I have no problem with a local dealer. There is just one thing you need to be careful on with a local dealer. A lot of local dealers charge their own ETF if you shut off your service early, it is usually only 6 months or so, but, why be responsible for 2 ETF's when you don't have to be. If your local dealer don't require that, then fine. And, no, I don't work for verizon, I am a customer, I don't push either way.

On the best place to get your phone, there isn't much difference, web is usually cheaper because you get the rebate up front. Going to a store, corporate, or authorized agent, you get the phone right away. If you call in, you get the same prices as store. Another thing by going to the store, you save on shipping. Sometime...
(continues)

The reason some dealers charge their own ETF is because of the way they are set up to sell the customer a phone. Verizon Wireless pays the dealer a commission to sell a phone. The dealer buys the phone at a cost from Verizon Wireless. This cost is considerably higher then what the consumer pays. In other words, lets use abstract numbers. Lets say a dealer buys a phone from Verizon Wireless for 100 dollars. That dealer gets paid 150 dollars to sell you that line of service. The dealer provides you the phone. So the dealer just made 50.00 or 150.00 commission + what the customer pays for the phone (in this case zero) minus the amount the equipment cost the dealer. 150 + 0 - 100 equals 50.00

Now lets say you the customer disconnec...
(continues)