Contract advise needed please

[BKSinAZ]

I am currently grandfathered into an unlimited data plan via Verizon and I am month to month as I paid off my two year contract. The contract includes 2 phones, 700 minutes, and Unlimited data. Currently I use just about 700, but no more.
I watch Youtube every now and then and play Pandora radio. Occasionally I do a internet google search to look up addresses, but rarely browse the internet.

My phone is taking a slow dump and I need to 1) ether purchase another at full retail price and leave contract as is or 2) Get the same phone for less if I enter into a new 2 year contract.

I just went to the Verizon store and they mentioned that I can get unlimited minutes and 2 gig data for 10 dollars more than I pay now.

So, what would you do? Save money on the phone and enter into a new contract with 2 gig data or just buy a phone outright and leave my contract as it is?

 

[Unforgiven]

I will be in your boat in December. My plan is to purchase phones outright and keep my unlimited.

 

[saptech]

My plan ends in December also and I'm thinking of buying a phone outright, Nexus 4 or whatever is latest version. I do not have the unlimited plan but I will not be on contract either.

 

[sdrawkcab25]

I'd go with buying a phone full price. eBay has great deals on refurbished phones (usually come with a warranty too).

 

[jmar]

If T-Mobile has decent coverage in your area, buy a Nexus 4 and get on its Value plan. With two phones I'm paying 115...100 after company discount. And days speeds are great. 1000 minutes, unlimited text and data.

 

[DragonSlayer95]

If it was me, id buy it out right, but if your thinking about jumping into a new 2 year, id suggest looking at your previous months data usage to make sure you won't go over.

But it would save in the long run to buy it out right, I use between 8-12 gigs a month if not more. Big red definitely wouldn't be for me lol

 

[Speed Daemon]

If you're happy with the service that you're getting with Verizon, then chances are that you'll still be getting the same good service 2 years from now. I'd renew the contract and get the discount.

IME with other carriers (I only have a Verizon data device), the contract doesn't preclude changing your plan. So if you're in over your head with a premium smart phone plan, you should be able to downgrade to a cheaper one at will. At worst you'll have to pay a small service charge that will be made up by the first month's savings.

Some carriers insist that if you have a smart phone, that you must have a full data/multimedia plan. If that's the case, go to their store and replace your dying phone with their cheapest "dumb phone" and see what happens. In other words, play "chicken" with them, using your choice of a replacement phone as leverage. Threaten to leave altogether, and see if they give you a "customer retention" offer. Try stuff like that. Make the choices that you can that makes it tough for the Verizon people to handle, and hope that they'll cave for their own benefit.