Cell phone plans -- what am I missing?

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I told my son that I'd buy him a cell phone and pay for a plan when he starts middle school and begins coming home alone after school. I told him I'd spring for the cheapest pay as you go plan, and unlimited minutes/texts, but that he could save his money and upgrade if he wanted things like a camera, or a Qwerty keyboard.

The other day we were at the store looking at phone and he started asking whether he could get one that comes with a plan. Since I need a new phone too (I also have pay as you go) I said I'd look into it, but when I looked at the plans they all seem to cost about $15 MORE per line for unlimited minutes ($150 for 2 lines per month, vs. $60 a line on pay as you go). I kind of assumed that they'd be less, since they're locking you in (a benefit to them, not to you) and was surprised that wasn't the case.

So, I explained to him that if we go with the plans, and get 2 free phones, we're paying $30 a month for 24 months ($720!!!!) just to have a somewhat nicer phone. Even if you subtract out the cost of the pay as you go phone, say $50 each (for one with QWERTY and a camera) that seems insane. I can't really imagine a phone that's worth $310 more than a pay as you go phone, and even if I wanted a $360 phone, I wouldn't buy it on credit, which is essentially what this is. Then if he wants something like a Droid or an Iphone it's $100, Plus you need a $30 data plan, so that makes it a $1030 phone.

I told him I'd come here and ask -- is there something I'm totally missing? Something that's so amazing about these phones that people pay hundreds of dollars for them? Is there some way to negotiate on the price? Or should I just buy the pay as you go phone and forget this idea?

Also, if you buy your child the $1030 Droid phone, and the he loses it what happens? Is there insurance? Do you get a discount on the next phone?

 

[laurie31]

Goodness, what company charges $150/month for two phones?

We pay $75/month and have 3 lines. We paid an additional $10/month to add DD13 when we let her get a phone. (it was $65/month for DH and and I before that). DD was only allowed to choose a "free" phone (free with 2 year contract), and since that came out to $120 a year, she paid half, and we paid half. So it's like her phone cost us $60, and she talks (and texts) for free. After the first year, we agreed to pay the whole $10/month because we found it was worth it to us for her to have the phone.

We have 700 minutes (for all 3 phones) plus unlimited nights and weekends, free long distance, free roaming, and unlimited texting. We also have free mobile-to-moblie, which is what most of our calls are (calling each other), so we only use about half of our paid minutes each month.

I suggest you look into other cell companies!

 

[Mickey's Minion]

I told my son that I'd buy him a cell phone and pay for a plan when he starts middle school and begins coming home alone after school. I told him I'd spring for the cheapest pay as you go plan, and unlimited minutes/texts, but that he could save his money and upgrade if he wanted things like a camera, or a Qwerty keyboard.

The other day we were at the store looking at phone and he started asking whether he could get one that comes with a plan. Since I need a new phone too (I also have pay as you go) I said I'd look into it, but when I looked at the plans they all seem to cost about $15 MORE per line for unlimited minutes ($150 for 2 lines per month, vs. $60 a line on pay as you go). I kind of assumed that they'd be less, since they're locking you in (a benefit to them, not to you) and was surprised that wasn't the case.

So, I explained to him that if we go with the plans, and get 2 free phones, we're paying $30 a month for 24 months ($720!!!!) just to have a somewhat nicer phone. Even if you subtract out the cost of the pay as you go phone, say $50 each (for one with QWERTY and a camera) that seems insane. I can't really imagine a phone that's worth $310 more than a pay as you go phone, and even if I wanted a $360 phone, I wouldn't buy it on credit, which is essentially what this is. Then if he wants something like a Droid or an Iphone it's $100, Plus you need a $30 data plan, so that makes it a $1030 phone.

I told him I'd come here and ask -- is there something I'm totally missing? Something that's so amazing about these phones that people pay hundreds of dollars for them? Is there some way to negotiate on the price? Or should I just buy the pay as you go phone and forget this idea?

Also, if you buy your child the $1030 Droid phone, and the he loses it what happens? Is there insurance? Do you get a discount on the next phone?

Sprint is offering unlimited text, unlimited web, unlimited data, unlimited mobile to mobile calling (doesn't matter the carrier as long as you go cell phone to cell phone), 450 minutes for cell to landline, sprint tv, nfl live, nascar, gps, annual phone upgrades, etc, etc, etc for $69.99 a month.

