So it looks like Verizon is slated to release their femtocell solution for low signal areas. This is huge news for me personally and no doubt thousands of others who struggle with signals in their home. I actually have to keep a landline in order to make calls from home.
Ive been waiting for this for over a year and I will be ordering one next week to test it out.
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2009/01/18/verizon-lau ... »Chris
...
llamaJan 19, 2009, 3:52 AM
Yeah, did the training on it...but to me $250 is alot of clams for something like that...
...
yeah $250 is a bit much, but I am gonna do my best to get a better deal than that. I have stuck with verizon for FOUR FREAKIN years despite not being able to make a call from home.
I think that type of loyalty is worth something and hopefully I can get someone in customer service or at my local corp store to realize that.
CHris
...
If you're eligible for an upgrade, maybe they'll use that to discount the femtocell?
...
I dont wanna waste an upgrade on a femtocell tho. Especially when I have stuck by this company for 4 years with no service at home. I think that is worth something.
Plus I want my upgrade for the verizon version of the bold 🙂
Chris
...
If I were in your shoes I'd even tell them they could send down a tech to see exactly how poor it is inside your home as far as signal goes.
...
They said they did send out a tech. Im pretty sure I can get them to let me out of my contract for free. I just like verizon service and voice quality everywhere else...but my condo, lol
...
This has the potential to get ugly. You have been unable to use your phone in your home for four years and you have stuck it out? Very admirable. Yes, they would have waived the ETF and allowed you out of your contract with deep regrets. So...you are so loyal that you signed a second two year contract knowing the service was poor at your house? Wow! You know despite what the commercials may lead one to believe, Verizon knows that they do not have prefect coverage everywhere and yes poor coverage in some areas. I hope that someone is able to make you happy. I REALLY do. But...from the outside looking in I wonder who that would be? This thing is going to be an accessory so there are no contract discounts to be had. If they discount ...
(continues)
...
Verizon Wireless is offering customers $50 off of the device because you can technically purchase other devices offered by different companies that offer the same type of deal starting at $180 and goes way up from there. Do your research and I'm sure you can either find a better deal or justify the purchase with the $50 discount.
...
The femtocells will be offered to VIP customers at 25% discount, and customers who have been on a rate plan of at least 79.99 for 3 consecutive months. Moreover, I agree that 250 is a chunk of change, however simil;ar products offered by Sprint are only $100, BUT you have to pay 25-30 bones a month to have it. 250 bucks for a several year investment isn't a bad idea. For the gentleman who spoke earlier saying he had to service in his house, wouldn't you have paid 250 bucks to have had service in your house the last four years?
I love Verizon and I love loyal customers, but Verizon is not, unfortunately, a non profit oprganization, and I do not say that to be sarcastic. No service is perfect, but we are the largest and most reliable, based...
(continues)
...
what is the matter with people? I mean Verizon comes out with the Network extender and some sap can't wait to see if he can get it cheaper then anyone else.
The problem with consumers today is everyone wants something for nothing. They want to buy their equipment on line after spending 2 hours grilling a rep who works on commission and has 4 other people walk so this jerk can tell him they will go on line cuz the rebate is instant.
Dang it frustrates me when people want something for nothing! if the sap wants an extender then pay for it. Verizon offered to let him out of contract, he chose to resign and thinks now he is entitled to something for nothing? Get over it you are entitled to NOTHING! nothing in this world is free and with...
(continues)
...
First off, you're obnoxious and pretty much have no idea what you are talking about.
Not only have I spent over $2000 the past 4 yrs to get a landline because the signal at my home was so bad, but I have brought 8 people over to verizon from other companies and most of them have gotten data plans. I have done my part to try and stick with this company and speak nothing but good things about them.
So yes, when I get quoted a price of $150 over the phone from 3 diff verizon corporate sources, Damn right I am going to fight like hell when my local store tries to tell me that they can't do it for less than $200.
I dont want something for free, I just wanted to be treated with fair ness, and after all I have done for this company over t...
(continues)
...
First of all you have no idea what my background is. Secondly anytime a "customer" demands something their way or the highway then the customer needs to take a leave. Your measly $1200.00 is a drop in the bucket and honestly $2000.00 for a land line boo hoo 👿 👿 . Sorry that radio waves cant go thru your steal building! Jerk you just cost that idiot half a days pay and for what? So you can go online and tell loosers like yourself how to cheat a comissioned sales rep out of his pay, which by the way is how he feeds his family.
If thats obnoxious then so be it but its reality you are a cheap a#$ mofo...
...
I dont need to what you background is to know that you're ignorant. I have NEVER, EVER, asked for anything from verizon. EVER. And if you read my story, you would understand that the only reason I wanted the additional $50 was because I WAS QUOTED 150 for the device from 3 different verizon people.
There is nothing wrong with what I did, and a company should be held their word, which is all that I did.
