Verizon

Verizon ends early upgrade and "New Every Two" programs

posted by Alan F. / Jan 04, 2011, 10:03 PM

With Verizon on the cusp of introducing many new pricey devices like new dual-core handsets, new 4G LTE phones, Android units running the latest OS and possibly an Apple iPhone, it is hard to believe that the nation's largest carrier has made the decision to eliminate early upgrades and the "New Every Two" program.

With the early upgrade program, Verizon customers under a 2 year contract could request an upgrade starting with month 13 of the 24 month contract. In other words, with this program, the carrier was letting you buy a subsidized phone after 1 year. "New Every Two" gave a Verizon customer as much as $50 after 2 years, to use toward a new phone. Both plans expire on January 16th.

With the changes to Verizon's policies, the bottom line is that those who upgrade after January 16th will no longer automatically get enrolled in the "New Every Two" program. Those who upgraded before the 16th of this month will get enrolled in the program one last time and will be able to use the discount for 6 months from their eligibility date. Customers can now seek subsidized pricing after 20 months on a 2 year contract and 10 months on a 1 year deal.

Those who use the Annual Upgrade or a "New Every Two" promotion after January 16th will receive a letter saying that they just used their last Annual Upgrade or NE2 promotion.

On the eve of CES, with Verizon about to grab the attention of cellphone fanatics and casual viewers alike with some hot new devices and stunning technology, it looks like the carrier has taken a big step backward when it comes to keeping the customer happy. Will the other three major U.S. carriers take advantage of this somehow? CES has not even started and already the plot thickens!

source: AndroidCentral

Verizon is ending both early upgrades and its "New Every Two" programs

FEATURED VIDEO

Options

36 Comments

1. jaabubby

Posts: 38; Member since: Jan 16, 2010

Tiered pricing is next!

posted on Jan 04, 2011, 10:19 PM 2

3. CRICKETownz

Posts: 980; Member since: Oct 24, 2009

How about we just wait for "next" before we start making assumptions like that...

posted on Jan 04, 2011, 10:25 PM 0

12. JeffdaBeat unregistered

Unlimited plans are a thing of the past...especially with what Verizon and Google pretty much laid out with Net Neutrality on your computer vs. cell service. Hell, I still think it's only a matter of time before your computer at home has to pay for certain data allotment.

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 12:25 AM 0

2. Gawain

Posts: 441; Member since: Apr 15, 2010

It opens the door for other carriers to either do the same, or go the other way. It wasn't so long ago that a contract got you a free phone, those days are gone, even on most feature phones. ...and just like jaabubby said, Tiered pricing will follow shortly...

posted on Jan 04, 2011, 10:23 PM 2

6. dandirk unregistered

I was worried there... Will get my last early upgrade possibly in time for a LTE phone

posted on Jan 04, 2011, 10:44 PM 0

42. LionStone

Posts: 1048; Member since: Dec 10, 2010

yea, but you can still upgrade after the 16th, you'll just get a letter saying it's your last upgrade. Which is fine with me, I'll just wait a little longer for all the new phones to come out and pick one I like. If you do it before the 16th, that may be a little premature...And it sounds like the way to go is 1-yr contracts.

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 10:38 PM 0

7. saokill

Posts: 2; Member since: Jan 04, 2011

They only posted part of the online training which introduces the retirement of those specific programs. The next few slides lays down it's successor which in my opinion makes for a more beneficial upgrade program.

posted on Jan 04, 2011, 11:13 PM 0

11. LTE4G unregistered

Well then why not post the rest of it? If it's more beneficial for whom? What else is coming btw???

