Have the prices just gone up?

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

I've been talking to a friend about signing up with Vonage. I've told him how the first month is free and they'll provide a free RTP300 router (except for $10 shipping). He started looking at the signup procedure tonight, and the calculator says that he pays for the first month. During the signup procedure, they offer him a choice of routers, and the RTP300 costs $10 after rebate (plus shipping). Only a VT1005RB with just one ethernet port is free.

Have the good deals gone away? When???

Posts: 21 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Sep 09, 2005 Posts: 21

Sure looks like it.

But it looks like the $30 activation fee is gone (unless I'm missing something), so instead of the $40 I paid a couple months ago (activation + shipping), it'll just be $20 (RTP300 at $10, plus the shipping). So actually, it got cheaper if you look at it that way!

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

When I looked at the calculator, the $30 startup was not gone, and the total startup for basic service was over $50, _not_ including extra cost for the router.

Posts: 60 · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:32 pm Post subject:

Looks like it has, glad I signed up when I did. I had to pay $40 for the activation fee & shipping. I just checked out the Start Up calculator, and it showed this. This will cost them some new customers Confused

I wouldn't have signed up having to pay them $70 plus my final POTS bill.
Start Up Cost

Startup Costs
(includes first month of service)
Activation Fee $29.99
First Month's Service Charge $24.99
Federal Excise Tax $1.65
Regulatory Recover Fee $1.50
Shipping and Handling $9.95

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total $68.08

Monthly Service Charge
Monthly Service Charge $24.99
Federal Excise Tax $0.75
Regulatory Recover Fee $1.50

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total $27.24

Posts: 21 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Sep 09, 2005 Posts: 21

Interesting; I hadn't tried the start-up calculator, but it still is showing the activation charge.

I went through the sign-up process again, and sure enough, the activation fee's still there. So it DID go up $10 for the RTP-300. That's too bad; hopefully the friend I just recommended will still sign up. First month's still free, though, so it looks like the first charge would be $50, including shipping, adapter, and activation. Still reasonable, but I liked $40 better. Very Happy

Posts: 122 · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:40 pm Post subject:

Yep, the start-up costs have definitely gone up (charging $9.99 for the RTP-300, versus it being free just 2 months ago, when I signed up). It's nice that they're offering a choice to new customers (I didn't have a choice, but I'm glad I got the RTP-300), however, did anybody notice that the FREE adapter is a REFURBISHED model???!!! Ummm, my RTP300 that I got was brand-spanking new! Sounds to me like Vonage is starting to get cheap!!! Not good, not good at all!!! Why does it always happen that when a business starts getting big and popular, they always have to go and screw with the tried-and-true formula of success and ruin it for any new customers or their existing customers?! Looks like Dan (this site's administrator) is going to have to change his "Free Coupon" offer words (again) -- No more free Linksys router. Also, did you also notice that the free first month only applies to the $24.99 Unlimited plan -- not the Basic $14.99 plan. If you do a search on this site by me, you'll find where I posted how Vonage also no longer gives you a free second month if you sign-up through this site. Everyone BEWARE! Vonage is already starting to "nickel and dime" us! If you ask me, these kind of business practices really STINK!!!

Posts: 1389 · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:48 pm Post subject:

Mr_Sorento wrote:

Yep, the start-up costs have definitely gone up (charging $9.99 for the RTP-300, versus it being free just 2 months ago, when I signed up). It's nice that they're offering a choice to new customers (I didn't have a choice, but I'm glad I got the RTP-300), however, did anybody notice that the FREE adapter is a REFURBISHED model???!!! Ummm, my RTP300 that I got was brand-spanking new! Sounds to me like Vonage is starting to get cheap!!! Not good, not good at all!!! Why does it always happen that when a business starts getting big and popular, they always have to go and screw with the tried-and-true formula of success and ruin it for any new customers or their existing customers?! Looks like Dan (this site's administrator) is going to have to change his "Free Coupon" offer words (again) -- No more free Linksys router. Also, did you also notice that the free first month only applies to the $24.99 Unlimited plan -- not the Basic $14.99 plan. If you do a search on this site by me, you'll find where I posted how Vonage also no longer gives you a free second month if you sign-up through this site. Everyone BEWARE! Vonage is already starting to "nickel and dime" us! If you ask me, these kind of business practices really STINK!!!

You are already a customer, so these do not apply to you...Also, getting a RTP300 for under $10 is really not a bad deal still. and to me of course the free month applies to the unlimited plan. If it applied to the basic 500 then people would talk way beyond the 500 minutes and then complain it is not "free". And I would be a bit hesitant to say that the RTP300 was brand new..there have been times people have mentioned that they have received one that already had some writing on it etc. Who cares if it is refurbished as long as it works.

Just sit back and relax Mr_Sorento as you got a great deal. If you are really that worried about Vonage's so called "stinky" business practices, switch to another provider.

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

When I signed up for the basic plan, I got the first month free. While Vonage didn't make a point if it, that first month was also unlimited. It was a nice introduction.

I agree that terminating the great deal wasn't unfair business practice. It was just embarrassing to me that it happened just after I'd told my friend how great it was.

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 10, 2005 Posts: 6

I just checked the website. Says "2 months credit for referral AND includes $14.99 plan"
If thats not whats happening, then its deceptive! PERIOD!
As far as if someone is not happy, leave comment, seems out of line. I have been a Vonage customer longer than most. Since the company and its owner have become very wealthy on my money, I am entitled (as is any other customer) to say what they think.
Company attitudes are what brought Voip about. AT&T could have done this years ago and didn't ! I worked on the Picture Phone project back in the 60's, prob then as now - A bunch of old men without vision ran it! I hope the VOIP's don't fall into the same trap!

Posts: 1389 · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 9:47 am Post subject:

backdraft wrote:

I just checked the website. Says "2 months credit for referral AND includes $14.99 plan"
If thats not whats happening, then its deceptive! PERIOD!
As far as if someone is not happy, leave comment, seems out of line. I have been a Vonage customer longer than most. Since the company and its owner have become very wealthy on my money, I am entitled (as is any other customer) to say what they think.
Company attitudes are what brought Voip about. AT&T could have done this years ago and didn't ! I worked on the Picture Phone project back in the 60's, prob then as now - A bunch of old men without vision ran it! I hope the VOIP's don't fall into the same trap!

I would not call myself out of line at all. There are so many choices for Voip providers that if someone feels so strongly that Vonage has "stinky" practices then the best way to make it felt is by taking your money and spending it elsewhere. Business have to recoup some money sometimes. and I think $10 for a adapter is still a good price. Heck you will save more than that one your first phone bill anyways so it is a wash.

I could understand if the comments were made by a new customer that was promised the old pricing structure and was charged the new one, but for us existing customers this has little effect on us.

Things change, prices do go up. Especially now where Vonage will not have the ability to market their services per the new FCC ruling. I just don't see how this is "screwing things up" for existing customers as one poster said. If my monthly bill was going to be affected then yes. But this is not "stinky" practices, it's called business.

I agree with Steve48 right on the mark. This is not unfair business practices, it just lessens the great deal for people we refer to Vonage a bit. But after a month or two once my referrals see how much money they will be saving with Vonage, they always come back thanking me.

EDIT-Also, it is a refurbished Motorola adapter, all the others are not listed as refurbished.