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Verizon Implementing $30 Upgrade Fee Starting April 22

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Whores just like AT&T

roachman

Apr 11, 2012, 12:26 PM
Yep doing what AT&T does what crap is that. It's bad enough you have to wait 2 years versus 1 year before now and this. My friend has AT&T and went in to get new phone and was going to pay the 200 + tax then they told him another 30-35 fee and he walked out.
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cellphoneguy

Apr 11, 2012, 1:18 PM
You can thank apple.
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famoussasjohn

Apr 11, 2012, 1:37 PM
activation/upgrade fees have been around way long before the iPhone, you know that right?
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T Bone

Apr 11, 2012, 1:52 PM
As much as I hate Apple, I too fail to see a connection between the upgrade fee and the iPhone....
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Jellz

Apr 11, 2012, 2:08 PM
Blame the rising costs of phones. The carriers are shooting themselves in the foot by subsidizing the phone pricing as much as they do, even though it is the best tool they have for attracting customers.

They gotta make up for it somehow, so they give you the phone for less, but then charge you more later on.

Buying a phone outright, IMO, should avoid this (I know it does on upgrade, but you still pay an activation fee if you bring in your own phone to start up new service AFAIK).
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Ken6271

Apr 11, 2012, 2:29 PM
There is a cost for any carrier to complete upgrade. You are getting a phone at a 400-500 discount. It is the rising costs for phones that impacts these types of fees. Its a business my friend. There is nothing for free.. 🙄
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roachman

Apr 11, 2012, 4:15 PM
Well just ad it in the cost of phone and not have separate ad ons plus tax. It' like flying I hate it when we spend over $600.00 for the two of us to fly somewhere and at the airport they charge you for suit cases and extra carry on, make it one price and then it doesn't mess with the ole brain so much.
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mm87

Apr 11, 2012, 5:45 PM
If carriers included the cost in the price of the phones, people would either still be upset that the charge is there or that the costs of phones are going up, or that they don't know what they are paying for. This way, the carriers are actually telling us what we're paying for. Its a one time charge every 2 years or so, when you upgrade, it isn't like its a monthly cost...not to mention everyone complains about carriers not being able to support their network. Part of the reason the carriers are doing the fees across the board is so they can help build up their networks to support the increasing data usage. Like the other guy said...its a business. If you don't like that, buy your phones at retail cost, that way you aren't locked into a spe...
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roachman

Apr 12, 2012, 6:26 AM
I'm not going to argue anymore about this your right and guess they should just keep nickel and dime us to death. Used to have 3 lines at $119.00 a month now we have 2 lines at $165.00.
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mm87

Apr 12, 2012, 1:08 PM
There's no argument. You want to do more with your phone, and want better reception...understandable, but that stuff costs money.
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Jayshmay

Apr 11, 2012, 5:30 PM
What if I were to buy, for example the Samsung Galaxy SIII next spring from Amazon. Would I still be subjected to this $30 charge?
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JBlaze74

Apr 11, 2012, 5:36 PM
I think... and don't quote me... if you buy it at full price from a third party vendor, and then swap it to an existing line, they wouldn't be able to charge you for it. If you add it as a new line of service, they would charge you for activating the line. Bottom line is now that they have it, they'll search for any angle they can find to charge it. 👀
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Jayshmay

Apr 11, 2012, 5:39 PM
I don't make a lot of $ can't afford to pay a whopping $600+. So it would be an upgrade, on an existing line of service, through Amazon, which is ALWAYS cheaper than greedy slug Vzn.
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Below.Me

Apr 12, 2012, 10:02 AM
All sales channels will charge the fee it is just a point of where. If you go to a national retailer, 3rd party website like amazon, or some indirect stores the fee will be applied to your bill in a similar fashion as an activation fee. When you go to a direct vzw source the fee will be collected up front.
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Jayshmay

Apr 12, 2012, 10:05 AM
It's not an "activation" if it's an already existing line.
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Below.Me

Apr 12, 2012, 2:28 PM
If you upgrade on amazon it will still charge the upgrade fee and it will show on the bill instead of being paid directly with the phone purchase. It shows up as an upgrade fee like an activation fee shows up on the bill for new lines.

If you buy at a verizon store, on their website, or over the phone the fee is added to the upfront cost.
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jt82

Apr 12, 2012, 1:52 PM
Jayshmay said:
I don't make a lot of $ can't afford to pay a whopping $600+. So it would be an upgrade, on an existing line of service, through Amazon, which is ALWAYS cheaper than greedy slug Vzn.


So you can't afford to save $28.00 a month for a phone to buy a full retail? The average price of a smartphone, full retail is $650(ish). Divide that over 24 months and put it in an account that earns interest and you can easily do it. Other countries don't subsidize the phones NEARLY as much, which is why they pay lower service costs. If you can't afford to put less than $30 a way for a new device, perhaps you shouldn't have that phone OR suck it up and pay the fee.
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famoussasjohn

Apr 12, 2012, 8:21 AM
More than likely. With Sprint, purchasing anywhere, whether it be at a retail store, online, telesales, 3rd party vendor, etc. The $36 activation is billed to the account instead of on the purchase itself.
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SellFone

Apr 12, 2012, 11:41 AM
Two quick comments then I am done with this topic.

1) Jellz is absolutely correct, carriers are shooting themselves in the foot with increased equipment costs and decreased profit margins. People would never join a network if they had to pay outright for phones like the Razr or iPhone. The companies that are REALLY taking a hit are the retailers/agents that are feeling these cost increased (and lower commissions) but are in no way is getting any piece of this $30 fee. It all goes to big brother, Big Red.

2) The iPhone is absolutely playing into the decision. Like the other person mentioned, our Worry Fee Gaur, Annual Upgrades, and Return policies all changed at precisely the same time, just a month before the iPhone was released. The ...
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Jarahawk

Apr 11, 2012, 5:11 PM
Really? Ever wonder why Verizon stopped 1 year contracts? 30 Day Worry Free Guarantee Return Policy? Guess...
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eskeebel

Apr 12, 2012, 12:49 PM
You know that AT&T is still offering the 30 day gaurantee right? So you can't blame that on Apple...
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dlmjr

Apr 12, 2012, 1:35 PM
Verison implemented the shorter return policy with the advent of the iPhone on their network.
iPhones were known to drop calls...
They wanted to lock their iPhone customers in as quickly as possible.
Didn't want thousands of iPhone returns after the custs had several dropped calls in their original 30 day trial period.
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famoussasjohn

Apr 12, 2012, 3:02 PM
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