Misunderstandings regarding the new plans.....
AZSALUKI
Legend

there seems to be MANY forum members that think they HAVE TO switch to the shared plans if they want to upgrade at the discounted price. now i don't work for verizon, but it clearly states on the info page:

I have an unlimited data plan on my account. Do I need to change it?

You're not required to move to Share Everything but if you do, unlimited data will not be retained on your line. As a Verizon Wireless customer you have choices when you upgrade at discounted pricing. You can choose from a standalone data package starting at $30 for 2GB or a Share Everything Plan. If keeping unlimited is important to you, you can choose to upgrade and pay full retail price for the phone.

the above is from verizon's page:

http://solutions.vzwshop.com/shareeverything/?intcmp=VZW-VNT-SE-PLANRECMND

i read this as you will have the option to upgrade at discounted pricing AND keep your current plan (except for unlimited data). yes....they have completely done away with unlimited data plans if you want to get a $600 phone for $200......but they have not done away with any other plans.

i just wanted to post this because most of the outrage i am seeing seems to be from customers that believe they HAVE TO select a shared plan. if your' happy with your current plan, then keep it and choose to keep it when you upgrade next time.

Labels (1)
Re: Misunderstandings regarding the new plans.....
selayan
Enthusiast - Level 3

People are confused because they think they can upgrade and still keep unlimited data. That is not the case, if you pay their upgrade price, that statement says you will pay 30 a month for 2gb data, no more unlimited. So technically, you can't upgrade and keep your current plan. Just putting it so people don't read your statement and go "Well you said you can upgrade and keep your data, that didn't happen to me... so and so"

I had a feeling they would not force all of us on the share plan, that at least makes some sense.

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Re: Misunderstandings regarding the new plans.....
rrutl
Contributor - Level 2

     It's accurate to say that vz has already abolished the old plan structure, from 6/28 on, we are on a 'grandfathered' plan. As with all other such changes vz encourages and promotes (pushes) people on to the new plans as aggressively as legally possible. Once people allow contracts to expire and go month to month we may venture into unexplored territory. Does anyone predict that vz won't pursue aggressive tactics to 'promote migration'.  We can only feel secure that what we have today we will have tomorrow, probably next week, and once the furor of this current debate dies, the onward creep of capitalism will (as it does so well) march on with hand in our pocket. vz has stirred up controversy and will switch tactics to one of consolation (assurances that we can keep what we have). As things return to normal, then the water will once again be allowed to gradually boil until, the frog is trapped and cooked. The new dynamic for consumers is that of giving up subsidy on equipment, which will exert downward pressure on OEMs and since they too will need to protect their bottom line we will no doubt see sharp looking but cheaply made phones. And the flip side is that to have a subsidized phone of better quality we will 'migrate'.  The meteoric rise in smart phone demand and increased data use with the advent of so many data services has presented consumers with some serious questions to contemplate.

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Re: Misunderstandings regarding the new plans.....
mrbrown
Newbie

not confused Verizon just sucking down more money

my current plan

$150 for 2 smart phones unlimited data

if i choose new plane

$150 for 2 smart phones only 2 gb data

if i stay the same plan but want a new phone

buy a phone for $600 twice= $1200

if i switch to t-mobile

buy my own phone and pay only $100 for 2 phone and 2gb

that sounds like the best deal

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Re: Misunderstandings regarding the new plans.....
destructor
Enthusiast - Level 3

Part of my existing plan is unlimited data, so no, I don't get to keep my existing plan if I upgrade to a new device (unless I pay full retail). The only parts I get to keep are voice & text which they will be making free basically for new contracts if this goes through. I don't see why I should have to pay full retail for an upgrade to keep unlimited data and still pay the subsidized prices for the contract. If I'm paying full retail, my contract monthly rate should be lowered to compensate. I'm not about to pay double full retail just to stay with unlimited on Verizon.

Re: Misunderstandings regarding the new plans.....
PJNC284
Master - Level 2

ha, yay, now I don't even have to make a thread. lol.

As for the topic, existing customers that are currently on a tiered data plan won't notice any difference when you upgrade unless you CHOOSE to move to the Share Everything plan.

Grandfathered Unlimited Data is what WILL NOT carry over if you choose to upgrade with a new 2 yr contract and a subsidized phone after June 28th.  You don't necessarily have to switch to the Share Everything plan but you won't be able to carry the unlimited data through the upgrade. Options for current unlimited data customers:

1) Keep current voice/text plan and choose a tiered data package for the individual line.  Verizon currently offers 3 tiers (2GB for $30, 5GB for $50 and 10GB for $80) and those will still be available after June 28th.  This prevents one line from causing the whole plan to go Share Everything.

2)  Convert your existing plan to a Share Everything.  Beneficial for some, others not so much.

3) Pay full retail for the device you want to keep unlimited data.  Generally $600+.  There is also the option to purchase gently used devices from Craigslist or ebay sometimes for significantly less than full retail.  Be sure to get the ESN/MEID of the phone and confirm with Verizon that it's clear or have the person meet you at a Verizon store.

4) Use another line on your plan to upgrade.  If the line has a basic phone, you'll need to choose one of the individual tiered data packages for the line but that can be dropped after you put the basic phone back on.  This will allow you to get the subsidized price ($199, $299, etc) and keep your unlimited data.

So basically, you are NOT forced to convert to Share Everything plan.

Re: Misunderstandings regarding the new plans.....
NuDroidUsrr
Specialist - Level 3

mrbrown wrote:

not confused Verizon just sucking down more money

my current plan

$150 for 2 smart phones unlimited data

if i choose new plane

$150 for 2 smart phones only 2 gb data

if i stay the same plan but want a new phone

buy a phone for $600 twice= $1200

if i switch to t-mobile

buy my own phone and pay only $100 for 2 phone and 2gb

that sounds like the best deal

  Not that it is a big deal, but wouldn't you bill be $140 a month? 2x40 = 80, $60 for 2 GB = $140. Now, for $150, you would get 4 GB of data per month. Of course, they are both outdone by the T-Mobile pricing....

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Re: Misunderstandings regarding the new plans.....
selayan
Enthusiast - Level 3

Yeh I see your point. Other option is go to sprint or cricket, or metro, pay full retail for a data phone there and then 40 a month for unlimited everything. Metro and Cricket phones are not so good I've heard. I'm not sure about t mobile, if they offer tiered or not, but buying unlocked phone you can only go to verizon or sprint. Unless you go with a third party company.

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Re: Misunderstandings regarding the new plans.....
destructor
Enthusiast - Level 3

But you are forced to pick either the Share Everything plan or a tiered individual plan (I mistakenly thought they were the same thing), if you want to keep getting subsidized upgrades. This is a slap in the face to loyal customers who were given the bait & switch. Verizon is out of their minds if they think I'm going to pay $500+ for a new phone just to keep unlimited data. I'll find another provider who has it or if none do by 2014 when my contract expires, I will go to whoever is the cheapest. Maybe some people have huge amounts of cash laying around to shell out full retail for new phones, but I don't.

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Re: Misunderstandings regarding the new plans.....
selayan
Enthusiast - Level 3

By the time my contract ends, I will need a new phone for sure. I'll go with sprint or whoever else I see fit. What sucks is I have my little sister on my plan and I may not be able to cancel her out. Or if I do I'll need to buy her a new phone too. Basic phones are cheap anyway.

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