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bundle prices are higher for existing Verizon customers?

Why is it that the bundle prices are higher for existing Verizon customers than new customers? Is that fair?

That doesn't make sense -- if I cancel my services and then start again in 2 days, I'm technically a new customer. Does Verizon *want* their customers to leave?

That would seem a hassle in processing for both Verizon and for me -- but if that's the only way to enjoy the same discount, I'll do it. But is it even legal for Verizon to charge existing customers higher prices than new customers?

Comments

prisaz

@dianem55 wrote:
Why is it that the bundle prices are higher for existing Verizon customers than new customers? Is that fair?

That doesn't make sense -- if I cancel my services and then start again in 2 days, I'm technically a new customer. Does Verizon *want* their customers to leave?

That would seem a hassle in processing for both Verizon and for me -- but if that's the only way to enjoy the same discount, I'll do it. But is it even legal for Verizon to charge existing customers higher prices than new customers?

All companies offer a better discount for new customers. It is to attract new customers, and the practice is done with all providers. Look at Directv and and the others. I am not sure if two days would qualify you as a new customer because you would be considered a previous customer. Some companies will after a period of time make offers to entice customers back, but I don't think 2 days would do it. Call and cancel to see what you get. If you are under a bundle agreement, you will get an early termination fee so it would be more than the discount over a two year period. Perhaps that is why the ETF was increased.

dannie_k

I totally understand your frustration. It's not the price that is high. It is the discounts applied to the starting bundle price. For instance, the good FIOS bundle is like $109.99 (starting price) and new customers get like a $30 discount for 6 months plus an additional $10 discount for months 7-24. Existing customers only get the starting price..which is still discount. I think these bundles are like near $160.00 without all the discounts. I for once would like to see existing customers get some kind of credit applied for at least a year.

Peony04

Hi! So I currently have my phone and Fios internet separate(not bundled) and have been wanting to bundle them. I've hesitated since people have told me that they won't give you a deal because you're already a customer. Is this true? Why wouldn't they want to keep existing customers with their bundles? Just curious. Thanks!

prisaz

@Peony04 wrote:
Hi! So I currently have my phone and Fios internet separate(not bundled) and have been wanting to bundle them. I've hesitated since people have told me that they won't give you a deal because you're already a customer. Is this true? Why wouldn't they want to keep existing customers with their bundles? Just curious. Thanks!

If you have never had a bubdle you may want to go to the site and try to upgrade to bundle. I believe if you are adding a service such as TV, you can get the discount.

$15 OFF PER MONTH FOR 2 YEAR - EXCLUSIVE ONLINE OFFER:
Promotional rate available to new Verizon FiOS TV or Internet residential customers via $15 bill credit for 24 months only; beginning month 25 standard rates apply.

Go to the web site and enter your phone number and see what offers it gives you. If you have never had a bundle, it may offer you a bundle.

http://www22.verizon.com/residential/bundles/bundlesoverview/

TravisTee

What really irks me is that these deep discounts ($540 over 2 years according to their ad) are only available to new users, and yet guess what I get in my bill each and every stinking month.

An add that tells me exactly how much I am being screwed, and how much they value new customers over existing ones.

I understand incentives to get customers to switch, but since you by definition only send the bill to your existing customers, why rub their noses in it?

minimo3

Does anyone know how long you have to be "away" to be considered a new customer? I was thinking of just getting by on a high speed datacard, cellphone, and Netflix for a month and then re-sign up as a new customer. Is that a sufficient amount of time? I couldn't find any information in the T&Cs that specified the criteria to be a new customer.

PGJK

Something to think about while you ponder your upgrades. Sometimes the new bargain price just isn't worth the trouble, let me share this story:

