Verizon Wireless confirms end of New Every Two, early upgrades

By on Jan 18, 2011 at 2:34 AM
mobile January 18, 2011

Among a flurry of reports leading up to Verizon Wireless’ iPhone 4 announcement earlier this month, a slide leaked suggesting two popular perks would soon be dissolved by the nation’s top carrier. Verizon has since confirmed that as of Sunday, January 16th, its early upgrade policy and its “New Every Two” program have each been discontinued moving forward. New Every Two gave customers up to $100 toward the purchase of a new handset every two years in an effort to promote contract renewals. Similarly, subscribers bound to two-year contracts had been allowed to upgrade their handsets after just one year of service in exchange for signing new two-year agreements. Both perks are now unavailable to new subscribers, and current customers will lose their benefits within 24 months. Those currently enrolled in the New Every Two program will be eligible to receive the related benefit when their contract renews, however they will not be re-enrolled in the program. A similar policy is in effect for subscribers currently eligible or soon to be eligible for early upgrades.

Image source: Eric Hauser

Tags:
, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
41 Comments

Related Articles

  • Maureen

    Freaking greedy bastards. They always cave to the profits of their investors and give the middle finger to the customers.

    Let’s see what Verizon has done over the past 24 months

    A) Colluded with other carriers on expensive per message SMS charges
    B) Upped the ETF to $350
    C) Got their wrists slapped for charging people for data erroneously (raking in millions in the process)
    D) Started forcing data plans on dumb phones
    E) Cut their worry free trial period from 30 days to 14 days
    F) Cut out early upgrades
    G) Removed the NE2 discount incentive for loyal customers who renew

    This is the same company who lobbied to their Republican constituents that they don’t need any regulation yet they continue to do bone headed anti-consumer moves.

    The only reason they get away with it is because they have a reputation of decent voice coverage in most areas of the US. If this was Metro PCS doing this s#$@ there would be an uproar and they’d go out of business over the weekend.

    All Verizon has done is exchange their wall gardened-ugly UI- device crippling ways of 2 years ago and replaced it with more fees, less perks and prettier phones. They get their money either way they screw you.

  • http://twitter.com/Cobes Dave Cober

    I’m so confused. Does this mean that from now on I will have to pay full price for a new handset? And if so, does that mean I won’t have to sign another contract? Were that the case, I could think of worse things.

    • rene

      good question

      • AllTheSame

        No, It means that the 2 year price on phones will probably be 249.99 or less. Period. No need for NE2 and credits and blah blah blah. Its easier if you think about it, and really isnt any more expensive. Lol Remeber when blackberries were 399 on new 2 year? Then Advance data credit and NE2 brought it down to 150? Now its just 150. The Droid x is now 199, pretty good price.
        BTW you have, and will still have the option to pay full retail and have no contract.
        BTW

        B

      • B Game

        Dont Forget about Amazon Wireless as well. I was able to get my Droid Incredible for a penny using my NE2 last october/november. That might be the way to go when upgrading from now on. Even if i didnt use my NE2 it was still cheaper than going through VerizonBest Buy mobile.

    • Scottcharp

      No it means you won’t receive an ADDITIONAL credit off the 2yr price anymore. So you will be paying the 2 yr price, just like every other carrier does it.

  • Mre

    You still can get upgrade every 2 year you just have to wait 20 months with 2 year, 10 months on 1 year.
    With old every 2 you could start getting a sim discount at 13 months.

    The update to ETF t0 $350 cause they were loose to much money. Could be over sea were have pay full price for phone. A plane that many provider are try to a dote.

  • Chickendawg

    You can still get a new phone for discount price if you are signing a new contract. You just have to finish your contract where before you could renew after only 1 of your 2 years. Before you also got an additional discount of $100 when you renewed your contract after 2 years. So you got $100 off the discounted price.

  • Anonymous

    Good news for the guy who want to purchase an verizon iphone 4 with an iphone 3gs in hand.

  • drew dogg

    The annual upgrade only applied to primary lines. N existing customers pay exactly the same as new customers. the ne2 ranged from $30-$100…$100 went away over a year ago. Sure wish bgr got their facts straight.

    • http://www.facebook.com/brettmlewis Brett Lewis

      Well, you can still use it on their website…

      • drew dogg

        You can still use the credit but you won’t get it next time around… n it was $50 or $100 then it was $30 or $50 depending how high your price plan was.

    • Tedkord

      My NE2 just came up in November, and I got the $100 credit. It’s still sitting in my acocunt, as I haven’t upgraded yet. I’m on the 1400 minute family share plan.

  • fan of fanboys

    Just curious, do other carriers (AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mo) offer a credit to primary lines when upgrading on top of two year pricing? Do other carriers allow primary lines to upgrade after 12 months in a two year contract?

    I really don’t know, so don’t attack me. I just want to see if VZW is now the same as the other three, or are they takign away something every other carrier offers.

    • Jr

      AT&T lets at least the primary line upgrade every 12 months with 2 year subsidized pricing. I upgraded to the Samsung Captivate in August and my upgrade eligibility date on their website shows Aug 2011.

    • Chut Pata

      AT&T charges $35 as upgrade fee when you renew your contract vs $100 off that Verizon used to offer in the name of NE2. The next thing you know, Verizon will also be charging you $35 for renewals. This is how capitalism works. Squeeze the customer to the last penny, and if some other company offers alternate, either buy it, bulldoze it, or get it discredited. If someone will try to protect the customer, say a Trial Lawyer or consumer rights activist, he will be demonized as a commie.

