I am not liking the new plans at all. I don't think its fair to force ppl to pay $10/mo on Simple feature phones when all they wanna do is talk and text.
Now I have a 8330 and I have the $30/data plan...that part hasn't changed. I have the 900min family and friends plans and now for just $10 more per month I can get unlimited mins. I really don't even use that many minutes. I text a lot. The cheapest plan is 450mins. I can't get that plan because I will blow thru 450 mins in no time but I never use all 900 mins either on the current plan I have. How come VZW couldn't creat a plan that has maybe 550-600mins instead of just 450?
Idk man, I'm gonna research other carriers because I think I just may buyout of my contract and swi...
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Back in the day (2003-2004), Verizon had $39.99 400, $49.99 500 and $59.99 700 minute plans. The 700 inched up to 800 and then to 900. I can't criticize the Basic 450 $39.99/Basic 900 $59.99 offerings because I remember where they have come from. If one is too young to remember those old plans I can see where one would not appreciate the current offerings. It sounds as though you may have the Select 900 plan $79.99 (since you text a lot). PLUS $29.99 for Unlimited Email and Web. If so, Sprint's cheapest Everything Data plan is $69.99 and gives 450 Peak minutes, Any Mobile, Anytime,Unlimited data: Web surfing, email, BlackBerry Internet Services (BIS), GPS Navigation, Music Premier, TV Premier, NFL Mobile Live, NASCAR Sprint Cup MobileS...
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MennoJan 18, 2010, 2:15 PM
well if she blows through 450 with verizon, she'll most likely blow through 450 with sprint (and depending where she lives, mobile to mobile might not be a value)
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Yes, but she will have Any Mobile Anytime (so calls made to Any U.S. carrier will not expend her peak minutes AND her nights will began at seven rather than nine. Even if she goes with Everything Data 900 she saves $20 versus Verizon's Select 900.
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MennoJan 18, 2010, 2:30 PM
any mobile only works when not roaming. I can't speak for everywhere, but around here, 90% of sprint's coverage is roaming on verizon, thus all calls (even those made to other sprint customers) take from her anytime minutes.
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Good point. Let's find out if she is in a Metro area or not. If she is then Everything Data 450. If she isn't then Everything Data 900. Either way she saves between $20 and $40.
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To answer your question, yes I live in a Metro area...Houston, Tx.
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In that case, Sprint should work for you as long as you don't travel to rural areas. As far as your dropped calls issue. This is my recommendation to you. The next time you drop a call, immediately dial #### and Press Send. The call will not go through. You will receive a message stating that the call was not completed or such. That is fine. The purpose is to mark the previous call as a dropped call. You will want to do this eight times. This will provide evidence to Verizon's technical support. After you have eight examples you should call tech support from another phone and ask them to open a trouble ticket.
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why so they can close it 24 hrs later and not contact the customer
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No. Because if there is an issue she may be able to terminate with no ETF.
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But wait! There's more! Call now and we'll throw in all the dropped calls you can handle! We'll even add piss-poor customer service that doesn't even pretend to handle your situations absolutely free! But that's not all! We will give you a screw-up-your-bill-on-a-monthly-basis guarantee! Call now!
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Ummm, lately Ive been having a lot of dropped calls lately with Verizon. I have contacted customer service about this several times. It may be a problem with a tower in my area but they need to fix the problem. The reps have always been curteous but I just hate having to keep calling in about the same issue. Verizon may have great coverage but they do have their issues just like any other carrier.
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I always dropped more calls on Verizon than Sprint. It's just where I live though. People have to understand that there is no 1 superior carrier. Each carrier has it's pros and cons. Sprint works great for me, not so great for others.
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I think you are rambling a little much. Why are you concerned about a $10 data requirement when the phone you use doesn't even fit into that category?
at&t is the exact same price as verizon.
Sprint and T-mobile are cheaper for a reason.
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Those were just the first two sentences of her post. The main gist of her post was that she would like a better deal. Do you have something to contribute?
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Ya, you get what you pay for.
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Okay. Great advice. As long as the OP wants to consider her options though, I see no reason not to discuss them.
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First of all I know what I have. I was just saying in general that its not right to force a customer to add a $10 data plan when all they want is talk and text. From the comparison chart I saw on Boygeniusreport.com At&t is lil more expensive than Verizon. They compared all the top 4. If you didn't like my thread you could have bypassed it so move around! And to the others that have commented thanks for giving me info on what carriers offer as far as plans go...I appreciate it. 🙂
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You are welcome. You will find that there are individuals who for whatever reason are invested in one carrier or another. They defend their carrier like some defend their religion. *Shrug* It happens.
