Verizon Offering Discounted iPhone Plans to Apple Retail Store Employees

[MacRumors]

ifoAppleStore reports that Verizon is offering excellent deals on service plans for Apple's retail store employees, encouraging them to switch over to the carrier's services for their wireless needs.

According to tipsters, employees can pay the non-subsidized price of $649.99 for a 16 Gb iPhone 4, for example, and then pay just $25 a month for 1,500 monthly minutes, along with unlimited texts and data. A consumer plan with unlimited talk time, data and texts costs $119.94. A similar plan on the AT&T network would cost $114.99.

A second option allows retail store employees to purchase the Verizon iPhone at regular subsidized prices and pay full service plan fees for ten months, after which time the service plan would drop to $25 per month for the remaining 14 months of the contract.

Employees taking advantage of the deals would reportedly not be eligible for future iPhone upgrade discounts as long as they remain Apple employees.

Article Link: Verizon Offering Discounted iPhone Plans to Apple Retail Store Employees

[jclardy]

Wow, I would totally get a job at an Apple store if I could keep this plan after I quit. Although I bet they won't grandfather you in once they have new 4G plans...

But I can't work there as I would have to stop developing iPhone apps.

[7o7munoz7o7]

wow thats a little more then $1800 savings over the life of the contract....i might have to give VZW a phone call....

[Moi un Mouton]

That's the equivalent of standard UK practice for all customers. I bought my iPhone unsubsidised (it's unlocked as well), I got an O2 plan to go with it, 30 day rolling contract, £15 ($25) gives me my minutes, texts, web and public wifi access.

USA customers get gouged badly.

[Diode]

That would be nice if carriers in the US gave people the option of paying full price and getting lower price plans or paying less and getting higher priced plans....

They obviously wouldn't offer a deal if they knew at $25 it wouldn't be profitable.

[NikeTalk]

Is AT&T gonna counter?

[BruiserB]

Good marketing on VZW's part. They create a loyal group of customers who happen to work in the Apple Store. Now when you go to a store and ask which carrier is better....guess who the associate will say? :-)

[bsbuggs]

come on att..

[allendodd]

Edited

[jayhawk11]

Originally Posted by allendodd

I am an Apple Store employee and have been unsuccessful in adding this to my account. Bought the 32gb phone for $749 on launch day called VZW today to get this plan added and I am already listed as an employee but they can't seem to figure out how to add the rate plan to my account. I've spent about 2 hours on the phone with them so far.

If you really worked at an Apple Store, you would know why calling VZW Customer Service isn't the right way to get it added.

[Analog Kid]

Hmm... This sounds a bit grey in the ethics.

[2 Replies]

Originally Posted by BruiserB

Good marketing on VZW's part. They create a loyal group of customers who happen to work in the Apple Store. Now when you go to a store and ask which carrier is better....guess who the associate will say? :-)

Agreed it's a great business move on Verizon's part.
I also agree that it may be good for Verizon to have their service in the hands of the retail sales person. It implies it's the preferred service, while ACTUALLY it's just the preferred CONTRACT.
I also agree with the "GUESS" wording you used, because that's exactly what it will be. Just a guess as to the recommendation of the sales person.
Because the sales person may or may not like that their phone is less capable than the 3G version, in that the CDMA can't do voice AND data at the same time.
Also because of the fact that the sales rep "would reportedly not be eligible for future iPhone upgrade discounts as long as they remain Apple employees."

[j0417]

I pay over $85 a month for an iPhone on Verizon, with a discount! Apple retail employees nor Verizon employees should have any special rates aside from the % discount we all receive. I would actually consider leaving Verizon and going to AT&T out of spite. I don't know why I am so mad about this but if its confirmed Verizon will be hearing from me!

[Nuvi]

Kind of nice but I get 3000 min instead of 15000 and I don't work in Apple store

Thats regular priceing in Europe. 20€ per month and I get 3000 minutes + unlimited data including tethering. Operators in US are screwing their customers big time.

[The Laminator]

Oh it's confirmed!

[Nuvi]

Originally Posted by j0417

I pay over $85 a month for an iPhone on Verizon, with a discount! Apple retail employees nor Verizon employees should have any special rates aside from the % discount we all receive. I would actually consider leaving Verizon and going to AT&T out of spite. I don't know why I am so mad about this but if its confirmed Verizon will be hearing from me!

Almost every company gives their employees discounts, special pricing, benefits etc. Why should Apple or Verizon be any different...

[jav6454]

Originally Posted by Nuvi

Almost every company gives their employees discounts, special pricing, benefits etc. Why should Apple or Verizon be any different...

True, but this is border line situation in which you are loosing money to bring customers to your end. I think there is some kind of regulation that stops this.

[Hawkeye411]

They should offer the same to everyone!!!!!

[jdiamond]

Originally Posted by jav6454

True, but this is border line situation in which you are loosing money to bring customers to your end. I think there is some kind of regulation that stops this.

Obviously they are not losing money on the deal, since their normal prices in Europe are even lower. It's just that reverse capitalism we were warned about - each time one carrier raises his prices, the other raises to match.

[camelsnot]

I guess they need to figure out a way to dump their stock of vPhones since they tanked on sales. It was a bad move for people who bought the phone. At least Apple and verizon make some cash from them.

[Lucky736]

To all of you whiners go ahead and trade your corporate 100k+ desk jobs for a 8-10 dollar an hour specialist spot at an Apple Store and they will be happy to give you your plan for $25 a month.

[ApplLover]

complete and utter ****ery.
People in the US get ripped off.

I live in Panama (Central America), I pay $59.99 for 1000 minutes and $9.95 for unlimited data (though it gets throttled after 2GB).

[neko girl]

Yowza, fantastic plans from Big Red.

[j0417]

Originally Posted by Nuvi

Almost every company gives their employees discounts, special pricing, benefits etc. Why should Apple or Verizon be any different...

I understand all companies give discounts but I pay $89 with a 18% discount. If Verizon is still making money off this and only charging $25 a month, we as customers are being raped! I will gladly pay an extra $400 for all my devices to save much more in the long run. Also many are pointing out that this is normal procedures over seas. That just makes things worse. I was not aware.

[jayhawk11]

Originally Posted by j0417

I understand all companies give discounts but I pay $89 with a 18% discount. If Verizon is still making money off this and only charging $25 a month, we as customers are being raped! I will gladly pay an extra $400 for all my devices to save much more in the long run. Also many are pointing out that this is normal procedures over seas. That just makes things worse. I was not aware.

You didn't really think it takes 24 months to work off that $400 subsidy, did you?