Should I stay or should I go…

[Submit1]

I’ve been a Verizon wireless customer for at least 25 years and I’m looking at moving to another carrier.

Has anyone made the switch, only to come back?

[Piscestg · Accepted solution]

I was with Verizon since 1993. I live in a major metro area. I read an article about T-Mobile's 30-day test drive. I downloaded the eSIM so I still used my Verizon service for calls and texts. 

Here were my findings, not only at home but as I traveled around my city and county:

Verizon- 1 to 3 bars, download speeds of 3 to 12 MB/s of 4G, 5G is nonexistent even though Verizon's map shows my entire county covered with 5G. Nope. My Apple Watch would only receive cellular on a hill in my backyard.

T-Mobile- 3 to 4 bars, download speeds of 85 to 170 MB/s of BOTH 4G and 5G. T-Mobile's coverage map at this point appears to be accurate. My Apple Watch receives 3 to 4 bars of cellular everywhere, inside and outside. Even in my basement I get one or two bars. Verizon?........zip!

I made an appointment at T-Mobile to switch. The rep took me right on time. He had to work a little to get my 28 year old number to port, but he got it done in about 20 minutes.

Cost-

Verizon- $116/month for iPhone, one Apple Watch, iPad with usually slow service that crawled on the Get More unlimited plan.

T-Mobile- $60/month for iPhone, two Apple Watches with blazing speeds on the Magenta 55+ Unlimited Plan. (I can add my iPad for $15 a month if I choose.)

We will soon move my wife's phone to my plan for ONLY another $20/month.

I would have never thought I would be with T-Mobile. People still tell of their bad service from years ago. Yes their  service for years was a joke. But with taking over Sprint they have additional frequency bands to use. And they are seriously upgrading their service. Verizon is big on talk, their deceitful coverage map and promoting themselves but talk is cheap. And while I lost my Discovery+ free service, I will pay the $7 a month for that. No big deal! Give me good service, not other freebies to justify the high price and slow service  

I wish you luck. I am happy to finally having great, fast service at a FAIR price.

[acraftylady2]

Tried t-mobile once for a month but came back to verizon.  Was paying for truely unlimited data only my games wouldn't load over 4g.  No one could figure it out and were not really willing to try and help.  Came back to verizon and my games worked fine over 4g.  Also places I traveled and had good coverage with verizon signal was horrible for me with t-mobile and at the time I had an elderly Mom in a nursing home so signal was important.   Maybe things  changed with them but not willing to try again.  My bowling partner has t-mobike and has to go outside the alleys to make a call where as my verizon works fine inside the alley but for the price it doesn't bother her.   AT&T I hear works good in one half of town here and not the other and sprint I have no clue.  All you can do is try different carriers and see what works for you.

[Submit1]

Thanks for the info.  If Verizon gave better loyalty offers I would stay. Gonna give T-mobile a shot.

[vzw_customer_support]

Submit1, we never want you to consider leaving us. What plan do you currently have? How many lines? Do you have any Device Payments? 

VanessaS_VZW

[Ann154]

I was forcibly switched to AT&T for a month, but the service wasn't as good as Verizon Wireless was at the time. Part of coverage area I needed was actually provided by regional carrier that AT&T had roaming agreements with. This was a while ago, so it is possible things could have improved, but I do know the regional carrier still covers the same area I was concerned about.

Try the other carrier, but be open minded about the weaknesses of where you switch and why you want to switch. 

[Submit1]

Thanks for the reply. Living just outside a major city in the densely populated northeast has me assuming all coverages are similar, they are when I look at maps. Why pay more for phone upgrade when plans are similar? 

my decision now is what phone with t mobile as carrier …11 Pro or 12?

