Why am I paying the same price?

[roguerower]

My verizon contract was up back in May and I didn't re-up and have just been going month-to-month. But why am I paying the same damned price when I'm not paying to subsidize the cost of a phone? When my blackberry went out I bought a first gen. droid used and activated it. Fucking verizon.

Any way to reduce my bill (besides google voice for texts)?

 

[vshah]

not on verizon, no. I think tmobile has a new $49.99 unlimited (read 2gb soft cap) value plan that lets you bring your own phone.

 

[poofyhairguy]

My verizon contract was up back in May and I didn't re-up and have just been going month-to-month. But why am I paying the same damned price when I'm not paying to subsidize the cost of a phone?

To inspire you to get a new phone and be locked in a contract for two more years.

In the current system either you take your upgrade as soon as it becomes available, or you are wasting money. Another reason why we all hope T-Mobile doesn't go away.

 

[Binky]

Their plan involves a carrot and a stick. The carrot is a shiny new phone for $200. The stick is that your plan stays the same if you don't eat the carrot (and chain yourself to them for another 2 years). Be a good lemming and get a new phone.

 

[corkyg]

I recall a contract where I bought my phone outright (cash!) The rate was the same as if I bought on a contract - the difference was, I could quit anytime with no penalty. That has a value.

 

[shortylickens]

The two year commitment is the subsidy, not the monthly price.
The early termination fee ensures you stay with them for the two years.

 

[s44]

Any way to reduce my bill (besides google voice for texts)?

Get a subsidized phone and sell it.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I recall a contract where I bought my phone outright (cash!) The rate was the same as if I bought on a contract - the difference was, I could quit anytime with no penalty. That has a value.

I see two problems with that:

1. The price difference for subsidized phones vs. unsubsidized is huge, at least if you're looking at high-end phones that aren't easily available used.

2. What good is a Verizon phone if you cancel your contract? I guess you could go to Page Plus, but it's not like Europe where you can just take your phone to another carrier really easily. You're paying hundreds extra to avoid being in a contract, but if you quit your best-case scenario involves trying to sell your deactivated phone to recoup some of the extra cost. Ends up being roughly the same value proposition as just eating an ETF if you really need to get out of the contract for some reason.

 

[alent1234]

companies don't like to have too many choices for consumers. for business customers it's a different story.

 

[her209]

Heads they win, tails you lose.

 

[Dulanic]

If you don't need a new phone, get one for free and ebay it. Or pay for a smartphone and ebay it.

 

[sixone]

My verizon contract was up back in May and I didn't re-up and have just been going month-to-month. But why am I paying the same damned price when I'm not paying to subsidize the cost of a phone? When my blackberry went out I bought a first gen. droid used and activated it. Fucking verizon.

Any way to reduce my bill (besides google voice for texts)?

Call Verizon and ask them to cancel your service, because you can get service with Virgin Mobile for $35 a month. Verizon will offer you a reduced rate to keep your business.

They knocked 20% off my bill, while I was still under contract.

 

[hanoverphist]

Call Verizon and ask them to cancel your service, because you can get service with Virgin Mobile for $35 a month. Verizon will offer you a reduced rate to keep your business.

They knocked 20% off my bill, while I was still under contract.

they told me "we are sorry to lose your business, hope to see you in the future" when i tried that. i tried with 3 different reps and same thing. i suck.

 

[alent1234]

everyone has customer profitability models these days. when you call the CSR has your profitability number on the screen. if you kick up a lot of money to your carrier via high margin items like texting and insurance you get a high rating. otherwise they tell you to go away and won't give you any credits. i'm in the high profit group and get upgrades faster and if i call and complain about having to pay more than a new customer for a new phone i'll probably get a credit as well

when you call the IVR system gets your rating and your wait time is even determined by how much profit you are worth.

 

[shortylickens]

everyone has customer profitability models these days. when you call the CSR has your profitability number on the screen. if you kick up a lot of money to your carrier via high margin items like texting and insurance you get a high rating. otherwise they tell you to go away and won't give you any credits. i'm in the high profit group and get upgrades faster and if i call and complain about having to pay more than a new customer for a new phone i'll probably get a credit as well

when you call the IVR system gets your rating and your wait time is even determined by how much profit you are worth.

Thats probably why they constantly fuck me over. My one and only request year after year is how do I save money with you guys? I finally quit ahead of schedule and they were quite compliant with my request. No bullshit or arguments.

 

[preslove]

The real answer is that you live in the USA, which means wireless carriers are free to sodomize their customers at will. In most other countries, wireless carriers don't have this luxury.

 

[shortylickens]

The real answer is that you live in the USA, which means wireless carriers are free to sodomize their customers at will. In most other countries, wireless carriers don't have this luxury.

In the grand scheme of things I'd rather have freedom than government control. The problem is its not real freedom because once a company gets larger enough they sure arent going to let something as trivial as the law get in their way.

 

[Spineshank]

MetroPCS or Virgin Mobile seems to be the way to go at this point. However, im not a huge fan of Android..if i could get my an Iphone on there then that be a different story. I do however get a discount with Verizon and with Google Voice my bill isnt bad.

 

[roguerower]

My main concern is with coverage. As high as the prices are, I've never had a problem with Verizon service unless I'm in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. I'd go to one of the smaller carriers (Cricket, T-mobile, Virgin), however I move around on a 1-2 year basis and don't want to be up shit creek w/o a paddle because the cheap alternative has shitty service in my new job locaiton.

 

[alent1234]

The real answer is that you live in the USA, which means wireless carriers are free to sodomize their customers at will. In most other countries, wireless carriers don't have this luxury.

don't try to tell us that canada is cheaper than the US for cell service

 

[poofyhairguy]

however I move around on a 1-2 year basis and don't want to be up shit creek w/o a paddle because the cheap alternative has shitty service in my new job locaiton.

There are no contracts with those carriers. If you move and the next place lacks good service sign up with Verizon and sell the phone on ebay.

 

[ImDonly1]

The real answer is that you live in the USA, which means wireless carriers are free to sodomize their customers at will. In most other countries, wireless carriers don't have this luxury.

No one is forcing 100 million people to stay with ATT or Verizon.
There are lots of smaller companies and prepaid providers.

Everytime I mention prepaid to someone, they ignore me as soon as they hear the work prepaid. Or they think ewww prepaid. Even if it is on the same network as they are using for less money.

 

[sixone]

everyone has customer profitability models these days. when you call the CSR has your profitability number on the screen. if you kick up a lot of money to your carrier via high margin items like texting and insurance you get a high rating. otherwise they tell you to go away and won't give you any credits. i'm in the high profit group and get upgrades faster and if i call and complain about having to pay more than a new customer for a new phone i'll probably get a credit as well

when you call the IVR system gets your rating and your wait time is even determined by how much profit you are worth.

I wasn't using text messages at that time, and I've never paid for insurance. I'd also dropped the stupid roadside assistance a few months before - total ripoff.

So I don't know how I could have been in the high profit group.

 

[alent1234]

how long have you been a customer? it's probably more complicated than just adding a texting plan