Data Plan Required

[WBFAir]

Originally Posted by boggsie

Why in the world wouldn't Sprint, or Verizon for that matter, alienate me as a customer? Why would they lock-down their systems and require a data plan to register this ESN, when they have no new phone or contract renewall subsidy to recover?

Best regards,
-boggsie

Originally Posted by dtrush

That's what myself and WBFAir have been arguing for a long time through the pages and pages of posts. It doesn't make sense at all because it doesn't cost them any more to have us as customers.
They have nothing to lose but some paying services to gain/retain. We've established in this thread that they possibly make more revenue by extorting $30 more per month for the uneducated(with respect to cell phone options) customers data plan. Basically the "low" amount of pissed customers who can research and don't have to put up with their tactics jump ship to other companies ie PAGE PLUS CELLULAR who charge you for what you want. The losses Verizon experiences from this might not outweigh the increased revenue from their extortion activities.

Just to elaborate on what dtrush said, this can be answer by two things boggsie, greed an the law of averages.

Basically by that I mean that in truth, if you probably took all of us in the know including the ones who see how this is stealing and ones who don’t refuise to an put us all together that still wouldn’t begin to come close to equaling all the ones who don’t know squat about this either way.

By that I mean, just go sit in any Sprint or Verizon or AT&T store for one hour an see how many people come in to by a smartphone or upgrade to one that when they are told that this device needs a data plan at $29.99 per month they just go, really, wow, well if you say so I guess I have to get it, an that’s the last they ever think about as they trust that this is the truth.

And so, as apposed to all that do know that this is not true an do as I have and or figure all that out after an leave, those former people far out way us by the law of averages and as such are the ones they carriers and others are counting on to pay for their greed.

But I grantee you if you took all those very same people an sat them down an told them the truth so that they know what we know and then offered them the choice as they should be offered, I doubt many would do that, which again is exactly what the carriers are afraid of an why they have made this mandatory as the natural effects of that would be that the carriers wouldn’t make the killing they are an then they would have to either reduce this service or charge those who want it more which is what those who support this are afraid of.

So simple put this is being driven by those of greed who bank on the law of averages that as many as can be made to, will never learn the truth about this and as long as they can all keep it this way, this well designed process of stealing these peoples money will continue to work.

[gTen]

Actually even if you paid 20$ a month for calling+data+texts but paid full price for phone, the wireless company would still be profitable. But they would not be able to pay their Executives as much or fill up union square with commercials for 1 phone.

[Mojary]

cmon now wbfair. your last post pretty much said that there's a lot of stupid people out there. that isnt true. trust me i know...because i have sat in the past in those stores you mentioned for at least an hour looking around or waiting for my turn. and trust me...almost all of the people you mentioned that supposedly dont know better have made their hesitation know about getting the data plan because of their own reasons. and the rest knew they wanted the data anyways so the only decision is which plan they were gonna get. but still...consumers arent as clueless you make them sound to be.

[WBFAir]

Originally Posted by Mojary

just a quick question for dtrush and wbfair. did you have a smartphone/ppc with a regular voice plan before upgrading your account to the tp2 and renewing for another 2yr contract with big red?

For me an as I have written it in this thread many times, I bought a V60s about 12 years ago under a two year contract that included the 2 new every year plan.

Actually just to point out and I never even thought about this till now and I know technically this is not how this works but still, I have not utilized that option to which I could have gotten a new phone for cheaper for six times over now.

So after now after 12 years an six times of not expecting Verizon to give me phone at a major reduced price, I finally do want to get one for the price I was told I have earned by doing this of $90.00 but I could not as due to this mandatory data plan I would have had to pay $840.00 for it instead, which is not $90.00 and since this was none optional situation and there for a situation of no other choice, the only choice was to get nothing from them that I should have and spend way more money then the $90.00 I should have to get what I was supposed.

[WBFAir]

Originally Posted by Mojary

cmon now wbfair. your last post pretty much said that there's a lot of stupid people out there. that isnt true. trust me i know...because i have sat in the past in those stores you mentioned for at least an hour looking around or waiting for my turn. and trust me...almost all of the people you mentioned that supposedly dont know better have made their hesitation know about getting the data plan because of their own reasons. and the rest knew they wanted the data anyways so the only decision is which plan they were gonna get. but still...consumers arent as clueless you make them sound to be.