I bundled up in 2008 with FIOS TV / Internet (15/5) / Telephone, Now I already had the telephone service so not such a bad deal when we dropped Optimum Online and AOL Online. All in all it was a bargain not to pass up. I started out with a bit over 160 with movie package. Well to start off the installation was a nightmare and a half, everything got installed by technician except for the Internet which wouldn't come online for some reason or another. It was determined that problem was outside therefore Verizon's. Report was filed and thats the last I saw of that guy. I literally had to get the Internet up & going myself through numberous telephone calls. Thats OK! 'cause I learned a few things along the way (you know those things the tech guy never tells you when he installs this stuff). Anyhow I finally get the internet up and running, wireless and all. Then for several weeks my computer is alive chirping grunting all day and night. I call the big 'V' and they suggest I purchase Internet Suite @ 5.99 which was fine because my AV subscription just ran out. It was the best but it was cheap and worked pretty good. Things are rolling along for about a year and this is when the fun starts. The Internet slows to a crawl, and there's a movie package I'm interested in. So I make the ill-fated call (you'll see the futility of this along the way). I order the new movie pkge and a bump up in speed 20/20, as per the sale this amounted to $0.00 out of pocket (sweet I said)). Now comes the mess the billing department cancels the 'autopay' sructure that was setup at the time I had my telephone installed, which had been ongoing since '87. I start to get bills again and for some reason or another through some kind of restucturing at the big 'V', I can get it back without jumping through hoops. I set it up through checking by telephone and now I needed to apply by creditcard or do it through the mail. I don't own a credit card and I generally never use the mail for payments (...just to much can go wrong, I'm not going to get into that whole making along story even longer). Anyhow the billing is all messed up because FIOS and Verizon are separate plus they from differing times. FIOS billing is much sooner than Verizon's so in essence you're paying 2 companies through 1 company. Anyhow I start getting bills of like $300 - $500, I call and find out that some services were interupted therefore it was not reflected on my bill. I negotiated payment and tried with no luck in re-establishing what I once had and with no problem for years. I was told that it can only be done now in one of 2 ways, of which I explained earlier. "This is absurd I didn't ceate this mess, you guys did'," I told big 'V' They apologized for the mishap but to remedy I only had 2 choices, those I mentioned. Call me crazy but if I had screwed up this badly at work I'd be forced to remedy the situation or be fired. I found it extremely ironic that with each and every telephone call to big 'V', they wanted to know if I wished to add more services. "Now if that aint the most ridiculous thing you ever heard", I cringe with the thought. I going to wait until my plan is up and see what I can get just to stay with them. Because truth be told the only thing I never had problems with was my telephone service, its been running great since 1987. I can't say that about anything from 2008 onward. Don't get me wrong because at each and every juncture, I asked specifically "How will this affect my established services", Well now you know what can happen.

Suzanne7777

@prisaz wrote:
@dianem55 wrote:
Why is it that the bundle prices are higher for existing Verizon customers than new customers? Is that fair?

That doesn't make sense -- if I cancel my services and then start again in 2 days, I'm technically a new customer. Does Verizon *want* their customers to leave?

That would seem a hassle in processing for both Verizon and for me -- but if that's the only way to enjoy the same discount, I'll do it. But is it even legal for Verizon to charge existing customers higher prices than new customers?

All companies offer a better discount for new customers. It is to attract new customers, and the practice is done with all providers. Look at Directv and and the others. I am not sure if two days would qualify you as a new customer because you would be considered a previous customer. Some companies will after a period of time make offers to entice customers back, but I don't think 2 days would do it. Call and cancel to see what you get. If you are under a bundle agreement, you will get an early termination fee so it would be more than the discount over a two year period. Perhaps that is why the ETF was increased.

No actually that is not true that "all companies" do it. Brighthouse gives you the same promotion they offer new customers if you call and ask.

Dealing with Verizon is a nightmare compared to other "providers" I have had.

ChrisSun

I swithched to other provider when Verizon rep declined my request. It seems they don't care about their existing customer once they got them. Some people needs to inject some sense to the upper management because it actully costs more to obtain new customers.

oldfashioned

I agree with what prisaz said. Cablevision is the same way, offering a lower price to bring in new customers and then their rates usually go up. I don't really understand what you are expecting, to be perfectly honest. With my Fios package, I had the same price guarantee under the 2 year contract and now that the contract is expired, my rates have gone up a little more.

And think about the practical considerations of cancelling your service and then starting up again. Fios was very time consuming to set up in my apartment. It literally took a day and a half because my the wiring in my phone jack was messed up. And then my in home agent and Outlook Express weren't functioning properly and it was a long time until I resolved all of that on my own by making phone calls to tech support. The time it takes to set all of that up is the the time it would take to dismantle everything along with a termination fee if that applies.

Freak4Dell

It's pretty annoying that Verizon does this. I do understand that other companies do it, but it doesn't make it rational.

What's amusing is that they actually told me to go ahead and cancel and sign back up. Ridiculous that they would rather make me go through that hassle, not to mention the employees' time that they're wasting by having me do that. There's really no reason a tech should come out to my house, since I already have everything installed.

Oh well...if they're going to make me do it, I'll do it. The tech can come and waste his time (he's basically just a courier for the newer boxes and router).

VZtalk1

just talked to the Verizon Rep and just like everyone says here. they do not care about the existing customers. had enough of nonsense with VZ. I am calling other provider now to switch.

PJs7

V is willing to bet You will not switch. Acceptable "churn" for those that do, the discount price is for the unhappy ones jumping from the other provider. Tit for tat exchange. Let's face it, it is a pain to switch. Termination & return equipment hassle,keeping in mind the first step is having to deal with Verizon to cancel. You know, that call where all the reps are busy..., time off from work for new installation, new hardware and cabling installation, if needed. They are fine with customers going to a forum and releasing some steam, it kinda helps release some of the aggravation, then ya probably will stay with them for a while longer because of the difficulties of switching. They just need to keep us happy enough to keep churn at acceptable limits. Real customers are the stockholders.

