Carrier Verizon (Apple.com/Verizon.com) Pre-Order thread

[16Paws]

Ah, yes. So, assume about half of that.

Which raises the other point: if you think you might hold on to your phone for 2 years, then the Program isn't as valuable, except for the fact that you will get a brand new phone for your phone without having to resell the one you have. Oh, good Lord. I have cerebral spinal fluid coming out of my ears now. I have an undergrad business degree and I feel like Marmaduke chasing his tail.

If you do keep the phone for 2 years then it is the exact same as if you were to finance through Verizon (and bought Apple Care) no advantage or disadvantage (assuming you do not consider having to go into the Apple Store a disadvantage, I don't and not recognizing the opportunity cost lost by spending your own money up front for Apple Care). But if you went with the Apple Upgrade why not upgrade? It just makes more sense since you get the benefits of a new phone in a year and it is less out of pocket (again with an assumption that you do not mind a never ending monthly bill for a phone, but then again if you sign up for one of these plans I would image you do not).

I have an undergrad and grad degree in Accounting and it makes my head spin too haha.

 

[cherryghost82]

I have an undergrad and grad degree in Accounting and it makes my head spin too haha.

can confirm, graduate degree in accounting here.

Spent hours yesterday trying to figure out which plan to go with (vzw payment plan or apple upgrade) Still don't have an answer. We're accountants! It shouldn't be this hard!

 

[16Paws]

can confirm, graduate degree in accounting here.

Spent hours yesterday trying to figure out which plan to go with (vzw payment plan or apple upgrade) Still don't have an answer. We're accountants! It shouldn't be this hard!

lol. I did the same thing last night. I had spreadsheets and ROI charts. My wife thought I was nuts.

At the end of the day I came to the conclusion that if I was within a reasonable driving distance to an Apple Store (which I am not) I would have done the Apple Upgrade program. Since I am about 4 hours from the closest Apple Store and the gas to get there and back would offset the savings of the less out of pocket on the AppleCare+ I will go with financing through Verizon.

 

[16Paws]

I really do think though that the Apple Upgrade program is a good deal for consumers (assuming there aren't any hidden provisions that they haven't disclosed yet). It isn't so great for the competition as they are "Sherlocking" the financing from the carriers and the resale from sites like Gazelle.

 

[16Paws]

can confirm, graduate degree in accounting here.

Spent hours yesterday trying to figure out which plan to go with (vzw payment plan or apple upgrade) Still don't have an answer. We're accountants! It shouldn't be this hard!

What is keeping you undecided? Maybe there is something I haven't thought of?

 

[cherryghost82]

I really do think though that the Apple Upgrade program is a good deal for consumers (assuming there aren't any hidden provisions that they haven't disclosed yet). It isn't so great for the competition as they are "Sherlocking" the financing from the carriers and the resale from sites like Gazelle.

I'm leaning towards Verizon financing right now myself. The lack of specifics on the Apple plan (aside from monthly price) has me hesitant - Especially considering I want to pre-order tonight.

 

[laurarh]

Just curious why you guys are ordering from verizon? What's the advantage? Considering their ridiculous return policies and fees there is no way I'll ever purchase something from a verizon store (I've lost $ in the past)

I feel like I'm way less knowledgeable about the different plans so maybe it's not even an option for everyone but I'm ordering through Verizon because of the $25 bill credit for switching to the payment plan. So even if I pay about $35/month for a 6s+ then that's really only a $10 increase on my bill. There's nothing telling me that I would get that bill credit if I buy through the Apple payment plan.

There's also the fact that Verizon released the offer to pay me $300 for my 5s as trade-in. That's a pretty awesome deal considering I bought it under subsidy for $199

 

[cherryghost82]

I feel like I'm way less knowledgeable about the different plans so maybe it's not even an option for everyone but I'm ordering through Verizon because of the $25 bill credit for switching to the payment plan. So even if I pay about $35/month for a 6s+ then that's really only a $10 increase on my bill. There's nothing telling me that I would get that bill credit if I buy through the Apple payment plan.

There's also the fact that Verizon released the offer to pay me $300 for my 5s as trade-in. That's a pretty awesome deal considering I bought it under subsidy for $199

Verizon likewise told me they'd offset the monthly payment plan $25 for switching. However, I can't get a straight answer out of them whether this is on top of the $25 they're already taking off of my line access fee (40-25 off contract) or replaces that off contract discount.

 

[koulmj]

One of my orders made it and one made it the following week

Lol, what's the point of preordering if you don't get it day one?