And give me a break on taking away $50 from someone. Please, managers have discretionary funds to use with customers and thats where this came out of. No one is rahmen noodles because of me.
Bottomline--I held verizon accountable to their reps and their original price. Thats all.
...
well here's what I heard from corporate...
Price is $250...
--There is a high value customer discount of $50 if you have a plan of $79.99 or higher for atleast 3 months.
--Also, since it's an accessory, you can use corporate discounts (For instance, I get 25% off with my corporate discount).
So my final quote was $150 for the unit. I didnt order it yet, but I guess the price is okay.
So here is the problem with this. you ASSUMED you were quoted 150.00. first of all yes you are correct as a VIP customer you are entitled to a 25% discount, OR a 25% corporate discount. you don't get both discounts you get one or the other. You then don't order from the moron that made the mistake you think thats still too much.
Next you c...
(continues)
...
your posts continue to be ignorant and uninformed.
I was quoted 150 by a customer service rep and two different in-store employees at diff stores.
And yes I fought, no one "lost a meal" because of this. My best friend is a corp store manager and said that they do discounts like the one they gave me all the time. He was actually shocked they even argued with me. Ive spent too much money and brought in too many other people within the past 5 years with verizon. Why should I let them suck another $50 out of me when 3 independent sources quoted me $150.
Poor training and launch execution is not my problem and I wont pay for it.
So save your whining about me, and what I did for somewhere else, you're out of league and quite fra...
(continues)
...
You realize you're arguing w/somebody w/the handle "Verizon Sux", right? No matter what you do and/or say, I'm sure this Verizon hater will have nothing but bad stuff to say, I wouldn't waste my time if I were you.
Some people (not you) have nothing better to do than start fights.
...
Just my competitive nature I guess 🙂
But you're right...
...
I dunno, VZW seems too stingy to me to do something like that but it's worth a shot
...
No harm in trying 🙂
...
Well, I'm glad I was wrong about this =)
...
Chris,
Do you have any dates on when the Verizon Bold version of the Bold maybe available?
Thanks!
...
I was curious about this too. All the Blackberry folks I spoke with at CES said there are no current plans to have a "Bold" for CDMA.
Now the new Curve is a different story. It has the better screen, upgraded memory capacity, etc.
Why would Verizon want a phone with Wi-Fi when they did not want it for the Storm?
...
There are plans to have a Bold like device released, although when is in the air. Supposedly, the word I have from our market BB rep says tentatively May or June, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was delayed. Especially after the Storm, which SHOULD have been delayed and wasn't.
...
Thank you for paying your bill on time. How's that?
...
I know it seems like a lot, but a Wilson wireless antenna system to boost signal usually runs $400-$600. It's actually a pretty good deal comparatively.
...
repeaters enhance signal
femtocells create signal using a broadband connection
...
Hmm... anyone else think that someone out there will hack that GPS so they can use it outside the US?
...
Is there going to be a monthly charge to use this???
...
I was kind of wondering the same thing....
...
No. No monthly charge. It is just an accessory.
...
I think I might go see if my local store has one. Then find out if I can get one for less than $250 😎
...
Let me know how it works....
...
I just called my local store and they had no idea when it was being released or how it even works.
Great training (eye roll)
...
ren0Jan 25, 2009, 10:57 PM
cwcanty said:
I just called my local store and they had no idea when it was being released or how it even works.
Great training (eye roll)
Yeah, they haven't really trained a lot of anyone on this yet.
It's a bad time of the year for VZW, everyone gets their vacation and sick time reset so they use it all up in the first month causing us to be understaffed.
I haven't received anything on Verizon Hub either.
In any case, what I do know about the Network Extender I learned from reading stuff internally on my own. It is an accessory, $249.99 full retail, no monthly cost (as someone else noted), no contract requirement.
Have not gotten word on discounting it for customers who have a verified ...
(continues)
...
well here's what I heard from corporate...
Price is $250...
--There is a high value customer discount of $50 if you have a plan of $79.99 or higher for atleast 3 months.
--Also, since it's an accessory, you can use corporate discounts (For instance, I get 25% off with my corporate discount).
So my final quote was $150 for the unit. I didnt order it yet, but I guess the price is okay.
...
gunnyJan 26, 2009, 12:41 AM
hell yeah for 150 bucks to solve your at home reception issue is a great deal, plus not having an extra monthly bill was unexpected. gotta be a fun toy for 150.
...
yeah, Im calling my boy tomorrow. He is a corp store manager. I wanna see if he can get a better deal. If not, I will prolly just order it from CS on monday or tuesday.
...
gunnyJan 26, 2009, 12:44 AM
cool! i guess you have gotten used to not having reception in your condo but damn it must suck. ill be watching this thread i really want to know how it works for you Chris.
...
i'll be sure to update everyone, im hoping to have one up and running before the end of the week.
