No phone, what now?

[yoopermom]

(This happened to DH last week and he is still stewing, so I'm coming to the all knowing for an answer....)

DH has a friend (we will call him Piglet) who lives 6 hours away. They agreed to meet at a city pretty much in the middle for lunch and an afternoon of visiting. They agreed on a time but not a place (mistake number one, but I wasn't in on the planning). I get a text half an hour after the meet time from Piglet saying my DH wasn't answering his phone. I called/texted, also no answer. NOT at all like DH, so I was getting worried, too.

Fifteen minutes later, my phone rings and caller i.d. shows "Texas Roadhouse". It was DH, all flustered and upset. He got almost to the meet up, realized he didn't have his phone, and literally couldn't think of how to get access to one. He stopped at a gas station, dollar store, asked a few random people on the street, etc, and they all looked at him like he was an axe murderer. So he went into TR, sat at the bar and ordered a beer, explained his plight to the bartender, who took pity on him and let him borrow the house phone. (And, yes, they ate lunch there and tipped the bartender very well).

It really made me think, though, about how there really aren't any payphones any more, you can't count on the kindness of strangers, so if something happens to your phone and you're alone/far from home, what do you do? Does the idea of a "courtesy phone" even exist anymore? I told him that if push came to shove he could have bought a tracphone, activated it, and used it.

Any other ideas?

Terri

 

[Micca]

Maybe the customer service counter at a grocery store?

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

That's actually something I've been thinking about since I travel solo alot and had my phone glitch on me a few times.
I was thinking I could go to my hotel and use that room phone and if there isn't one maybe their guest services would have one.

then I thought about what a pain it would be to have to go back to the hotel for that and decided that I'd just go buy a cheap phone someplace, activate it and use that just like you suggested.

 

[wenrob]

I can remember even when I was a kid businesses wouldn’t let you use the phone and any place I worked it was against policy.

What would I do? Hm. Well when traveling I usually have my iPad and so do my kids so I’d probably try to find WiFi and make an audio FaceTime call with it. Barring that I’d buy a tracphone. I’d probably keep it and a charger in the glove box thereafter in case it were to happen again.

My DH and I store all our music on our phones so we would notice immediately that we didn’t have it. Maybe he needs to establish a routine of some kind.

 

[design_mom]

I ended up getting my middle schooler (he's now in college) a phone shortly after I had a similar experience. Dropped my son at hockey practice, planning to run errands while he was at practice, then come back to pick him up. While out, there was something I needed to ask DH (can't remember what now), but realized I didn't have my phone. I went to all the places that USED to have payphones (fast food restaurants, etc.) and found zero payphones. I finally went back to the rink thinking that maybe they'd have one since kids get dropped off there a lot and would need to call their parents. Nope. No payphone. I asked at the desk and it was against policy to let anybody use the business's phone. The poor high-school kid at the skate rental counter took pity on me and let me use his personal phone.

It was then that I decided that if my child was going to be out and about without me (movies with friends, sports practices, etc.) maybe we *did* need to get him a phone because there just AREN'T payphones anymore, and I didn't want him to have to rely on the pity of friends or strangers to be able to call home.

To answer the OP's question though... I think you probably CAN count on the kindness of strangers if it's a true emergency. I would let someone use my phone to call his wife, etc. Even if the first person says "no," I doubt you'd have to ask too many till someone lets you. However, it's definitely inconvenient. (And I'm guessing that your husband will be more careful about double checking for his phone in the future.)

 

[DisneyHardin]

I locked my keys and phone in my car at the post office one day. I went in and asked to use the phone. They didn't even have one at the front and an employee was about to take me back to the office to use the phone, when another employee offered me their cell phone to use. Luckily, my DH answered his cell even though he didn't recognize the number because his cell is the ONLY number I have in my memory.

 

[yoopermom]

He really *never* lets go of his phone, I have no idea what caused this temporary brain fart. Maybe because this was in Wisconsin (land of bars, haha), that his winning thought was, "They always have a phone in a bar, and I can get a beer!"

It would be an interesting social experiment, because I'm a middle aged, chubby, harmless looking wife and mom using a cane or walker on most days, and people go out of their way to be overly nice to me. I'm sure that if it had been me in that situation I would have had someone handing me a phone in a minute. DH is a good person, but 6'2", 250 lbs, beard, etc, and could be seen as intimidating in a similar situation. (I told him next time to find a guy who looks like himself and tell him the whole dumb story, he'll probably sympathize.)

Terri

 

[NYCgrrl]

(This happened to DH last week and he is still stewing, so I'm coming to the all knowing for an answer....)

DH has a friend (we will call him Piglet) who lives 6 hours away. They agreed to meet at a city pretty much in the middle for lunch and an afternoon of visiting. They agreed on a time but not a place (mistake number one, but I wasn't in on the planning). I get a text half an hour after the meet time from Piglet saying my DH wasn't answering his phone. I called/texted, also no answer. NOT at all like DH, so I was getting worried, too.

Fifteen minutes later, my phone rings and caller i.d. shows "Texas Roadhouse". It was DH, all flustered and upset. He got almost to the meet up, realized he didn't have his phone, and literally couldn't think of how to get access to one. He stopped at a gas station, dollar store, asked a few random people on the street, etc, and they all looked at him like he was an axe murderer. So he went into TR, sat at the bar and ordered a beer, explained his plight to the bartender, who took pity on him and let him borrow the house phone. (And, yes, they ate lunch there and tipped the bartender very well).

