[Q] Xoom non-contract question

[Ingjald]

with the xoom it is being handled differently than the tab...
the tab was an accessory non subsidized meaning you could just purchase it.

but the xoom has to go through a different order process
needing an account and plan

if you don't have vzw, thats where the fee comes into play
if you do, there are ways to order it with out the fee (by ordering it for your current line, and taking it off afterwards)

Obviously they're handling it differently, but the point is that they need not. Sure, if you're buying it subsidized, you sign a contract. What I'm not going to do, though, is pay the full unsubsidized price and let Verizon pull this crap.

(As for the activation, I'm not concerned about the initial activation fee--I'd be buying it at Costco anyway, where that will be refunded by rebate. It's the reactivation fees I'm not going to put up with.)

 

[brockwitting]

Obviously they're handling it differently, but the point is that they need not. Sure, if you're buying it subsidized, you sign a contract. What I'm not going to do, though, is pay the full unsubsidized price and let Verizon pull this crap.

(As for the activation, I'm not concerned about the initial activation fee--I'd be buying it at Costco anyway, where that will be refunded by rebate. It's the reactivation fees I'm not going to put up with.)

I am the same way. I am really not seeing a point in buying unsubsidized if they are going to pull this crap.

 

[Benkr0n]

ah i see...
still the 60 day thing is there.

also setting expectations about the bill...
if you plan on starting and stopping service (regardless of activation fee)
be prepared for billed in advanced charges and refunds, but this goes with any service


another thing is depending on your employer they could waive activation fees, ask about an ELEU discount

 

[brockwitting]

Hmmmmm. To go pick up my preorder or just let it go....

The wifi suits me better, but I don't want to wait that long.. I hope someone has an ad-hoc hack for the Xoom, or Verizon actually does something nice, and allows this to be true month to month.

 

[Benkr0n]

kinda along what i was saying previous posts...

another thing to be careful of is prorations
when activating service, the first month is not prorated (good)

but after that if you want to change it, for say a week... you'll only get a weeks worth of usage.

example
1 Gb plan / month is $20
1 Gb plan for 7 days = 7/30*1024 = 238Mb Cost is also prorated; $4.67

 

[brockwitting]

Question/Update:

According to a new Engadget post:

Update: Verizon's been in touch to inform us of a policy change: customers who purchase the off-contract Xoom will now no longer need to be on a month to month plan. That said, we still see "Month to Month" as a compulsory option at the time of updating this post.

Soooo, if I buy one at BB, even though I pay the stupid activation fee and for a month of service, does this mean that the data works like the iPad on AT&T and can be cancelled any time and restarted without fees?? Or am i totally misconstruing this, and it actually means that you have a choice of purchasing no data with the device?

 

[keitht]

Question/Update:

According to a new Engadget post:

Update: Verizon's been in touch to inform us of a policy change: customers who purchase the off-contract Xoom will now no longer need to be on a month to month plan. That said, we still see "Month to Month" as a compulsory option at the time of updating this post.

Soooo, if I buy one at BB, even though I pay the stupid activation fee and for a month of service, does this mean that the data works like the iPad on AT&T and can be cancelled any time and restarted without fees?? Or am i totally misconstruing this, and it actually means that you have a choice of purchasing no data with the device?

Since it has been posted that you can pick up a Xoom at Verizon and not have to get a one month plan, it would really look bad if they are forcing BB and Costco to do so. However, if this is a last minute change, I wonder how many of the other stores will know about it. I expect a cluster fu** of confusion tomorrow morning when I try to get one.

 

[brockwitting]

Since it has been posted that you can pick up a Xoom at Verizon and not have to get a one month plan, it would really look bad if they are forcing BB and Costco to do so. However, if this is a last minute change, I wonder how many of the other stores will know about it. I expect a cluster fu** of confusion tomorrow morning when I try to get one.

Thanks, and I figured that, I was just hoping this was a change of heart on Verizon's part, and that we could freely activate/deactivate the data as we pleased without more fees, but this only appears to mean that you can get the tablet with no obligation right away. Correct? I don't mean to sound noobish, because I really am not, but there just isn't a whole lot of info available, and I hope to God verizon changes their policy so the 3g works like the pre-paid data the At&t iPad uses.

 

[keitht]

Thanks, and I figured that, I was just hoping this was a change of heart on Verizon's part, and that we could freely activate/deactivate the data as we pleased without more fees, but this only appears to mean that you can get the tablet with no obligation right away. Correct? I don't mean to sound noobish, because I really am not, but there just isn't a whole lot of info available, and I hope to God verizon changes their policy so the 3g works like the pre-paid data the At&t iPad uses.

No worries. I don't have real answers, just speculation based on what I have read. Originally, you were required to get at least one month verizon service ($35 activation fee + minimum $20 1GB/month) just to activate the WiFi on the device. Very stupid for an unsubsidized device. But read a couple of posts from people that if you went to a Verizon store you would not be required to do this. That would be a kick in the balls if Verizon stores would not require this but BB and Costco do. We won't know for sure until morning I suppose.

 

[TheZuneLune]

Thanks, and I figured that, I was just hoping this was a change of heart on Verizon's part, and that we could freely activate/deactivate the data as we pleased without more fees, but this only appears to mean that you can get the tablet with no obligation right away. Correct? I don't mean to sound noobish, because I really am not, but there just isn't a whole lot of info available, and I hope to God verizon changes their policy so the 3g works like the pre-paid data the At&t iPad uses.

I am guessing they aren't forcing BB & Costco to charge the activation fee. I am betting that activations is where third parties get their revenue, not so much from the devices.

 

[Locarian]

Anyone notice the update engadget posted about the 1 month activation fee?

--engadget--
Update: Verizon's been in touch to inform us of a policy change: customers who purchase the off-contract Xoom will now no longer need to be on a month to month plan. That said, we still see "Month to Month" as a compulsory option at the time of updating this post.
--engadget--

Anyone run into this at a store yet? Just at VZW? BB? Costco?

-Loc

 

[setite]

Anyone notice the update engadget posted about the 1 month activation fee?

--engadget--
Update: Verizon's been in touch to inform us of a policy change: customers who purchase the off-contract Xoom will now no longer need to be on a month to month plan. That said, we still see "Month to Month" as a compulsory option at the time of updating this post.
--engadget--

Anyone run into this at a store yet? Just at VZW? BB? Costco?

-Loc

I am hoping for an answer to this. I am on the West Coast, so my stores will be opening in 3 hours. People on the east coast are just now getting into stores.