 

[16Paws]

I spoke with Verizon earlier and they told me that (assuming you are on a More Everything Plan and not the new Verizon Plan) that the total discount is $25 off each line, but and this is the crazy thing they said. It has nothing to do with if you are financing (payment plan) on a phone it is a discount that is added to the account for staying with Verizon if you do not have a contract to do so. I can say I able leaning toward believing them as I don't have a payment plan at the moment (I paid off the phones so I could sell them to someone without worrying about a contract w Big Red) and I am still getting my $25 per line discount.

My theory at this point is, if you have a payment plan they call it a payment plan discount, if you have no payment plan but are with them, they call it a month-to-month discount.

 

[16Paws]

I feel like I'm way less knowledgeable about the different plans so maybe it's not even an option for everyone but I'm ordering through Verizon because of the $25 bill credit for switching to the payment plan. So even if I pay about $35/month for a 6s+ then that's really only a $10 increase on my bill. There's nothing telling me that I would get that bill credit if I buy through the Apple payment plan.

There's also the fact that Verizon released the offer to pay me $300 for my 5s as trade-in. That's a pretty awesome deal considering I bought it under subsidy for $199

Just so you know the price they are willing to give you is not impacted on whether or not you upgrade or whether or not you finance the next phone through them. The only thing it is contingent upon is stay with verizon and the is only because the month they will give you is a bill credit. They like to make it seem like you only get it if you upgrade, but all they do is when get a new phone they roll the money they are offering into a reduction in price of the new phone (from what I am told). But don't let the offer stand in your way because they will give that to you no matter what it just has the ability to come in many different forms.

 

[16Paws]

I'm leaning towards Verizon financing right now myself. The lack of specifics on the Apple plan (aside from monthly price) has me hesitant - Especially considering I want to pre-order tonight.

From what I know of the Apple Plan if you went with it you would not be ordering anything tonight and wouldn't be paying a penny all you would do tonight is make a reservation to go in and sign up for the plan and presumably also get the phone. That sort of gives me an unsettling feeling about it, but I am sure if I did it it would work out fine. Apple tends to be pretty good about that sort of thing.

 

[16Paws]

Also to everyone in here sorry if I come off as a know-it-all I don't mean to, but I have done a bit of research over the last few weeks on Verizon's plans and have been digging into the Apple Plan for work (I control device purchases and need to see what to do next) since yesterday. As for Apple pre-order this isn't be first rodeo . Hope I am giving out good info which is all I am aiming for!

 

[rotohead]

I decided to go with the Verizon payment plan since in the end it will be the cheaper route. The monthly cost isn't that much different, but if you decide to do the trade-in after 1 year for the Apple plan, you're essentially paying around $300(depending on which phone you get) a year to essentially lease a phone.

At least if you go the 2 year route to purchase the phone, you can resell it and recoup maybe 30-40% of the cost back and put it towards a new phone. I was going to do the upgrade every year thing but realized how much extra it would cost per year to do it.

 

[adamhenry]

Quick question. If I am buying the phone for full price from Apple, will I need to enter in any of my Verizon account information? Or will Apple just let me select the Verizon model and check out immediately. I always have issues with my Verizon account login and would love to be able to just buy it outright without that hassle.

You don't have to login to your Verizon account. You provide your phone#, zip code of billing address, and last 4 digits of your SS#. You can do a dry run to try it out. Since the 6s is unavailable right now, you will be stopped short of ordering.

 

[cherryghost82]

From what I know of the Apple Plan if you went with it you would not be ordering anything tonight and wouldn't be paying a penny all you would do tonight is make a reservation to go in and sign up for the plan and presumably also get the phone. That sort of gives me an unsettling feeling about it, but I am sure if I did it it would work out fine. Apple tends to be pretty good about that sort of thing.

That is the other thing I don't completely understand. It says there's a credit check - Are they doing that right then and there at the store? And will the Apple Store have iPhone 6s's in a seperate pile for people with the iPhone upgrade plan "appointment"?

Just too many questions at this point. I'm almost positive the math over 24 months is basically the same on both plans.

 

[cherryghost82]

Just too many questions at this point. I'm almost positive the math over 24 months is basically the same on both plans.

I'm open to hearing arguments for both sides, however.

 

[laurarh]

Also to everyone in here sorry if I come off as a know-it-all I don't mean to, but I have done a bit of research over the last few weeks on Verizon's plans and have been digging into the Apple Plan for work (I control device purchases and need to see what to do next) since yesterday. As for Apple pre-order this isn't be first rodeo . Hope I am giving out good info which is all I am aiming for!

No worries, I appreciate the info!

I'm still sort of wary about having to go in for an appointment. I'd rather just get it over and done with at 3 am than worry about whether or not there will be a supply issue with the appointments.