However, there are even cheaper plans where the second phone is only $10 per month additional. For instance, the unlimited family data plan is unlimited text, unlimited cell to cell talking, 1500 minutes of cell to landline. For both lines, it is only $99.00 per month. If you want to add lines 3-5, it is only $10.00 per line.

I can't imagine paying $150.00 for 2 lines of service.

There is an insurance option for lost and damaged phones. In Sprint, you get the same phone discount as new subscribers once a year.

 

[Ohiodislover]

I agree--too high. We are with ATT

We have 4 phones on our plan, 850 shared minutes, with unlimited texting for all, smart phone data plans on 2, and family data plans on the other 2, and GPS/TV/Radio on mine for around $220. My DD's have to pay for their own data plans because they want the internet

Our choices on our phones has been great. I recently got a droid phone for free, DD#1 got a pantech inpact, and other DD a samsung mythic for free. DH upgraded to an Iphone.

We can update our smart phones each year. the other 2 are every 18 months.

 

[momrek06]

I just got 3 new phones and a new plan. I switched from Verizon to AT&T.
My DS (27yo) lives 35 minutes away from us and already had the iPHONE. He told us to jump on his plan, it would be cheaper for us as well as him. He currently was paying $89.00 per month for that whole data package that comes w/owning an iPHONE.

So DH & I got ourselves the "REVEAL" (lovely phone) and my younger DS got himself the "GO" phone as he is going to be camping in New Mexico from April-August and just wanted a really basic phone, nothing fancy for his travels.

The Reveal's were $69.00 with a $50.00 mail in rebate. So those ended up costing me $19.00 each. Has the Qwerty keyboard.

So the 4 phones, with unlimited texting, 1400 monthly minutes and 10 free family and friends lines = $169.00 per month!!!

So before jumping on older DS' plan, with our 3 basic boring phones with Verizon was costing me $141.00 per month. Only younger DS had texting, DH & I did not. $28.00 more a month but my plan now covers 4 phones and all with unlimited texting.


***Funny story, older DS was at work on Thursday. He texted me around 2pm to say he has just finally gotten cell service back as the last 2 hours he had no cell service. I decided to call AT&T and inquire about what that might have been. AT&T rep asked DS' work location and indeed 3 TOWERS were down effecting service in his area. The rep gave me a $25.00 credit to my bill!!!

 

[Mickey's Minion]

I agree--too high. We are with ATT

We have 4 phones on our plan, 850 shared minutes, with unlimited texting for all, smart phone data plans on 2, and family data plans on the other 2, and GPS/TV/Radio on mine for around $220. My DD's have to pay for their own data plans because they want the internet

Our choices on our phones has been great. I recently got a droid phone for free, DD#1 got a pantech inpact, and other DD a samsung mythic for free. DH upgraded to an Iphone.

We can update our smart phones each year. the other 2 are every 18 months.

Wow, that seems really high too.

We have 5 phones on our plan, all with unlimited data, text and mobile to mobile, smart phone plan on all 5, insurance on all 5, can upgrade all 5 every year, 2000 cell to landline minutes, unlimited everything nighttime (starting at 7pm) & weekends, tv, music, gps, and a bunch of other perks all the phones.

All 5 of us have smart phones and our plan is only $200 per month.

 

[Ohiodislover]

Wow, that seems really high too.

We have 5 phones on our plan, all with unlimited data, text and mobile to mobile, smart phone plan on all 5, insurance on all 5, can upgrade all 5 every year, 2000 cell to landline minutes, unlimited everything nighttime (starting at 7pm) & weekends, tv, music, gps, and a bunch of other perks all the phones.

All 5 of us have smart phones and our plan is only $200 per month.

Your with Sprint? Maybe i need to check them out. I know right now ATT isn't charging the fee that they normally do to end your contract. Apparently they are in the middle of a law suit about the fees or something

 

[FireDancer]

Right now the best plans are with Sprint as others have mentioned. There is a lot of talk in tech circles about the predatory nature of cell phone plans. It is quite anti competitive to tie people into contracts. While there are initial costs to the cellular provider for the contract (like subsidized phones) those costs are not static and a cancellation fee in the 20th month of a 2 year contract should not be the same as in the 5th month. The cost of text messaging is pretty ridiculous as well. All a text message is is some bits sent via the cellular service and if you take the cost they are charging for those bits when compared to the cost of other bits it is highly inflated.

I would recommend shopping around and really know what you are getting.

