Are you a savvy online shopper and Verizon customer wondering how to log in to your @verizon.net email account? Confused about whether you still even have access to your Verizon email and what your options are?
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You‘re definitely not alone. Verizon threw consumers for a loop back in 2017 when it announced it was retiring its email service for both Verizon Wireless and Verizon Fios customers. The move affected a whopping 4.5 million email accounts, leaving many users scrambling to figure out next steps.
But don‘t panic! As a self-proclaimed "picky shopper" and retail industry expert, I‘ve put together the ultimate guide to understanding the Verizon email migration and how to keep your @verizon.net address alive and kicking. Plus, I‘ll dish out some insider tips for choosing the best email provider for your online shopping needs. Let‘s get into it!
The Scoop on Verizon‘s Email Exodus
So why did Verizon decide to kick its email service to the curb? It all comes down to focusing on core competencies. In an official statement, Verizon said:
"We‘re focusing our energy and resources on creating the world‘s best networks for our customers…Verizon will no longer offer email as a service as we continue to focus on what we do best: providing superior networks and customer experiences."
The company gave @verizon.net account holders until December 15, 2017 to migrate their accounts over to AOL or Yahoo, both of which were conveniently owned by Verizon at the time. Customers who failed to take action by the deadline had their accounts automatically deactivated and all data deleted. No pressure, right?
According to data from the Radicati Group, there were an estimated 3.8 billion email accounts worldwide in 2018, with that figure expected to climb to over 4.2 billion by the end of 2022. With numbers like that, it‘s no wonder Verizon wanted to get out of the email game and prioritize its booming wireless, internet, and TV businesses instead.
Keeping Your @verizon.net Email in Play
Okay, so what are your options if you took care of business before Verizon‘s doomsday deadline? Good news: your @verizon.net email lives on! You just have to access it through AOL or Yahoo from now on.
Option 1: AOL
Head to mail.aol.com and enter your full @verizon.net email address on the login screen. Don‘t forget to include the @verizon.net part!
Type in your password (it‘s case-sensitive, so lay off the Caps Lock) and hit "Sign In" to hop into your inbox.
Option 2: Yahoo
Point your browser to mail.yahoo.com and punch in that complete @verizon.net email in the username field.
Enter your password, making sure Caps Lock is off, then click "Next" to get to your messages.
One important note: your email password should be the same one you used pre-migration. If it‘s not working, try the "Forgot password" link to reset it.
Now, what if you never actually got around to moving your Verizon email account and it‘s post-2017? Unfortunately, that means your @verizon.net handle has gone to the email graveyard for good. RIP to all your old messages, contacts, and cat meme exchanges – Verizon deleted all of that data and there‘s no getting it back. Cue the sad trombone.
Your only path forward is setting up a shiny new account with another provider and spreading the word to your network. It‘s a pain, I know. But as a busy online shopper myself, I look at it as an opportunity to start fresh and find an email service that really fits my retail therapy needs.
The Best Email Providers for Savvy Shoppers
When it comes to choosing a new email provider, you can‘t go wrong with the big guns like Gmail or Outlook. Who doesn‘t love a free account with plenty of storage space for stashing those PDF receipts and order tracking numbers? But there are some key features that really matter for online shoppers like us:
Spam filtering: No one‘s got time for sifting through junk mail from sketchy retailers. The stronger the spam blocker, the more room in your inbox for legit deals and steals.
Customizable tabs/labels: Being able to categorize your retail emails by store, urgency level, promo type, etc. can be a total game-changer. I‘m personally a fan of Gmail‘s tabbed inbox interface.
Attachment support: Gotta have enough space and file type flexibility to save all those e-receipts, shipping labels, and product manuals. We‘re talking at least 20MB in size and support for PDF, JPEG, Word docs, and more.
Calendar integration: Being able to easily add delivery dates and return deadlines to your calendar is key for keeping your shopping game strong. Look for providers that play nice with popular calendar apps.
Security: With retail-related identity theft on the rise, you need an email service with robust encryption, two-factor authentication, and other safeguards to protect your precious purchase histories.
What Do the Numbers Say?
To give you a sense of where most consumers are at on the email front, check out this breakdown of the most popular email providers in 2021 from Litmus:
| Email Provider | Market Share |
|---|---|
| Apple iPhone/iPad | 49.8% |
| Gmail | 29.2% |
| Apple Mail | 11.5% |
| Outlook | 4.8% |
| Yahoo Mail | 3.3% |
As you can see, mobile-optimized services like Apple‘s iPhone/iPad email app and Gmail are dominating the pack. But veteran standbys Outlook and Yahoo are still hanging in there too.
The key is to pick a provider that vibes with your shopping style and organizational quirks. For example, if you‘re someone who loves clipping virtual coupons and subscribing to a zillion retail newsletters, you might want to go with Gmail for its killer Categories feature that auto-sorts those types of emails into dedicated tabs.
The Art of the Email Address Switch
I know what you‘re thinking: changing your email address is about as fun as waiting in line outside Best Buy on Black Friday. But as a savvy shopper, a little short-term hassle is so worth the long-term benefits of a fresh inbox.
To make the transition to a new email account as smooth as possible, here are some tips:
Make a master list of all the retail accounts where you‘ve used your old email address. This could include shopping sites, deal apps, cash back services, rewards programs, and more.
Set up an auto-forward or auto-reply on your old account (if it‘s still active) letting senders know about your new email address.
Give priority to updating mission-critical accounts like your Amazon, PayPal, bank, and credit cards with your new email. You don‘t want to miss any important notifications there.
Change your email on all your retail logins, from your delivery trackers to your bargain-hunting browser extensions. A password manager can help if you‘re struggling to remember all those logins (no shame in that game).
Recreate any filters, labels, or categories you had set up in your old account so your new retail emails slot into a ready-made organizational system. It‘ll save you a ton of time and stress later!
Once you‘ve notified your network and updated your accounts, take a minute to marvel at the magic of a squeaky clean, retail-optimized inbox. Feels so good, right?
You‘ve Got (Migrated) Mail!
Whew, that was a lot to unpack on Verizon email access! I know it seems complicated, but just remember: if you migrated your @verizon.net account to AOL or Yahoo before December 15, 2017, you can still log in through those providers using your full Verizon email address and original password. If you missed the deadline, your Verizon email has sadly gone to the digital beyond and you‘ll need to start over with a new provider.
For my fellow bargain-loving shoppers out there, I highly recommend picking an email service that delivers on spam filtering, categorization options, attachment support, calendar integration, and security. The upfront work of switching will pay off big time in the form of a more organized, efficient, and secure retail email experience.
Hopefully this guide has armed you with everything you need to keep your Verizon email alive or make a successful switch. If you‘ve got any other burning questions or your own tips to share, drop ‘em in the comments. Until then, happy shopping!
