Help Step by step for non-techs

[2horses]

Can we get a sticky that will walk all of us non-techie types through the set up process for these phones if we buy online? I see that the phone can be activated online, but how easy/hard is that? Also, I know you have to have a gmail account for it too - is that part of the initial set up as well? What else would happen in the store that we'll need to do ourselves?

TIA for the help, I can save lots by buying online but want to make sure I get my phone set up right. I don't want to pay Verizon to do something I know I can do myself, with just a little help from my friends...