VZW Employee Accounts suck

[dlock13]

Long story short:

I want an iPhone 4S. My sister works for VZW. Due to her being an employee, we are ineligible to purchase an iPhone 4S until stock meets demand. There's no set date on when we'll be able to purchase a 4S. They don't even tell their employees a rough date when they're going to be eligible. I'm not sure if AT&T does the same, but it still sucks.

Needless to say, I sold my... all right phone (Fascinate) to be able to buy an iPhone 4S, but then when I found out I wouldn't be able to, my sister had to give me this terrible LG Enlighten which I've been stuck with for about 2 months. I just want my iPhone already VZW.

This is more of a complain post than anything. Does anyone know if AT&T does the same thing? I know VZW did this before with the iPhone 4. I just didn't know how long it took till employees were eligible to purchase. Also, since it is the holiday season, I fear I'm not going to be able to upgrade until January.

 

[Nothinman]

Makes sense to me. Why would they sell you or her a phone when they can sell the same phone to someone else for higher margin?

 

[dlock13]

Makes sense to me. Why would they sell you or her a phone when they can sell the same phone to someone else for higher margin?

What do you mean a higher margin? We're still paying the same price for the phone. Employees do not get a discount on the iPhone. That's the only phone on VZW you don't get a discount on at all. It makes more sense to have your employees have one and that way they can show it off when they're out in the field via word of mouth. I understand it's the iPhone, and it doesn't need that advertising, but it wouldn't hurt it at all.

 

[Printer Bandit]

are you on the same plan as her?

 

[r0k]

It's so easy to use Verizon and sucks in a sentence together. I was with Verizon for over 10 years. I loved their customer service. It was top notch. But their handsets? That's another matter entirely. Again and again, I allowed myself to be chained to the oars for some mediocre handset until I finally got to the point I would never again accept a cell phone contract except for the phone I really wanted, an iPhone. In fall of 2010, Verizon was still in wait and see mode and I bolted and ported my line to At&t. At&t customer service is about as clueless as any Saturday night sketch about being clueless. But my phone "just works". Meanwhile, my family was still stuck on Verizon. We were paying $150 a month for the three of them on janked up LG phones. $150 a month. On At&t I was paying $59 a month so for the four of us it was costing $210 a month.

So this past fall I brought the three of them over to At&t and now all of us have iPhone 4 or iPhone 3Gs phones. No we couldn't wait for the 4S because the LG pieces of poop were resetting multiple times a day and we just couldn't stand it any more. Now we are paying $150 a month for 4 lines with iPhones and unlimited text. If I could get the kids to stop texting we could save even more. We are all on the 250 MB data plan which is fine because all of us have access to wifi both at home and at work or school. Yes we have a few more dropped calls now due to coverage but a lot fewer dropped calls than we used to have due to equipment failures caused by Verizon's mediocre feature phones.

Bottom line, don't let a "plan deal" force you to stick with a carrier that sucks either for service, terms or equipment.

 

[Nothinman]

What do you mean a higher margin? We're still paying the same price for the phone. Employees do not get a discount on the iPhone. That's the only phone on VZW you don't get a discount on at all. It makes more sense to have your employees have one and that way they can show it off when they're out in the field via word of mouth. I understand it's the iPhone, and it doesn't need that advertising, but it wouldn't hurt it at all.

I didn't realize you get no discount at all, that just makes it funny. No, I'm sure they don't give a shit about their employees showing off iPhones so they have no motivation to give you or her one.

 

[Red Storm]

Wait, if you don't get a discount on the phone, wtf is the benefit to working for them?

 

[dlock13]

You get a 50% discount on your plan. And you do get a discount on phones, but the iPhone is the only one that you can't because of Apple's strict negotiations.

 

[Red Storm]

Ah, that makes more sense. That does suck about the iPhone.

 

[boomhower]

Makes sense to me. They can sell it to someone who will pay full price for two years rather than your sisters discounted employee plan. Sprint does this as well, not sure about the other two.

 

[OS]

can you buy the phone and plan separately and just get the employee discount added later?

 

[dlock13]

can you buy the phone and plan separately and just get the employee discount added later?

Nope. It has to be under her plan. Since she's the employee, she has to start the plan and be the owner of the plan as well.

Bah humbug.

 

[Lyfer]

It's so easy to use Verizon and sucks in a sentence together. I was with Verizon for over 10 years. I loved their customer service. It was top notch. But their handsets? That's another matter entirely. Again and again, I allowed myself to be chained to the oars for some mediocre handset until I finally got to the point I would never again accept a cell phone contract except for the phone I really wanted, an iPhone. In fall of 2010, Verizon was still in wait and see mode and I bolted and ported my line to At&t. At&t customer service is about as clueless as any Saturday night sketch about being clueless. But my phone "just works". Meanwhile, my family was still stuck on Verizon. We were paying $150 a month for the three of them on janked up LG phones. $150 a month. On At&t I was paying $59 a month so for the four of us it was costing $210 a month.

So this past fall I brought the three of them over to At&t and now all of us have iPhone 4 or iPhone 3Gs phones. No we couldn't wait for the 4S because the LG pieces of poop were resetting multiple times a day and we just couldn't stand it any more. Now we are paying $150 a month for 4 lines with iPhones and unlimited text. If I could get the kids to stop texting we could save even more. We are all on the 250 MB data plan which is fine because all of us have access to wifi both at home and at work or school. Yes we have a few more dropped calls now due to coverage but a lot fewer dropped calls than we used to have due to equipment failures caused by Verizon's mediocre feature phones.

Bottom line, don't let a "plan deal" force you to stick with a carrier that sucks either for service, terms or equipment.

So you're blaming verizon for a crappy phone made by LG? That makes perfect sense! I'm going to call at&T to bitch/moan about my POS Panasonic phone I got with my landline.