Got My Verizon Free TV and Wished I Could Do It All Over

A while back, I told you that I switched from Time Warner to Verizon to get a better deal. In the process, I also got a free 19″ Sharp LCD HDTV from Verizon (got it like 2 weeks ago). Overall, saving $50 a month and getting a free TV worth $400 was not bad. However, I learned a few weeks ago that I could have done even better.

What else could I have gotten?

I could have asked Direct TV for free HDTV converter upgrade. The rep that sold me the package didn’t tell me about this great offer valued at $100 per box (and I have 4). This upgrade would have been free at the time of the installation. Now I would have to pay $100 per converter that I want to upgrade.
Potentially a better deal with their “win back” program. About 2 weeks after the installation, I received a mail from Verizon that detailed the win back promo. The promotion offers $10 off the service charge per month, plus $200 in American Express gift certificate. Since the contract is 24 months, this would add up to $430, or $30 more than the free TV deal. For me, this would have been an attractive alternative.

So I’ve learned my lesson. I should’ve been more aggressive about asking for all the deals and options when I changed the service provider.

This article was featured in:

The Carnival of Money Stories #46 hosted by Mrs. Micah. For more information please visit the Carnival of Money Stories.

7 Comments

Patrick
February 6, 2008, 9:31

Or, you could be satisfied by saving $400 and getting a free TV.
Seriously, you can never know which offers will be going on and when. I think you got a great deal, and it is way better than most people get. Congrats!
Pete @ biblemoneymatters.com
February 6, 2008, 11:13

Isn’t it funny how a better deal always seems to come along after you’ve done your deal?
Mrs. Micah
February 6, 2008, 13:19

Then can I have your TV?
I agree with Patrick, there are always deals coming along and it’s not worth it to worry about which ones you could have gotten. Unless the next one was a million bucks. Then you’re allowed to be sad.
CiaranFromChance
February 6, 2008, 17:18

Looks like a cool TV, wish I was getting one:( That’s a little hint to my follow up post to your original post on Verizon and Time Warner Cable, the one that inspired you (and me) to make big changes. Gonna put it out on Monday of next week.
Ron@TheWisdomJournal
February 6, 2008, 18:21

It always pay to ask. What are they going to say? No? What if they say yes?
Pinyo
February 7, 2008, 5:34

@Patrick – You’re right, but I wish I knew about the free converter upgrade. That’s another $400 I missed out on.
@Pete – Yeah, that’s why I tried not to look after I buy something. Painful.
@Mrs. Micah – You can have my old TV, but you have to come and get it.
@Ciaran – Make sure you ask for the free HDTV converters when you switch.
@Ron – I am not that great a negotiator. I called to find out that I could have gotten these deals, but they won’t give it to me. I didn’t threat to leave them either because Time Warner sucks for my house.
chris
February 8, 2008, 6:38

I was considering switching from cable to satillite and they didn’t offer me any HDTV converters. I ended up staying with cable because I didn’t want to pay for the dish equipment