Comments on: Wirefly — the good, the bad, and the ugly http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/ News, Tips and Resources for Online Bargain Hunters Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:23:11 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Fishmonger http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-72688 Fishmonger Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:11:40 +0000 http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-72688 Here's the truth: ALL insurance is trickery. The Verizon-branded insurance is from a company called Asurion. They charge significantly more than you'd pay for third-party insurance. It covers just about everything including water damage, BUT there is a $90 deductible for each claim, and they provide you with a refurbished phone when you make a claim. So over the typical two year life of a phone, if you have a single claim, you've paid them over $250, which is more than the cost of a refurbished phone. By contrast, the insurance that Wirefly offers is significantly cheaper ($50 to $70 a year depending on what phone you get), with NO deductible per claim, and new phones for replacement. All those things are great, but the policy covers theft and loss but not water damage. When you purchase from Wirefly, you can choose to either buy the insurance Wirefly offers, or call Verizon and take the Verizon-branded insurance that's billed to your monthly phone bill. Wirefly doesn't force you to take their lower-priced insurance. It was wrong for the Verizon employee to badmouth their own authorized dealer (but that's pretty typical because Verizon store employees resent the fact that they are required to rip people off by charging hundreds more than their own authorized dealers do). I'm not trying to defend either Wirefly or Verizon. I don't work for either company. I just think you need to know the truth about these programs. For me, I wouldn't take any insurance at all unless for example I was giving the phone to a teenager who was known to be irresponsible and very likely to lose it. I'm sorry you damaged your phone but am happy you saved your kid! If you get stuck, then the best route is to buy a replacement phone on eBay. Here’s the truth: ALL insurance is trickery. The Verizon-branded insurance is from a company called Asurion. They charge significantly more than you’d pay for third-party insurance. It covers just about everything including water damage, BUT there is a $90 deductible for each claim, and they provide you with a refurbished phone when you make a claim. So over the typical two year life of a phone, if you have a single claim, you’ve paid them over $250, which is more than the cost of a refurbished phone.

By contrast, the insurance that Wirefly offers is significantly cheaper ($50 to $70 a year depending on what phone you get), with NO deductible per claim, and new phones for replacement. All those things are great, but the policy covers theft and loss but not water damage.

When you purchase from Wirefly, you can choose to either buy the insurance Wirefly offers, or call Verizon and take the Verizon-branded insurance that’s billed to your monthly phone bill. Wirefly doesn’t force you to take their lower-priced insurance. It was wrong for the Verizon employee to badmouth their own authorized dealer (but that’s pretty typical because Verizon store employees resent the fact that they are required to rip people off by charging hundreds more than their own authorized dealers do).

I’m not trying to defend either Wirefly or Verizon. I don’t work for either company. I just think you need to know the truth about these programs. For me, I wouldn’t take any insurance at all unless for example I was giving the phone to a teenager who was known to be irresponsible and very likely to lose it. I’m sorry you damaged your phone but am happy you saved your kid! If you get stuck, then the best route is to buy a replacement phone on eBay.

