I had the hardest time trying to do this but I have a solution for the mms problem. It takes alot of work but if you want the tones for free this is what you have to do...

what to do first:
1-make sure you have a pix place account set up
2-find a program to convert mp3's to wav's (i found nbx audio converter for free and it does the trick)
3-download tones to pc

next:
1. after downloading ur tone use the converter to change the mp3 to a wav file (i had to make the format a gsm and used 12000 hertz to make it work for pix place)
2. go to pix place and go to 'upload media' and pick the standard version to upload (i had problems using the drag and drop option)
3. send the tone as a txt to yourself and then save the txt ringtone

that should work, it worked for me. You can also use pixplace and download wallpapers to send to your phone. Good luck! I hope there's a better solution though...

I tried this, but when I try to uplad the files it says it is too big even thought it is whith the 3mb limit! Any thoughts? I thought maybe verizon has put some type of block on it.....

hmm...I have no idea, I've just been messing around with it and I actually found out that even if the tone that I sent myself is 30 sec's long it still doesn't send me the full 30 sec's. I know there's an option to change how many sec's it is but even after changing that it still doesn't do it. I guess we're stuck with buying ringtones for 2.99 I think the only thing that really worked was the mms. But you are physically changing the file to a wav right? Not just saving it as a wav when you download it to your pc right? good luck..

Thank you very much for this suggestion. I have moved it to the appropriate forum area.

J

I did convert it with the program you listed. I also tried a short message tone, but still no luck. Oh well. Switching to AT&T soon anyway for the IPhone.....

http://www.zedge.net/videos/96011/verizon-ringtones-video/
try this ... looks promising

this can help others