 

[mjkacmom]

As for unlimited minutes, I'd get the least amount allowed. There are 5 of us on my plan, and although we have (and need) unlimited texting, we never even come close to the 700 minutes we're allowed, and my 11 and 13 year olds use up a few minutes a month!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

So where do I go to get these plans?

I hadn't really thought about going to a contract because the idea of being locked in bothers me, so we just walked in to Best Buy and of course the display was there, and my son says -- I have $100 to spend, and here's a phone that costs $100, not understanding the whole contract piece.

As far as minutes -- I think I really do need unlimited. We don't have a landline, and I use my cell a lot for work. For example, it's not uncommon for me to talk to someone for a few hours while we work through something together on google docs. So, if we do any kind of family plan, we'll need unlimited. That isn't to say that DS needs unlimited, I'm not sure how much he'll really use it -- I know I'll probably want him to call each day when he gets home, and then before and after he walks the dog, but I guess if we had a family plan those calls would be free anyway?

As for my other question -- what happens if someone loses a phone while they're locked into a plan -- do they have to pay the "full" price (I imagine the prices they list for the phones are super inflated and noone pays them) or is there some cheap way to get a replacement phone.

 

[daughtersrus]

I told my son that I'd buy him a cell phone and pay for a plan when he starts middle school and begins coming home alone after school. I told him I'd spring for the cheapest pay as you go plan, and unlimited minutes/texts, but that he could save his money and upgrade if he wanted things like a camera, or a Qwerty keyboard.

The other day we were at the store looking at phone and he started asking whether he could get one that comes with a plan. Since I need a new phone too (I also have pay as you go) I said I'd look into it, but when I looked at the plans they all seem to cost about $15 MORE per line for unlimited minutes ($150 for 2 lines per month, vs. $60 a line on pay as you go). I kind of assumed that they'd be less, since they're locking you in (a benefit to them, not to you) and was surprised that wasn't the case.

So, I explained to him that if we go with the plans, and get 2 free phones, we're paying $30 a month for 24 months ($720!!!!) just to have a somewhat nicer phone. Even if you subtract out the cost of the pay as you go phone, say $50 each (for one with QWERTY and a camera) that seems insane. I can't really imagine a phone that's worth $310 more than a pay as you go phone, and even if I wanted a $360 phone, I wouldn't buy it on credit, which is essentially what this is. Then if he wants something like a Droid or an Iphone it's $100, Plus you need a $30 data plan, so that makes it a $1030 phone.

I told him I'd come here and ask -- is there something I'm totally missing? Something that's so amazing about these phones that people pay hundreds of dollars for them? Is there some way to negotiate on the price? Or should I just buy the pay as you go phone and forget this idea?

Also, if you buy your child the $1030 Droid phone, and the he loses it what happens? Is there insurance? Do you get a discount on the next phone?

As others have said, that sounds very high. Our bill is about that but we have a plan with US Cellular for 5 phones, unlimited text messaging, unlimited picture messages, Easy Edge Internet and I think about 750 minutes. We don't use anywhere near that amount even with 5 lines because we don't use any minutes for mobile to mobile and everything that comes (text messages, pictures, calls...)

DD (20) has the LG Banter and I think that it was about $19 for that phone. The rest of us chose the Samsung 2 Step and they were free.

As for my other question -- what happens if someone loses a phone while they're locked into a plan -- do they have to pay the "full" price (I imagine the prices they list for the phones are super inflated and noone pays them) or is there some cheap way to get a replacement phone.

With US Cellular, you can upgrade your phones every 18 months at the lower (often times free) rates. If you need to replace the phone before that, they do offer "used" phones at a significantly reduced price. DD (now 23yo) had to do this less than a month after we signed up a few years ago. She was away at college doing her laundry. She decided to take her hoodie sweatshirt off and throw it in with the rest of the cloths. She put the money in and as she press start, she realized that her phone was in the pocket. Because they are front loading machines, they locked and she couldn't open the door. She stood there watching her new phone go round and round in the washer. To this day, she double checks to make sure that she knows where her phone is before she starts the washer and she's back at home where our machine doesn't lock : )

 

[mjkacmom]

As for my other question -- what happens if someone loses a phone while they're locked into a plan -- do they have to pay the "full" price (I imagine the prices they list for the phones are super inflated and noone pays them) or is there some cheap way to get a replacement phone.

You can have them insured for about $7 a month. This is what I do, until someone upgrades, and then we have a spare, so I take off the insurance. Dd13 broke her phone 6 months into a 2 year contract, and we didn't have insurance or a spare, so she bought a new phone off of ebay for $80 (crappy phone - one that comes free with a new contract).

