NOTE: Most of this review applies to any "Verizon Independent retailer."
WARNING!: go to a Verizon corporate store, or you may end up like I did. I was visiting New York from California, and my Droid seemed to be on the fritz, and I had just reached my upgrade date, so I thought "Now is as good a time as any to get a new iPhone." I looked in my Verizon phone for the nearest Verizon store and it brought me here. The salesman was pleasant and helpful, and after paying the $100 upgrade fee, walked out with a i4, which I THOUGHT was the latest and greatest iPhone. It wasn't until a few days later that I learned of the 4S, the Siri, which IS the latest and greatest, and is amazing, so I went into a local Verizon corporate store in CA and asked, what would it cost me to turn in the i4 and get a 4S, they said $35 restocking fee, plus $100 more for the upgrade. Great! Until the Verizon service rep looked on the computer and discovered I had bought the phone at an "Independent retailer" and could only return it there. I called this store, and they said, sure, they will take it back and reverse the upgrade so I can order the i4S for $200. Only thing is, this store charges a $ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR restocking fee! So, because I bought my phone at this "Independent retailer" instead of a corporate store, I paid $100 restocking and $35 shipping. If I had gone a couple miles to a corporate store in New York, I would have been able to turn the phone in at the CA Verizon store, pay the $35 restocking, save $100, and go through much less time and aggravation. The owner, who was also polite and helpful, explained to me when asked why the restocking fee was so high, gave me a story that may or not be true about why he has to charge such a high fee. Nevertheless, there is no benefit that I know of buying from an independent retailer, so, the moral of the story is, if you want a Verizon phone, go to a corporate store, unless you are 1,000% certain you will not need to return the phone.
Incidentally, I called Verizon, and argued my case that a consumer should not be expected to be so aware of the difference between stores. I used a Verizon phone to guide me to a Verizon store, which had a huge sign saying Verizon Wireless, and tiny letters under saying "Independent retailer." Which, of course, at the time, I didn't notice and it wouldn't have meant anything to me anyway. I'm sure somewhere in the multi-page small-print contract that would have taken hours to fully read, this was explained. I think Verizon should do better than that, and make it clear upfront. And what did Verizon do for me? They sympathized! That and $3.00 will buy you a cup of coffee! read more