Take Verizon Wireless for a test drive starting Monday
You wouldn't buy a new car without giving it a test drive first, right? Verizon Wireless has taken the "test drive" concept to the U.S. wireless industry and will now allow potential customers to take out the Verizon Wireless network for a spin before committing to that new $300 Windows Mobile Smartphone purchase and lengthy two-year contract. The CDMA carrier said that a new program to be unveiled on March 26th (this coming Monday) will give customers a 30-day "test drive" on the company's network. If you're unimpressed in any way and want to take you new number to another carrier, Verizon Wireless will refund your money for all calls up to that point, equipment, activation fee and taxes; and, you'll get out of that pesky contract if you return that phone.[Via Wirelessinfo.com]
Filed under: Verizon Wireless, 1xRTT, EV-DO, CDMA
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Will @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:04PM
have they not had any kind of 30 day policy before? at&t has a 3 day period where you are charged nothing and after the 3 days but before 30 you are only charged the prorated charges for that month. so it does seem that verizon's is better, just really shocked they didn't already have something like this in place
Owen V @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:06PM
they do already have something like this but its only 15 days. They are just changing the name, all the carriers have this. I would never sign a contract without having some sort of period during which I could back out if everything sucked.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/globalText?textName=CUSTOMER_AGREEMENT&jspName=footer/customerAgreement.jsp
its in the fourth bold segment of the agreement
elgee02 @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:27PM
No all carries do NOT have this. Sprint and Cingy do give you 30 days to cancel a new agreement and not pay an ETF but you still pay for the minutes used. VZW will give you everything except data charges, 411 calls if any, and VZW surcharges back if you port out within 30 days.
Zach @ Mar 24th 2007 12:44PM
This is a great deal! I love my Verizon Wireless service and wouldn't ever consider switching to another one any time soon :)
I personally recommend the Samsung U740
ian @ Mar 25th 2007 1:14PM
The deal with this is that you have to port your number out to another carrier. The 15 day worry free still exists to cover upgrades and new customers who decide to switch phones within the first two weeks.
LAmber @ Mar 28th 2007 8:31AM
No, Verizon didn't have this already. The 15-day Worry Free Guarantee didn't refund usage charges, monthly access charges or taxes and surcharges. The new 'Test Drive' does all that and everything that the previous 15-day WFG did.
Robbie @ Mar 29th 2007 1:55AM
CDMA sucks. I'll never understand anyones loyalty to Verizon. I suppose you guys are also in favor of continuing to use the Imperial System forever too. I'll tell you what... I'll travel with you to Europe this summer. You take your V phone and ill take my Cingy. we'll see who loves their service more.
i cant help it. im all for standardization.
one day verizon will be stuck. its gonna cost more and more for them to continue to upgrade a technology that is so little used. whereas gsm will be able to continue to evolve easier and easier due to its wide support.
elgee02 @ Mar 29th 2007 3:42PM
Yeah, seeing as though the vast majority of us American's are always traveling to Europe... yeah lemme switch to GSM right away!!!! *rolls eyes*
And when I eventually do decide to spend a fortune on traveling to Europe, cell phone service will be the least of my priorities.
If the "but GSM works overseas OMG!!" is your main GSM > CDMA argument then I'm sorry dude... to A LOT of people that's not a big deal.
MB @ Mar 30th 2007 2:13AM
Actually. No other service provider offers to pay for all the minutes taxes activation fees and other cost. They only offer to refund your device purchase amount and charge you a pro-rated monthly service fee for the amount of days you've used the their service. (i.e. 59.99 montly plan used for 15 days = 29.98 + other fees including activation) Cingular only offers a 3 day return polocy with no additional charges for activations and prorations. Others wise your stuck with the bill. Verizon is offering to make you pay nothing if you port out. Not even a prorated amount. The only charges will be for data usage and is for the entire 30 daya period. At this time no other carrier offers this. And a correction to the 15 day for existing customers uprgardes and purchases. This is not true either. Verizon offers 30 days for all returns on equipment and accessories to any customer. (verizon employee)
LAmber @ Mar 30th 2007 8:07AM
My thoughts exactly.
The ability to use the phone in other areas of the world is NEVER going to take precedence over service at home. And where service at home is concerned, Verizon is the unquestioned leader. Even Cingular acknowledges that.
From the Houston Chronicle, an interview with Stan Sigman, former CEO of Cingular and now head of AT&T's wireless division:
Q: AT&T CEO Ed Whitacre recently called Verizon the "cream of the crop" in the wireless business. What are you doing to help AT&T catch up? How will moving Cingular into AT&T's tent help?
A: Mr. Whitacre is right. Verizon's results are very commendable. I admire them for it. They don't have, in my opinion, the assets we have, the technology we have. There's no reason why we can't deliver better performance for our customers, for our shareholders and our employees. We've integrated the networks, integrated the operating system. It's all about building out and operating the best wireless network, having the most compelling products and services, having the best shopping experience in the stores. The new Experience stores show that we're delivering on that.