It really made me think, though, about how there really aren't any payphones any more, you can't count on the kindness of strangers, so if something happens to your phone and you're alone/far from home, what do you do? Does the idea of a "courtesy phone" even exist anymore? I told him that if push came to shove he could have bought a tracphone, activated it, and used it.

Any other ideas?

Terri

I just ask the nearest normal looking stranger if I can use their phone. No biggie.
Recently read a blog that stated there is something like 10 telephone booths left in all of Manhattan. Times have changed.

 

[sjrec]

This is a good question! The trac phone is a great idea. Are there any pay phones anywhere?

 

[NYCgrrl]

This is a good question! The trac phone is a great idea. Are there any pay phones anywhere?

What is a trac phone?

 

[MrsDuck]

I just ask the nearest normal looking stranger if I can use their phone. No biggie.

Maybe I'm a weirdo but I wouldn't let anyone use my phone. Too many variables...

 

[yoopermom]

I don't blame you MrsDuck, and also suggested that he should have asked the person to call me him/herself rather than ask them to pass over the phone.

Terri

 

[soccerdad72]

What is a trac phone?

Prepaid, contract-free cell phone.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Prepaid, contract-free cell phone.

Ohhhh- jail phones!
I didn't realise they were still available in this country.

 

[ZTator]

My husband is infamous for leaving his phone at home. He has called me from Walmart customer service, Sam's Club, Lowes customer service, The doctor's office , Logans steak house, The grocery store , on and on hahaha

 

[mnrose]

Very good point. It's been years since I've seen a payphone in the US. OTOH, in the Cancun airport (terminal 3) there is an entire BANK of payphones. DH was so struck by it he took a photo. Oddly (or not) not a single one was in use. I would think most stores would be willing to let you use a phone if you explained it and asked nicely. I'd have tried a customer service counter in a department store or grocery store. In Minnesota (famous for Minnesota nice), he'd have easily been able to use a phone.

 

[tvguy]

What is a trac phone?

https://shop.tracfone.com/shop/en/t...VCttkCh3TLg1lEAAYASAAEgL0zvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I doubt there's really any courtesy phones left. I think retail places it's always been a 50/50 shot of being able to use their phones--some places I worked at didn't care, some did.

Obviously a city you're not familiar with would be a problem to know where to go. I've seen gas stations where the cashier really wasn't in an easy spot to hand over a phone or due to cashier safety they didn't do something like that, I feel like if I walked into one of my local library branches they would allow someone to use the phone in an emergency (that's just the vibe I get from them)

Customer service desks from grocery stores are one of the main places I could think of that might still really have that option.

Other than that it might be more just relying on strangers. I've found that people seem to be pretty understanding in that respects because there's so many people who have cell phones there's more people one could ask and people get it like if your phone is dead we kinda all get it. Way back when it would have been asking for change to use for the payphone that you'd probably be asking a stranger about. That doesn't mean everyone is going to give you a cell phone to use because I get how people might be cautious about that worried the person may steal it or whatnot. I think asking people randomly on the street could get you looks depending on where you're at and the context because there may be a perceived "something's not quite right" to that.

 

[wenrob]

I just ask the nearest normal looking stranger if I can use their phone. No biggie.
Recently read a blog that stated there is something like 10 telephone booths left in all of Manhattan. Times have changed.

I would ask someone to make a call for me but not to use their phone. These days phones are as much of a personal item as a phone or a wallet. Plus snatch and run is still a thing. It’s amazing how many people don’t lock their phones.

This is a good question! The trac phone is a great idea. Are there any pay phones anywhere?

I have seen ONE here about five years ago and I’d bet money it didn’t work.

What is a trac phone?

Pre paid phone. You can get them at just about any convenience store, chain store, rest stop etc. I’ve even seen them it little podunk town gift shops.

Maybe I'm a weirdo but I wouldn't let anyone use my phone. Too many variables...

I would offer to make the call for them. Aside from the whole issue of someone taking off with it I’m a germaphobe and don’t want someone sliding their fingers all over my phone.

Part of the problem with getting a trac phone or using someone’s phone is that a huge number of people don’t answer unknown numbers. (there was a story about a great rescue where a woman and her kids were dangling over a barrier and her husband didn’t know until the next day because he wouldn’t answer all those unknown numbers) None of us do. I would have no hope of my DH picking up or checking the messages. My oldest, maybe. I would have to hope the trac phone or Good Samaritan would let me text so I could say, “Hey, it’s me. Pick up.”

The other issue is people don’t memorize telephone numbers anymore. I could tell you what my grandparents phone number from 40 years ago was but I’m pretty iffy on what my younger kids numbers are. (I have made them memorize mine)

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

would ask someone to make a call for me but not to use their phone.

I would offer to make the call for them. Aside from the whole issue of someone taking off with it I’m a germaphobe and don’t want someone sliding their fingers all over my phone.

I totally understand the concern of theft (as I mentioned in my comment) but at the same time I can totally understand the nature of privacy. If I'm going to offer my phone I also don't feel the need to be privy to the person's conversation nor do I want to feel like the message man. I think in those cases I would just decline the usage of my phone period that's not to say I don't get how you feel.