Wow, how'd you manage that? Are you signing up for a contract plan, if I may ask? According to a service rep, the Galaxy S III doesn't work on their prepaid plans. I can't make myself sign up for any contract plan (yet), as bad as some of these prepaid carrier issues may be, I feel like I'm signing my soul away.
Yes, it's a 2-year contract. I look at it as that's 2 years I don't have to mess with it as I am completely happy with it (if I weren't, I have 14 days to "undo").
First, I ran the numbers: Evo V cost ($644) + 24 months VM service ($35+$45 plans) against other options. Since Evo V and SIII aren't apples-to-apples, I used SIII cost ($1330) + 24 months VM service against zero SIII cost with 24 months VZW service, the $10-$20/mo. more was worth it to me. (The SIII is far better than the Evo V 4G and VZW's network is far better than Sprint's and we have unlimited minutes vs. 300/1200; caveat: this is the 1GB data plan but we never go anywhere near that due to WiFi.)
Having what I wanted in mind, I went to VZW's web site and hit "chat now". I figure online sales reps would be a little more accommodating since the customer isn't invested and its too easy to lose them. I asked about monthly prices and said I couldn't justify both, double the monthly cost
and the device cost; I asked if she could waive the device cost. She said she would.
At this point, 1) I didn't know what colour my wife wanted and 2) I didn't quite trust the online process, for if things didn't go as stated, I wouldn't have a face to deal with. Therefore, I stated I was unsure of colours and that I would take a look and return. I copied the chat transcript and pasted it into Evernote so it would be handy on my phone.
I went to the local Verizon store and did the same routine, showing my Evo V and stating that it only costs $70/mo for two. I stated that if the SIIIs were fully subsidised, I would sign a contract today and even buy some accessories (with VZW's discount, online prices aren't any better). She said she could ask but the answer would likely be, "no".
"The salesman online said she would waive the device cost".
"Really?" She was thinking....
"Here's the transcript", I said as I handed her the Evernote copy, highlighting that part.
She took that to her manager, he talked to the district manager and he came out and said he'll do it. He also asked if I could e-mail him a copy of that (not for my sale but for future ones--I assumed there'd be issues with brick-and-mortar stores having hands tied and competing with online sales).
My sales rep was very nice and pleasant as was the manager; it was a pleasant experience all-around. Additionally, I bought three OEM docks, the OEM flip-cover case, and an external battery, 4000mAh--at or better than online prices (Amazon price-check app FTW!).
I recommend deciding
first what is
important to you/priorities, what things are
worth to you/what you are
willing to pay for any product/service. (i.e. saving ~$15/mo. isn't worth the outages and hassle to me because spending $87/mo. + $644 for something that works 3/4 the time is not something I can do and sleep at night.)
The bottom line is the bottom line: it would have been foolish for VZW to lose a
new 2-year (or longer if they have any faith in their service) customer. If the first salesman can't understand that, move on to the next (which I didn't have to do).
Really??? Since you demo one you must be using the verizon or sprint one....but for the GSM model