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 12:13 AM 0

14. hornetmx

Posts: 71; Member since: Mar 12, 2010

What's sad is that the screen before this one, is about the statement of confidentiality that you have to agree to. I understand some people need to feel good about themselves, but doing it by leaking info is pretty pathetic. I can picture those people looking at these news feeling really good about themselves because they are the ones, "the robinhoods" looking out for websites like this. Verizon was the only company to even offer an extra discount, the "NE2", to our loyal customers from the beginning. Sorry but ATT didnt do it, and Sprint didnt do it. They would give you the 2 year discount. period. And yes, I did have both companies in the past. As usual they started to follow once the annual upgrade came about because they started to feel pressure from their own customers asking for something "extra" for being loyal. Instead of this we have and will have specific programs targeting customers. Right now many people who just upgraded to non smartphones can also do a second upgrade to a smartphone even if they got the phone yesterday. My personal guess as to why: it has to do with the cost of subsidizing the newer phones or maybe even with the iphone. Also remember you can always choose a 1 yr price, and then, you can get a phone every 12 months. There are plenty of ways we will continue to lead and take care of our customers.

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 1:31 AM 4

16. JeffdaBeat unregistered

...so you've obviously drank a lot of the corporate Kool-Aid...

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 6:18 AM 2

18. BigRed83

Posts: 144; Member since: May 19, 2008

Well, since Wikileaks doesn't care about this new training, he/she had to go SOMEWHERE....

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 6:22 AM 1

45. calisfinestmissshauniece unregistered

Sprint has a premiere program that allows the primary line to upgrade every year, hornetmx and the other lines every 24 months. So check your facts hornetmx

posted on Jan 17, 2011, 11:13 AM 0

15. Junior

Posts: 52; Member since: Jun 09, 2010

I'm with dandirk, hopefully I will be able to get a decent discount on one of the LTE devices as I've been due for a 'New Every Two' since August. It's a shame that these discounts are going away though.

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 5:20 AM 0

19. TKFox007

Posts: 303; Member since: Nov 02, 2010

The Renew Every Two became a joke last year when they lowered it from $50 to $30 and from $100 to $50 (The $50 discount was almost non-existent). At that point the only thing the discount was doing was taking off the taxes on the high end smart phones. I used to work for an outsource call center that did work for Verizon, we used all the same discounts and when sending out new phones, the discounts barely discounted the phone.

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 6:41 AM 3

20. twashington4

Posts: 81; Member since: May 24, 2010

People...1. This is the cost of doing business. All these cell phone carriers have a product in high demand. And what drives that demand...you the consumer. You want talk, text, send pictures, email, and watch video then you're gonna pay for it. These companies are in the business of making money first, and satisfying your needs somewhere after that. Of course when they see that you're starting to get dissatisfied and it's messing with their money, then they are going to do the obvious thing and change their focus. They may be taking a hit when they do that, but I'm sure they hope it's a short term decline. I'm with Sprint and I'm pretty satisfied. Unfortunately my job has moved to a location where Sprint service is not as good. I'm not knocking Sprint because at my last job Verizon was not as good, however, I understand that Verizon may have the best overall coverage. That simple fact there means they touch the most people. On top of that, they've been getting some of the best phones first, so naturally people (by the millions) have gravitated to Verizon and they are a monster in the cell phone business. When you're on top, you try to stay on top. Look at Apple...do you see them cutting prices to move more product? No, because the demand is already so high and they release a quality product. What does this new pricing stuff mean to the consumer? Who knows? Nothing is done without a reason and I don't think consumer dissatisfaction is driving them to get rid of their NE2 and early upgrade program, but on the other hand why do you care anyway? If you got Verizon and you're satisfied with it, it's not going to drive you away. You're going to keep the same plan you've always had until they eliminate your plan and back you into a corner to get the newest phone that maybe does 2 things that your old phone didn't, but the same email, talk and text. I think, at some point, people are going to say "screw it" and just go back to talking and check their email when they get home. :-)

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 7:41 AM 4

46. calisfinestmissshauniece unregistered

if you are with sprint and service changed for better coverage try getting an airave. It will improve your coverage in your home or office. Ask about it when you call customer care. Its great. It works.

posted on Jan 17, 2011, 11:15 AM 0

21. Tottenham

Posts: 86; Member since: Jan 05, 2011

I'll be interested to see what ATT counters with once Big Red starts offering the iPhone. They are going to have to offer some additional incentive to get and keep customers once their 4 year monopoly on the iPhone concludes, especially considering it has the worst service network of the big 4 carriers. US Cellular just started the "Belief Project", which offers some tasty perks to loyal customers.

