they can.
I will hold onto my grandfathered unlimited plan for dear life, I don't care for buying phones off-contract, I wouldn't want to be in contract with Big Red anyways!
2. pete7625 posted on 14 Aug 2011, 01:25 1 0
It's horrible what wireless companies charge you! I'm grandfathered in to the unlimited data as well, and I can assure you that it was stay like that for quite some time! :)
22. PeterIfromsweden posted on 15 Aug 2011, 03:35 1 0
Here in sweden you can get unlimited data (i have 3 mbps unlimited data for about 17 $ / month) . Is there any operator in the US that has that as well ?
25. patrick_pack (unregistered) posted on 18 Aug 2011, 08:18 0 0
you guys should say thanks... in brazil, the best plan is about 250kbps for a 200mb plan for about 10 dolars... now imagine a unlimited plan here would cost !!!!
26. biggles posted on 22 Aug 2011, 10:29 0 0
Put it in perspective: Sweden is about the size of California. If any cell company here had to operate a national cell network and maintain/serve a customer base the size of California, unlimited would be much easier to implement at a low pricepoint.
3. ryan (unregistered) posted on 14 Aug 2011, 02:23 3 1
nerdydesi... Verizon isnt a non profit orginization. Verizon is a public company and their profit/revenue is available to anyone with an internet connection. While they made more revenue than any other company they had less profit than at&t because they spend way more on their network. Almost all of Verizons current customers are on unlimited web so why would they want to get people addicted to high web usage?
4. Sniggly posted on 14 Aug 2011, 02:49 2 3
It's a good plan. Unless Apple does a complete about face, btw, this won't apply to the iPhone. Which means people will have an extra incentive to buy the Bionic even if it IS 300 f**king dollars on contract. Yay. :)
8. taco50 posted on 14 Aug 2011, 12:04 0 0
Not sure what you mean by about face. Also the credit is for turning in your basic phone so what will it matter which smartphone they upgrade to?
9. Sniggly posted on 14 Aug 2011, 12:40 0 1
I can answer both of your questions at once: Apple's price is Apple's price. They don't like anyone to get any kind of discount or anything. Now, with the way this is structured, it may not matter. But normally you can't f**k with Apple's price for better or worse.
10. ladyoftheA (unregistered) posted on 14 Aug 2011, 12:49 2 0
It's not a discount off the phone - you dont get the gift card until after the phone is already in your hand (for at least 3 weeks - after the "I dont want this anymore" period) therefore it wont mess with apple's price at all or help with the cost of the bionic. Besides, at Target you can get 5% off an iphone with your redcard so how's that different?
12. Sniggly posted on 14 Aug 2011, 13:10 0 1
That's why I said "with the way this is structured it may not matter."
My mistake.
13. STARS (unregistered) posted on 14 Aug 2011, 13:21 2 0
Where did the subject of Apple come in? Unless maybe you have a disability, this has nothing to do with the iPhone. $100 is being given to anyone who upgrades from basic to smartphone, and it is a gift card, which they can spend on any smartphone that they want. Do you really think that Verizon would give them money, only to turn around and tell them how to spend it? Honestly, Sniggly.
14. Sniggly posted on 14 Aug 2011, 13:39 0 1
Honestly, Stars, maybe you need to read the part where I already said I was wrong.
Oh my. Untwist your panties, please.
24. Bobby12 (unregistered) posted on 17 Aug 2011, 12:56 0 0
i got an white iphone from verizon for $150 since i was eligible for uprgrade bruh
5. mj (unregistered) posted on 14 Aug 2011, 06:34 4 3
Long time VZW customer here. Just switched to Sprint. Couldn't be happier. $125 bill credit for porting my number, and no lousy Gift Card BS. Unlimited data. Lower monthly service fee, plus a 10% credit off my monthly bill because I belong to a credit union. Connection fee waived. The Photon's a torpedo! 4G, Gingerbread, world phone. VZW would be charging $250 with contract for it. Sprint stays at $200. Verizon no longer rules my wallet.
16. Phoneguy007 posted on 14 Aug 2011, 17:13 2 1
Wow..but I wonder why sprint losing 50,000- 100,000 customers every three months....hmmmmmmmmm!
20. superguy posted on 14 Aug 2011, 18:41 0 0
Sprint also won't do no contract sales. They force you into the 2 year agreement even if you're willing to buy a phone with no subsidy. No thanks.
21. xmrrushx posted on 14 Aug 2011, 21:04 2 1
Extremely long time Verizon customer. I hope you enjoy your non LTE 3.xg while i bask in my unlimited 3g/4g data until i die :-D. Also Enjoy your lack of great customer service and spotty cellular service.
