"New No-Roam Plan" ??? Smells like....

VZW's been throwing offers around lately. I got an offer via mail this week
offering me 100 extra minutes a month if I'll sign up for THREE years (Do
they think I'm buying a car?), now this----see below.....bear in mind I just
"signed" my 4th or 5th ONE-year contract

I got a call this evening from a gentleman purporting to be from VZW.

He stated that if I would sign a two-year agreement, they would put me on a
plan which would give me the same number of minutes as present (I'm on AC II
450), at the same price, but would further give me the advantage of "No
roaming charges anywhere in the U.S."

Now I'm no VZW newbie. I asked him how this was different from my current
plan, which doesn't permit roaming at all. He stated that there are areas of
the U.S. which AC II doesn't cover (I knew that), and implied that I would
get no-roam coverage anywhere there was a usable (compatible) signal.

This sounded an awful lot like what some of us dreamed of years ago; a
National Single Rate plan with a decent bucket of minutes, free nights and
weekends, "IN" calling, all at a reasonable price. It sounds so much like
that, in fact, that I am suspicious of it.

Of course I couldn't ask the telemarketer if they'd offer a new PRL with
this "new plan", and if said PRL would include EVERY compatible system in
the country. In fact, I wouldn't know whom to ask, since I doubt TeleSales
and TechSupport talk to each other much, so even a heads-up TechRep may not
have the slightest idea what I'm talking about.

So that leaves me with you guys.

Anybody have any idea if there really is a new Promotional plan that smells
like NSR?

And if so, even though I am philosophically committed to one-year contracts
(and addicted to a new phone every year), wouldn't this be tempting, if it
is, in fact, true NSR?

CAREFUL!!!

I would never deal with a telemarketing call. It could be anybody.

Verizon's best deals seem to be reserved for orders/changes made via the
website.


"Dean" <dean173@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:l6gsh.285$e_7.80@newsfe12.lga...
> VZW's been throwing offers around lately. I got an offer via mail this
> week offering me 100 extra minutes a month if I'll sign up for THREE years
> (Do they think I'm buying a car?), now this----see below.....bear in mind
> I just "signed" my 4th or 5th ONE-year contract
>
> I got a call this evening from a gentleman purporting to be from VZW.
>
> He stated that if I would sign a two-year agreement, they would put me on
> a plan which would give me the same number of minutes as present (I'm on
> AC II 450), at the same price, but would further give me the advantage of
> "No roaming charges anywhere in the U.S."
>
> Now I'm no VZW newbie. I asked him how this was different from my current
> plan, which doesn't permit roaming at all. He stated that there are areas
> of the U.S. which AC II doesn't cover (I knew that), and implied that I
> would get no-roam coverage anywhere there was a usable (compatible)
> signal.
>
> This sounded an awful lot like what some of us dreamed of years ago; a
> National Single Rate plan with a decent bucket of minutes, free nights and
> weekends, "IN" calling, all at a reasonable price. It sounds so much like
> that, in fact, that I am suspicious of it.
>
> Of course I couldn't ask the telemarketer if they'd offer a new PRL with
> this "new plan", and if said PRL would include EVERY compatible system in
> the country. In fact, I wouldn't know whom to ask, since I doubt TeleSales
> and TechSupport talk to each other much, so even a heads-up TechRep may
> not have the slightest idea what I'm talking about.
>
> So that leaves me with you guys.
>
> Anybody have any idea if there really is a new Promotional plan that
> smells like NSR?
>
> And if so, even though I am philosophically committed to one-year
> contracts (and addicted to a new phone every year), wouldn't this be
> tempting, if it is, in fact, true NSR?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Dean,
Yes, it sounds like the latest carrot in an attempt to find something we can
swallow to accept 3-year contracts. Yes, it is a telemarketer and most
likely not a Verizon employee. Yes, you would receive all that is promised,
and would be able to 'revert' back to your old plan, and contract. Yes, if
this doesn't get people to switch to 3-year contracts in big numbers, they
probably will not offer this any longer, and you'll end up with something
the rest of us dream about.

The upside is that you should be able to get, and keep, this plan with only
ONE 3-year contract, then you can go back to 1-year contracts, if any.
During that 3 years, you can satisfy your new phone cravings by buying at
retail or new on ebay.

OTOH, do you really need NSR? I find myself in an area with no AC II
coverage about once every 2 years, and then for less than an hour, total.

It is worth considering, but 3 years is a long time. I have been tempted to
switch to another carrier after their plans & coverage improved
substantrially over the last year. What a pain it would be just to not be
able to CONSIDER switching for such a long time.


