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Verizon pushed me to get droid
- Thread starter frostbyte32
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Right now it's probably 2 days.
I paid for my phone around Oct 30th and my notification said shipping date was Nov 11th. The phone arrived on Nov 6th. Of course there was a shortage back then and yet my store still had a few white 64GBs in stock. (I wanted black.)
Another thing occurred to me, maybe you can just pick it up in a nearby Apple store instead? You're guaranteed not to get pushed towards droids there. 😀
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This analogy kind of fails. The OP had a fallback in his pocket already. Did you have an old Big Mac in your pocket already to avoid going hungry? 😀
(Btw, one word to people who carry burgers and sandwiches in their pockets - Gross!)
Thanks! Might do that since I am out of town until Monday evening.
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If you are getting Poor customer service you should never accept it. No mater if you tell the manager or go to another store. I won't give my money to bad service.
The OP did the right thing. Verizon makes more money on droids since they come with bloatware and they lose revenue through the text messaging scam with iMessage on the iPhone.
I have no prob with him doing his job, but when I say 3 times that i am not interested and want to mess around on the 4s display before purchasing and he keeps trying to sell the Razor and then other droids to me..I am walking. I am not giving him a sale for being pushy. I have no problem exercising my right to take my business to another store that would gladly sell me what I am asking for without a fight.
You should have told him he can keep his stinking RAZR and to go fetch your iPhone haha.....leaving was the right thing to do.
I would have been like, look bro cool story but uh get me what im asking for or im leaving.
I would have been like, look bro cool story but uh get me what im asking for or im leaving.
I don't know if they get commission or not. Almost every Verizon employee I've seen has a Droid. When I was on vacation in L.A. I purchased my iPhone 4 and all the employees had the Charge and the Droid X. This past weekend I went to look at the Nexus and saw 4 workers charging their Nexus phones. No wireless provider makes a dime on the iPhone. They sell it a major loss to lock you into a 2 year contract.
I don't see why you're getting so much flack about walking out without the phone. I'm not sure where you live, but there's two Verizon stores and one Verizon reseller within 10 miles of my house, not including two Best Buys. If I don't like the customer service at one, I have plenty options to get my phone elsewhere.
His or anyone else's commission is none of your concern. The sales associate has a job to do, but in the end, he should respect what the customer has researched and has decided. By being outright pushy, he revealed his bias and agenda and if I were a customer, I wouldn't trust his opinion on anything else (plans, accessories, etc.) because I know it's what HE wants me to buy as opposed to what's best for me.
His or anyone else's commission is none of your concern. The sales associate has a job to do, but in the end, he should respect what the customer has researched and has decided. By being outright pushy, he revealed his bias and agenda and if I were a customer, I wouldn't trust his opinion on anything else (plans, accessories, etc.) because I know it's what HE wants me to buy as opposed to what's best for me.
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ljonesj
macrumors 6502a
Really odd when i switched from tmobile to verizon in december i wanted a 4s but my store did not have them i went with a 8gb 4 and they had no problems. When the lady was setting up our phones i was talking to her about not wanting the android phone as the os is so fragmented. she was telling me they had more customers bringing back android phones as they were bricked and other issues were people were installing apps not desinged to run on there phones. she had an iphone and loved it
All about the money
Maybe I can shed a little light on the subject. So as not to incriminate myself, let's say that I have been "affiliated" with a top Verizon national Premium Retailer.
The bottom line is that Verizon would prefer that you do not buy an iPhone. Why? Because the purchase of the iPhone from Apple costs them substantially more than purchasing any android phone. I have read that to purchase an iPhone from Apple, it costs the carriers roughly $400.
Also, for dealers anyway, the commission on the iPhone is paid differently than the commission on any other phone.
For example - when you sign a customer up for a two year contract, you are paid a certain amount from Verizon. Roughly $130-$190 depending on the price of the rate plan and the part of the country that you are in. So to the poster who said reps are not paid on the phones only the plans, that is partially true.
However - if you sell a smartphone. And they only want you to sell smartphones, you also get paid based on the phone. Verizon breaks their smartphones up into tiers. 4G droids that they want pushed are in the highest paying tier. 3G droids that that don't want you to sell are in a lower paying tier. So, in fact, in the dealer world you are paid based on the phone you sell. This compensation ranges from about $110-250 per phone. You can be sure, whatever droids are being pushed, they are the ones at the higher end of the scale.
So let's review. You sign a customer up for two years. Verizon gives you money for the contracted plan plus more money if you sell a smartphone. This isn't pure profit. It is offset by the price paid for the device. For example, we paid about &400 for a Samsung Charge and about $500 for a Nexus S. so you have to subtract that out of the equation and you get a net profit per phone.
Due to commissions being different on different phones and the costs of those phones being different, obviously the profit per phone is different on every phone. Want to know what the most profitable phones are? Go into a Verizon store and see what is being pushed.
