DeuceBaseman wrote: Well yea, I mean I'm planning on waiting until Oct when I'm ready. I just want to know that when I am able to upgrade, if it'll be cheaper (like $300) or still $999. |
As has been stated, 2 yr service contracts in exchange for receiving a "discounted" phone with an ETF should you cancel service has been discontinued for all accounts except for government and enterprise clients. The term "upgrade" still applies, though, to ALL lines. You would not be able to see whether or not you would be eligible for a "discounted" phone with a 2 yr service contract, though, until you actually complete your current contract. If you had already switched to the new Verizon Plan, it is unlikely you would be able to get a 2 yr service contract with a "discounted" phone as those are supposedly not allowed on the Verizon Plan, only legacy plans such as the Nationwide and More Everything Plans.
Regardless, the maximum "discount" for one of those contract phones is normally $450. If you are looking at a $1000 phone, the "discounted" price for that phone would most likely be $550. On top of that price, your line access fee would be $40/month for the life of the 2 yr contract instead of $20/month when out of contract on the Verizon Plan. That is an additional cost of $480 over the life of your contract added to the $550 price of your phone, bringing the TOTAL cost of the phone up to $1030($550 + $480) + tax. As I have shown, paying full price for the phone over 24 months would not be much different than purchasing that "contract" phone and paying the higher line access fee for 24 months.
As to the term "upgrade", that simply means a Verizon program to purchase a phone. Programs in the past would have included paying full price spread out over 24 months OR purchasing a "discounted" contract phone with a higher line access fee for the life of the contract. NOW "upgrade" simply means paying full price for the phone with payments spread out over 24 months. You can purchase a new phone at full retail price up front at ANY time, even when you are still making payments on a previously purchased phone.