]]> By: New Kid on the block http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-72503 New Kid on the block Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:18:13 +0000 http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-72503 I used wirefly, and the service was fine, I got my phone no big deal, yes the call service center they use is REALLY hard to deal with, and probably took me about an hour longer to order my phone than talking with a native English speaker. But I got my phone an it worked great, better in fact, than the phone I got to replace my fine working phone(volume button just stopped working in the down direction) from verizon its self. However, here is my complaint against them: My 2 year old son fell into the pool on sunday(he was on the steps walking around and decided this was the time to dive in) so I jumped in to get him(not all movie like taking off the extra close and making sure nothing was in my pockets)(he was fine btw was only under for about 2 seconds) but in the process the phone got its water damage, i did all the stuff I was told to fix the phone put it in a bag of rice, no batter and what not. Well I turned it on and now its stuck at the bootloader screen. So I contact verizon about it, since I purchased the insurance through wirefly when purchasing my phone, to which verizon says that I refused insurance on my phone. I am like "what have I been paying for?", I was informed that it was probably through the company that sold me my phone so I contact them, and they say that they don't cover water insurance, even though I was told over the phone that the insurance covers theft and all damage, ALL being the keyword there, thus why I bought it. The "insurance" company tells me that it says on the site they don't cover it. So I am screwed now, unless I wanna drop roughly 400 bucks to get a new phone. I called verizon, and had I had their insurance it would have covered water damage also. All this being said I understand the point of a business is to make money, but should they be doing that by trickery? If I were allowed to accept verizon's coverage I would have been okay, but because I was actually lied to over the phone(and again in my talk with the insurance company before I said anything about water damage they told me it covers theft and damage. Not that it covers theft and damage*.) and told me it covered ALL damage I am phoneless for however long till I can upgrade. I used wirefly, and the service was fine, I got my phone no big deal, yes the call service center they use is REALLY hard to deal with, and probably took me about an hour longer to order my phone than talking with a native English speaker. But I got my phone an it worked great, better in fact, than the phone I got to replace my fine working phone(volume button just stopped working in the down direction) from verizon its self.
However, here is my complaint against them: My 2 year old son fell into the pool on sunday(he was on the steps walking around and decided this was the time to dive in) so I jumped in to get him(not all movie like taking off the extra close and making sure nothing was in my pockets)(he was fine btw was only under for about 2 seconds) but in the process the phone got its water damage, i did all the stuff I was told to fix the phone put it in a bag of rice, no batter and what not. Well I turned it on and now its stuck at the bootloader screen. So I contact verizon about it, since I purchased the insurance through wirefly when purchasing my phone, to which verizon says that I refused insurance on my phone. I am like “what have I been paying for?”, I was informed that it was probably through the company that sold me my phone so I contact them, and they say that they don’t cover water insurance, even though I was told over the phone that the insurance covers theft and all damage, ALL being the keyword there, thus why I bought it. The “insurance” company tells me that it says on the site they don’t cover it. So I am screwed now, unless I wanna drop roughly 400 bucks to get a new phone. I called verizon, and had I had their insurance it would have covered water damage also.
All this being said I understand the point of a business is to make money, but should they be doing that by trickery? If I were allowed to accept verizon’s coverage I would have been okay, but because I was actually lied to over the phone(and again in my talk with the insurance company before I said anything about water damage they told me it covers theft and damage. Not that it covers theft and damage*.) and told me it covered ALL damage I am phoneless for however long till I can upgrade.

]]> By: Advising http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-68873 Advising Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:05:36 +0000 http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-68873 Okay, I am using wirefly now, and I have to say I was skeptical at first. It does sound too good to be true. But, after using them, and using their new communication tools (internet chat connection seems to help with the communication issues) I am sold. They have even contacted me twice to make sure that I was aware of some info i needed to send verizon to be approved. The rep also ensured verizon would not be charging me for activation fees because of the misunderstanding (which took a whopping 15 minutes to resolve). I checked with verizon and they sang the same tune... It would seem that Wirefly has cleaned up their act! Okay, I am using wirefly now, and I have to say I was skeptical at first. It does sound too good to be true. But, after using them, and using their new communication tools (internet chat connection seems to help with the communication issues) I am sold. They have even contacted me twice to make sure that I was aware of some info i needed to send verizon to be approved. The rep also ensured verizon would not be charging me for activation fees because of the misunderstanding (which took a whopping 15 minutes to resolve). I checked with verizon and they sang the same tune… It would seem that Wirefly has cleaned up their act!

