$50 mail-in rebates
I have noticed that several of the newer phones on the Verizon wireless site have a mail in rebate link that tells you that your rebate will be paid via debit card that can be used instantly. The catch is that it can take up to six weeks to get the card. In the meantime if you buy the phone on-line you have to shell out the $50 or $70 or $100 cost. It appears you also have to pay tax on it. Also if you wait to pay your credit card bill until the 6 week rebate arrives you get to pay the interest on this as well. Is this the wave of the future for Verizon? The advantage of buying on-line has been the on-line discount on the less expensive phones along with the new every two discount meant you didn't have to pay any money upfront. Now if I were...
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The debit card will be good to use anywhere that accepts visa/mastercard. Yes, you could buy pizza and/or pay your cell bill with this card.
Verizon is going this way on their phone pricing to have a uniform pricing structure. So, in other words, it is the same price to get the phone online as it is in the stores. The only exception is a few refurbished phones and one or two promo phones. Verizon is going away from one channel playing another channel (in other words, competing against itself) for sales.
Also, this has helped retail stores to generate more business and save good sales reps.
Verizon is going this way on their phone pricing to have a uniform pricing structure. So, in other words, it is the same price to get the phone online as it is in the stores. The only exception is a few refurbished phones and one or two promo phones. Verizon is going away from one channel playing another channel (in other words, competing against itself) for sales.
Also, this has helped retail stores to generate more business and save good sales reps.
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Granted, I'm a little biased seeing as how I work in a store, but I was very happy when they made this change in October. So were the rest of my coworkers.
Don't get me wrong, I would prefer that they do away with rebates altogether. I don't like them. I occasionally forget them. I usually forget to cash them (there's one sitting right here on my desk as I type this - expired Nov 5).
The reason a typical Verizon retail employee is happy about the change is because it equalizes the playing field. It's bad enough that I have to lose to an indirect retailer, but to my own company?
If we had the ability to price match, negotiate, or find extra discounts, I could compete with other entities that take the same phones and discount the...
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Don't get me wrong, I would prefer that they do away with rebates altogether. I don't like them. I occasionally forget them. I usually forget to cash them (there's one sitting right here on my desk as I type this - expired Nov 5).
The reason a typical Verizon retail employee is happy about the change is because it equalizes the playing field. It's bad enough that I have to lose to an indirect retailer, but to my own company?
If we had the ability to price match, negotiate, or find extra discounts, I could compete with other entities that take the same phones and discount the...
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Amen.
I work for a large indirect that sets the prices on the phones at their corporate (generally matching online penny for penny on all but a few promo phones) so I was VERY happy when this change went through as well.
There will always be competition between direct and indirect stores, but at least we're both not fighting online anymore as well.
Though I did have a lady try and get be to price match ebay today... that was entertaining.
I work for a large indirect that sets the prices on the phones at their corporate (generally matching online penny for penny on all but a few promo phones) so I was VERY happy when this change went through as well.
There will always be competition between direct and indirect stores, but at least we're both not fighting online anymore as well.
Though I did have a lady try and get be to price match ebay today... that was entertaining.
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Wow. Glad I haven't had to deal with THAT one.
I'd rather compete with Indirect. At least I can make a case for why we compete. It's hard to answer the inevitable question as to why my own company undercuts me. I prefer being the go-to person when you want help, answers, and opinions - all things that the online site won't give you.
I'd rather compete with Indirect. At least I can make a case for why we compete. It's hard to answer the inevitable question as to why my own company undercuts me. I prefer being the go-to person when you want help, answers, and opinions - all things that the online site won't give you.
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I got a new EnV2 in September. Verizon has a deal where you can go online to register your rebate even before your phone arrives. I had my Visa debit card in less than two weeks, and I was able to get my $50 from my local bank the same afternoon I received the Visa card in the mail. Not a bad deal, in my opinion.
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Like others said, they made the change to level the playing field. It's a good thing for stores, especially Indirects. Now we don't have to deal with people that go online because they don't want to fork out the extra $50 right now. They no longer have that choice.
The debit card is just a standard Visa. You can take it to the bank and get $50 in cash. You can also just spend it like any normal credit card. Ignore the 6 week thing. It's usually max 3-4 and more like 2-3 weeks.
The debit card is just a standard Visa. You can take it to the bank and get $50 in cash. You can also just spend it like any normal credit card. Ignore the 6 week thing. It's usually max 3-4 and more like 2-3 weeks.
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they did this so people would go in to the stores to waste the sells reps time just to buy it on line ... aka stroking the sales rep for hours on hours just to go okie thanx .. no w im going to go get it for cheep then come in after its shiped so that you could anwser all my questions on why the phone i ..( customer ) doesnt work like it thought.. as in wasteing the reps time a 2nd time and also company time in turn making cost rise due to them giving you .. the "smart" comsumer from buying it on line at the discounted rate then coming in and spending more the the companys .. free money .. on simple things like walking you thre the activation process or phone book transfers ... or lack there of due to people that are " smart " shopers nev...
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