I honestly haven't done all the math but it also seems as if I'll benefit if I upgrade at the 1-year mark. With Verizon I can pay off the phone, switch to a new payment plan, and sell the old device. With Apple, I wouldn't have to pay off the phone but I also wouldn't own the device. Sorry if someone has done the math and I missed it (there's a lot of numbers floating around these threads).

 

[16Paws]

I decided to go with the Verizon payment plan since in the end it will be the cheaper route. The monthly cost isn't that much different, but if you decide to do the trade-in after 1 year for the Apple plan, you're essentially paying around $300(depending on which phone you get) a year to essentially lease a phone.

At least if you go the 2 year route to purchase the phone, you can resell it and recoup maybe 30-40% of the cost back and put it towards a new phone. I was going to do the upgrade every year thing but realized how much extra it would cost per year to do it.

1. I am not sure why you believe that you are "essentially leasing the phone". You are committing to a payment plan that has a clause stating that after 12 successful payments you are given the ability if you choose to upgrade to the next phone and start the clock over again with the caveat that you have to trade in the existing device. If you do not wish to upgrade you are not obligated to. Also, at any time, again since it looks as though it is essentially a small loan, you could just pay off the remainder and walk away. From everything I read you are not obligated to upgrade.

2. With the Apple Upgrade program if you didn't upgrade and finished the payments (24 of them) you could still sell the phone as it will be yours. This is NOT a lease it is an installment loan per the fine print at the bottom of the Apple Upgrade page. http://www.apple.com/shop/iphone/iphone-upgrade-program

1. 
   1. The iPhone Upgrade Program is available to qualified customers only with a valid U.S. personal credit card. Requires a 24-month installment loan with Citizens Bank, N.A. and iPhone activation with a national carrier — AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon.

3. There is, from the pricing Apple states on their page describing the program, essentially no difference over the course of 2 years in the price from Apple and the Price from Verizon (assuming you buy from Verizon and then go to Apple and buy AppleCare for the new $130). In fact if you do the math and multiple your selected device price as found on the page I listed above by 24 the prices are slightly lower than the retail price + 130 for apple care. That being said if you don't want to buy AppleCare it is more expensive, but if you do buy AppleCare it is less expensive than going through Verizon since you only pay for half of the AppleCare before trading in the phone at the 1 yr mark.

With all of that being said, the choice in these situations are always very personal and complicated so everyone needs to do what is best for their situation, but I just don't think it is fair to let people start to think this is a lease.

 

[16Paws]

No worries, I appreciate the info!

I'm still sort of wary about having to go in for an appointment. I'd rather just get it over and done with at 3 am than worry about whether or not there will be a supply issue with the appointments.

I honestly haven't done all the math but it also seems as if I'll benefit if I upgrade at the 1-year mark. With Verizon I can pay off the phone, switch to a new payment plan, and sell the old device. With Apple, I wouldn't have to pay off the phone but I also wouldn't own the device. Sorry if someone has done the math and I missed it (there's a lot of numbers floating around these threads).

You are EXACTLY right if you upgrade at 1 year you benefit, but if you don't there is no downside since it looks to be a 0% loan. I say this making 2 assumptions:

1. You were planning on buying AppleCare because the benefit comes from the Apple Care
2. The sale price of the phone is NOT more than what is remaining on loan at the time of trade in, but then again if it was you could just pay off the loan and upgrade without doing the upgrade through Apple nothing is stopping you there.

I am totally with you I would be wary of making a reservation rather than actually having a place in the pre-order queue. I would imagine they will take care of customers who make the reservation but who knows.

 

[cherryghost82]

has it been determined what the new upgrade policy with verizon is? From my understanding, you can upgrade after a year but have to pay off the balance of the device payment plan before doing so.

 

[16Paws]

has it been determined what the new upgrade policy with verizon is? From my understanding, you can upgrade after a year but have to pay off the balance of the device payment plan before doing so.

When I spoke the a rep earlier she said that there is no service contract just a financial one. I can't see how they could stop you from upgrading every other day as long as you were willing to pay the remainder of the device off.

 

[Fropwns]

Hi,

First time for me ordering through Verizon's site (for the 5s, I did it through Apple's site). Can I add Applecare to my order?

 

[16Paws]

Hi,

First time for me ordering through Verizon's site (for the 5s, I did it through Apple's site). Can I add Applecare to my order?

Not directly though Verizon but you can add it within 30 or 60 days through Apple (if my memory serves last year you could do it over the phone).

 

[laurarh]

Will the link to pre-order just appear on the Verizon homepage when the time comes?