Verizon Wireless Confirms $350 ETF for Premium Devices
Verizon Blows
Perhaps if consumers would stop trying to get everything for free so they can make a profit, such changes wouldn't be needed.
Just like hard data caps on aircards, required data on smartphones, and now higher ETF's, a few idiots ruin it for everyone.
But even with these higher prices, an overwhelming majority of customers will never even have to consider ETFs (because most people assume the two year contract is a two year contract and they are happy with it).
For the people who are affected by it, the only people this REALLY hurts are people trying to flip phones on ebay for a profit. Seriously 1...
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Then Verizon is screwing them over by gouging them up the arse when I don't know... say next summer the successor to that really popular phone on the other carrier is released and the current smartphone they bought from Verizon has been neglected by the development community and isn't nearly as compatible with all of those "cool apps" advertised.
The retail on an iphone is nearly that of the retail of a tour/Droid (or other att smartphones for that matter) so where do you get "over subsidizing?"
that "sucessor to that really popular phone?" you mean when it gains the ability to not drop 30% of calls in NY?
As innovative as the iphone is, and as amazing device as it is, it hasn't changed a whole lot since the initial release. The 3gs added just features that every other basic phones had for years, not some "super cool innovation."
One of the reasons I want the Droid to do well is I'm hoping it kicks apple into innovating again instead of resting on their laurels. the m...
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Checklist features are not innovation- never have been, never will be. Verizon Wireless had a shot at innovation with the Palm Pre, but they passed on that ship, too.
Sped up internals/improved battery are tweaks, not innovations.
That's like Advil saying that they have an innovative new drug because it is 25% larger.
Faster processor, better battery, and improved copy paste are checklist features.
Verizon didn't pass on the pre.
Maybe you should try comparing copy/paste on the iPhone to copy/paste on something like a Blackberry or Pre.
That's like saying MobileSafari is not impressive because Pocket IE has been out for ages.
There is no "best for everyone" browser, or phone, or carrier. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.
copy paste on the iphone is like their "clipping" feature they made for dashboard on their desktops. It's really cool, but at the end of the day it's still a checklist feature.
I'm talking about innovative like the ipod was innovative. There were mp3 players before, but th...
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1: DOWNLOADING FILES TO YOUR MEMORY!
2: Flash Player
When Apple finally supports feature 1, I MIGHT consider an iPhone. Although I will probably wait for a Snapdragon phone with Windows on it, just because I can actually customize the phone without hacking the ROM.
You would consider a iPhone if you could download files to your memory? and then what? its a internal memory. You cant exactly take it out and put it into a different phone.
Something great about Windows Mobile and Android phones is the Open Source Market. Third party App. The same type of Apps you can download on the iPhone but for FREE with Windows Mobile and Android.
Skip the "thought" of the iPhone and just wait for the SnapDragon. You'll save time in the end.
If LG would make a Verizon Windows phone...
- Do you really think that Android and Google are going to go by the wayside in a year's time? All Google needed to do was get a major carrier to back their product. Apple makes a solid product, I love their computers. Google makes a solid product as well. The big difference is Google everything is FREE. The development community is all about Google. Apple needs to get back to the drawing board...
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Menno said:
Just like hard data caps on aircards, required data on smartphones, and now higher ETF's, a few idiots ruin it for everyone.
1st of all, I want to agree with you. I also want to say that this is one of the few vaild statements made in this whole topic (not just this thread).
2nd, I want to ask, does that make Verizon a Idiot? You said "a few idiots" ruin it for everyone? Now that Verizon has done this, if or when the other companies follow suit, would that not make Verizon the Idiot who caused it on a National level?
Anyway, here it is again for those of you who still dont get it........😛
Menno said:...
Just like hard data caps on aircards, required data on smartphone
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Azeron said:Amen.
I'm not upset that enterprising individuals abused the system for so long. I am also not upset with Verizon for slamming the door on them.
I don't see a big deal on this. Assurion just bumped their rates on advanced devices (of course some phone users wou...
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Menno said:...
So.. for the less than 5% of customers who terminate their contracts early, (the only ones effected by this) this makes verizon blow?
Perhaps if consumers would stop trying to get everything for free so they can make a profit, such changes wouldn't be needed.
Just like hard data caps on aircards, required data on smartphones, and now higher ETF's, a few idiots ruin it for everyone.
But even with these higher prices, an overwhelming majority of customers will never even have to consider ETFs (because most people assume the two year contract is a two year contract and they are happy with it).
