WWYD? Cell Phone headache

[Princess Nancy]

Okay, I posted and went to bed.
Thanks for all the replies!

DD is 15. She is a straight A student, very responsible in general and all around good kid. She is kind to her little sister and helpful around the house.

Yes, she got a new phone at Christmas, but it was an upgrade, so no cost to me.

When the new phone got a pressure crack, she went back to her old phone and has been using it since Feb with a broken screen. She has not been complaining but would like a new phone.

For her Birthday she asked for a new phone. I would have gotten her something for her Birthday and that is what she chose. So, I do feel like it is "her" money and sacrifice. I have told her since Feb, I was not buying a new phone just because she broke her old one.

She has used Babysitting money etc, for other things and chose not to get a new phone. She pays for all her extras and social activites with babysitting and allowance.

I felt like she should have a phone she likes if I can get her one in the price range. I bought the refurb Samsung Glyde. It just feels crummy. I feel like it will not be sturdy either.

I think I will go the Craig's List or Ebay route now.

My concern is that 2 different Phone guys hinted that Verizon often will not activate a phone and will say it is stolen.

I feel like the effort I am putting in at this point is the hunt for a Bday gift not just a phone replacement for a careless kid.

I agree, I never have trouble with my phone and have spoken to DD many times about the phone in her pocket etc...

She definitely knows I think she is way too hard on phones and that we are not buying her new ones but this is her Bday gift!

Thanks!!!!

 

[mjkacmom]

Okay, I posted and went to bed.
Thanks for all the replies!

DD is 15. She is a straight A student, very responsible in general and all around good kid. She is kind to her little sister and helpful around the house.

Yes, she got a new phone at Christmas, but it was an upgrade, so no cost to me.

When the new phone got a pressure crack, she went back to her old phone and has been using it since Feb with a broken screen. She has not been complaining but would like a new phone.

For her Birthday she asked for a new phone. I would have gotten her something for her Birthday and that is what she chose. So, I do feel like it is "her" money and sacrifice. I have told her since Feb, I was not buying a new phone just because she broke her old one.

She has used Babysitting money etc, for other things and chose not to get a new phone. She pays for all her extras and social activites with babysitting and allowance.

I felt like she should have a phone she likes if I can get her one in the price range. I bought the refurb Samsung Glyde. It just feels crummy. I feel like it will not be sturdy either.

I think I will go the Craig's List or Ebay route now.

My concern is that 2 different Phone guys hinted that Verizon often will not activate a phone and will say it is stolen.

I feel like the effort I am putting in at this point is the hunt for a Bday gift not just a phone replacement for a careless kid.

I agree, I never have trouble with my phone and have spoken to DD many times about the phone in her pocket etc...

She definitely knows I think she is way too hard on phones and that we are not buying her new ones but this is her Bday gift!

Thanks!!!!

I've activated at least 6 replacement phones with verizon with no issues. Sometimes the website is glitchy, but I just call and do it over the phone. Only one time did the representative inquire about the replacement phone, and I told him it was lost, and we found it (which was actually the truth).

 

[golfgal]

Go to Walmart or Target and buy the phone, just the phone, then activate it over the internet from home.

I have to agree with others, she needs to find a better way to carry her phone. The pressure cracks are from carrying it in her pocket and sitting on the phone, not from texting. At least get her a silicone cover for the phone so it has some protection.

 

[Rora]

Go to Walmart or Target and buy the phone, just the phone, then activate it over the internet from home.

I have to agree with others, she needs to find a better way to carry her phone. The pressure cracks are from carrying it in her pocket and sitting on the phone, not from texting. At least get her a silicone cover for the phone so it has some protection.

This.

Good luck OP!

 

[tar heel]

We had no problem whatsoever getting a Craig's List phone activated at Verizon. They charged us -- $20, I think.

It was our Verizon rep, in fact, who suggested that we buy a phone on Craig's List.

 

[luvmy3]

Okay, I posted and went to bed.
Thanks for all the replies!

DD is 15. She is a straight A student, very responsible in general and all around good kid. She is kind to her little sister and helpful around the house.

Yes, she got a new phone at Christmas, but it was an upgrade, so no cost to me.

When the new phone got a pressure crack, she went back to her old phone and has been using it since Feb with a broken screen. She has not been complaining but would like a new phone.

For her Birthday she asked for a new phone. I would have gotten her something for her Birthday and that is what she chose. So, I do feel like it is "her" money and sacrifice. I have told her since Feb, I was not buying a new phone just because she broke her old one.

She has used Babysitting money etc, for other things and chose not to get a new phone. She pays for all her extras and social activites with babysitting and allowance.

I felt like she should have a phone she likes if I can get her one in the price range. I bought the refurb Samsung Glyde. It just feels crummy. I feel like it will not be sturdy either.

I think I will go the Craig's List or Ebay route now.

My concern is that 2 different Phone guys hinted that Verizon often will not activate a phone and will say it is stolen.

I feel like the effort I am putting in at this point is the hunt for a Bday gift not just a phone replacement for a careless kid.

I agree, I never have trouble with my phone and have spoken to DD many times about the phone in her pocket etc...

She definitely knows I think she is way too hard on phones and that we are not buying her new ones but this is her Bday gift!

Thanks!!!!

Thats because they are phone guys and they want your money
I have Verizon pre-paid so when I want to get a new phone I have to pay full retail, so I always purchase through ebay instead. When you find a phone you are interested ask the seller before you purchase for the ESIN #. You can call Verizon with that number and verify that it can be activated. When you get the phone you can just call *22898 from that phone and you can activate through the automated system.
I just did it last night to upgrade my basic phone to one with a full keyboard. It took about 5 minutes.

