Pricing nonsense

[gloriousnumber1]

I will get straight to the point. Me and my wife have VZW, just two total lines. 700 anytime minutes, unlimited text, she has 2GB of data and I have unlimited data. We both have Galaxy S4's with insurance on both phones.

Here is the dumb part though. We pay about $180 (and change) per month for this. Still, a friend of mine has two lines with each being a Galaxy S3. They have 3GB of data each (they got to bump it up from 2GB a while back), unlimited anytime minutes, unlimited text, and insurance on both phones. They pay only $140 (and some change) per month. I know the data plans all cost $30 each so that's not where the difference is.

Can someone please tell me (other than me still having unlimited data) why we get screwed when they get a better deal? Same area, same coverage, blah blah blah. It makes no sense why we should stay on this old plan (other than losing unlimited data) when we pay way more. I could almost keep my data use down enough to account for the extra $40 and then have more minutes available.

Verizon's site is as complicated as possible when it comes to stating plans in plain english. I prefer the 2008 charts that would clearly show them better.

Do they do this to us ONLY because I have grandfathered unlimited data?

 

[Rukbat]

Go to a Verizon store and talk to a rep. If you can't get sensible responses, ask to speak to the store manager. Someone in the corporation understands their pricing structure well enough to explain it to you and show you how to get the best plan for what you need.

 

[Clementine_3]

How much data do you think you would actually need/use?

Verizon does offer 'specials' every now and again, it's possible your friends got in on a deal of some sort. Do they qualify/have a work discount? That could account for some of the difference.

If you go in or call they can see if you qualify for something better, there are loyalty type plans/offers if you are off contract. Also, depending on how much data you need, if you are off contract you may qualify for the Edge pricing without using Edge or signing a new contract on the ME plans. I'm honestly not sure if they are still offering that or not but you could save either $10 or $25 per line per month if they are (it's the reason I gave up my unlimited data).

Anyway, much like cable, they offer a bunch of deals and never tell you that you are paying too much. If you don't ask periodically you'll never know. Not to sidetrack, but I recently called TWC and was able to up my internet speed and still reduce my bill by $10, yeah, I was paying too much and they liked me for it!

 

[gloriousnumber1]

I will be off contract later this month so I'll find out more soon I'm sure with some research. I do know that without unlimited data, I would stop using Internet radio which would mean I would cancel my Spotify account. No sense paying for a service that I almost exclusively use when I'm driving and could never do with limits. There is $10 a month savings right there!

 

[Clementine_3]

Have a look at this thread if you haven't already, good math in there lol.

If you are going to stay off contract and buy your phones outright you can pay less per month but pay more upfront OR you can think about using the Edge plan (which basically pays for the phone, see that thread).

If you are keeping your current phones and are willing to give up unlimited you can probably save a few dollars a month at least. When you need a new phone you'll have to see which way makes more sense for you. Personally, I go the 'buy the phone outright' route, I like the lower monthly bill better.

The real take-away to all of this is that, even though they've gotten better, Verizon always wins

 

[gloriousnumber1]

Well I went down there and they answered my questions. What I don't get is why offer a device installment plan and edge both? Edge is useless to keep unlimited. The installment plan is simply just a year and not 20 months. At least they let me keep it then.