A Verizon customer who's stuck with the carrier for a quarter century just got a loyalty reward that left them feeling insulted rather than appreciated, according to a recent report.
When a Reddit user received a text message from Verizon thanking them for 25 years of loyalty and offering a prize, they initially felt impressed. But clicking the link revealed the "reward"—a free customizable Shutterfly calendar that still required the customer to pay for shipping. As reported by PhoneArena, the underwhelming gift didn't sit well with the longtime subscriber, who called it a "slap in the face."
The sentiment quickly spread across social media, with multiple customers reporting they received the same message and had similar reactions. Some questioned why Verizon would send such a token gesture at all, while others said the message made them feel worse than if the company had simply stayed silent. One user calculated they'd spent roughly $90,000 with Verizon over the years and felt the calendar didn't reflect that level of commitment.
The lackluster reward highlights a common industry practice: long-term customers often receive fewer perks because companies assume they won't switch carriers. Meanwhile, new customers typically get aggressive deals and discounts to lure them away from competitors.
The timing couldn't be worse for Verizon. The carrier is currently losing customers, and new CEO Daniel Schulman has promised a customer-focused turnaround, though his plans include cutting 15,000 jobs. Critics argue that loyalty programs need to offer more than symbolic gestures if carriers want to keep subscribers from jumping ship to competitors offering better value.
Source: PhoneArena
