The S24 Ultra didn't seem worth it so I bought an open box mint-condition 256GB Fold5 on Swappa instead. Confirmed the IMEI is good with Verizon, and verified the serial/IMEI is still eligible to add SamsungCare+. It listed for $775 and final cost came out to $842, which I didn't think was too bad considering I can probably get $800 for it as a trade-in towards a Fold6 in a few months.
I perused FB Marketplace and most listings within 100 miles wanted more money for the Fold5. The only ones that cost less had some issue or damage. I almost bought an unlocked Fold5 locally but backed out when Samung site flagged it as ineligible for SamsungCare+. It was either an international model or it was first activated more than 60 days ago.
Here's an interesting tidbit that I learned from Asurion. Apparently, my claims have been automatically denied because you have to wait 30 days to file a claim. The Verizon employee also told me to wait 30 days but I was impatient. Well, in my mind, 30 days later doesn't really change the facts and sequence of events. The only difference is my broken Fold4 will just sit on the desk longer. I don't know if waiting 30 days really would've made a difference or not, but just sharing it in case it helps someone else in the future. I will continue to keep an eye out for cheap broken Fold4 listings online and maybe someday I'll be able to restore my Fold4 with parts from a donor. Until then I look forward to my semi-new Fold5 arriving soon!
Oh and lastly, Verizon Tech Support was all prepared to repair/replace my Fold4, through the open enrollment protection plan, without needing a 30-day wait like Asurion but what got in the way was the fact my Fold4 has a 1/4-inch crack on the back (not on any screen nor camera). That crack was created when I dropped the Fold4 onto the kitchen tile in the first month. The crack formed despite a Spigen thin case. The case didn't show any damage and instead transmitted all the force right through to the phone. If the case did its job then Verizon would've replaced my malfunctioning Fold4. I can't believe that little crack from month one came back to bite me. Trade-in and repairs are very strict nowadays. Repair shops won't touch a phone if it has any cracks because they don't want to risk making things worse and having to replace even more parts. A crack anywhere majorly devalues you're trade-in value too. And when they say trade in "any phone, in any condition", the small print still requires the phone to hold a charge and power on.