For the people who are affected by it, the only people this REALLY hurts are people trying to flip phones on
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I don't think they are greedy. I think they are simply trying to recover some of the losses.
However, because of this, I do believe the other companies will follow suit. Which makes the rest of his statement, "greedy" aside, a valid point. In my opinion that is.
Menno said:
how is an etf greedy? do you SERIOUSLY think a company wants to collect it?
No, I don't, they just want to make sure nobody leaves. And this is wrong. I said in this conversation, I'm not against the reasonable charge of $175.00 but this is extreme, and I would be bitching the same if it was any of the carriers. Yes these phones cost more, but they are also charging more for them. They are also making a decent profit on the data they charge for them.
Versed said:
Yes these phones cost more, but they are also charging more for them. They are also making a decent profit on the data they charge for them.
Which is why they only make the subsidy back if you STAY with them, hence the ETF. High end phones have always cost at least $500, so for you to say that they are charging more now is baseless. I just don't get the feeling that you understand that these types of devices have essentially more capability than computers plus they are built on a small scale, and this makes them EXPENSIVE.
Quite whining about your ebay phone flipping business. Carriers lose money even on the ETF disconnect fee once they've given away (special free smartphone on line deal) a $500 smartphone for a total of $290 (basic plan 1 month and activation and ETF), and that person goes and sells it on ebay for $400, netting about a $100 profit for the ebay seller. By raising the ETF on these to $350, that means $475 cost to do the same thing. Problem solved.
I really hate people who whine on internet forums, I'm going to call my senator and have him waste millions of dollars investigating you because I don't like it that your opinion is different than mine.
🙄
You can get a decent messaging phone for 129
they are charging LESS for smartphones than normal phone because of that data, but the smartphones COST more, meaning that if someone cancels, it hurts the company MORE.
And, at least in the case of blackberries, (and iphones) a nice chunk of that data package goes to the company that makes the phone, not the company offering service.
Menno said:VZW makes a smart business decision and everyone is up in arms, screaming "UNFAIR". The subsidy matches the ETF, what's the big deal? I gather that, since the wireless industry has been caught in a wait and see mode for some time now, it will not take long for the other Big Three (carriers) to follow suit.
how is an etf greedy? do you SERIOUSLY think a company wants to collect it?
coldsmoke said:
Need I say more? They're out of their freakin minds.
Spoken like a fool who has absolutely no idea what he's talking about.
Verizon, like any other carrier, is doing this to protect their investment from "subscribers" intent on making money off Verizon.
muchdrama said:
Spoken like a fool who has absolutely no idea what he's talking about.
Verizon, like any other carrier, is doing this to protect their investment from "subscribers" intent on making money off Verizon.
Spoken like a retard who thinks any of these carriers are losing money or is a benevolent society.
Versed said:
Spoken like a retard who thinks any of these carriers are losing money or is a benevolent society.
Right, because it's impossible for a carrier to lose money. Get the smartphone for dirt cheap, pay your $175 ETF when you cut the cord, and *VOILA!*, sell the smartphone on Ebay for a profit! Brilliant!
Versed said:
Well, not sure how much profit one would get, ok, some. Ok now this ebay buyer goes to VZW (because the phone ain't worth crap on any other carrier) and what happens? VZW starts making money again off of that customer. And thats OK.
It's called a contract. If you don't like it, you go with another carrier that best serves you.
But that money is very little compared to the lost money on subsidized phones and the lost contracts because a popular phone was sold out so it can be put on ebay.
Its a flush, I sell you my phone and leave, pay this etf, you goto VZW and with a BB, or droid you're running close to the same $90 or so plan, its no different. They're getting the money back on the cost of the phone, and I agree I don't think they want the 350 bux, what they want is to keep customers that would leave. They want customers for life, and this isn't only VZW. Outside of the iPhone and even that I'm not so sure about, they aren't paying what these carriers call retail for these phones. If one goes to a reseller, well thats their problem, and many of them charge you an etf fee or plan change above what the carriers charge. I can care less what happens to resellers, I hate using them, the few bux difference isn't...
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Most people who are buying high end phones already have the required data plans, as they already have a smartphone. So the only change is the loss VZW (or any carrier really) takes on the discounted phone.
Sure there are exceptions to this, but they are not the norm.
No one should be forced to pay such an astonishingly outrageous cancellation fee. I sincerely hope many many state Attorney Generals go after them on this.
This forum is closed.