I called CS this morning and the lady said I was the first person to call about it today, lol.
Its been frustrating not being able to use my phone at home, but having a landline hasnt been so bad either.
...
gunnyJan 26, 2009, 12:48 AM
cool maybe you'll consider ditching that land line once you see four bars again!
...
lol. I got my finger on the trigger to my landline company. they are about to lose $40 bucks a month! Although I may need to increase my verizon minutes a little bit
...
cwcanty said:
lol. I got my finger on the trigger to my landline company. they are about to lose $40 bucks a month! Although I may need to increase my verizon minutes a little bit
Get the Hub along with the Femtocell..... 🙂 to take the place of your landline.
Bye Bye Land-O-Lakes Phone company... 😉
...
i would consider it, if the hub wasnt $35 bucks a month plus 200 for the machine.
...
How is the Hub? I haven't received any real feedback from it yet. Haven't even sold one. Do you use several over the house or just the one?
...
Yes you can get $50 off for having a price plan of $79.98 or higher for 3 months or longer accumulated between all lines of service but you CAN NOT get your corporate accessory discount on top of that. Not even employees get a discount off of the device.
FINAL PRICE $200
...
oops wrong thread, not sure how this ended up here
...
I was on the phone with the woman from verizon. She offered me the device for 150.
...
personal hours don't carry over from year to year, but vacation hours do. And considering it is Jan the personal hours are already reset... so it isn't people scrambling to use up all their vaca time.
...
can you buy or see this online?
...
www.verizonwireless.com/networkextender
$249.99
...
I just got one for $150 at a verizon retail store. Not all of them are getting the units, and this is the only one in my city that had it in stock.
I haven't hooked it up, but I will get it all going before Sunday and report how it works.
Chris
...
gunnyFeb 3, 2009, 1:16 AM
so 🙂
...
Its still sitting in the box, got swamped with my annual super bowl party. hooking it up on tuesday....no excuses, lol.
Chris
...
Its Tuesday...now let us know how it works lol. My parents have Verizon (and I still have them) but they live in a weak reception area. I wanna get them one but I wanna know how good it is.
...
im hooking it up now. Should have some early thoughts in about 30 min
...
llamaFeb 3, 2009, 11:44 AM
Thanks for the info.
It looks like the extender says Samsung on it in the pics????
...
yes, it is a samsung unit
...
gunnyFeb 3, 2009, 11:46 AM
cool good review as usual Chris. sounds like it will be the answer to others in your situation. now i guess you need a little more time to see the overall reliability of the signal..hopefully it stays consistent.
...
Thanks. And yes, Im hoping this device will be the answer for me as well as countless others who issues with coverage at home.
...
I went into my local corporate store and they told me that I was considered a "high value" customer. I would get $50.00 off the $249.00 price without having to go through the rebate. I asked them if my group discount would apply (25%) they said there are no other discounts allowed. So how the heck did you pay $150.00?
...
I had 30 min convo with the manager of the only store in my area that had any in stock.
My basic argument was that I had been originally quoted $150 by 2 different reps. So I wanted it for that price. I also used the argument that I have paid over $2000 in landline fees due to poor reception at my home for the past 4 years and I thought an additional $50 discount was more than fair.
Lastly, I threatened to leave verizon and go to att (which does get service in my home). So I gave the store mgr a choice. Give me the femtocell for $150 or lose $1200 in yearly revenue. After I put it like that, he pushed through the additional $50 🙂
Chris
...
gunnyFeb 5, 2009, 12:47 PM
🤣 🤣 I'm going to att bitches if you don't hook me up! love it!
...
heh if you tried that at my store i would have pointed at the door and said have a nice day.
...
gunnyFeb 5, 2009, 2:04 PM
not always! If you have a good standing like Chris and really have put up with poor reception for years people do and will cut you a break...even if you have a push a little sometimes. That's the benefit of seldom pulling that card. I was just messing with Chris, and he knows that.
...
lol...its all good gunny.
And I wasnt playing when I said I would switch. Trust me, its easier to keep a current customer than get a new one. giving me the femtocell for 150 is better than losing $1200 a year in revenue. Thats all I told my store and they pretty much agreed 🙂
...
cwcanty said:
lol...its all good gunny.
And I wasnt playing when I said I would switch. Trust me, its easier to keep a current customer than get a new one. giving me the femtocell for 150 is better than losing $1200 a year in revenue. Thats all I told my store and they pretty much agreed 🙂
OK now that you threw the "Cellular Customer Hissy Fit" in the store.....lol 😛
Please give us an update as to how the femtocell works for you. Call quality etc., Blackberry functionality and the likes.
...
I read further down in the forum to see your official review of the Femtocell.
Looks like a nice device.
Good luck with it.
...
Thanks! Its been good so far. I will prolly update the review with more thoughts/concerns in another week or so.
...