Some words of warning to potential customers:
Understand this is not a Verizon store. This is a GoWireless store. Yes, they'll "help" you with buying a phone, but they'll do so while trying to upsell the heck out of everything they possibly can. They have Goadvantage, Goguard, and seemingly endless other "services" that they will try to MAKE sound like a great deal...it is NOT a great deal. My mother left the store having paid $70.00 for a car charger. WHAT?! The phone case (NOT an expensive Otterbox), was $50.00, and the tempered glass screen protector was $40. That's $160.00 in accessories that you can find online for $40 total EASILY. Buying ANY accessories (chargers, cases, etc.) in a phone store is like buying candy at a movie theater. You can if you want...just expect to pay up to a %700 markup.
The worst part (and really the reason for the 1 star), is that they told my mother that she shouldn't use her phone as a wifi hotspot because it can cause the screen to burn-in in the hopes of convincing her to BUY a portable hotspot (for $500 over 2 years). This is factually false. Using your phone as a wifi hotspot poses ZERO increased risk for screen burn-in. You can turn your screen off and your phone will still function as a wifi hotspot (check at the end of the review for more on the legality of using your phone as a wifi hotspot). So either the saleswoman lied to my mom or she just didn't understand how phones/hot-spots work. I HOPE it's the latter. Either way...be VERY wary about going to this store. I've had much better success at the Verizon store @ 3330 Lithia Pinecrest Rd, Valrico, FL 33596 (which is also a 3rd party retailer so be careful there too!).
About using your phone as a wifi-hotspot:
Verizon is NOT ALLOWED to tell you what you do with your data, what sites to browse, how or when to use it (including enabling your phone as a wifi-hotspot). This was a battle Verizon lost back in 2012 (see: https://www.cnet.com/news/what-verizons-fcc-tethering-settlement-means-to-you-faq/). Check your plan for details! Verizon still reserves the right on most plans to revoke usage under certain conditions. For example, some people who were on unlimited data plans and used a MASSIVE amount of data, found themselves being taken out of their unlimited plan. In general, the amount of data used matters more than how you use it. So if you're on a week long trip and want to enable your phone as a wifi hotspot, you should really be fine in doing so. The BEST way to be sure, is to call or chat with Verizon DIRECTLY and ask them what the limitations are in using your phone as a hotspot according to your individual plan. Do NOT go to a store and ask...they will just try to sell you something you most likely don't need. read more