 

[luvmy3]

Go to Walmart or Target and buy the phone, just the phone, then activate it over the internet from home.

I have to agree with others, she needs to find a better way to carry her phone. The pressure cracks are from carrying it in her pocket and sitting on the phone, not from texting. At least get her a silicone cover for the phone so it has some protection.

The phones there are for pre-paid accounts so they may not be able to be activated on a contract. I'm not 100% sure but just mentioning it so the OP can find out for sure if she decides to go this route.

 

[Nie0214]

Phone insurance through Verizon sounds like a great option for you.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I was just on the phone with Verizon this morning about my upgrade. My current phone died, and I was asking how quickly my upgrade would arrive if shipped today. HE asked ME if I had an extra old phone lying around because he could activate it for the weekend until my new one arrives. I don't know how they'd know whether you bought it on ebay or had a family member give it to you. I think they just wanted to sell you a phone.

 

[Princess Nancy]

Thats because they are phone guys and they want your money
I have Verizon pre-paid so when I want to get a new phone I have to pay full retail, so I always purchase through ebay instead. When you find a phone you are interested ask the seller before you purchase for the ESIN #. You can call Verizon with that number and verify that it can be activated. When you get the phone you can just call *22898 from that phone and you can activate through the automated system.
I just did it last night to upgrade my basic phone to one with a full keyboard. It took about 5 minutes.

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!

Now this is the info I needed!!!!!!!!!!!

I was nervouse about the whole ebay craigslist thing but I am going to try it.

 

[vettechick99]

I have bought a phone off ebay and was able to activate it with verizon just fine. You can even do it online. I also sent an old phone to a friend, and he activated it easily. So shouldn't be an issue at all.

Just use common sense when buying on ebay. Great deals out there!

 

[tvguy]

Phone insurance through Verizon sounds like a great option for you.

This, and maybe a support group for compulsive texters!

And if I get another call from Verizon offering me a free upgrade on my 4 year old phone, I'll scream. (new every 2 for free). They usually get the idea I'm not interest when they scroll through my account history and see I had my previous phone for 14 years, and only retired it because they switched to digital.

 

[Imzadi]

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!

Now this is the info I needed!!!!!!!!!!!

I was nervouse about the whole ebay craigslist thing but I am going to try it.

Go to a Verizon center first to check out the phones. Write down the models that you & DD like. Then go the eBay/Craigslist route to buy one.

 

[golfgal]

The phones there are for pre-paid accounts so they may not be able to be activated on a contract. I'm not 100% sure but just mentioning it so the OP can find out for sure if she decides to go this route.

That is not true. They have SOME phones for pre-paid plans but the other phones you can buy and activate them under your account. I have done this in the past.

 

[Darcy03231]

OP I've probably bought at least 10 phones from ebay (I have four teens) and have never had an issue getting them activated. Most reputable sellers will either post or give you the EIN number. If you call your carrier they will let you know if the number is clear.

 

[luvmy3]

That is not true. They have SOME phones for pre-paid plans but the other phones you can buy and activate them under your account. I have done this in the past.

Thats why I mentioned I wasn't sure, I have only seen pre-paid phones in my Walmart and I'm not sure if you can use THOSE on a regular acct. I thought that Verizon had a rule that a pre-paid acct muct be active for 6 months in order to use the phone/number under a contract. I'm not sure if you buy a phone specifically programmed for a pre-paid acct that you could activate under a contract. I realize you could buy a non pre-paid phone and use that I didn't realize Walmart offered both.

 

[clh2]

maybe the phones/screens are breaking because she carries it in her pocket?
if she does carry her phone in her pocket that may be why they break easily. girls wear really tight jeans and they have tiny pockets. sitting down might put pressure in a odd place causing the damage......
this is what happened with one of my dd's phones soon after she got it. now she keeps it in her purse and has no problems.

My DD cracked her screen on a phone that was about 15 days old - due to where she put it in her backpack. Sprint ROCKED from a customer service standpoint. Absolutely ROCKED. And, we hadn't purchased insurance on the phone.

When DD got the replacement phone, we bought a "harder shell" container to put the phone in her backpack to help protect the screen. It has worked well for us.

 

[vettechick99]

I would not bother with phone insurance. The monthly fee is too high (around $6/m) and you still have a deductible (for DHs Droid it was $80!!). Plus it's up to the insurance company's discretion if they want to replace it - they won't always do it.

(I used to work for a wirelss company. Insurance is a racket!)

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

Just make sure if you buy off eBay or Craigslist that the phone you buy is either specifically for your carrier or unlocked. If you buy a Sprint phone that's not been unlocked for example and try to activate it on Verizon you will not be able to. That's because the unlocked Sprint phone would be locked to that carrier.

Most reputable sellers do unlock the phones, but just make sure it either says "Verizon" or "Unlocked" in the listing.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

I would not bother with phone insurance. The monthly fee is too high (around $6/m) and you still have a deductible (for DHs Droid it was $80!!). Plus it's up to the insurance company's discretion if they want to replace it - they won't always do it.

(I used to work for a wirelss company. Insurance is a racket!)

I hate to say it, but if the insurance company will cover your cost the deductible, of $80 is still cheaper than the full price of the phone... which without contract a Droid Incredible for example is $529.99.

So think about it. For 2 years of insurance that's $144.00 with the $6/month that you quoted. Plus the $80.00 that's a $529.99 phone for $224.00. If you want the exact same phone, that's really the way to go. Otherwise for the exact same phone and no upgrade available it would have been the full price of $529.99.

And I also used to work for a cell phone company, AT&T to be exact. May Verizon's policies be different? Perhaps, but this is my experience.