Bill Radio
Click for Wireless Reviews at:
http://www.mountainwireless.com

"Dean" <dean173@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:l6gsh.285$e_7.80@newsfe12.lga...
> VZW's been throwing offers around lately. I got an offer via mail this
> week offering me 100 extra minutes a month if I'll sign up for THREE years
> (Do they think I'm buying a car?), now this----see below.....bear in mind
> I just "signed" my 4th or 5th ONE-year contract
>
> I got a call this evening from a gentleman purporting to be from VZW.
>
> He stated that if I would sign a two-year agreement, they would put me on
> a plan which would give me the same number of minutes as present (I'm on
> AC II 450), at the same price, but would further give me the advantage of
> "No roaming charges anywhere in the U.S."
>
> Now I'm no VZW newbie. I asked him how this was different from my current
> plan, which doesn't permit roaming at all. He stated that there are areas
> of the U.S. which AC II doesn't cover (I knew that), and implied that I
> would get no-roam coverage anywhere there was a usable (compatible)
> signal.
>
> This sounded an awful lot like what some of us dreamed of years ago; a
> National Single Rate plan with a decent bucket of minutes, free nights and
> weekends, "IN" calling, all at a reasonable price. It sounds so much like
> that, in fact, that I am suspicious of it.
>
> Of course I couldn't ask the telemarketer if they'd offer a new PRL with
> this "new plan", and if said PRL would include EVERY compatible system in
> the country. In fact, I wouldn't know whom to ask, since I doubt TeleSales
> and TechSupport talk to each other much, so even a heads-up TechRep may
> not have the slightest idea what I'm talking about.
>
> So that leaves me with you guys.
>
> Anybody have any idea if there really is a new Promotional plan that
> smells like NSR?
>
> And if so, even though I am philosophically committed to one-year
> contracts (and addicted to a new phone every year), wouldn't this be
> tempting, if it is, in fact, true NSR?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Bill,

First off, hello Bill!! Long time no trade messages....

Yeah, you DO have a point.... The only time I have seen "No Service" (on AC
II) is in areas where there truly is "No Service", such as a number of huge
hospitals and commercial bldgs where the only way to get ANY signal would be
to have a cellsite IN the building, also a couple of sub-basements and
tunnels.

Granted, I do read the NG regularly, and it's obvious that in certain areas
of the US (PacNW, areas of Michigan, some very rural areas, and Larry's
house in one of the Carolinas, plus, no doubt, others) there are serious
deficiencies in VZW service for some, however from my standpoint I cannot
say that even a true NSR would have benefitted me to the extent which would
justify a 3-year hitch. Hey, I really love the Nextel "free incoming" deal,
if only they had decent coverage out here in the "wilds" of the NYC suburbs
!!!! LOL

I'm staying with my 1-year contract.

Dean


"Bill Radio" <Wireless@MountainWirelessNOSPAN.com> wrote in message
news:12r7gqv5a7r69e3@corp.supernews.com...
> Dean,
> Yes, it sounds like the latest carrot in an attempt to find something we
> can swallow to accept 3-year contracts. Yes, it is a telemarketer and
> most likely not a Verizon employee. Yes, you would receive all that is
> promised, and would be able to 'revert' back to your old plan, and
> contract. Yes, if this doesn't get people to switch to 3-year contracts
> in big numbers, they probably will not offer this any longer, and you'll
> end up with something the rest of us dream about.
>
> The upside is that you should be able to get, and keep, this plan with
> only ONE 3-year contract, then you can go back to 1-year contracts, if
> any. During that 3 years, you can satisfy your new phone cravings by
> buying at retail or new on ebay.
>
> OTOH, do you really need NSR? I find myself in an area with no AC II
> coverage about once every 2 years, and then for less than an hour, total.
>
> It is worth considering, but 3 years is a long time. I have been tempted
> to switch to another carrier after their plans & coverage improved
> substantrially over the last year. What a pain it would be just to not be
> able to CONSIDER switching for such a long time.
>
>
> Bill Radio
> Click for Wireless Reviews at:
> http://www.mountainwireless.com
>
> "Dean" <dean173@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:l6gsh.285$e_7.80@newsfe12.lga...
>> VZW's been throwing offers around lately. I got an offer via mail this
>> week offering me 100 extra minutes a month if I'll sign up for THREE
>> years (Do they think I'm buying a car?), now this----see below.....bear
>> in mind I just "signed" my 4th or 5th ONE-year contract
>>
>> I got a call this evening from a gentleman purporting to be from VZW.
>>
>> He stated that if I would sign a two-year agreement, they would put me on
>> a plan which would give me the same number of minutes as present (I'm on
>> AC II 450), at the same price, but would further give me the advantage of
>> "No roaming charges anywhere in the U.S."
>>
>> Now I'm no VZW newbie. I asked him how this was different from my current
>> plan, which doesn't permit roaming at all. He stated that there are areas
>> of the U.S. which AC II doesn't cover (I knew that), and implied that I
>> would get no-roam coverage anywhere there was a usable (compatible)
>> signal.
>>
>> This sounded an awful lot like what some of us dreamed of years ago; a
>> National Single Rate plan with a decent bucket of minutes, free nights
>> and weekends, "IN" calling, all at a reasonable price. It sounds so much
>> like that, in fact, that I am suspicious of it.
>>
>> Of course I couldn't ask the telemarketer if they'd offer a new PRL with
>> this "new plan", and if said PRL would include EVERY compatible system in
>> the country. In fact, I wouldn't know whom to ask, since I doubt
>> TeleSales and TechSupport talk to each other much, so even a heads-up
>> TechRep may not have the slightest idea what I'm talking about.
>>
>> So that leaves me with you guys.
>>
>> Anybody have any idea if there really is a new Promotional plan that
>> smells like NSR?
>>
>> And if so, even though I am philosophically committed to one-year
>> contracts (and addicted to a new phone every year), wouldn't this be
>> tempting, if it is, in fact, true NSR?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>