 

[SydSim]

Your price is so high because of the unlimited talk minutes. Right now, you say that you have pay as you go. How many talk minutes do you use? The price for a limited amount of minutes vs. unlimited jumps quite a bit.

DH used to be on his own plan with unlimited minutes, and Dd and I shared a plan with limited minutes When I calculated how many minutes he actually used each month, and factored in a family/friends package, we made out a lot cheaper with combining the three of us on a limited number of minutes plan.

 

[clutter]

So where do I go to get these plans?

I hadn't really thought about going to a contract because the idea of being locked in bothers me, so we just walked in to Best Buy and of course the display was there, and my son says -- I have $100 to spend, and here's a phone that costs $100, not understanding the whole contract piece.

As far as minutes -- I think I really do need unlimited. We don't have a landline, and I use my cell a lot for work. For example, it's not uncommon for me to talk to someone for a few hours while we work through something together on google docs. So, if we do any kind of family plan, we'll need unlimited. That isn't to say that DS needs unlimited, I'm not sure how much he'll really use it -- I know I'll probably want him to call each day when he gets home, and then before and after he walks the dog, but I guess if we had a family plan those calls would be free anyway?

As for my other question -- what happens if someone loses a phone while they're locked into a plan -- do they have to pay the "full" price (I imagine the prices they list for the phones are super inflated and noone pays them) or is there some cheap way to get a replacement phone.

No, you don't want an unlimited plan.

Look at your usage over the last year and buy off of that. Your ds probably wont use much (but get unlimited text because you cannot control the incoming texts), so you should be ok. ATT is great for the rollover minutes if coverage is good in your area. I used mine when my mom was sick.

The reason you don't want unlimited is because the second line is $50!!!! I have 450 minutes, two additional lines ($10 each), unlimited texting for all ($30 and once the kids start texting the moms start to text each other), unlimited data for dd ($10) plus the $30 charge for the iPhone and I pay a little over $120.

As for phones, my dd's phone went into the toilet. Well, we'd been with ATT for a while, so she had to use an old phone. She saved up the massive amount to buy a new phone retail. I just added insurance, but she pays for that through a reduction in her allowance. You can always find an old flip phone thats compatible with your carrier for cheap, just ask friends cause everyone has old phones around. The insurance is $5/month and a $50 deductible.

Good luck. My iPhone pulled me into the cellular age. Can't imagine life without it.

 

[Orange County Girl]

I bought my son a Straight Talk prepaid phone from Walmart. For $45 a month he gets unlimited calls and texts. They have quite a few phones to choose from.

 

[hereyago]

I bought my son a Straight Talk prepaid phone from Walmart. For $45 a month he gets unlimited calls and texts. They have quite a few phones to choose from.

I just bought DD one of these and we both love it. SHe has to keyboard one which was 100.00 and then has 45.00 unlimited plan. Unlimited text, talk and web. There is no contract.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

No, you don't want an unlimited plan.

I use about 3,000 daytime minutes a month. Like I said, I use it constantly for work. I'm calling different people everyday so a "friend" plan wouldn't help much. I haven't seen any plans with that many minutes, so I'm figuring that I, at least, need unlimited minutes. Am I wrong?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Unless you plan on getting full data i.e. internet access, there is no need to get the fancier phones.

If you are only paying for one thing (text/calls)--then get the base phone needed to support that.

A qwerty typing pad does make it easier to txt....but he doesn't need a Cadillac phone for that.


My DH now pays for his I-phone (that bill is NOT pretty), so we cut down my service to the base plan with Sprint that allows me to call him for free since he is on AT&T. I think it is 29.99 and I thought I shut off everything including on my actual phone that says no internent, no texts and people still text me. So we'll see what happens with that.


And there is nothing that says you have to get a contract. The contracts usually are only required for a discounted or free phone. But if you purchase the phone outright, you do not have to commit to a contract period.

 

[JOCAmom]

We use Boost mobile. For $50 a month each, we get unlimited talk, text, web, and walkie talkie. Yeah, it's 150 for the 3 of us but I don't like being tied to a contract either. I've found over the years, that our needs change.

They have some nice phones available at a decent price. They also offer Blackberry phones and plans to go with it for $60 a month.

We've been happy with them.

 

[Silent1CB]

I have a basic pay as you go phone. What I would really love is a pay as you go blackberry or pay as you go iphone with GPS. I wish someone would do that.