[acraftylady2]

I live in the suburbs.  My husbsnd worked for 32yrs about 40min away out in the boonies.  Only service that worked out there was verizon and still is the same today which is why we chose them years ago.  My brother who lives 6hrs from me in another state has AT&T and has dead spots in his house with the service.  I go there and verizon works in every part of his house.  If I am traveling and break down some where loyalty perks mean nothing to me If I can't make a call for help.  I watch for the sales at best buy and pay cash for my phone so could care less about bogo and free phones.  I just want good coverage when traveling.  In Alaska 2yrs ago had full bars at every port.   Farthest we have driven was Tennessee 5yrs ago and good signal every where.   Driving to Branson Missouri in November so will see how coverage is out there.  All carriers offer you perks to get you in the door then see 2yrs down the road what they offer if you want a new phone.

[acraftylady2]

What loyalty offers are you looking for?  A cell carrier should provide you with good coverage.  I guess I am different as that's what I want is to be able to make a call where ever I am traveling.  What more fo they owe people?

[vzw_customer_support]

I appreciate your honesty. I completely understand needing to do what is best for your wireless needs. I truly hope you reconsider, or decide to come back to us, (if you leave). 

VanessaS_VZW

[Piscestg · Accepted solution]

I was with Verizon since 1993. I live in a major metro area. I read an article about T-Mobile's 30-day test drive. I downloaded the eSIM so I still used my Verizon service for calls and texts. 

Here were my findings, not only at home but as I traveled around my city and county:

Verizon- 1 to 3 bars, download speeds of 3 to 12 MB/s of 4G, 5G is nonexistent even though Verizon's map shows my entire county covered with 5G. Nope. My Apple Watch would only receive cellular on a hill in my backyard.

T-Mobile- 3 to 4 bars, download speeds of 85 to 170 MB/s of BOTH 4G and 5G. T-Mobile's coverage map at this point appears to be accurate. My Apple Watch receives 3 to 4 bars of cellular everywhere, inside and outside. Even in my basement I get one or two bars. Verizon?........zip!

I made an appointment at T-Mobile to switch. The rep took me right on time. He had to work a little to get my 28 year old number to port, but he got it done in about 20 minutes.

Cost-

Verizon- $116/month for iPhone, one Apple Watch, iPad with usually slow service that crawled on the Get More unlimited plan.

T-Mobile- $60/month for iPhone, two Apple Watches with blazing speeds on the Magenta 55+ Unlimited Plan. (I can add my iPad for $15 a month if I choose.)

We will soon move my wife's phone to my plan for ONLY another $20/month.

I would have never thought I would be with T-Mobile. People still tell of their bad service from years ago. Yes their  service for years was a joke. But with taking over Sprint they have additional frequency bands to use. And they are seriously upgrading their service. Verizon is big on talk, their deceitful coverage map and promoting themselves but talk is cheap. And while I lost my Discovery+ free service, I will pay the $7 a month for that. No big deal! Give me good service, not other freebies to justify the high price and slow service  

I wish you luck. I am happy to finally having great, fast service at a FAIR price.

[Piscestg · Accepted solution]

I forgot to mention that I have an iPhone 12 Pro Max. It has every radio band that T-Mobile uses. 

[Submit1]

Thanks for the reply. Verizon wireless since 1995 and looking forward to the switch. Interested in pro max as well now. Appreciate passing that info along

[Piscestg]

Sure, you're welcome. I love my 12Pro Max. Well I only had two more years of Verizon than you. My first phone was a Motorola flip with a thick battery. And it was heavy!!!

[Submit1]

I went with the Nokia.

[vzw_customer_support]

I am glad you found the right device for your needs! Is the service still active with us? 

[Submit1]

 

[Submit1]

Is this your phone?

 

[Piscestg]

Oh man, I had a Star Tac too, but it was my third phone I believe. I loved it. 

This was my first one with an extended thicker battery. 

[Ann154]

---

@Submit1 wrote:

 

---

Ah, the memories. 

[Piscestg]

Yes, when phones just made calls. So many people now are glued to their texting, it's kind of a shame. 

And Motorola made some great ones back then. 

[vzw_customer_support]

We appreciate your loyalty more than you know. Again, we don't want to lose you as a valued customer. We have great promotions available. Do you have a phone to trade in? 

You can view all offers and promotions here: https://www.verizon.com/ 

I hope this helps. 

VanessaS_VZW