Purchase Verizon iPhone from Verizon or Apple?

[ninethirty]

Weird, and maybe stupid question, I know, but I was planning on switching from a no contract AT&T plan to a no contract Verizon plan today and I'm wondering if anyone has had any issues with purchasing their phone from Verizon? Did it come when it was supposed to come? If you had issues, can you go to an Apple store, or are your referred to Verizon?

As it stands, since it doesn't seem to be the case that you can purchase the full price Verizon phone from Apple, my only option is Verizon. However, they won't have phones until October 26th. Am I best to just wait for Apple to start selling device only full priced phones by then?

Thanks in advance!

 

[PhoenixMac]

You can buy full priced phones from Apple. Spend some time reading threads here not just the ones on the front page and you will find your answer.

 

[ninethirty]

I have spent time reading the threads here, which is why I'm confused.

Here's what I've learned from 'reading threads':

• Walking into an Apple Store and trying to buy a phone isn't going to work. They receive limited stock daily.

•*In order to secure any of that stock, you must use the reservation system.

•*The reservation system does not allow you to reserve a phone for full price, only contract prices.

• Users who have used the reservation system and then arrived at the store asking to change it to full price, no contract, have been told no and had to return the phone.

•*You might be able to find a phone at Best Buy or Radio Shack, but that they also don't want to sell the phone for full price off contract.

If you're telling me I can walk into the Apple Store by my home and just ask to buy a Verizon phone for full price, I'd be all over that, but I don't imagine that's the case.

Cheers!

You can buy full priced phones from Apple. Spend some time reading threads here not just the ones on the front page and you will find your answer.

 

[PhoenixMac]

I have spent time reading the threads here, which is why I'm confused.

Here's what I've learned from 'reading threads':

• Walking into an Apple Store and trying to buy a phone isn't going to work. They receive limited stock daily.

•*In order to secure any of that stock, you must use the reservation system.

•*The reservation system does not allow you to reserve a phone for full price, only contract prices.

• Users who have used the reservation system and then arrived at the store asking to change it to full price, no contract, have been told no and had to return the phone.

•*You might be able to find a phone at Best Buy or Radio Shack, but that they also don't want to sell the phone for full price off contract.

If you're telling me I can walk into the Apple Store by my home and just ask to buy a Verizon phone for full price, I'd be all over that, but I don't imagine that's the case.

Cheers!

Some updates: everything went well at Apple. Got there told them that I didnt want to use my upgrade anymore.

So the specialist canceled my att upgrade return the phone then sold it back to me at full price.

However, i forgot to open to check for any damage out of the box at the apple store.

So guess what went home opened the box look over the iphone then bam saw a big ass nicked

now I have to go back and return it if they have any in stock for purchase or get it swap under warranty!

What do you guys recommend me to do? Return/buy new or swap/warranty?

Ps: it is a white iphone att 16gb not the black version.

read above quote. Just one of the threads on people reporting the same info.

 

[ninethirty]

In the same thread there's a person reporting that he tried the same thing, only to have the specialist adamantly refuse to do so.

In talking to Apple online, they've confirmed that they are only selling the phone on contract right now.

As I mentioned as well, I'm switching to Verizon and need to start new service. The Apple Store will not allow you to purchase at full price and then set up service for you without a contract.

In order to use the reservation system you must purchase on a plan and the option to go month to month isn't an option. I have no interest in starting service on a contract only to HOPE that the person in the Apple store is capable of doing what I'm suggesting.

Hence this thread and my questions.

read above quote. Just one of the threads on people reporting the same info.

 

[PhoenixMac]

There are also other threads that say what the poster is saying, so it seems like it is store dependent. If I were you just reserve one at contract then go in and try to buy it at the no contract price, if they let you great, if not return it and find another avenue.

 

[webworks415]

Just go to the Apple store. I'm still under a 2 year contract with Verizon and paid full price for my iPhone 5. If you ever change your mind about the phone/service, you have 30 days to return it with no restocking fee, but just know that Verizon gives you about 14 days to cancel their service or you have to pay ETF. Verizon also charges you a restocking fee on the phone if you buy it from them.

 

[xraydoc]

Weird, and maybe stupid question, I know, but I was planning on switching from a no contract AT&T plan to a no contract Verizon plan today and I'm wondering if anyone has had any issues with purchasing their phone from Verizon? Did it come when it was supposed to come? If you had issues, can you go to an Apple store, or are your referred to Verizon?

As it stands, since it doesn't seem to be the case that you can purchase the full price Verizon phone from Apple, my only option is Verizon. However, they won't have phones until October 26th. Am I best to just wait for Apple to start selling device only full priced phones by then?

Thanks in advance!

As far as I know, the Verizon no-contract monthly post-paid rates are the same as if on contract. If you stick with Verizon, I don't think there's a benefit to being non-contract.

If you want to be off-contract, just get everything on-contract and pay the ETF if/when you're ready to cancel. $199 for a 16GB phone + $349 for ETF = $548 which is basically what you'd pay for a non-contract phone.

I could be wrong, so check the numbers yourself, but I think - at least for Verizon - it's the same price either way.

 

[jmxp69]

• The reservation system does not allow you to reserve a phone for full price, only contract prices.

Assertions that the reservation system doesn't permit off contract pricing holistically is incorrect. My experience:

1) Selected the phone, carrier, provided my phone number, billing zip code, and account password, pressed submit.

2) The system said I wasn't eligible for upgrade so the price reflected on my purchase was full non-sub. Added to cart.

2) When the reservation system showed stock, I completed the transaction and checked out with the apple corp website, not the store.

3) Showed up at the store, they handed me the phone, activated my existing service on it and said "thanks for stopping by, is there anything else we can do for you". My store had no opinion on the matter.

I'm not suggesting every purchase goes this way, but it is wholly inaccurate to make a blanket statement saying its not possible. It absolutely is possible and I did it without any fuss. On the other hand, I didn't move any lines, change my account, or do any other acrobatics. It was a straight up purchase and it worked flawlessly.