Vonage bans used VOIP adapters??

Posts: 482 · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:01 pm Post subject:

hstraf wrote:

ToddlerTN wrote:

I signed up in January and they gave me the adapter at no charge and no activation fee, and when I had a hardware problem with that device, they sent me a replacement overnight delivery again at no charge. So I paid $0 for my Linksys router, ...

According to the signup Terms Of Service.. if you cancel your subscription then you will owe them $34.95 for the adapter, unless you return it to them at your own expense.

So you didn't really "give" it to you.. it's more of a loan...

Confused

Well how much money do you get back when you cancel if you bought your adapter? None. And you can't sell it, either, since Vonage won't activate a used adapter. So you paid Best Buy $39 or $59 or whatever for something that now goes in the trash.

On the other hand, Vonage sent me an adapter to use free of charge on the condition that I return it when I cancel. So unless I decide to steal what would then become a useless piece of hardware, I'm out $3 and a trip to the mailbox to ship it back to them. Pretty good deal I think. But if your math works differently, knock yourself out.

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 16, 2005 Posts: 9

ToddlerTN wrote:

So you paid Best Buy $39 or $59 or whatever for something that now goes in the trash.

If you buy an adapter from Staples, Amazon, or whatever.. there is a rebate from Vonage that covers the whole cost of the purchase. So your actual cost is $0 for a "non-vonage-provided" adapter.

Posts: 183 · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:14 pm Post subject:

hstraf wrote:

ToddlerTN wrote:

So you paid Best Buy $39 or $59 or whatever for something that now goes in the trash.

If you buy an adapter from Staples, Amazon, or whatever.. there is a rebate from Vonage that covers the whole cost of the purchase. So your actual cost is $0 for a "non-vonage-provided" adapter.

If I buy a Linksys adapter from one of those office stores or online merchants isn't the rebate dependent upon my activation of service? As I am already a Vonage subscriber, wouldn't that disqualify the rebate?

I'd still have the privilege of buying multiple adapters since we have already determined that the first one was no freebie to begin with.

Posts: 2251 · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:21 pm Post subject:

almahix wrote:

hstraf wrote:

ToddlerTN wrote:

So you paid Best Buy $39 or $59 or whatever for something that now goes in the trash.

If you buy an adapter from Staples, Amazon, or whatever.. there is a rebate from Vonage that covers the whole cost of the purchase. So your actual cost is $0 for a "non-vonage-provided" adapter.

If I buy a Linksys adapter from one of those office stores or online merchants isn't the rebate dependent upon my activation of service? As I am already a Vonage subscriber, wouldn't that disqualify the rebate?

I'd still have the privilege of buying multiple adapters since we have already determined that the first one was no freebie to begin with.

That is correct, the rebate does not apply.

Posts: 482 · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:30 pm Post subject:

rmontrose wrote:

The Linksys PAP2 "paperweight" I have cost $50.
(Paperweight because it can't be activate by anyone else)

So you got your Linksys adapter for $0 and $0 shipping?? Pretty good deal!

Well if you want the details...Vonage sent me the RT31P2 adapter, and gave me the first month free, and waived the activation fee, and charged me $9.95 for shipping, which they then credited back to my account because they were out of available numbers in my area code.

Then they ported my landline number and kept giving me additional credits because that process took longer than 20 business days. I got my last credit when the billing cycle rolled over on March 14, so my current account balance is -$27.24. And my LNP went through the next day.

So I've been with Vonage since January 14, I've paid them a total of $9.95, and I've got a credit on my account that will pay for service until May 14. And I just referred a friend for new service, so there's two more months that should take me up to July 14 at least before I owe Vonage another nickel.

Pretty good deal!

Posts: 482 · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:42 pm Post subject:

hstraf wrote:

ToddlerTN wrote:

So you paid Best Buy $39 or $59 or whatever for something that now goes in the trash.

If you buy an adapter from Staples, Amazon, or whatever.. there is a rebate from Vonage that covers the whole cost of the purchase. So your actual cost is $0 for a "non-vonage-provided" adapter.

Only for the first adapter, and only if you're a new subscriber. And now look who's getting in on a loan, and the wrong end of one at that.

Why pay $59 to Staples or Amazon and check the mail for months looking for a check from Vonage? Since your adapter is a paperweight in either case, how is "free after rebate" better than "free"?

Loaning your money to Vonage for a few months just doesn't seem like a smarter deal.

Posts: 6 · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:49 pm Post subject:

ok. let me make sure i'm understanding this here.

I have the linksys RP whatever peice of junk.

This thing has drivin me nuts.

I find out a PAP2 will work and solve most of my problems..

so now, if i acquire one, it's 100% worthless?!

What the hell is the bright idea in that?

If i can't get this service to work to my satisfaction so my network works the way i designed it to with minimal headaches, i'll tell Vonage to stick it and go elsewhere with someone that will give me what i require, within reason. Vonage shouldn't be concerned with re-activating equipment that they sent out in the first place. They should be concerned about getting and keeping customers...

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 5:44 pm Post subject:

if you buy a new one at a store it will be fine. just call them and tell them the mac address.

Posts: 50 · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 9:48 am Post subject:

My goodness, what a tempest in a teapot. We're talking a few dollars, here, not the national debt! Some see things one way, some another. Each to his own.

Personally, I bought the WRT54GP2 at Best Buy with an $80 rebate. I brought it home, went on the Vonage website, and had it up in about 10 minutes total, with no activation fee. If the time comes and I don't want to use it for Vonage service, for whatever reason, I still have a decent router with a wireless G access point, and it only cost me $50 (well, actually, it didn't cost me anything since it was a gift from my Dad -- but that's beside the point.)

Posts: 482 · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 11:18 am Post subject:

cvmoreau wrote:

I bought the WRT54GP2 at Best Buy with an $80 rebate. If the time comes and I don't want to use it for Vonage service, for whatever reason, I still have a decent router with a wireless G access point, and it only cost me $50

Can an owner flash/upgrade the firmware on that router? From what I understand, it's a crippled version of the WRT54G, which is a heck of a router when you use the third-party firmware such as Sveasoft. But since Vonage locks down their adapters, I assume you can't load Sveasoft (or some of the other cool things the WRT54G can do like SIP server/gateway or even Asterisk). In fact, I don't think the third-party guys even make a firmware for that flavor of the WRT, probably because it is locked down. Does anyone know if I'm right about that?