      • http://twitter.com/oudidntkn0w oudidntkn0w

        $18, NOT $35. Get your facts straight. I do agree with you though, that vz will prob start charging upg fees too.

  • Caedo12

    I had a feeling this was coming. Just as soon as they get the iPhone 4 they give their customers the “You need us, we don’t need you” treatment. And for the most part they’re right. They have the biggest carrier customer base and they just acquired the most coveted mobile device that wasn’t already in their line-up, so of course they would pull this stunt. Suppliers pander to their customer base when they don’t have the upper hand and they give them the shaft when they do. Irritating.

  • http://twitter.com/Steelers7510 Ty Carlson

    Hmmm. This doesn’t really effect me for one reason or another I was never eligible for this promotion. I have always just waited the 20 months anyways.

  • http://twitter.com/Steelers7510 Ty Carlson

    Hmm this doesn’t really effect me for some reason I was never eligible for this program in the first place. I have always waited the 20 months anyways.

  • Anonymous

    I hope this means that the new retail prices are brought down to allow the people that want something new every year to be able to do it at a reasonable price. After hearing this news, I’m glad I switched to Sprint.

    • chrissy

      me too milky! verizon and their high prices can suck it! haha!

  • Anonymous

    If you are buying a new phone so often to qualify for this type of program thereis a saying that fits you like a glove:

    “A fool and his money soon part”

    It’s no big deal people, Verizon finally got a phone people want to pay for. You don’t need BOGO deals to move them or price cuts.

    Anyone seen the new marketing blitz for Android from Verizon? /S

    • Chut Pata

      You are wrong. I was about to upgrade my dumb phone with another dumb phone after 2 years because LG makes crappy products and I had to buy refurbished ones from eBay. I was expecting a $100 off my new dumb phone but now it is gone. I guess I will have to buy off eBay again.

      • http://twitter.com/pman555 Perry

        Chut, if you are currently eligible for a NE2 discount, you should still be able to use it.

  • Tesh

    The one year upgrade for the primary line on a family plan was the only reason I stuck with Verizon. I actually managed to sell my old phones and get a new one and pocket some money every year. I will probably end up moving to AT&T, since they seem to have a better future with RIM and BBs are my device of choice. I know I am one of the few.

  • allafterburnernorudder

    Again, bad journalism – vz’s new every two program hasn’t offered $100 credit in over two years. sure you can get by stating that since big red offered it at one point. but it is equal to stating shell oil was selling gas as low as 55 cents a gallon….yeah in 1979…oh brother…

  • Yahooserious

    stop your crying, the worlds not ending, they trimmed it to 14 days to line up with other providers, they eliminated ne2 due to verizon further subsidizing phones in the future. in other words the phones will be cheaper so settle down

    • Gerald

      Stop defending your employer senselessly.

      Verizon does punk their customers to make investors happy. And they’ve been on a roll.

      Rumor has it that WikiLeaks has some real dirt on their corrupt business practices that may get exposed really soon.

    • chrissy

      yea..you hope so yahooserious but the rest of you shoudnt hold your beath! haha!

  • Anonymous

    I don’t see why people don’t just sign a 1 year every time. I paid just $60 extra per phone for a Droid 1 and Droid X.

    • Tesh

      Thats going to be my route here on out should i stay with verizon. Also looks like 1yr adds $70 to the phone, not sure if this is a change.

  • Gilby

    Don’t forget that VZW is not a charity. They are a business. So YES they are going to do the things that make the company the most money so they can pay their thousands of employees, deliver the best network, and continue to discount phones as much as they already do. When a full retail droid x (569.99) or a full retail iPhone (649.99) is discounted down to 199.99, and you guys are pitching a fit over 30, 50, or 100?! Boo-freaking-hoo! Do you know how many phones are on buy one get one right now? Or how many were during 2010? Buy a droid 2 and get one free? Suck it up and wait your 20 months before you are eligible, or suck it up on the up front cost and get a 1 year contract and get a discount after 10. Bunch of babies

    • Gerald

      Again dumb blind employee.

      Of course company’s need to make money. But Verizon keeps screwing their customers more and more despite record profits.

      Customers have the right to voice their displeasure with your corrupt employer.

      I hope they fire you so you can be a regular customer just like us and see reality from the other side of the counter.

    • verizonGREED

      $649.00 – $199.00 = $450.00 you f**king moron!

  • Steel

    Not a problem, I guess more people will simply shop around every 2 instead.

  • CDysert75

    Just to be sure, the ‘new every two’ program is not the same as the $50/$100 phone rebate subsidy, correct?

    • CDysert75

      Nevermind. I’m an idiot. Please disregard my question. I spoke before I scrolled. lol

      • Justinmfinch

        I think we can all thank Steve Jobs for this – I don’t think Apple discounts anything, – regardless if someone buy 1 or 15,000,000 of their product

  • Brewno256

    I would like to see BGR get some direct quotes from those in charge as to why they think this is a good idea. Why are they continually taking those small perks from loyal customers and making it more difficult and more expensive? Why are they treating us this way?

  • verizonGREED

    Thank you so much for your stellar customer Service and proving that loyalty means absolutely nothing to your customers. Your network might be superior but your management and timing with regards to terminating your early upgrades is nothing short of some of the worst the business practices I have ever witnessed. I will gladly take my lines to at&t and deal with all their dropped calls and poor customer service to have an iPhone rather than line your greedy pockets with anymore of my money. I intend to tell everyone that has service with Verizon how your company is rewarding loyalty by stabbing us all in the back. Thanks Verizon!

blog comments powered by Disqus