PSA: Word to the Wise about Google RMAs on Verizon

FUZER384

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Jan 27, 2009
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Apparently Google can "forget" to register devices on a carriers which will mean there will be a 1 to 4 days activation time after you get your phone. If you had a backup device and turn it off before you power on your Pixel you got in the mail, then power on your Pixel it will not activate. Mine kept saying something about needing better coverage to activate. Then it said an error happened during activation and I needed to call customer care. So basically they have to put in a request to Google to activate the IMEI on Verizon's network (Make sure you give them the right IMEI & SIM #) which will take some time. The associates I spoke to didn't seem like it was a rare occurrence for manufacturer warranty replacements.
 

superchilpil

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Doesn't really make sense to me. Why would Google need to activate a device on a Verizon network? Think about it.
In the past I've heard of newer Nexus devices not having their IMEI registered on CDMA networks so the said phone couldn't be activated but that was a Carrier issue and was fixed after they added it to their network.
Seems to me that the Verizon rep lied to you and placed the blame on Google when in fact it's Verizon's fault. They want you on their version on the Pixel with a lockable bootloader anyway.
Don't always believe customer reps, they will say anything and everything to avoid a conflict and get you off the phone quicker.

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imnuts

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You take your SIM card out, put it in the new phone and go. There is no activation anymore like the olden days of CDMA phones. The only reason it would need "activated" would be if the IMEI was blacklisted or flagged as stolen, and I doubt Google is shipping out stolen/flagged phones.

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FUZER384

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Jan 27, 2009
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You take your SIM card out, put it in the new phone and go. There is no activation anymore like the olden days of CDMA phones. The only reason it would need "activated" would be if the IMEI was blacklisted or flagged as stolen, and I doubt Google is shipping out stolen/flagged phones.

Sent from my Pixel XL
When the phone is going through the wizard it literally says "Activating". Maybe you didn't notice it goes so quick

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TonikJDK

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Dec 9, 2012
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And you sent in a Verizon pixel? I'm debating doing this cause I'll be out of a phone for a lil since it isn't advanced replacement.
Not out of a phone for too long. As soon as you ship yours they see the tracking number.....And they ship right away. They don't wait for it to show up.
 

imnuts

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When the phone is going through the wizard it literally says "Activating". Maybe you didn't notice it goes so quick

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
And it'll do the exact same thing if it was a previously activated phone that was factory reset. I don't know what is doing, but it isn't activating of you're just swapping SIM cards. In that case, registering on the network would probably be more accurate.

Sent from my Pixel XL
 

fletch33

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Jan 9, 2010
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i do see the "activating" on all my Verizon phones after a wipe or a new phone but i personally think it could say " getting service " or joining network" whatever and its not the same "activating" we use to see back in the day before SIM cards on Verizon

i am a phone nut and throw my SIM in and out of different phones all the time and they work as soon as SIM goes in even if they are already on
 

mkenny2

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What reason are you using to be able to get the RMA from Google? I would love to be able to get rid of my Verizon lock Bootloader for a Google version
 

FUZER384

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And it'll do the exact same thing if it was a previously activated phone that was factory reset. I don't know what is doing, but it isn't activating of you're just swapping SIM cards. In that case, registering on the network would probably be more accurate.

Sent from my Pixel XL
Sounds like alot of speculation. I see activating and we'll need a VZW tech to tell us what it's actually doing.

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FUZER384

Senior Member
Jan 27, 2009
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i do see the "activating" on all my Verizon phones after a wipe or a new phone but i personally think it could say " getting service " or joining network" whatever and its not the same "activating" we use to see back in the day before SIM cards on Verizon

i am a phone nut and throw my SIM in and out of different phones all the time and they work as soon as SIM goes in even if they are already on
What I just said before this post

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FUZER384

Senior Member
Jan 27, 2009
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And it'll do the exact same thing if it was a previously activated phone that was factory reset. I don't know what is doing, but it isn't activating of you're just swapping SIM cards. In that case, registering on the network would probably be more accurate.

Sent from my Pixel XL
By the way, you're arguing a point not made by me but I was quoting a customer care manager. Soooo....

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efaden

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Dec 24, 2010
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Thanks for posting this. I'm going through this right now..... my "standard replacement" took 4 weeks. Any idea why Google won't advance replace these devices? Other than google just being a PITA.... seems like it shouldn't matter where they come from.