Virgin Mobile

[chrystalc77]

My son (12) wants a cell phone for Christmas. However I absolutely do NOT want to lock him into a 2 year contract. He really wants a Samsung Galaxy, and I saw the 3 on QVC website for 5 easy pay for Virgin mobile or Boost. I've heard good things about virgin mobile but nothing on Boost. He actually wants the 4 but I'm not paying for the newest, and I know he'll be just as happy with a 3. So what do you guys suggest... Prepaid or contract?? Anyone have any experience with either virgin mobile or boost?

 

[tinkercat]

My husband has had a phone through Virgin Mobile for the past 5 months or so and it is GREAT! They use the same towers as Verizon so he gets great service and it is much less expensive! When the contract on my phone is up, I am planning to switch to Virgin as well.

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

I have used VM for several years, very happy. Just got the kids the tmobile from Walmart for $30/month, but I am finding vm has a better service.

 

[HeatherC]

Actually, VM runs on Sprint towers..not Verizon. So ifyou have good coverage with Sprint, it will be great.

We have had VM for about a year and a half now and really like it.

We have four phones which I pay $37 a month for each one...$35 plus tax. That includes 300 talk minutes and unlimited text and data.

My dd's and I have LG phones and my son has the Galaxy which is great. He wanted the IPhone, but now that he has the Galaxy, he likes the bigger screen a lot more.

Definitely recommend VM since we won't do a contract any more either.

Hope this is helpful!

 

[Plumeria9]

Glad I stumbled upon this thread. I am switching from Verizon soon and have been trying to figure out how to get three of us on a plan, etc. My question is -what kind of taxes do you see on your monthly bill on a $30 plan? or, whatver taxes you see on your plan, I'm just trying to get a idea. I'm thinking of getting my 12DD on the PayLo plan that is $30/mo. I'm trying to ditch the high taxes on the contract plan. TIA!!!

 

[Gigi22]

I have an ancient prepaid basic LG from VM, the prepay I am on is no longer available--$10 a month, plus tax. For the amount I use a phone, it's just great.

 

[wiigirl]

I have used VM for several years, very happy. Just got the kids the tmobile from Walmart for $30/month, but I am finding vm has a better service.

 

[luvmy3]

I'm looking to get my dd an iphone and am considering VM. We get horrible talk coverage at our home (we are in the "fair" area) but we get 3G coverage. Only thing is their unlimited is not truly unlimited, but she could text via 3G and use Wifi for everything else.
Sorry, off on a tangent. I would check coverage for your area, specifically your address and decide from there.

 

[quigs3]

Actually, VM runs on Sprint towers..not Verizon. So ifyou have good coverage with Sprint, it will be great. We have had VM for about a year and a half now and really like it. We have four phones which I pay $37 a month for each one...$35 plus tax. That includes 300 talk minutes and unlimited text and data. My dd's and I have LG phones and my son has the Galaxy which is great. He wanted the IPhone, but now that he has the Galaxy, he likes the bigger screen a lot more. Definitely recommend VM since we won't do a contract any more either. Hope this is helpful!

Definitely make sure you have good Sprint coverage in your area. Verizon is the primary carrier in our area, and my daughter (who has a VM phone) often has no signal.

 

[Muushka]

We both use VM. I have the $35 a month unlimited text and data with 300 minutes.

Another advantage to VM is that their prepaid cards go on sale occasionally at Target, plus the red card discount.

So 10% discount plus another 5% discount. Such a deal!

 

[Free4Life11]

I buy top up cards from Walmart.com. The code is sent via email, I am NOT charged tax AND get cash back through whatever site I go through (I do eBates). If I buy at the store, I am charged 7% sales tax, so buying online & saving the tax is even better than using Target Debit Card.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Email-Delivery-Virgin-Mobile-25-Topup/15443364 - $25
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Virgin-Mobile-10-Topup-Email-Delivery/15443362 - $10

 

[JoiseyMom]

Look into Republic Wireless

 

[sk!mom]

We're ditching AT&T as soon as our contract is up in November. DH and I will buy 4s iPhones from Virgin but were trying to decide what to do about DD.

Here's the question, Can we take an AT&T iPhone that the contract is done on and move it to Virgin?

 

[Muushka]

I buy top up cards from Walmart.com. The code is sent via email, I am NOT charged tax AND get cash back through whatever site I go through (I do eBates). If I buy at the store, I am charged 7% sales tax, so buying online & saving the tax is even better than using Target Debit Card.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Email-Delivery-Virgin-Mobile-25-Topup/15443364 - $25
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Virgin-Mobile-10-Topup-Email-Delivery/15443362 - $10

Interesting. What sort of rebate do you receive for a $25 card?

 

[poconopixie]

We're ditching AT&T as soon as our contract is up in November. DH and I will buy 4s iPhones from Virgin but were trying to decide what to do about DD.

Here's the question, Can we take an AT&T iPhone that the contract is done on and move it to Virgin?

No. AT&T is a GSM Carrier, and Virgin is CDMA, totally different, incompatible technologies.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Glad I stumbled upon this thread. I am switching from Verizon soon and have been trying to figure out how to get three of us on a plan, etc. My question is -what kind of taxes do you see on your monthly bill on a $30 plan? or, whatver taxes you see on your plan, I'm just trying to get a idea. I'm thinking of getting my 12DD on the PayLo plan that is $30/mo. I'm trying to ditch the high taxes on the contract plan. TIA!!!

I think the taxes may vary from state to state/county to county but to give you a general idea I pay $32.43 each month for my $30 Iphone plan at VM. I live in Sarpy county in Nebraska.

We've had VM for several years for DH, DS and myself and have been very happy. Will be getting one for DD in the not so distant future.

 

[Plumeria9]

I think the taxes may vary from state to state/county to county but to give you a general idea I pay $32.43 each month for my $30 Iphone plan at VM. I live in Sarpy county in Nebraska.

We've had VM for several years for DH, DS and myself and have been very happy. Will be getting one for DD in the not so distant future.

Thanks so much for that info! That is very encouraging news.

 

[DawnM]

Except for the fact that her son wants a Galaxy.

Republic Wireless is coming out with the Motorola Moto X in November, but that is their ONLY phone.

It also does not have picture messaging if that is important to the OP.

Well, there is MMS for RW to RW or to any Sprint carrier phone, but not to any of the others.

Dawn

Look into Republic Wireless

 

[jenny105]

I use VM and I love it. You can't get a cell phone bill much lower than them (I play $37.45/month taxes included)! I also have the Samsung Galaxy SIII. AWESOME phone!

 

[robinb]

My son (12) wants a cell phone for Christmas. However I absolutely do NOT want to lock him into a 2 year contract. He really wants a Samsung Galaxy, and I saw the 3 on QVC website for 5 easy pay for Virgin mobile or Boost. I've heard good things about virgin mobile but nothing on Boost. He actually wants the 4 but I'm not paying for the newest, and I know he'll be just as happy with a 3. So what do you guys suggest... Prepaid or contract?? Anyone have any experience with either virgin mobile or boost?

Are you planning on allowing him to have data or just voice, texting and wifi? My DD has a Galaxy S with Page Plus Cellular and I pay approximately $12 per month for 2000 texts and a few phone calls ($10 per month for the text package plus 5-cents per minute on phone calls). Page Plus can use most Verizon phones.