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Employee Discount Quote

MollyMolasses

Nov 14, 2008, 12:55 AM
Hi -

Fairly new around here, so bear with me! I'll be renewing with Verizon for another 2-yr. family contract, and I'll receive an employee discount (I've already registered and have had for years now).

We'll be getting new phones for everyone, but I am a slow shopper and like to have all the information before I purchase. Will the staff at the store be willing to give me a quote on how much of a discount I'll receive on particular phones? I was never told explicitly how much a discount on phones would be, aside from my plans and accessories.

Thanks for any advice/help anyone can give me! 🙂
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vinsideguy

Nov 14, 2008, 1:15 AM
A corporate store employee SHOULD be able and willing to give you that information. The only reason I can't vouch for the rep would be because of local sales performance pressures and their need to sell data and accessories. I've had friends receive different responses in their local areas than they get in my area. I hate that this is the case, but it happens.
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MollyMolasses

Nov 15, 2008, 3:42 PM
I know that sales reps. would probably appreciate people who weren't such tire kickers, but what if I got their business card and ensured that I'd make my purchase with them after my decision (well, if they believed me), would they be more inclined to give me a list of price quotes for the phones I am interested in?

Should I shop around asking different stores for the price quotes?

Sigh, I think they're going to hate me either way.

Thanks again for the help!
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Azeron

Nov 15, 2008, 5:25 PM
If your company receives a discount it is dependent upon the number of lines they commit to and that is fairly easy for any sales rep to look up. The only reason you would receive different pricing info is if you stroll into the store and fail to mention that trying to determine if the normal consumer price is cheaper (it won't be). Usually, these 10,000+ lines receive awesome discounts. Plus, your company should have a website dedicated to this and at the least a business sales rep who handles this account. If you just enjoy going to a retail store then go right ahead. In fact, if you are an end user if you just register your line ay Myverizon (verizonwireless.com and click on My Verizon) you will get exact pricing.
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vinsideguy

Nov 16, 2008, 12:36 AM
Well said. Thanks for bringing up the business pricing matrix.

MollyMolasses, the store as well as your employer's business rep work off of a standard pricing structure. There's no wheeling and dealing, so a "quote" would merely be the pricing your employee discount has been set up for.

Depending on where you live, the business-level pricing can be really good, or just about the same as the shelf price (consumer pricing). In the western US (where I am), the business-level pricing isn't as good as it used to be. Often, the shelf price will be better, at least in conjunction with the mail-in rebate.

Verizon has done through a lot of streamlining and alteration to make the purchasing experience in corporate stores as hassle-free as...
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Azeron

Nov 16, 2008, 12:53 AM
Personally, I am glad Verizon stopped the insane discounting. Why do people act like the phones are free for Verizon? Do you really think Samsung or LG just gives those phones away? My favorite is when someone says, "I've been a customer of yours for three years I should think that you would want to give me a free Voyager for my loyalty." Really? Do you really call that thinking, bub? I've been shopping at Wal Mart for at least fifteen and I damn well can't just waltz in there and demand free goods. So because sales people could not say no. I mean really many of them didn't even try to sell. They'd start the sales process discounting and talking about free this and free that...yeah corporate had to step in. I mean HAD TO. Anytime a...
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vinsideguy

Nov 16, 2008, 1:08 AM
I honestly believe that the way the US wireless industry does business needs to change, and consumer's conception of how this industry operates need to change with it.
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Azeron

Nov 16, 2008, 2:36 AM
It will. Once Congress outlaws ETFs carriers will stop subsidizing handsets and consumers will get to haggle directly with manufacturers. With everyone going to LTE...I can see the day when there are no contracts. Consumers will be month to month and can take their phones and numbers to any carrier. I wonder how long this will take to go into effect? Carriers will likely lay off their tech suppport departments and much of their customer service.
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Menno

Nov 18, 2008, 10:33 AM
I still find it funny how many people don't get the concept of the ETF when they come into the store to complain about it.

It will be interesting to see how commission structures change once month to month contracts become more popular. The Carriers might have to start sharing some monthly income with the retailers, or provide "Continued Service" bonus checks for 6/12/18 months of a customer staying with a company. Because as it stands now, month to month contracts don't provide that much to retailers.
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rynels

Nov 17, 2008, 9:28 PM
I can't stand the free mentality. Especially when I hear:
"I've paid my bills on time every month, why can't I get a free phone?"
"I get a free car charger and case right?"
"What do I get for free?"

-Would you call Dish Network and ask them to lower your rate or add more channels for free since you pay your bill?
-Would you tell your car dealer that you want heated seats and XM Radio for free with purchase and expect anything?
-What have you ever gotten for free? Really... just handed to you. Nothing's free, kids.
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epik

Nov 18, 2008, 2:14 AM
Unfortunately, this generation of consumers grew up sucking on the free teat that was early wireless sales.
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mlovesem

Nov 18, 2008, 9:17 PM
...except really, folks, what is out there now as "free" is not worth being someone being locked into a 2 year contract to pay off. The free crap really is crap comparatively. So if the mentally hasn't changed by now, well, stupid people are stupid people.
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MollyMolasses

Nov 18, 2008, 6:10 PM
Thank you Azeron and vinsideguy!

I wasn't expecting any free rides, it's a business, and money has to be made somewhere. The reason I asked about a "quote" was because two years ago, I had decided to go to the store to get my family new phones. I was surprised the difference in pricing that the sales person gave me in comparison to the employee discount site I had used previously. He had encouraged me to take a higher end phone, and kept disappearing and coming up with different prices for each phone. I was actually anticipating a difference in price from what I saw on the web and what the sales person was telling me. I wanted to cover my bases.

However, this time around, things went a lot more straightforward. The sales person told me...
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vinsideguy

Nov 19, 2008, 11:41 AM
You're welcome!

One thing to point out here (thanks for the soapbox / opportunity to mention this).

As I've mentioned in several other posts on this forum, Verizon has been working diligently to remove the "used car sales" environment feel from their business. This is a good example of why.

You have two "store" routes when buying a phone: direct and indirect. A direct store is a corporate-operated store; indirect stores are operated by companies independent of the carrier.

Traditionally, the name of the game was discount, discount, discount; sell, sell, sell. We were a business of doing whatever it took to get new customers, even if it meant taking a huge hit on the phone in addition to paying someone a good-sized commission t...
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cambi55

Nov 17, 2008, 3:39 PM
the easiest way to find out your discount is to go to your company intra-net there should be a link there for VZW w/employee discounts. go through the steps to do an equipment upgrade. print out the sheet with the pricing and bring it to a store to have them honor the price match if they can.
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