When we last looked to upgrade DW's phone, we went into the Verizon store (a real one, not a pseudo-Verizon dealer store). All we wanted was the new phone, and we were up for one under the "New every 2" promo which we had used for both of our phones several times.
I almost canceled our contract right there, and again when I talked to a rep on the phone the next day. You don't try to technobabble *ME*...
First, they told me that to get the enV3 (which DW had her eyes on), we'd have to completely change our plan - it could no longer be grandfathered in our current plan (where data was billed as minutes and not MB), and we'd have to pay more than $20/mo for the base plan with more minutes we didn't need, get a data plan as well for something like $15, or pay per MB, with no way to tell how much we've been using - because the phone had an "HTML browser". Umm...my existing enV has that already. They just say it is an HTML browser rather than just "Mobile Web". But he insisted it needed a data plan because it was HTML. AND apparently the New Every 2 didn't apply for some reason - we could only get it at something like $30 off retail price or something like that, because our plan no longer qualified for NE2 (without notice to us). I wasn't paying $100+ for the phone and $35 more a month just for a new phone.
The rep on the phone said they did have an unadvertised plan level that was the same as we had, except the data was still separate - they no longer billed as minutes. I asked, "So what are we using now monthly?" so I could know what to expect - and she couldn't tell me, because we were billed by the minute. I said we could easily use MBs going to just a single web site, so $2/MB was ridiculous, and the $15 only got us something like 25MB. She said we wouldn't use as much with a phone, because "it uses smaller packets". Ummm...I work in IT. Smaller packets doesn't save you anything, in fact it takes more bits to send the same info...
I ended up getting my sister's enV and activating that. Still have the same old plan. I've got a Droid through work so I'm not paying for any of that currently. But I see all these new plans, data, etc. and I know DW is itching for something...and I dread going in to the store again to try and sort it all out and see what we can get for what price...as I know they'll try and say something stupid to me...
I did, one time, go into a store for some electronic something-or-other, and when a person came to help me I actually said, "Look, I already know about these things, possibly more than you do...just answer the questions I ask..."
First of all your "pseudo-Verizon dealer store" is probably the reson you have so many problems. Verizon does not care, you are another number to them... for every 1 customer they lose to ATT we gain 20!!!
Secondly, We "Retailer's" or "In-Direct" as I like to call us are actually better, we are independantly owned therefore we can offer better pricing (Cheaper) and since we are less busy we can offer you much better customer service then what you get from direct (as you experienced)
*I would also like to point out IDEPENDENTLY OWNED...some arent great but The one that I'm associated with My family owns (actually quite a few), we can do everything that the direct stores do including all your problems you experienced above...
*Also, as stated it is Family owned which means you are supporting a local business which is huge, we have a family to feed, a mortgage to pay, and a DISNEY VACA to go on!!
Verizon has enough money....support local business!!!
So I will help you out. Some of the above it correct some not. 1 Month ago that was true. Any "Multimedia" phone required a new Nationwide plan as well as a $9.99 25mb data pkg. RIGHT NOW that is gone. Only phones require pkgs are smartphones. Verizon No longer carries the EnV3 or EnV Touch but I would suggest your daughter look at the Octane, pretty much same thing just a bit smaller. You sure can use your NE2 credit, plus Rebates. Pretty much the octane would be free and you would not have to do anything...as of right now, no data required.
Now, something to consider. Add up all your lines currently plus data pkgs
Example: (Old plan 500 min + Unlimited Vzw to Vzw text plan)
1st Line- $50 + $10 txt pks
2nd Line-$20 + $10 txt pkg
3rd Line-$20 + $10 txt pkg
=$120 (With your company-If they provide a vzw company phone you would be eligible for a discount on your personal phone also...Average credit 10%--You only get this credit on the old plans off the main lines billing amount--So...$5)Total Bill-$115
New Plan: (Talk and Text plan-Unlimited Text/700 Min)
1st Line: $90
2nd Line:$10
3rd Line:$10
=$110 (You get a discount off the full plan with the new plans so 10%=$11)
Total=$99
New plans can be CHEAPER and you get more, sometimes you have to shop around and get your information from someone who knows what their talking about
Not saying I do all the time but personally when someone walks in my store and says "I know more then you just answer my questions" I think:: why do you have questions if you know everything??
Lesson: Don't count Local Business out, Big Corporations have enough Money!$!
While traveling for PCC 2.0, there were some places that their should be coverage, for instance you should never lose coverage on interstate IMO, but all networks do that. 
DH and I both have Iphone 3GSs. We were just talking about this 10 minutes ago. He says he had read they expect to sale 2 million Iphones the month of February. We are hoping that the AT&T rates dip a bit. We will see. Anyway, DH is salivating to get his first Ipad...he has been waiting on the second generation.
