verizon website sells no basic phones for prepaid / vz stores sell them for $$$$$$

sam023

The Verizon website shows basic phones, https://www.verizon.com/basic-phones/ , but when you try to buy one for a prepaid account, you get sent to smartphones: https://www.verizon.com/smartphones/prepaid/

Looks like classic bait and switch.

There is no help for this on phone or chat.

When I call a Verizon Store to purchase a basic phone for my prepaid account, the price of the phone goes up by 54%.

3g is likely to go away in January.

Could be time to try Ting.

Verizon_Support

Hey there, Sam.

I'm here to help, and I'm sorry you've been having trouble. A basic phone that doesn't specifically state 'Prepaid' does not mean that it isn't still compatible to be used on Prepaid services.
We can check and verify the model you're looking to get, and then let you know if that specific phone is eligible. Is true that we have been phasing out 3G and by December 31st of this year, we will no longer be broadcasting 3G signal.

Prepaid phones are usually cheaper. What stores are you going to when trying to buy? If they are authorized retailers, instead of a corporate location, it is true that they can charge whatever they would like on devices, SIM Cards, activations, etc.
Please feel free to send us a Private Note for further assistance. We will be able to look up corporate locations near you where you could buy a device as well.

CelesteR_VZW