]]> By: curious and desperate http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-57206 curious and desperate Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:56:58 +0000 http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-57206 Okay, here's my deal. I am currently with Alltel and have been since like 2001 or something. I've added two phones to my plan over the years. I currently have a Motorola Razr. It's on the fritz and will probably not be working at all soon. The soonest any of the phones on my plan will be due for an upgrade will be in late August. I've begged Alltel reps to give me an early upgrade but they refuse. I CANNOT make myself pay the ridiculously high price of a new phone without upgrade discounts. I stumbled across Wirefly today and started to key in all of my information. Found a good deal on a phone and I was just too nervous to go ahead and place the order! If I order the phone through Wirefly and I am not due for an upgrade through Alltel yet, will they come back and charge me the full price of the phone later??? How does a contract extension work through Wirefly if you are not due for an upgrade through Alltel yet? If there is someone out there who can tell me how this all works, it would be greatly appreciated! Okay, here’s my deal. I am currently with Alltel and have been since like 2001 or something. I’ve added two phones to my plan over the years. I currently have a Motorola Razr. It’s on the fritz and will probably not be working at all soon. The soonest any of the phones on my plan will be due for an upgrade will be in late August. I’ve begged Alltel reps to give me an early upgrade but they refuse. I CANNOT make myself pay the ridiculously high price of a new phone without upgrade discounts. I stumbled across Wirefly today and started to key in all of my information. Found a good deal on a phone and I was just too nervous to go ahead and place the order! If I order the phone through Wirefly and I am not due for an upgrade through Alltel yet, will they come back and charge me the full price of the phone later??? How does a contract extension work through Wirefly if you are not due for an upgrade through Alltel yet? If there is someone out there who can tell me how this all works, it would be greatly appreciated!

]]> By: Anon http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-55101 Anon Fri, 15 May 2009 07:28:21 +0000 http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-55101 Thanks for all the tips everyone. My Att contract ended a few months back and I am going month to month with them, so I thought I would use Wirefly to get a good deal on a free phone. Well, all the best deals are only for NEW customers, people like myself out of contract and going month by month are considered "Upgrades" and we get a lousy selection of free phones, while the new contract people get the best ones. So I called Wirefly to ask them about this, and suddenly, after waiting about 20 minutes for my call to be answered, I was in an Indian version of the Twilight Zone, except nobody gave me any yummy curry to munch on. I could literally hear the Bollywood music as I tried in vain to get my questions answered by a thick accented indian person -bless their hearts for having to do this crappy work and mine for putting up with it. After spending countless minutes not really getting a straight answer, and not even getting to do one of those funky Bollywood musical dance numbers, I just told the rep "thanks" and hung up. It was only when I called another carrier and asked them about this did they tell me the commissions for new contracts are much better than for "upgrades", so that would explain my bad phone selection. Another thing that really annoyed me about Wirefly is that while yes, you may be getting a great free phone, when your checking out, they usually require you to sign up for some messaging/internet bundle for an added expense for a minimum of 6 months -just add these fees up and there goes any true savings you might have had with that free phone. Not to mention they usually do not list all the cheapest plans offered by a carrier, therefore you might end up having to choose a bigger plan than you need. More things to NOT make me want to use their service. Thanks to everyone for reporting the rebate problem, not that I would pay for a new phone anyway, because quite frankly these companies are making boatloads of money off us so there should be no reason why we should pay them for these cheaply made phones. Thanks for all the tips everyone. My Att contract ended a few months back and I am going month to month with them, so I thought I would use Wirefly to get a good deal on a free phone. Well, all the best deals are only for NEW customers, people like myself out of contract and going month by month are considered “Upgrades” and we get a lousy selection of free phones, while the new contract people get the best ones. So I called Wirefly to ask them about this, and suddenly, after waiting about 20 minutes for my call to be answered, I was in an Indian version of the Twilight Zone, except nobody gave me any yummy curry to munch on. I could literally hear the Bollywood music as I tried in vain to get my questions answered by a thick accented indian person -bless their hearts for having to do this crappy work and mine for putting up with it. After spending countless minutes not really getting a straight answer, and not even getting to do one of those funky Bollywood musical dance numbers, I just told the rep “thanks” and hung up. It was only when I called another carrier and asked them about this did they tell me the commissions for new contracts are much better than for “upgrades”, so that would explain my bad phone selection.

Another thing that really annoyed me about Wirefly is that while yes, you may be getting a great free phone, when your checking out, they usually require you to sign up for some messaging/internet bundle for an added expense for a minimum of 6 months -just add these fees up and there goes any true savings you might have had with that free phone. Not to mention they usually do not list all the cheapest plans offered by a carrier, therefore you might end up having to choose a bigger plan than you need. More things to NOT make me want to use their service.

