Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion - Consumerist Comments

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

painfullyblunt — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:45:59 EDT

The person posting this misheard an advertisment (or misread) the promotion was a tv for a triple play and a camcorder for a double play. There never was a camcorder for a triple play. Ever. Currently there is a free digital camera for a triple play, and no matter which package you signed up for you could always choose a gift card instead the featured item.

The problems Verizon has had with their fulfillment of tv orders is well documented, but spreading misinformation (I don't see any evidence presented) doesn't help any one, and only adds to the confusion.

painfullyblunt

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

mmmmna — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:31:29 EDT

I got the free Guinness bar towel.

Wifey tells me the camcorder deal is gone, she thinks she heard it is now a Samsung 7 megapixel still camera.

Better hurry and sign up for FiOS - pretty soon the free gift will be some assorted used bubble gum, then it will be dropped to a used postage stamp...

mmmmna

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

oldnumberseven — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:08:58 EST

by grandzu at 10:41 AM on 03/07/08

@Ausoleil: I got one of those towels without any trouble back then.

I too received a free Guiness bar towel without any trouble.

oldnumberseven

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

ConsumerAdvocacy1010 — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:36:58 EST

@lawyergay:

Verizon wouldn't do it. They refused to do it for me (send me a check for the TV), and this was a VP on the phone talking to me.

They'll send you the product or let you cancel (and good luck with the ETF).

I am currently compiling my Verizon story. Just waiting to hear back from a few people before I make look at what legal recourse I have.

Hopefully you guys look forward to reading it....

Question: I can still sue Verizon even though I make my entire situation with them public, right?

ConsumerAdvocacy1010

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

ConsumerAdvocacy1010 — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:31:59 EST

Over where I live, the offer is now a digital camera.

It was always a TV for the qualifying triple play and a camcorder for a qualifying double play. Again, Hank-Hartes or Hank-Haartes is the name of the fullfillment center...so don't forget to complain to them as well in between calls to Verizon.

ConsumerAdvocacy1010

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

LazloNibble — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:21:33 EST

"Digital camcorder" covers everything from a $20 Aiptek Pocket to a $17,500 RED ONE. Guess which end of that spectrum Verizon's freebie is going to inhabit.

LazloNibble

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

lawyergay — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:03:43 EST

Other legal eagles have commented on this kind of thing before, but promotions like this that result in the consumer "taking the bait" (signing up for the triple play) create enforceable contracts, and the TV or camcorder is part of the contract. There's a basic concept at work here which is that if Verizon doesn't perform its end of the bargain within a reasonable amount of time, it is in breach of that contract. Mary (from the prior post) could threaten in a nice letter to take Verizon to small claims court. My guess is Verizon would settle by sending a check/crediting her account for the value of the TV.

lawyergay

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

Narockstar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:29:33 EST

I'd rather have the camcorder too. I already have a tv and I live alone, so I don't really need another one. Although, if it was free, I could put it in the bathroom and watch the news while I shower. That would be kind of awesome.

Narockstar

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

tvmitch — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:27:10 EST

Good catch, but this article isn't quite accurate. There have always been two of these promotions running at the same time.

Verizon might have very well canceled their free HDTV promo, but in non-FIOS markets like mine, this free camcorder offer has been going on for some time. Instead of the FIOS "Triple Play" bundle that has FIOS TV, FIOS Internet, and some sort of phone line, the non-FIOS markets have a bundle with DSL, DirecTV, and analog phone. The DSL offer has always been a crapola camcorder. We get stations from Philly on cable, and in that market, we saw the HDTV promo.

tvmitch

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

thesuperpet — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:41:49 EST

@zibby: nope. my husband comes home every day and asks "did the blu-rays come in yet?"
@gregcuc: well it is internet too so maybe so you can upload videos of you going "eeeeee" over your new TV, Phone and Internet service.

thesuperpet

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

gregcuc — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:49:16 EST

Why would they give out a camera? It makes sense to give a way a tv to use with your new service. Giving away a camera doesn't make much sense though. Its like a toaster with your bank account... so you may toast your statements with ridiculous bank fees.

gregcuc

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

backbroken — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:32:23 EST

I'd think I'd rather almost get a digital camcorder than almost get a 19" TV. Installation still includes drilling through your electrical box, right?

backbroken

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

crabbyman6 — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:19:48 EST

@apronk: Same here in Philadelphia. A month or so ago it went from "free HDTV" to "free digital camcorder".

crabbyman6

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

mthrndr — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:19:40 EST

"free digital camcorder" includes a pretty wide range of crap products. You can get 320x140 digicams for about $15. So, I'd say this is a pretty huge step down from a rather nice little hdtv.

mthrndr

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

AlteredBeast — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:19:10 EST

Just curious, is the TV any good? It looks like a 19" TV, is it 720p, or just 480p? I kept seeing those commericals and thought to myself that it can't possibly be a good tv for anything beyond a small bedroom (but I could be wrong). Valued at, what, $200?

AlteredBeast

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

dorkins — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:18:28 EST

@BayStateDarren: Reminds me of Soviet-era jokes (by Soviets): "You're in the wrong line, Comrade. This is the line for no *bread*."

dorkins

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

apronk — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:16:44 EST

I've been hearing the "free digital camcorder" offer for at least 2 months now on the radio in my area (Pittsburgh).

apronk

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

zibby — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:54:21 EST

@unholycinna: Good to know. My friends and I are like 0 for-5 or -6, but I guess we need to be more patient.

zibby

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

unholycinna — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:49:10 EST

My huband bought a PS3 that had an offer of five free DVDs. We got the DVDs about six weeks later, no problem. And I am ashamed to admit, being an avid Consumerist reader, that we bought it at Best Buy.

unholycinna

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

zibby — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:44:26 EST

On a semi-related note, has anybody in history gotten the free HD-DVDs and Blu-Ray discs you could send in for when you bought a player/PS3?

I hate this crap.

zibby

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

nutrigm — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:43:48 EST

Hey Verizon, with this kind of housing market, how about giving ppl a free house with that cable bundle?! LOL

nutrigm

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

grandzu — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:41:36 EST

@Ausoleil: I got one of those towels without any trouble back then.

grandzu

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

Toof_75_75 — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:29:55 EST

@BayStateDarren:
Prior to the first arrival, of course.

Toof_75_75

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:26:11 EST

@BayStateDarren: Almost immediately.

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

Ausoleil — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:21:36 EST

They're using the same fulfillment company Guinness used to mail out their free bar towels.

Ausoleil

Verizon Changes "Free LCD TV " Promotion To "Free Digital Camcorder" Promotion

Bay State Darren — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:19:49 EST

How long 'til the cameras start not arriving?

Bay State Darren