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gkarris

macrumors G3
Original poster
Dec 31, 2004
8,301
1,061
"No escape from Reality...”
My friends were eligible for an upgrade so they went to Verizon to get the iPhone 4 (they want to go back from trying out Android) and the rep said there's no such "Free iPhone" with a contract.

She ended up with some sort of Samsung phone as those are free.

He wants to wait to see what the real deal is - is the rep scamming them?
 

Dave.UK

macrumors 65816
Sep 24, 2012
1,286
481
Kent, UK
My friends were eligible for an upgrade so they went to Verizon to get the iPhone 4 (they want to go back from trying out Android) and the rep said there's no such "Free iPhone" with a contract.

She ended up with some sort of Samsung phone as those are free.

He wants to wait to see what the real deal is - is the rep scamming them?

Yes.
 

From A Buick 8

macrumors 68040
Sep 16, 2010
3,114
127
Ky Close to CinCinnati
Yes they lied or deliberately mislead.
 

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Afbar1114

macrumors 6502a
Jun 18, 2012
778
6
I would say mid lead. VZW is known for this because 1. It isn't an LTE phone and 2. They don't get a lot of money from apple
 

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,390
19,458
Perhaps the representative was (mistakingly) thinking that it was all still in reference to iPhone 5.

Also, was this a corporate Verizon store or some reseller?
 

wxman2003

Suspended
Apr 12, 2011
2,580
294
Perhaps the representative was (mistakingly) thinking that it was all still in reference to iPhone 5.

Also, was this a corporate Verizon store or some reseller?

Excellent question, because a reseller does not have to always follow the corporate rules about free phones, and sometimes Verizon only makes those phones free for corporate stores or online purchases.
 

wxman2003

Suspended
Apr 12, 2011
2,580
294
They are current Verizon users but are eligible for an upgrade (contract is up).

What store did they go to? In other words, a verizon corporate store, an independent verizon store, best buy, Radio Shack, etc?
 

gkarris

macrumors G3
Original poster
Dec 31, 2004
8,301
1,061
"No escape from Reality...”
Unfortunately, a lot of those stores with Verizon logos on them are independent vendors. One way to know for sure is to go to the verizon website and put in your zip code. It will tell you where their corporate stores are located.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/storelocator/index.jsp

Did this - it is a Verizon store - any other Verizon user go into the store to renew and got a free iPhone 4 to renew their contract?
 

irod87

macrumors regular
Jan 25, 2012
206
65
They should take it back. Rep was clearly trying to sell a non Apple product. Probably for a bigger commission off the sale.
 

wxman2003

Suspended
Apr 12, 2011
2,580
294
You have 2 weeks to return it to Verizon, no questions asked. Print up the free iphone 4 from website. Demand to talk to manager. Tell him/her about your situation and how you were lied to. You will get your iphone 4 with some freebies thrown in. If they refuse to budge, give them the phone back, get your update credit back, and then tell them you are calling corporate headquarters. Make sure you get their names.
 

aneftp

macrumors 601
Jul 28, 2007
4,362
546
Just buy it online from apple directly. Remember if at verizon u return/exchange they will charge u a restocking fee about $35.

Apple has no questions ask. No restocking fee. Just remember to return/exchange within 14 days. Simple. Done. Order online u can still return in physical apple store if u choose.
 

SnowLeopard OSX

macrumors 6502a
Dec 5, 2012
676
60
California
It's not free in the sense that you're locked into an awful 2 year contract with VZW. But you shouldn't have to pay anything up front for an iPhone 4 in a contract as far as I know. Return your Android phone and get your iPhone 4 some place else (although, at this point, I would suggest just dishing out the $100.00 for an iPhone 4S).
 

aneftp

macrumors 601
Jul 28, 2007
4,362
546
It's not free in the sense that you're locked into an awful 2 year contract with VZW. But you shouldn't have to pay anything up front for an iPhone 4 in a contract as far as I know. Return your Android phone and get your iPhone 4 some place else (although, at this point, I would suggest just dishing out the $100.00 for an iPhone 4S).
Actually the 4S is probably the better buy at Best Buy these days. $50 off promo still running. So 4S will cost u $50 on new 2 year contract. 16Gb, duo core better camera for only $50 on contract at best buy.

No brainer compared to the "free" iPhone 4 which is 2.5 years old in terms of tech while the iPhone 4S is 15 months old and should last u the next 20 months before u are due for next upgrade.
 

wordoflife

macrumors 604
Jul 6, 2009
7,564
37
There have been numerous stories of Verizon trying to push people into buying non0iPhones since they get a higher commission off them or something.

The only bad part is that now they'll probably get hit with a restocking fee if they return that Samsung. :(
 

SilentLoner

macrumors 65816
Dec 29, 2007
1,065
6
There have been numerous stories of Verizon trying to push people into buying non0iPhones since they get a higher commission off them or something.

The only bad part is that now they'll probably get hit with a restocking fee if they return that Samsung. :(

Not if they complain loud enough
 

KdParker

macrumors 601
Oct 1, 2010
4,793
998
Everywhere
There have been numerous stories of Verizon trying to push people into buying non0iPhones since they get a higher commission off them or something.

The only bad part is that now they'll probably get hit with a restocking fee if they return that Samsung. :(

This has been going on forever at Verizon stores. I have found it is better to go online and get what you want instead of trusting the sales reps. They are always trying to push other phones.
 

Nautilus007

macrumors 68030
Jul 13, 2007
2,636
1,288
U.S
It's not free because of the upgrade fee. The phone is 0.00 but the transaction costs you 30 plus tax so he wasn't lying.
 

From A Buick 8

macrumors 68040
Sep 16, 2010
3,114
127
Ky Close to CinCinnati
It's not free because of the upgrade fee. The phone is 0.00 but the transaction costs you 30 plus tax so he wasn't lying.

Yes he was ( or at least trying to mislead), they were told there were no free iPhones but there were free Android phones. So unless the android phone waived the activation fee it would not have been "free" either.
 
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