Thanks to everyone for reporting the rebate problem, not that I would pay for a new phone anyway, because quite frankly these companies are making boatloads of money off us so there should be no reason why we should pay them for these cheaply made phones.

]]> By: Ripped off - twice http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-54609 Ripped off - twice Wed, 06 May 2009 16:03:25 +0000 http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-54609 I don't trust WireFly / Inphonic further then I could push them over a cliff. I am one of those ripped off customers ($500) in rebates that never came.. THEN, I was on the law suit and told I would be getting my money, and THEN, Inphonic used the law to get out of even that. In the end NOBODY got their money except the executives of Infonic. Nobody went to jail, Wirefly is still in business, and still jerks people around with messed up orders and rebates. Nothing has changed, except now Wirefly knows ahead of time how to get around the law suit thing. Buyer Beware - - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And a FREE $600 phone is too good to be true! Today, I take my chances with EBay and move my SIM Card. less risk and less hassle! I don’t trust WireFly / Inphonic further then I could push them over a cliff.

I am one of those ripped off customers ($500) in rebates that never came.. THEN, I was on the law suit and told I would be getting my money, and THEN, Inphonic used the law to get out of even that. In the end NOBODY got their money except the executives of Infonic. Nobody went to jail, Wirefly is still in business, and still jerks people around with messed up orders and rebates. Nothing has changed, except now Wirefly knows ahead of time how to get around the law suit thing.

Buyer Beware – - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And a FREE $600 phone is too good to be true!

Today, I take my chances with EBay and move my SIM Card. less risk and less hassle!

]]> By: Jonelle http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-53528 Jonelle Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:44:57 +0000 http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-53528 I have always used WireFly with Sprint being my carrier - I have always received my rebates and never had an issue until yesterday. We ordered the Motorola Q (until the Blackberry Curves came back) and there was an issue with my husbands phone - they said it couldn't be upgraded until 2010 - and instead of calling me to tell me about the issue they shipped the one phone and I told them that I do not want just one phone and that I want a refund of my shipping cost. The rep whom I was chatting with Bosco - told me that shipping is non-refundable. I told them that I will not do business with them in the future. But except for this experience and not being able to actually CALL someone - they are pretty good! I have always used WireFly with Sprint being my carrier – I have always received my rebates and never had an issue until yesterday. We ordered the Motorola Q (until the Blackberry Curves came back) and there was an issue with my husbands phone – they said it couldn’t be upgraded until 2010 – and instead of calling me to tell me about the issue they shipped the one phone and I told them that I do not want just one phone and that I want a refund of my shipping cost. The rep whom I was chatting with Bosco – told me that shipping is non-refundable. I told them that I will not do business with them in the future. But except for this experience and not being able to actually CALL someone – they are pretty good!

]]> By: Tired Shopper http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-52477 Tired Shopper Sat, 11 Apr 2009 04:18:59 +0000 http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-52477 Mike, that's it. Mike, that’s it.

]]> By: Mike http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-52457 Mike Fri, 10 Apr 2009 22:37:39 +0000 http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-52457 Yan, I know it's two years later, but I'm looking to use Wirefly to upgrade. I'm already an AT&T subscriber. I don't mind extending my agreement by two years. Do I just need to select my current plan and enter my current At&T phone number to "port" to the new phone to just keep going as I was with a new phone? Yan,

I know it’s two years later, but I’m looking to use Wirefly to upgrade. I’m already an AT&T subscriber. I don’t mind extending my agreement by two years. Do I just need to select my current plan and enter my current At&T phone number to “port” to the new phone to just keep going as I was with a new phone?

]]> By: Yan http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/comment-page-1/#comment-36994 Yan Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:23:00 +0000 http://probargainhunter.com/2007/04/25/wirefly-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-36994 Rob, I would think the carrier pays WireFly commission for each customer they bring to them Rob, I would think the carrier pays WireFly commission for each customer they bring to them

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