Do I really need to finance a phone for 2 years too add a 3rd line?

We currently have 2 lines on Edge.

We wanted to add a 3rd line for my youngest, but Verizon is pushing me to finance a device for 2 years which I don't want to do for a 1st phone. It either has to be a old phone we previously had on the network, or a pre-paid phone that has been "seasoned" on the pre-paid network for 6 months.

I just want to be able to buy a $30-40 phone and add it to our plan. I won't worry so much if it gets lost or broken at that price.

Verizon's solution was to add insurance on top of the financed phone for "piece of mind" - thus pushing the monthly cost to $40-45 easy.

Accepted answers

veryfrustrated0118

I am going to reiterate what everyone else has already said. You do not need to finance a device to add a line. If you have phone or can get one that is not currently active then you should be fine. The sales reps get paid more for getting you on Edge when signing up a new line or upgrading. That is why you are pushed to it. A basic phone really could cost less than $200 brand new and it will have at least a one year warranty. The only reason I say this is because if you buy a used one for $50 it doesn't have a warranty and then you'll have to seek out another device if something happens. Just a thought.

All comments

MiiHere

Are you wanting to add a basic phone or a smartphone or a phone you already have?

You could buy a used phone for pretty cheap, just depending on the type you want and then just add it and it will cost you only the monthly line access fee. Depending on the plan you have now a basic phone will be $20-$30 a month and a smartphone $40.

rcschnoor

You do not need to purchase a phone to add a line. You can use a phone you already have which is not currently being used.:smileyhappy:

veryfrustrated0118

mflandshark

they want you to finance it because they get more commision (SP?) i dont know how to spell it but they make more money that way just add a line for 40.00 and put an old phone on it dont let them force you in to anything you dont want to do

MiiHere

Obviously we don't know the exact situation, but they might have been pushing it because you can get a smart phone like the Droid MAXX for $17 a month on edge, but instead of paying a $40 line access fee you'd pay $15.

2 year overview:

Droid MAXX Edge Payments: $400

$25 Line Access Fee Savings -$600

$15 Line Access Fee Cost +$360

Total Spent on that one line for 2 years: $160 - that includes the price of the phone and the line access fee.

Weth

Pure money play.

Get a used basic phone, then $20/month access

or used smartphone, $15/month if you have 6 GB data ($25/month for less than 6GB)

MiiHere

If you already have a basic phone then that's free, but $20 for 24 months is still $480 for 2 years

If you have to buy a used or new basic phone it's $480 + cost of the phone = 2 year spending cost

If you already have a smart phone then that's free, but $15 for 24 months is still $360 for 2 years

If you have to buy a used or new smart phone it's $360 + cost of the phone = 2 year spending cost

Smartphones:

Droid MAXX on Edge is still only $160 for 2 years.

iPhone 5c on Edge is $209 for 2 years

Samsung Galaxy s6 on Edge is $360 for 2 years

LG G4 on Edge is $309 for 2 years

unknown

MiiHere wrote:

If you already have a basic phone then that's free, but $20 for 24 months is still $480 for 2 years

If you have to buy a used or new basic phone it's $480 + cost of the phone = 2 year spending cost

If you already have a smart phone then that's free, but $15 for 24 months is still $360 for 2 years

If you have to buy a used or new smart phone it's $360 + cost of the phone = 2 year spending cost

Smartphones:

Droid MAXX on Edge is still only $160 for 2 years.

iPhone 5c on Edge is $209 for 2 years

Samsung Galaxy s6 on Edge is $360 for 2 years

LG G4 on Edge is $309 for 2 years

Sorry you're math is wrong. for example

I could let a new line use an old LG 2. Sure that's $15 a month for 2 years is $360. Or I can get a LG G4 which would also still cost me $360 in service cost over 2 year PLUS the $23 a month edge payment. You're subtracting the line access discount TWICE once off the line access fee and one off the edge payment.

pherson

It's a commission gimmick. You can still get a brand new device on a 2 year agreement with verizon, or add a line with a device purchased elsewhere and or owned. Do not back down. Did you go to an authorized reseller or corporate store?

Core2

I called customer service - they were trying to push a iPhone 5s really hard.

My main complaint is that you can get a brand new prepaid Android (or Windows) smartphone brand new under $40. Verizon states they won't allow me to add this phone unless it was used on the pre-paid network for 6 months.

Or, I can use an old phone (we just have a couple flip phones, not sure if they still work) that we previously had on our account.

I am just irritated that my main option is to buy a used Smartphone with unknown issues from eBay, over a brand new phone.

veryfrustrated0118

Nobody said that you couldn't buy a brand new phone.

But think about this. You don't want to spend a lot of money on a device that could potentially get lost or stolen. Basically your options are to buy a device on a 2 year contract at the lowest price available. Without insurance, if it gets lost or stolen or damaged in any way, you will have 2 options. Either replace with another full cost device if the 2 year contract is not expired or disconnect that line and pay the early termination fee. You could Edge a device but without insurance if damage or loss occurs you will have to pay off the remainder of the full cost of the device to be eligible for a new device or cancel the line and be responsible for any portion unpaid on the device. You could purchase a device on either a 2 yr or Edge agreement and pay for the insurance and use the insurance to get a replacement if loss or damage occurs. You could just buy a cheap used device and not have any type of agreement and if loss or damage occurs you will only be out the cost of the device. Then you can cancel the line with no extra fees or seek out another cheap used device. Or, and this is my personal favorite, you buy the device however you wish and make the user responsible for its replacement cost out of allowance or savings. This will teach the user the responsibility of taking care of the device. This is how the users on my account work. My brothers, who were notorious for breaking or losing devices, have been damage and loss free for over 2 years since I told them that they were financially responsible for it.

You cannot just go buy a phone from Walmart that is intended for prepay service to use. It is just not the way it works. If you want to do that then you would have to pay the prepay service for at least 6 months before the device can be used on post pay. This option is good too because there are no overages on prepay. This could also teach the user about usage management AND device responsibility.

So, you see, there are a lot of options available to you.

rcschnoor

Core2 wrote:

My main complaint is that you can get a brand new prepaid Android (or Windows) smartphone brand new under $40. Verizon states they won't allow me to add this phone unless it was used on the pre-paid network for 6 months.

The reason these phones are so inexpensive is because Verizon subsidizes the price with the knowledge that the phone would be used as Verizon intends it to be used for at least 6 months. If there were no restriction to use it as pre-paid for 6 months, Verizon would no longer subsidize that price and the phone would be MUCH more expensive.

Core2 wrote:

I am just irritated that my main option is to buy a used Smartphone with unknown issues from eBay, over a brand new phone.

While it MAY be your main option, it is not your ONLY option. There are 3 smartphones on Verizon's website UNDER $200. They may not be high end phones, but there are low cost options out there.

Another option would be to go ahead and get that pre-paid phone for $40, have your son on pre-paid for 6 months and then migrate the line over to your post-paid account.:smileyhappy: