Adding a line to purchase Gnex

[Pavilion]

Say you have 2 lines. Contract 1, and Contract 2.

Contract 1: Droid Charge with 18 months left on contract with the smartphone data plan.
Contract 2: You want the Gnex at the 2 year contract price.

If you upgrade line 2, in order to get the contract price, you have to sign a 2 year contract WITH the data plan. You can't take the data plan off by switching to a dumb phone since you got the Gnex @ the 2 year contract price. Sorry but I'm pretty sure that won't work and Verizon already though about it.

Your best option might be to sell your charge for ~$200 ish and buy the Gnex for ~$500 ish off contract. That way you don't have to open a new line and its still the same as the 2 year contract price (assuming $300) after selling your old phone. The prices may differ though but its still better.

If I am not mistaken, the 2-year contract is on the line, not the data plan.

 

[zx10droid]

If I am not mistaken, the 2-year contract is on the line, not the data plan.

incorrect. direct from the nexus press release.

Customers that purchase the Galaxy Nexus by Samsung smartphone will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to Cell Phones - Smartphones: Cell Phone Service, Accessories - Verizon Wireless.

 

[Pavilion]

incorrect. direct from the nexus press release.

Your quote means: if you use Galaxy Nexus on a line, that line has to have data plan. (i.e. line #1)

In the customer agreement, it states that you cannot cancel a line of service under contract without ETF. Not the data plan.

 

[magpullin]

Can you just at any time buy a dumb phone and tell verizon to hook that one up and cancel your data plan?

If so, just do that tomorrow and when you get the SGN just change over your number to the new line.

 

[arche3]

Your quote means: if you use Galaxy Nexus on a line, that line has to have data plan. (i.e. line #1)

In the customer agreement, it states that you cannot cancel a line of service under contract without ETF. Not the data plan.

This is correct. The only time you cannot cancel data plan is when you buy the phone from 3rd party. Like amazon or whomever. They lock you into the data and voiceplan for I think 8 month? Or something. If your new line is bought direct from verizon you can remove data plan after you put a dumb phone on that line.

 

[CaptainRon]

Your quote means: if you use Galaxy Nexus on a line, that line has to have data plan. (i.e. line #1)

In the customer agreement, it states that you cannot cancel a line of service under contract without ETF. Not the data plan.

I agree with your interpretation. I've put a "dumb phone" on my primary phone line after I trashed my Droid. VZW had no problem removing the data plan.

 

[Gravytrain]

Im more confused than ever... Some are saying that you can cancel the data plan after purchasing new phone and some are saying that it's part of the two year contract.....
?? Guess I'll need to ride over to vzw and talk to them.

 

[10splaya22]

Im more confused than ever... Some are saying that you can cancel the data plan after purchasing new phone and some are saying that it's part of the two year contract.....
?? Guess I'll need to ride over to vzw and talk to them.

Yea talk to them and let us know. It wouldn't make sense to just cancel the data plan since some of that money you are paying for the data plan goes toward subsidizing the smartphone you put on the contract.

 

[Beetlesauce]

Be careful about all this switch attempts and canceling of data plans. If you are grandfathered into unlimited data plan then you don't want to do anything to screw that up. I am in the same situation as I switched to Verizon on the last day of unlimited and I wanted the Samsung Galaxy S2. I got the Charge at signup. Then I returned my Droid Charge to Costco for a Bionic since Costco had a 90 day return.

Well, now that I want the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, I will simply buy retail and sell my Droid Bionic. I got all those free accessories ($160 value) with the Costco deal and selling them all together should net a decent price for the phone. Seen the Bionic selling for up $550 on eBay and Craigslist. And that's without the accessories.

 

[arche3]

The data plan is not part of the 2 year contract. The 10 dollar additional line fee or new single line fee is the contract. Data is an add on. You are allowed to change plans at anytime. I have actually done this before. I bought a droid x adding a new line. Switched the droid x to my sons line replacing his eris. Put an old razor on the new line I just added and deleted the data plan. I did within a few days. It was easy. I actually talked to cs and they said I could do it prior to me adding the line.
I still have all 3 lines. With different upgrade dates nicely spaced out btw. It was is not an issue to do this.

Im more confused than ever... Some are saying that you can cancel the data plan after purchasing new phone and some are saying that it's part of the two year contract.....
?? Guess I'll need to ride over to vzw and talk to them.

 

[drkryn]

Lots of misinformation in here. As someone who works at a Verizon retailer I can pretty much answer this question.

-If you use the added line to get the Nexus you are signing that line to a 2 year contract. The data plan is only a feature and is not part of the contract. Smart phones require a data package.

-You can absolutely use the upgrade from the new line and use it for your line to get the Nexus.

-You can put your current Droid Charge on the new line when you get the Nexus, however you must continue to pay for the data package for that phone.

-The only way to avoid paying for 2 data packages is to put a basic feature phone on the new line. That way you're only paying $9.99 per month for that extra line. You will have to switch to a family plan once you add a new line, though.

-Using the upgrade from the new line is not going to anything with your unlimited data plan. It will stay on there still, until you no longer have a smart phone on that line.

 

[mightymoose02]

Lots of misinformation in here. As someone who works at a Verizon retailer I can pretty much answer this question.

-If you use the added line to get the Nexus you are signing that line to a 2 year contract. The data plan is only a feature and is not part of the contract. Smart phones require a data package.

-You can absolutely use the upgrade from the new line and use it for your line to get the Nexus.

-You can put your current Droid Charge on the new line when you get the Nexus, however you must continue to pay for the data package for that phone.

-The only way to avoid paying for 2 data packages is to put a basic feature phone on the new line. That way you're only paying $9.99 per month for that extra line. You will have to switch to a family plan once you add a new line, though.

-Using the upgrade from the new line is not going to anything with your unlimited data plan. It will stay on there still, until you no longer have a smart phone on that line.

Thanks for the confirmations.

In order to change one of the lines back to the 9.99 (dumb phone) rate, do I have to call Verizon and have the customer service person do that?? or can the store also do it?

In fact, can you just do this all simultaneously at store?? or would they get mad??

 

[drkryn]

Thanks for the confirmations.

In order to change one of the lines back to the 9.99 (dumb phone) rate, do I have to call Verizon and have the customer service person do that?? or can the store also do it?

In fact, can you just do this all simultaneously at store?? or would they get mad??

You can do everything in store. We do it all the time. Make sure you have the feature phone with you to put on the new line. Not sure what you mean by changing one of the lines back to the $9.99 rate? $9.99 is the price for the line itself and has nothing to do with what kind of phone is on there. However, for family plans, all the lines will now be $9.99 since Verizon is changing to Account Level Pricing plans instead of the Nationwide plans. But that's not anything that concerns what you're trying to do here.

 

[crankerchick]

Lots of misinformation in here. As someone who works at a Verizon retailer I can pretty much answer this question.

-If you use the added line to get the Nexus you are signing that line to a 2 year contract. The data plan is only a feature and is not part of the contract. Smart phones require a data package.

-You can absolutely use the upgrade from the new line and use it for your line to get the Nexus.

-You can put your current Droid Charge on the new line when you get the Nexus, however you must continue to pay for the data package for that phone.

-The only way to avoid paying for 2 data packages is to put a basic feature phone on the new line. That way you're only paying $9.99 per month for that extra line. You will have to switch to a family plan once you add a new line, though.

-Using the upgrade from the new line is not going to anything with your unlimited data plan. It will stay on there still, until you no longer have a smart phone on that line.

This is how I understand it to work and is exactly what I'll be doing as long as it still works this way when the time comes. I am due for an upgrade now, so I will be buying the GNex normally, but if I find myself in a position next year of wanting to get another phone, I'm going this route since they killed 1-year contracts. As long as it doesn't dork with my unlimited data, this is the way to go.

 

[Gravytrain]

Lots of misinformation in here. As someone who works at a Verizon retailer I can pretty much answer this question.

-If you use the added line to get the Nexus you are signing that line to a 2 year contract. The data plan is only a feature and is not part of the contract. Smart phones require a data package.

-You can absolutely use the upgrade from the new line and use it for your line to get the Nexus.

-You can put your current Droid Charge on the new line when you get the Nexus, however you must continue to pay for the data package for that phone.

-The only way to avoid paying for 2 data packages is to put a basic feature phone on the new line. That way you're only paying $9.99 per month for that extra line. You will have to switch to a family plan once you add a new line, though.

-Using the upgrade from the new line is not going to anything with your unlimited data plan. It will stay on there still, until you no longer have a smart phone on that line.

Thank you for the solid post. I am already on a family plan with my wife so adding one more line will allow me to buy the nexus at upgrade price plus i'll be able to upgrade every year now.

 

[Medion]

If you're hell bent on getting the Nexus (or any other new phone), here's my recommendation. It's pricey, but cheaper than most options, and has the added benefit of not extended your contract.

https://www.trade-in.vzw.com/home.aspx

USe the Verizon trade-in program ($145 for your Charge at time of this post) or sell the phone on Ebay/Craigslist (more money, but more hassle). Use this money towards the full-retail price of your desired phone. It's cheaper than many alternatives and is less hassle.

Another spin on the add-a-line scam. I'll simply it by adding steps.

1. Keep your existing Charge (for now)
2. Add a line (Galaxy Nexus) to get the phone at subsidized price. Swap the phone numbers on Charge and Nexus to get your old number on the Nexus.
3. Find a dumb phone, and change over the Charge's number to that dumbphone, then cancel the data plan.
4. Trade-in or sell your charge.

The above idea seems cheaper because you save about $300-$350 on the Nexus. However, you add in $30/mo for up to 1 month on the second data plan, $10/mo for the second line, and the cost of the dumb phone, and you end up saving almost nothing. Plus, it's more hassle.

 

[Gravytrain]

If you're hell bent on getting the Nexus (or any other new phone), here's my recommendation. It's pricey, but cheaper than most options, and has the added benefit of not extended your contract.

https://www.trade-in.vzw.com/home.aspx

USe the Verizon trade-in program ($145 for your Charge at time of this post) or sell the phone on Ebay/Craigslist (more money, but more hassle). Use this money towards the full-retail price of your desired phone. It's cheaper than many alternatives and is less hassle.

Another spin on the add-a-line scam. I'll simply it by adding steps.

1. Keep your existing Charge (for now)
2. Add a line (Galaxy Nexus) to get the phone at subsidized price. Swap the phone numbers on Charge and Nexus to get your old number on the Nexus.
3. Find a dumb phone, and change over the Charge's number to that dumbphone, then cancel the data plan.
4. Trade-in or sell your charge.

The above idea seems cheaper because you save about $300-$350 on the Nexus. However, you add in $30/mo for up to 1 month on the second data plan, $10/mo for the second line, and the cost of the dumb phone, and you end up saving almost nothing. Plus, it's more hassle.

You are right... The prices do add up quickly. I may just sell my phone on ebay once I get a relased date for nexus. I do know one thing.... I will have that phone.

 

[AntimonyER]

Here is the rundown, I posted it in the epic GNex thread, but this is the better spot for it. Because data packages are pro-rated, when I got my wife a Droid 3, I activated it on the new line, then swapped a dumbphone to the line. I was charged 0.99 for data plan for one day. I then swapped the Droid 3 to my wife's line to replace her blackberry. I did all this over the phone with a CSR. My final bill increased by 14.91 per month (9.99 for line of service, plus 4.92 in taxes and fees.) Multiply 14.91 times 24 months, and that is almost exactly $350. Since the subsidy is probably going to be $350 (assuming $649 retail, $299 subsidized), the cost for both is the same. One option you get to spread out over half the cost over 2 years, but have a line under contract for that same amount of time. But if you KNOW you are staying with Verizon for that time, whatever the reason, this could be an option to reduce your upfront cost. But if you aren't sure about staying, probably better off just paying up front for the phone, and adding it to an existing line.