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If you are talking about this article then it is a little outdated. at&t matched their rates to verizon's accrossed the board(except prepaid) on Monday Jan 18th.
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/01/14/verizon-wi ... »Sorry if I was douche. I have a habit of saying the wrong things.
As far as rate plan requirements for phone types I imagine this is just the beginning. It is a growing trend industry wide so its bound to only get worse. My only hope is that with these requirements and carrier competition that rates will go down.
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Either way, Verizon could have done a much better job of revamping talk/data plans. I think they suck! Im just really irritated because the service in my area for the past 2 months or so has been crap! There is always a problem in the Houston area and surrounding cities with their data services. I am not going to continue paying a bunch of money for whack service! Its not fair!
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epikJan 22, 2010, 12:49 PM
Did you really just say "whack?"
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🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 ...yeah! You got a prob with that? 🤣 🤣 🤣
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epikJan 24, 2010, 10:43 PM
Definitely. 😉
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epikJan 19, 2010, 1:38 PM
You have an error in your statement. Verizon labels certain phones as "Simple Feature Phones," but those phones aren't the ones requiring the $10 data plan.
I can't stand the change as much as the next sane person. I had a dozen or more upgrades walk yesterday because of the change. I, myself, don't agree with the changes.
However, I have to point out that Verizon hasn't made it impossible to buy a non-data required phone. I'd say it's safer to say they've made the more desirable phones beyond some customer's wants with the data requirements. But when it boils down to it, if I just needed a good phone that will call and text, I have several to chose from. And having worked in the business for some time now, I can assure you that I...
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I wholeheartedly agree, but do you think this is going to backfire on Verizon and they will realize the error of their ways? I'm amazed they did this given the flak Verizon already gets for not having "cool phones." As I understand it, now they have some legitimately cool phones and they put them out of reach for a lot of people who won't pay for these plans. And then they have some basic Joe phones and put those out of reach as well. With a lot of families struggling to pay bills but still not willing to part with what is becoming a necessity in today's world, I question the sanity of these decisions.
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Oh it is quite clear that if Verizon heavily subsidizes a phone going forward they WILL make their money back. LOL. Of course, there are going to be those who upgrade to these phones and switch back to their basic phone and sell the candy phone on Ebay.
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epikJan 20, 2010, 10:47 AM
I'm going to start selling all my old non-data phones on eBay. Why not make a buck off this? Verizon certainly is.
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What LG phones do you have available?
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epikJan 21, 2010, 12:43 PM
I'm going to take inventory today. I've recently given some of my LGs to family to replace broken phones.
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And I was playing on upgrading to a DROID...F**k that!
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epikJan 22, 2010, 12:51 PM
um, ok.
The Droid is a good phone. I have it right now. I'm looking to offload some of my old pre-data required phones for cash, but not necessarily to you.
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I don't think she is long for the VZDub at this point, epik. Hey you have an E815 laying around?
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epikJan 24, 2010, 10:40 PM
I might have a couple. I still haven't looked at my "stash."
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Um sweetie, nothing has changed as far as the pricing on the droid. It required the 29.99 data pkg before the pricing plan took effect. In all actuality these new plans are only good news for smartphone users.
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epikJan 20, 2010, 10:54 AM
These past two years (or so) as the economy has been circling the toilet, you would think Verizon has changed to meet the times. I can wholeheartedly tell you they did - but just not how you would imagine.
Verizon cut back a lot on the corporate end. For instance, if someone gets more than a few hours of overtime, management goes into crisis mode. I've had to send people home on a busy day because of overtime. Verizon has been cutting back here and there in any way possible.
As for customers, we've seen a lot of people cut back. Verizon's response? Charge more to compensate. Push harder, sell better, sell more, so more has been the overall response to customers struggling with bills. Think I'm kidding you? I'm not. Sales metr...
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I suppose charging customers more is better than laying off employees. Verizon thinks like Democrats. The economy is slipping? Raise taxes to compensate! Huh?
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Well I happen to think that this depression (as it will come to be called when history looks back) is far from over. I've been a Verizon customer since 1994 and this is the first time I'm truly considering looking at other options out there.
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🤣 🤣 🤣 ...Omg! I forgot about that commerical.
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Well, Ive made up my mind...I'm leaving Verizon because I can't afford them anymore. ☹️
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It happens. If they cannot resolve your Trouble ticket, you should be able to port your number to another carrier with no ETF. I would wait until you get the okay from tech support.
