Caution: Ranting About Fee Ahead

If you have a cell phone, raise your hand.
Well, did you know that if you sign up, add a line, or renew/upgrade directly in a Verizon STORE (and I'm sure, any other provider), you're going to end up paying $35-$25 more than online. True story. I know there are some people out there that didn't know that and will benefit from this blog.
I've been with Verizon for going on 6 years. I heard early on, through the grapevine, that if you renew and upgrade your phone through the internet, you can do it sooner and it's cheaper. I have done it every time since then. It's wonderful! I mean, they show you your choices online, the $50 discount is taken off right away (no waiting for the stinkin' rebate via mail), and they overnight it to you for free. When you get your phone, you follow the simple enclosed instructions for turning it on and activating it. Oh the wonderful world of the internet.
When it came to adding my husband to my current phone plan, I immediate set forth through Verizon's website. But then, dun dun dun, they did not have the phone he wanted. My dearest husband decided he wanted the EnV right when the EnV2 was being released. Sold out! However, they were still carrying them in the stores. So, we went in to a store. Biggest mistake. Guess what? They had just sold out. We should have turned around and walked out. Nope, we didn't. We added the line, he got an EnV2, and while I pulled $ from the ATM to pay, the dang lady turned it on and activated it. Do you know what that ended up costing us? $25 extra dollars. To activate it! That's something a five year old could do!
I called up Verizon once I got my bill this month to dispute this "activation fee" and lost poorly. All the stores do it, they will not waive it (unless you're a corporation), and there's nothing you can do about it. Well, almost nothing.... you see, if you have made this mistake... if you, like me, had no idea that stores think they're high and mighty and can charge you extra, TAKE THE PHONE BACK. Seriously. Take the phone, the rebate, the paperwork, everything back and re-order it online. You'll have it by tomorrow, I promise! It's like it never even happened. Meanwhile, you'll be $35-$25 richer! All Verizon equipment has a 30 day guarantee, so you CAN take it back =p Boo on them!
I have not done this. In the two weeks that Jan has got his phone, the price of the EnV2 has gone up. So, we're better off to just pay the $25. BUT if we would have ordered it online in the first place, we'd have $25 extra in our pocket.
Buyers beware!