BUYER BEWARE!\r
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This review is for the Verizon Store in the Pavilion Shopping Plaza (where the Giant Eagle is located.)\r
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We spent over an hour with a very nice salesman at this store and finally decided on an iphone 5s for $199 and a new contract. However, when we sat down to do the paper work, the cost grew to nearly $600! The price for Insurance alone was $200 up front with a $200 deductible. (Verizon charges $10/month) We finally left after they couldn't explain why, with a credit score of over 800, we should have to pay a security deposit of $125. \r
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Now you might think we were in a Verizon store because a.) there is a huge ""Verizon"" sign above the entrance, and b) all the signage inside says Verizon, but you would be wrong. After calling Verizon the next day, we found out that this store is NOT NOT NOT a Verizon store but a Verizon dealer called ""Z Wireless."" Apparently, Verizon dealers can charge whatever they want, do not have to offer special discounts and pricing, and do not have to offer Verizon insurance. \r
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Had we not been asked for a security deposit, we probably would have paid Z Wireless the price quoted, assuming that was the cost of doing business with the highest rated carrier in the area. In fact, anyone going into that store would have assumed they were paying standard ""Verizon Prices"". \r
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But standard Verizon prices are actually much lower. On the phone with Verizon the following day, we purchased the phone, switched services, got a car charger, a new case, and a pack of screen savers all for under $170. (vs. $600 - that's 300%!)\r
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Basically, this place is scamming uninformed consumers into paying what they THINK is standard Verizon pricing, and pocketing the 300% markup!\r
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Why would Verizon allow their name to be used like this? I don't know - maybe dealers make them lots of money this way. I'd venture a guess that there are ""dealer"" stores for sprint and ATT as well. \r
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I'm still angry about this. I don't usually write reviews, but I felt compelled to share my experience in order to help someone else avoid getting ripped off.
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