Let's further complicate this. These rules don't apply to an iPhone. Verizon pays to the dealers (and presumably the corporate reps) a flat commission for each iPhone. The iPhone 4S 16GB costs the dealer roughly $650-$670 to purchase. No matter which iPhone is sold or which plan it is on, the profit on the iPhone is around $120-130 to the dealer. Why is this significant?
A lot of sales reps in the dealer world are paid based on the profitability of the sale. So if they are paid a 20% commission on the profit and they sell an iPhone with a profit of $120, they get a commission of $24 to sell that iPhone.
Take a droid sale. Between Verizon's "advanced device tier compensation" and the rate plan and any spiffs going on. Yes, that's right, phones that Verizon is trying to push have extra money paid on them. A droid sale could generate a profit of $250-$300. If a rep is looking at a sale with a $300 profit at 20%, then it is $60 in their pocket vs $24. Nwhich one do you think they will push on you?
This is the way Verizon wants it. M iPhones cut into their margins. Droid phones with theirs crappy build quality and commoditization, are relatively cheap. They want iPhone treated as a loss leader. Everything that I have seen is that Verizon uses the iPhone to get you in the door and then the rep is supposed to flip you to a droid. If the public were to see the inner workings, I promise you people would be switching to Straight Talk for their iPhone.
I see a lot of mis information about how reps are paid commissions. I have quite a bit of experience with the dealer channel. Feel free to fire away with any questions.
Now obviously there are reps and stores and dealers that don't behave this way. The truth is that with an android sale, the customer is back in the store 3-5 times with issues. The android OS isn't bad necessarily, it's just a lot more complex and confusing - to the mass market - than the simplicity of iOS. After an android sale, the customer if often frustrated. After an iPhone sale, the customer returns 0-1 times with issues and they are generally happier because "it just works."
Don't think this doesn't play a role. the stores want customers coming back as often as possible. Nevery time you are in front of a customer, you have an opportunity to sell them more. A $30 car charger that costs $3.50. A 4G Jetpack mobile broadband device. A home phone connect device. The more the customer comes in with android problems, the more money you can make from them. With iPhone, they don't have many issues. Which means there is no face time to make money.
Maybe I can shed a little light on the subject. So as not to incriminate myself, let's say that I have been "affiliated" with a top Verizon national Premium Retailer.
The bottom line is that Verizon would prefer that you do not buy an iPhone. Why? Because the purchase of the iPhone from Apple costs them substantially more than purchasing any android phone. I have read that to purchase an iPhone from Apple, it costs the carriers roughly $400.
Also, for dealers anyway, the commission on the iPhone is paid differently than the commission on any other phone.
For example - when you sign a customer up for a two year contract, you are paid a certain amount from Verizon. Roughly $130-$190 depending on the price of the rate plan and the part of the country that you are in. So to the poster who said reps are not paid on the phones only the plans, that is partially true.
However - if you sell a smartphone. And they only want you to sell smartphones, you also get paid based on the phone. Verizon breaks their smartphones up into tiers. 4G droids that they want pushed are in the highest paying tier. 3G droids that that don't want you to sell are in a lower paying tier. So, in fact, in the dealer world you are paid based on the phone you sell. This compensation ranges from about $110-250 per phone. You can be sure, whatever droids are being pushed, they are the ones at the higher end of the scale.
So let's review. You sign a customer up for two years. Verizon gives you money for the contracted plan plus more money if you sell a smartphone. This isn't pure profit. It is offset by the price paid for the device. For example, we paid about &400 for a Samsung Charge and about $500 for a Nexus S. so you have to subtract that out of the equation and you get a net profit per phone.
Due to commissions being different on different phones and the costs of those phones being different, obviously the profit per phone is different on every phone. Want to know what the most profitable phones are? Go into a Verizon store and see what is being pushed.
Let's further complicate this. These rules don't apply to an iPhone. Verizon pays to the dealers (and presumably the corporate reps) a flat commission for each iPhone. The iPhone 4S 16GB costs the dealer roughly $650-$670 to purchase. No matter which iPhone is sold or which plan it is on, the profit on the iPhone is around $120-130 to the dealer. Why is this significant?
A lot of sales reps in the dealer world are paid based on the profitability of the sale. So if they are paid a 20% commission on the profit and they sell an iPhone with a profit of $120, they get a commission of $24 to sell that iPhone.
Take a droid sale. Between Verizon's "advanced device tier compensation" and the rate plan and any spiffs going on. Yes, that's right, phones that Verizon is trying to push have extra money paid on them. A droid sale could generate a profit of $250-$300. If a rep is looking at a sale with a $300 profit at 20%, then it is $60 in their pocket vs $24. Nwhich one do you think they will push on you?
This is the way Verizon wants it. M iPhones cut into their margins. Droid phones with theirs crappy build quality and commoditization, are relatively cheap. They want iPhone treated as a loss leader. Everything that I have seen is that Verizon uses the iPhone to get you in the door and then the rep is supposed to flip you to a droid. If the public were to see the inner workings, I promise you people would be switching to Straight Talk for their iPhone.
