Young smartphone buyers often know exactly what phone they want, and they want it immediately. Verizon Wireless is catering to these decisive buyers with same-day delivery of smartphones, a $20 service the carrier is testing in Philadelphia. Verizon Wireless says the next markets to get same-day service will be New York City, Dallas, San Francisco and Pittsburgh.
The smartphones will come directly from Verizon Wireless-owned retail stores. Customers already have the option of picking up their new phones in stores after paying for them online, so the $20 charge is a primarily a time saver.
The move comes as leading online retailers like Amazon.com and EBay are testing same-day delivery, and as carriers are recognizing a need to more tightly control device logistics and distribution. Sprint’s parent company Softbank is reportedly close to a deal to take control of Brightstar, one of the world’s largest mobile device distribution companies.
Verizon Wireless’ initiative also illustrates the importance of younger smartphone buyers in the United States. As the U.S. smartphone market nears saturation, carriers need to rely more on upgrades, and younger buyers are usually more interested in carrying the latest model. According to Verizon, a recent Boston Consulting Group study found that 18-36-year-olds with six-digit incomes are 56% more likely than other consumers to choose same-day delivery when ordering products online.