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 7:43 AM 0

22. Wireless

Posts: 2; Member since: Dec 07, 2010

Is kind of contractory though, AT&T is rank as the worst carrier in 2010 whereas the better business bureau rank them as the wireless carrier with the least complains in 2010.

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 8:51 AM 0

24. Pez_Dispenser

Posts: 2; Member since: Jan 07, 2010

I wonder if they are eliminating the "New Every 10 Months" program for employees?

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 10:14 AM 0

25. Sniggly

Posts: 7305; Member since: Dec 05, 2009

This is extremely odd. I'm out of the game now, so I can't tell you what the next program is that Verizon will be offering. I hope it's beneficial to the customers though. they're going to take a major hit if they get rid of the early upgrade program. That was a lifesaver, especially when people bought bad phones or something happened to the phones.

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 10:16 AM 1

28. shellnick2003

Posts: 17; Member since: Jun 23, 2010

Very true. My phone struggled to live to just 6 months (along with all the refurbished phones that replaced it), I can't imagine having to last for 2 years. I think they have something else that will be announced. So I'll just wait and see.

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 11:07 AM 0

26. Phullofphil

Posts: 1822; Member since: Feb 10, 2009

if thats true i probably would move to another carrier my phone wont last two years

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 10:45 AM 0

27. Bum Diehl unregistered

Why not keep the customer satisfied with more frequent upgrades? Do the carriers make money on the sale of phones? The service is where they make the profit,no?

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 10:53 AM 0

37. emwolb81 unregistered

With discount service they lose about 200 to 400 each phone sold with a contract, the termination fee is supposed to supplement that and thats why you need to sign a contract to get a cheaper phone

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 3:58 PM 0

29. Aaron

Posts: 2; Member since: Jan 05, 2011

So if you have verizon already. Does this mean your stuck with your phone forever?

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 11:19 AM 0

30. trin

Posts: 88; Member since: May 11, 2010

1. I believe they are still going to extend special offers and promos to consumer and business customers. 2. Want a new phone every year? Sign a 1yr contract. All u have to pay is an additional $70 for your device. 3.Pure Speculation but that most likely means the Feb launch of the Iphone is imminent. Because apple doesn't allow discounting on their phones. It would conflict with Verizon's upgrade policy. Customers would question why they couldn't buy an iphone annually/discounted but that Droid guy did.

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 11:21 AM 0

31. Aaron

Posts: 2; Member since: Jan 05, 2011

Verizon said this isnt true. Why would they do that doesnt sound logical.

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 11:33 AM 0

32. G$ unregistered

So in order to use my $50 credit for a new phone, I have to get a new phone by Jan 16...otherwise it goes away?

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 12:00 PM 0

33. Das70

Posts: 124; Member since: Jan 05, 2011

Well this is what happens when a phone becomes more than just a device for making phone calls.LOL You cant have your cake and eat it too. With smartphones becoming more and more mainstream they were bound to make some changes. Makes one nostalgic for the days when a cell phone was just a phone.LOL

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 12:05 PM 0

34. Tim of Colorado unregistered

This must be in anticipation of the government telling them they must end their high early termination fees. And it saves money in other ways. Support on new devices is expensive, also they will probably get more people to buy their phone insurance. Smart people were probably dropping it after a year, figuring they will just get a new phone anyway. Now they will probably pay the insurance longer. Verizon not always good for consumers, but they know how to make a buck.

posted on Jan 05, 2011, 12:50 PM 0

view all comments