It’s called Verizon Shine.
Say it. Out loud.
Sounds like a soap brand for the overly optimistic. Or maybe a toothpaste promise that just doesn’t stick. Verizon is pushing this hard. They want your loyalty. Not the passive kind. The sticky, annoying-to-change kind.
“Break the norms.”
Nancy Clark, the chief product and revenue officer, says they’re putting customers first. She always does. But look at what they’re actually changing.
Waived activation fees.
That’s $40. Gone. If you add a line or upgrade. Even for connected devices. It’s a small nod to a common complaint. Is it revolutionary? No. But it removes a friction point. One tiny pebble out of your shoe.
The Monday Routine
Mondays matter now.
You’ll see deals drop in the app. Starbucks coffee. Free FIFA merch for 2026. Maybe concert tickets. Dining vouchers.
It looks familiar. T-Mobile Tuesdays did this for years. Verizon knows what worked. They’re copying the playbook but changing the color of the cover.
Verizon Dollars
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Earn 3% of your monthly bill. Verizon Dollars. Exclude taxes. Exclude fees. You get the raw service cost back to you as points. Starting in July.
Use them for what?
- Sephora
- Roblox
- Hilton
- Marriott
- Starbucks
Forty partners at launch. More to come.
Can you pay your bill with them?
No.
Can you buy a phone case? Yes.
Can you offset the cost of a new device? Yes.
Do they expire? After 12 months they vanish.
They’re not cash. But one Verizon Dollar might stretch five times at a partner. A hotel night isn’t priced in Verizon Dollars. It’s priced in whatever the hotel charges for that stay. You apply your currency. They handle the math.
It’s digital retail arbitrage. Wrapped in a telecom contract.
The Big Hits
You want real value? Chasing points is boring. Winning big is fun.
Breakfast with David Beckham.
He’s their ambassador. He plays soccer. You eat. Then you go to the World Cup final in July 2019—wait. June 2019? The text says June 22 entry, July 19 final. Okay. You’re there. Three days. Paris? London? The finals are always in one spot.
June 22 you eat.
July 6 Andrew Zimmern feeds you in New York.
July 19 you watch soccer.
Other prizes include a dance lesson with the Rockettes at Radio City. A meet-and-greet with Young Miko. NFL games in France or Australia.
Physical items don’t require you to find a store. They mail the merch to you. Convenient.
Does it keep you?
Maybe. Or maybe it just keeps you checking the app every Monday. You spin the wheel. You feel something. A small dopamine hit for paying bills on time.
Is that worth staying?
I guess that’s a question for you to answer when the first drop lands on your screen.