I see a lot of mis information about how reps are paid commissions. I have quite a bit of experience with the dealer channel. Feel free to fire away with any questions.
Now obviously there are reps and stores and dealers that don't behave this way. The truth is that with an android sale, the customer is back in the store 3-5 times with issues. The android OS isn't bad necessarily, it's just a lot more complex and confusing - to the mass market - than the simplicity of iOS. After an android sale, the customer if often frustrated. After an iPhone sale, the customer returns 0-1 times with issues and they are generally happier because "it just works."
Don't think this doesn't play a role. the stores want customers coming back as often as possible. Nevery time you are in front of a customer, you have an opportunity to sell them more. A $30 car charger that costs $3.50. A 4G Jetpack mobile broadband device. A home phone connect device. The more the customer comes in with android problems, the more money you can make from them. With iPhone, they don't have many issues. Which means there is no face time to make money.
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Well, he's right. It's been crazy to get an iPhone on Verizon all along, since we knew LTE was coming when the iPhone 4 launched on Verizon, and the 4S has been hugely overshadowed by 4G LTE.
I've played with the DROID RAZR MAXX, and while it's no iPhone, if I was on Verizon, I would, without a doubt, get that phone.
Considering how much Verizon has spent on their 4G LTE network, and how it is deployed on greenfield spectrum, it is nuts to buy a non-4G phone at this point. If you really want an iPhone, wait until the fall, and get the 5 with LTE.
Oddly enough, however, the sales numbers show that American consumers are dumb, and have bought more iPhones than 4G LTE Android devices on Verizon.
Conversely, if you are dying for an iPhone now, switch to AT&T's enhanced 3G network.
Jordan921
macrumors 603
That's just a matter of user stupidity. Sure, the menus in Android make absolutely no sense, and have five places to find the same thing, but iOS has a lot of hidden shortcuts and such that are non-obvious. Each has it's ups and downs.
I had a learning curve switching from Android to iPhone, even having been a long time iPod Touch user. The biggest difference I see is the smoothness. I was playing with the MAXX last night, and a text came in, and the keyboard froze for probably 750ms, whereas on the iPhone, the whole thing would have been smooth as butter.
The issue I see is that I know my 4S will be good for 3+ years of life, whereas any given Android phone might only last a year before being obsolete and not getting the latest software upgrades and such. However, on Verizon, that luxury doesn't exist, as their iPhone is already obsolete, since they are moving to 4G LTE, where AT&T might be going there at some point in the future, but they haven't announced any plans for LTE coverage on the 95% of their network that is not in a major urban area, and have enhanced 3G that is fast enough for now.
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It's pretty well agreed that Apple will wait until the Qualcomm chipsets for LTE deliver the performance they need.
If the next iPhone is not 4G, it will not be on Verizon at all, as Verizon has ruled that all new smart devices on their network will be 4G LTE capable.
Jordan921
macrumors 603
I saw the same thing happen when the iphone first came on to the verizon network. An older couple was looking to get 2 iphones and the sales person was talking them into droids hardcore. I actually had to leave i couldnt hear such BS comments like, iphone doesnt have a removable battery.
Jordan921
macrumors 603
nburwell
macrumors 603
You did the absolute right thing. This is why I mainly purchase my phones via Verizon's web site. I don't feel like dealing with their employee's trying to push me into something I don't want.
Although when my girlfriend and I went into our local Verizon store to upgrade her to the 4S, the saleman we dealt with didn't push her towards a Droid at all. Although as soon as he approached us, she stated right away she wanted to upgrade to the 4S, but I'm sure it all depends on the personality of the Sales Associate too.
tsolt
macrumors regular
I had my verizon sales lady do that to me but I still said no and got my 4s up from the 4.
But to the real reason I replied.
If I'm right I was over hearing a conversation about the droid razr and some kind of contest I believe they are just trying to make sell's for this.
But to the real reason I replied.
If I'm right I was over hearing a conversation about the droid razr and some kind of contest I believe they are just trying to make sell's for this.
Wide opeN
macrumors 68000
Yeah, this is also a power play by VZW to minimize Apple control over them as much as possible.
Let's forget that up until like the last 1-2 years VZW was THE biggest control freak in the Wireless Industry.
Trust... they don't like being told what to do, so, this is their little way of getting back.
Let's forget that up until like the last 1-2 years VZW was THE biggest control freak in the Wireless Industry.
Trust... they don't like being told what to do, so, this is their little way of getting back.
scaredpoet
macrumors 604
This. They are trying VERY hard to move droid RAZRs, even offering them for free to "loyal" Verizon customers. Whether Motorola is giving them an extra enticement to do so, or whenever it's because Verizon bought way more of these things than people are willing to buy is anyone's guess at this point.