 

[Gravytrain]

Here is the rundown, I posted it in the epic GNex thread, but this is the better spot for it. Because data packages are pro-rated, when I got my wife a Droid 3, I activated it on the new line, then swapped a dumbphone to the line. I was charged 0.99 for data plan for one day. I then swapped the Droid 3 to my wife's line to replace her blackberry. I did all this over the phone with a CSR. My final bill increased by 14.91 per month (9.99 for line of service, plus 4.92 in taxes and fees.) Multiply 14.91 times 24 months, and that is almost exactly $350. Since the subsidy is probably going to be $350 (assuming $649 retail, $299 subsidized), the cost for both is the same. One option you get to spread out over half the cost over 2 years, but have a line under contract for that same amount of time. But if you KNOW you are staying with Verizon for that time, whatever the reason, this could be an option to reduce your upfront cost. But if you aren't sure about staying, probably better off just paying up front for the phone, and adding it to an existing line.

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. Not only do I prefer spreading the costs out over two years to feel less guilty, Ill also have another line to reduce my wait time in between upgrades.

 

[Deleted User]

Also something to think about - if you like your current phone, you can use your upgrade and sell the phone, paying for the cost you laid out for the phone, and for a big chunk of the months on the extra line as well.

 

[alostpacket]

So if you add a line to a plan that has a grandfathered unlimited account, is the new line eligible for the same grandfathered unlimited data?

This is the thing that really bothers me. A lot of developers switched to TMO when the N1 came out, and now we all lost our unlimited data if we move to the latest dev phone?

There has to be a way to buy this through Google and get unlimited data. (I hope)

 

[10splaya22]

So if you add a line to a plan that has a grandfathered unlimited account, is the new line eligible for the same grandfathered unlimited data?

This is the thing that really bothers me. A lot of developers switched to TMO when the N1 came out, and now we all lost our unlimited data if we move to the latest dev phone?

There has to be a way to buy this through Google and get unlimited data. (I hope)

Data plans are different from line to line so that won't work unfortunately.

 

[10splaya22]

Here is the rundown, I posted it in the epic GNex thread, but this is the better spot for it. Because data packages are pro-rated, when I got my wife a Droid 3, I activated it on the new line, then swapped a dumbphone to the line. I was charged 0.99 for data plan for one day. I then swapped the Droid 3 to my wife's line to replace her blackberry. I did all this over the phone with a CSR. My final bill increased by 14.91 per month (9.99 for line of service, plus 4.92 in taxes and fees.) Multiply 14.91 times 24 months, and that is almost exactly $350. Since the subsidy is probably going to be $350 (assuming $649 retail, $299 subsidized), the cost for both is the same. One option you get to spread out over half the cost over 2 years, but have a line under contract for that same amount of time. But if you KNOW you are staying with Verizon for that time, whatever the reason, this could be an option to reduce your upfront cost. But if you aren't sure about staying, probably better off just paying up front for the phone, and adding it to an existing line.

Doing that for the Droid 3 didn't make much sense. The off-contract price for the Droid 3 is only $459. You could probably find one on ebay for less than $400. Same with the Gnex. It may seem like less now but in the end it probably won't be

 

[alostpacket]

Data plans are different from line to line so that won't work unfortunately.

I figured this might be the case but it really grinds my gears as a dev, to switch to tmo to get a dev phone (I was on Verizon before) and now have no chance of getting unlimited data if I switch back.

Oh well, gotta figure something out or just pay up I guess. Either way thanks for the info.

 

[AntimonyER]

Doing that for the Droid 3 didn't make much sense. The off-contract price for the Droid 3 is only $459. You could probably find one on ebay for less than $400. Same with the Gnex. It may seem like less now but in the end it probably won't be

Yeah tell me about it, I forgot about taxes and fees, AND I thought I would get a discount on the 9.99, since I got a discount on my wife's original line, but apparently they have changed that. So its going to end up costing me more. The GNex it comes out about even though.