WWYD? Cell Phone headache

[luvmy3]

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.

Really? I thought that an unlocked phone can be used on a different carrier only if they used the same technology for their phones. That would open up a ton of options if that were true, and I'll be kicking myself for purchasing the phone I did when I could have used another.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

Really? I thought that an unlocked phone can be used on a different carrier only if they used the same technology for their phones. That would open up a ton of options if that were true, and I'll be kicking myself for purchasing the phone I did when I could have used another.

Well this is also true, and thank you for mentioning it! I forgot to add it to my post.

If a phone carrier is CDMA (Verizon, Sprint) you will find no SIM card in the back of the phone. These phones can be used on each other's carriers as long as it's unlocked.

If a phone carrier is GSM (T-mobile, AT&T) you will find the SIM card in the back of the phone (Generally under the battery). These phones can be used on each other's carriers as long as it's unlocked.

You cannot however use a CDMA phone on a GSM network and vice versa.

 

[vettechick99]

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.

We could definitely go back and forth.

The OP isn't going to buy her daughter a $500 phone. If she spends $100 on the phone plus $6/m and $50 deductible on insurance, she's wasting her money. Insurance is not worth the money in most cases. Plus, verizon offers a 1-yr contract price for phones lost or damaged and not covered by insurance. That's how DH got the Droid. We paid the 1-yr price and added another year. She's better off doing that. Or better yet, go the ebay route. I decided to ditch my Samsung smart phone for a blackberry and got one on ebay for $80.

However, if her daughter wrecks another phone in less than a year, that's a whole other issue! It wouldn't matter how sweet a girl she is, she wouldn't get another phone.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

We could definitely go back and forth.

The OP isn't going to buy her daughter a $500 phone. If she spends $100 on the phone plus $6/m and $50 deductible on insurance, she's wasting her money. Insurance is not worth the money in most cases. Plus, verizon offers a 1-yr contract price for phones lost or damaged and not covered by insurance. That's how DH got the Droid. We paid the 1-yr price and added another year. She's better off doing that. Or better yet, go the ebay route. I decided to ditch my Samsung smart phone for a blackberry and got one on ebay for $80.

However, if her daughter wrecks another phone in less than a year, that's a whole other issue! It wouldn't matter how sweet a girl she is, she wouldn't get another phone.

Well I definitely wouldn't recommend a $500 phone for a child/teenager anyway! But I was just using your example as I knew it on AT&T. I do agree that on a cheaper phone insurance can be a waste, but on more expensive phones, it may be worth it unless you do it how you did with Verizon.

I think truly that every carrier is different. For example, insurance is definitely worth it with AT&T, especially if you purchase online. Verizon I don't have personal experience with unfortunately.

To be honest right now I'm using Metro PCS. Unlimited talk, text and web for $40 bucks and no contract. Loving it!

 

[Disney Doll]

I can only tell you what my parenst would have said had cell phones been around when I was a kid and I was so careless with them.

"I am so sad for you that you cannot take proper care of the things we get you. Our next cellphone contract renews in Janaury 2012. You will get a new cell phone then. Until then, make do with what you have or feel free to use your own money to buy yourself a phone".

And that would have been the end of the conversation.