Gosh, I always feel so much better after venting here.

xirian1

The part that annoys me when I look at the new prices is that I'm basically getting screwed for not getting a tripple play despite the fact that I'm unable to get tv service at my address still, years after getting internet/phone. So I have no choice but to get the double play and stick with cablevision for tv.

RUBBERNECKTHIS

I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL CUSTOMER FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY A COMPANY THAT SPENDS A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY TRYING TO ATTRACT NEW CUSTOMERS DOES NOT WANT TO RETAIN THE CUSTOMERS THEY ALREADY HAVE. I CALLED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND REQUESTED THAT THE CURRENT PROMOTION OF A FREE FOR LIFE DVR BOX AND SET TOP BOX BE EXTENDED TO MY EXISTING ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO MAKE MY BILL MORE MANAGEABLE. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, THE SALES REP QUICKLY DISMISSED MY REQUEST AND ATTEMPTED TO SELL ME A MORE EXPENSIVE PACKAGE . I GUESS ITS TIME TO RETURN TO TIME WARNER. I LIKED TIME WARNERS NY NEWS PROGRAM WHICH IS UNAVAILABLE THROUGH VERIZION ANYWAY. FURTHER, WITH TIME WARNER WHEN YOU RECIEVE A PHONE CALL THE CALLERS INFO SHOWS ON YOUR TV SCREEN

Jesteraron

Wow...this is concerning. I am thinking of leaving because my original bundle is coming to an end. Verizon...you need to understand that I have the negotiating power...not you. This economy sucks and it's super easy for me to find someone who wants my business right now.

I guess Ill be looking at netflix and either dropping Verizon entirely or at the very least dropping half my services with them.

beetlejuice2

I was told Verizon will not give service back to you for 6 months. This could vary from state to state though.

I dont understand why people are all going nuts over new customer vs. current pricing. Its a business folks. I dont know any cable company who will keep offering new customer pricing.Most just rotate between compaines to keep the prices low, then eventually go back.

I came from Bright House who wouldnt give me crap after the 1 year special pricing. My father in law pays $250 for what I pay a good $100+ less for.

Directv, Dish, etc. are all the same way and I've had both. Once that year is up you either pay or leave.

At least Verizon has the new upgrade center and does offer bonus perks to current customers. I just upgraded and got the $300 pre paid card. What cable company would do that? I dont know why anyone would be calling them to get a better rate anyways when you can't get a better rate then what's shown to you online and the site even says that.

You also have proof of any rate. When you call you dont.

beetlejuice2

"No actually that is not true that "all companies" do it. Brighthouse gives you the same promotion they offer new customers if you call and ask.

Dealing with Verizon is a nightmare compared to other "providers" I have had."

You are wrong. I have tried numerous times to keep my rate the same with Bright House when I had them and they told me to bad so sad. All they do is try to offer you another bundle at a higher rate.

Jesteraron

@Beetlejuice...not sure but it seems like you are missing the point. Sure they are a business...but I am a consumer. I feel their standard pricing is too much. So I have every right to make a big deal and if they dont offer me something better to leave or cancel a portion of my services.

Money talks...especially in this economy. The customer has the power...and any company that thinks otherwise is going to suffer. Right now I am not requiring ANY maintenance from them...I just keep sending them money and it keeps rolling in. So they can keep that going and keep making money off me...or lose some or all of my service and make less money.

Their choice.

beetlejuice2

"@Beetlejuice...not sure but it seems like you are missing the point. Sure they are a business...but I am a consumer. I feel their standard pricing is too much. So I have every right to make a big deal and if they dont offer me something better to leave or cancel a portion of my services.

Their choice."

I do get the point. I dont think you get my point though. Why would you make a big deal even if it is your right when you clearly knew when you signed up what you would be paying and what you would be paying after the contract or offer was up? Using the economy is an excuse. So just because the economy isnt that great they should just cave in to everyone's demands? Verizon is such a huge monopoly and isnt going to blink if they lose you, me, or even 10 people when they have tons of new people signing up every day. 1 lost is 100 gained. The website clearly says get the lowest prices online as well so why would one assume that it would be any different when they call? Doesn't hurt to try to get a better rate, but why complain if not? Just go elsewhere. Thats exactly what I did when I left Bright House. At least these days we have a right to go elsewhere. Years ago we had 1 cable company where we lived and it was either take it or leave it.

Jesteraron

Perhaps you are right on one point...using the economy is an excuse...both for consumers and for the business as well. Either way I hold the negotiating power here...and me complaining about it helps add to them hearing it. Do some googling on the matter and you will find there are a TON of people unhappy about it.

It does good for them to know. Maybe not this time...but eventually it probably will. Otherwise what's the point of consumerism and capitalism?

Anyhow...Im not gonna just sit idly by and be quiet cause you think I should. That's definitely not in the consumer's best interest.

[Deleted User]

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