Trust me Mojary that it was not my intent to call anyone of these people stupid, there is a big difference between stupid and just uninformed, I mean three months ago I didn't know any of this and that didn't make me stupid.

But still as I said and really the most of what I meant was that if "all" of the people were completely informed instead of as many as they could, were kept in the dark. And, were then given a choice, that they might not fall into line as freely an there for choose not to get the data plan. An that the former is what the carriers and and the people who want to use those people to help pay for this to keep it cheaper for them are counting on to be a larger average and that I feel in truth they are over us that know that whole story and what can be done about it.

[Mojary]

LOL...it was a simple yes or no question dude. but thanks for answering. 12yrs with verizon = loyal customer. one word for ya...RETENTIONS! ever thought about calling them to nicely talk them into giving you what you want for being a long time loyal customer? again...you keep saying that us against you were not in the "know"...then you shouldve known to go this route from the get go. did you ever think about giving this route a go? do correct me if im wrong...but it sounds like you heard what big red told you and disagreed and went straight to the forum to air your grievance and hoping that we can do something for you. which kinda looks like it backfired because of the reponses.

dude, again....air you grievance with big red's retentions. they are the ones with the power to do what you are trying to get us to do for you....which is get the tp2 at the dirt cheap subsidized price with possibly not having to be required the data plan....basically, they can tell you if you can have your cake and eat it too. or like a said a few posts back....keep your current phone & plan now, buy the phone and pony up full price for the tp2 (or any smarphone/ppc) just for the purpose of having the freedom of using the wifi w/o any plans attahced to it. thats what i wouldve done. but i didnt because my sprint everything data plan actually saves me each month and in the long run with all the things included in this plan. it wouldve cost me more (at least a minimum of $20/mo) if i got each option separately as an add-on on a regular voice plan. and it sounded like you did have a choice...you chose not to upgrade so you wouldnt have to pony up $30 a month.

but remember my friend...to each is his own.

[Mojary]

Originally Posted by WBFAir

Trust me Mojary that it was not my intent to call anyone of these people stupid, there is a big difference between stupid and just uninformed, I mean three months ago I didn't know any of this and that didn't make me stupid.

But still as I said and really the most of what I meant was that if "all" of the people were completely informed instead of as many as they could, were kept in the dark. And, were then given a choice, that they might not fall into line as freely an there for choose not to get the data plan. An that the former is what the carriers and and the people who want to use those people to help pay for this to keep it cheaper for them are counting on to be a larger average and that I feel in truth they are over us that know that whole story and what can be done about it.

no sympathy here my friend. consumer 101 is all i gotta say. which means YOU as a consumer, needs to do your research before going out there and buying something like an electronic device such as the tp2. cmon now...you woulndt go to a car dealership not knowing anything about the car you wanted to buy, correct? you'll be easy pickings for the sales rep! same thing with cell phones. you already know as a consumer walking into these retail establishments that they are in it for your greens. so why in the world would you deal with them without having knowledge as your ammo? even my parents know to ask us regarding buying a phone...because they know we would look into it for them so they can walk into the store and know what to expect. it doesnt matter how or where you get your info...as long as you walk in knowing as much as you can so you dont get blindsided when you find out you need a data plan for the phone you wanted to get. wouldve saved you all the huffin and puffin.

[Paragon]

WBFAir, why are you still going on?

It's like buying a 5 litre Mustang and complaining you are paying too much for gas, when a VW Beetle would do the job. AS has been said many times in this thread....go elsewhere. If you think they are stealing, fine, think what you want. It's only a fool who continues to let someone continually take money from them every month for something they don't need or want, and an even bigger fool who signs a contract with them.

Dave

[WBFAir]

Originally Posted by Mojary

LOL...it was a simple yes or no question dude. but thanks for answering. 12yrs with verizon = loyal customer. one word for ya...RETENTIONS! ever thought about calling them to nicely talk them into giving you what you want for being a long time loyal customer? again...you keep saying that us against you were not in the "know"...then you shouldve known to go this route from the get go. did you ever think about giving this route a go? do correct me if im wrong...but it sounds like you heard what big red told you and disagreed and went straight to the forum to air your grievance and hoping that we can do something for you. which kinda looks like it backfired because of the reponses.

