$500 here. I was 6-9 months into a renewed contract (newest Palm Treo).
NO deals, NOT even the $250 deal sans $50 debit card.
FALSE.
ADVERTISING.
I read zero noting a $500 phone charge. Every ad I read noted $250, less $50 with rebate.........
RAPING if you ask me.
I've been a loyal Verizon business account customer for many years. Shame they falsely advertised this as a 'deal'.
its not false advertising at all, it clearly said it was $249.99 with a $50 mail in rebate with a new 2 year contract. Since you were already in the middle of your previous contract with your Palm Treo you weren't eligible for the new 2 year contract pricing and had to get a new phone by paying full price for a new phone. Since my previous contract with my old phone (enV) ended in September I was eligible for the new 2 year contract pricing my price was $249.99 with a $50 mail in rebate.
Got an invite in the mail to get it at the $249 with $50 rebate price. Have no idea how I got it since I wasn't eligible to renew until 3/2010. Luckily got it on 11/21 for exactly the ad price. Have to remember to do the rebate.
TechMom - what city/state ? I got some general mailings as well. Verizon has always treated me very good as a small business customer. I felt like a GITMO prisoner this time.
"$250" was a false ad. They note nothing about a $500 retail price.
It clearly states on the VZW website:
$199.99 ($249.99 2yr price less $50 mail-in rebate debit card) with new 2yr activation on a Nationwide Email plan.
If you don't qualify for a phone upgrade then you'll have to pay full retail if you don't activate a new line or plan. If you speak to the right customer service rep they might move your phone upgrade eligibility up earlier.
With all previous new phones they list the full price + any other possible reduction (ie. added plans etc.). The Storm ad is new for Verizon leaving out the 'fine details'.
It's bull shixx either way you slice it.
This is not how Verizon has advertised in the past.
As a matter of fact, their new advertising fooled a friend of mine at Verizon corporate. She was told this phone would be a very fair and attractive price. $500 is not fair and it's not attractive. She agreed after hearing what I had to pay for 2 new phones.
With all previous new phones they list the full price + any other possible reduction (ie. added plans etc.). The Storm ad is new for Verizon leaving out the 'fine details'.
It's bull shixx either way you slice it.
This is not how Verizon has advertised in the past.
As a matter of fact, their new advertising fooled a friend of mine at Verizon corporate. She was told this phone would be a very fair and attractive price. $500 is not fair and it's not attractive. She agreed after hearing what I had to pay for 2 new phones.
i don't know what advertising you saw but all the ones that I have seen stated that it was $249.99 with a $50 mail in rebate with a new 2 year activation.
i paid 249.99 got 50 mail in rebate then my dad told me he got an extra 50 off for being a vip customer at vzw so i called and asked why i didn't get that 50 off and they said they were not sure if that applied to the storm. they called me back 10 mins later and said they will credit my account 50 so final price was 149.99 and i love this phone. if you are a vip member i would ask if you get that extra 50 off
Same exact deal I got, except I got a $50 instant rebate. I'm more than happy that I paid only $100 for this phone so even though there are minor bugs w/the phone, I'm stoked!
I Paid 199 with no mail in rebate my company has a corp discount. and since i am a vip customer with verizon i got my phone at 2 year pricing 8 mos into my pearl contract I love verizon and my storm!
Mine was $250 - $50 instant corporate rebate - $50 BB tradeup = $150. Too early for NE2 for me.
mrpete31, if you were so outraged over your own misunderstanding of the price, you could have chosen not to purchase it. It doesn't sound like anyone held a gun to your head.