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Oh really? I didn't know that. Thank you for informing me. 🙂
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Oh yeah. That is the whole point of calling tech support. They call in the network guys and say "Why is there an issue with service in this area?" The network guys either send someone out to your area and test coverage or they may be aware of the issue already. This is called a KTA (Known Trouble Area) If they determine that there IS an issue and there is no timely resolution in sight, your tech rep will recommend a Network Extender (you of course decline unless you have $249.99 to throw away on something which only helps with 1x not EV-DO in any case). Then they will say if you want to cancel your contract we will waive the ETF. You jump on that offer. Be sure to get the reps extension just in case they drop the ball. Then head over...
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epik said:
I had a dozen or more upgrades walk yesterday because of the change..
That's a lot of mofo in a short period of time. It's one thing when a bunch of hofoers says this blows, and I'm porting to Sprint... but your numbers support that this just might blow up in their face.
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I am as critical as anyone of this policy, but I think it is obvious that there is a strategy to this move. They are going to make money of these phones. If the retail on an Envy Touch is true (not inflated just to make the phone seem pricey) then I don't blame them on it, but that 8360 just sticks in my craw.
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epikJan 20, 2010, 11:11 AM
During inventory I have access to the cost values of any phone or accessory. Full retail is usually within $10 of what Verizon paid for the phone, probably rounded up to get a "9.99" ending. Sometimes, I see a phone rounded up almost $30, but that's rare.
I used to be that Verizon discounted $120 from the full retail price of any phone to get the 2-year contract price, usually before rebate. These days, smartphones and many high-end non-smartphones are discounted $200 to $300. I have always attributed the higher subsidy (after almost a decade of discounting the same way) to making more money on the back end, as well as being competitive.
Customers have been pleading for lower and lower out-the-door phone prices since the advent o...
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I have bought many phones full retail. When I want a phone, I want a phone, and I've often just ponied up (often for a phone that ultimately wasn't worth the price....) But that's my choice. I've never sold anything on ebay, I just keep a drawer full of old phones for the kids or friends who need phones. My kids never had insurance - I just told them "don't break it or lose it or you'll be using the pink razr in the drawer." Works like a charm. But now apparently I have a drawer full of things that will require data if they're ever activated. Ouch.
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No. I don't think the older phones are going to require data. There is a list somewhere and apparently my LG-VX8100 and LG-VX300 are not on it. Yay!
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Not a big LG fan. I do have the 8300 and then a couple Motos in the drawer which will be OK but that Palm Centro that I bought (before even the smartphone data requirement) is going to now require it for sure. Which is sad considering all that phone DOESN'T do any more. My kids currently have unlimited $15 plans on their Dare and EnvTouch. Are those plans going to stay the same bc we're currently in contract?
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They won't force you off of your existing features. Just don't make any plan or changes. You may even be able to upgrade equipment and kkeep the Vcast Vpak if you stay in dumbphones. I would make my upgrade online though. Some zealous reps might change the features over the phone or in store whereas online you will see what feature changes are required (if any).
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epikJan 21, 2010, 11:20 PM
You're misunderstanding the data requirements. The data is required on certain models currently sold. If one of the phones in your drawer were purchased in the last six to eight months, you might want to check. But if your phones are older than about July 2009, you're perfectly fine.
Also, Centro was the last "smartphone" to not have the required data plan, so that hasn't changed one bit.
The wording specifically states certain phones, not certain types.
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epikJan 20, 2010, 11:04 AM
I don't know if one day makes scientific evidence of failure.
I can tell you about one of the transactions.
I had a rep help someone who's been waiting for the Chocolate Touch for over a month. They picked it over the Env Touch simply because they didn't want data plans. I saw their account - they had a basic 700 plan with texting and data BLOCKED. So the Chocolate Touch met their "coolness" needs without requiring an additional monthly cost. But they didn't want to wait for the phones.
Nationally, most stores have been out - we've been ordering them, to be shipped once the warehouse gets them, usually two weeks out. He and his wife had been eligible since early November. They got tired of waiting for the stores to get them ba...
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Nope. As much as I detest the data requirement, I am actually glad that the system cannot be overridden. Nothing ticked me off more than doing my job following policy and then my manager caving and making me look like a liar. Okay...off soap box.
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MennoJan 21, 2010, 11:47 AM
I just got yelled at.. Store I am helping has a wait list of like 15 customers waiting for the Chocolate touch. Customer came in to check if we had it in stock and I mentioned the data plan and she flipped.
Thankfully I got her to calm down, but I pity the rep who gets her phonecall.
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🤣
The rep will probably be like, "Ma'am, that's just the way it is."
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