Not quite sure what to make of all of this but just try, with all due respect Mojary, I never discussed how much of this came around, but seeing as you have made some assumptions as to how I did come to this I will tell you that I did contact Verizon many times, as well I visited my local store several times and all cases I politely professed my case, just as everyone else with many reasons that one would think of should be qualified as a person you described, and just as all (at least that I have ever herd of) has gotten as a response in every case, first all I got was all the same lies I have discussed here and as I did and much suspected when I first herd them they were, I then went back an spent quite a bit of time researching them to find out that they were in fact lies, but still even when I returned to discuss any of them, I, just as anyone else I have ever herd about doing the same, got nothing but a big flat NO. YOU NEED DAS DATA PLAN!!!

But seeing as you mention this so strongly Mojary, I was just wondering, how many times have you herd of this happening? I mean it would be kinda silly for you to suggest this as something I should have done unless you know that this would have worked, right?

An so if I’m wrong I would not want to be saying this if I am so…

… if you don’t mind I was just wondering if you could lead me to all the ones you know of who have contacted Verizon or any of the carriers for that matter and have explain to them what ever reason that feel they should not be made to get the data plan and were able to get that waved?

Now I have herd that they are doing this for the government, (gee what a shock the very people who would prosecute them they do not do this to, surprising huh)

An I think I herd of some legally handicapped people getting it but other then that I don’t recall a single person.

Originally Posted by Mojary

dude, again....air you grievance with big red's retentions. they are the ones with the power to do what you are trying to get us to do for you....which is get the tp2 at the dirt cheap subsidized price with possibly not having to be required the data plan....basically, they can tell you if you can have your cake and eat it too. or like a said a few posts back....keep your current phone & plan now, buy the phone and pony up full price for the tp2 (or any smarphone/ppc) just for the purpose of having the freedom of using the wifi w/o any plans attahced to it. thats what i wouldve done. but i didnt because my sprint everything data plan actually saves me each month and in the long run with all the things included in this plan. it wouldve cost me more (at least a minimum of $20/mo) if i got each option separately as an add-on on a regular voice plan. and it sounded like you did have a choice...you chose not to upgrade so you wouldnt have to pony up $30 a month.

but remember my friend...to each is his own.

As I’ve have repeatedly stated, a lot of what you have said here is basically answered in my previous posts so I won’t go over that all again but just touch on one point as I don’t this it was, you are quite wrong that this is not the correct action, as just as it has been discussed, the only choice we have from the many levels of communications with Verizon is that there is no choice, so since that has been exhausted, the only choice left if we do have any hope of changing this is to communication to them in the only last form we have which is their wallets, and the only way we can do that is to band together and create that situation, and the only way that will happen is for everyone to become informed about this and the makes the right choice for themselves, like I have said, make this a choice an if I am wrong then I will be proven so, but just as the carriers and every one else who supports this know which is why they are fighting so hard to not let this happen, I won’t be.

Also I just want to add that just as I have done on this thread, I have never “started” a single one of these threads, all I ever have done is just like I have done here which is to step in when I see people posting lies and quash them so that the ones who do not know or understand all then do, and I especially do this when I see those who post those are doing this solely as it is to their own benefit and at the expense of others. Then as well if I can I offer any help I can to as to what alternatives they may not know exist.

[WBFAir]

Originally Posted by Mojary

no sympathy here my friend. consumer 101 is all i gotta say. which means YOU as a consumer, needs to do your research before going out there and buying something like an electronic device such as the tp2. cmon now...you woulndt go to a car dealership not knowing anything about the car you wanted to buy, correct? you'll be easy pickings for the sales rep! same thing with cell phones. you already know as a consumer walking into these retail establishments that they are in it for your greens. so why in the world would you deal with them without having knowledge as your ammo? even my parents know to ask us regarding buying a phone...because they know we would look into it for them so they can walk into the store and know what to expect. it doesnt matter how or where you get your info...as long as you walk in knowing as much as you can so you dont get blindsided when you find out you need a data plan for the phone you wanted to get. wouldve saved you all the huffin and puffin.

First off I'm hardly looking for sympathy here and by your other statements if that was the way things worked then every company out there could do what ever illegal or immoral thing there is and never be held responsible as it is all our responsibilities as consumers to research ever conceivable venue for everything thing it is that we buy to find out if it is a rip off or not.

An I could go on and on about how that is the case but there are just too many point to list.

But just to say that there is a given expectation in this country that, an especially with a company as large as Verizon that we are not going to getting riped off and that is right and the way things should be and for the most part are, but its when that assumption or trust gets exploited by the company which is wrong, you get what is happening here.