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Where would you buy a celphone?

G

Ginseng

Banned
Joined
Oct 2, 2005
Messages
8,803
Hey you tech/gadget guys,

Do you have any preferred places to go buy celphones that can be activated to existing accounts, for example with Verizon's CDMA network? My wife's phone is starting to fritz out and when you buy a phone, you re-up with Verizon and have to sign a new contract. Not a problem except that they no longer offer the $50/mo. family plan we use and the replacement plan starts at $70/mo. That's better than $260/yr extra including fees and taxes.

We don't need anything fancy. Just a trustworthy place to buy Motorola or other makes. BTW, Verizon offers no-contract phone upgrades but I don't know if their prices are competitive.

Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

Wilkey
 
For what it's worth ...

The best place for me to buy used cells is eBay; a good second-best might be a prepaid phone on Verizon. As the rest of the world uses GSM, as well as the largest North American networks (AT&T in the US, Rogers in Canada), the supply of decent CDMA phones is somewhat restricted.

My most recent phone, on the other hand, is a new one from sprint using the SERO program. www.sprint.com/sero , but you have to know the email address of a Sprint employee to subscribe. (Note that I didn't say that you have to know a sprint employee, just the email address...) Sprint used to accept a promotional address (savings@sprintemi.com) but it may not currently work. Use at your peril.
 
Thanks, manglesi. I figured the CDMA requirement might end up being a problem. I wonder if Verizon is going to stick with CDMA now that they've bought up that new hunk of spectrum from the FCC. Or will they transition to GSM?

I'll visit eBay as a last resort. I've got an irrational paranoia about dealing on eBay and so would not prefer to transact with individuals there unless absolutely necessary.

Wilkey
 
Local craigslist? This way you've got the option of actually looking at the phone in person, you know where they live in case of a problem and it gives you room for negotiating the price.
 
I don't see Verizon switching to GSM any time soon. With the impending purchase of Alltel Wireless, I'd imagine priority one will be merging the two networks.

Even though the largest U.S. wireless carrier, AT&T, uses GSM, more of the country is actually on CDMA. AT&T and T-Mobile are GSM, Verizon, Sprint, and Alltel all use CDMA
 
We don't need anything fancy. Just a trustworthy place to buy Motorola or other makes.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I have this Motorola cell phone on my hip. I've had it a little less than a year and it's been a stellar performer though it's "nothing fancy". Note, you'll have to key in your zip code to see if it's available for your use where you live. Battery life is great btw,

And, it's FREE!


Dan
 
Thanks Dan. It's free but you have to re-up to a new contract for 2 years and I was hoping to avoid that. With no contract, it's something like $190.

That was the phone I was looking at though. ;)

Wilkey
 
Nice to know that so many people know what the hell a "celphone" actually is. :laugh: :sign:

Kidding aside, have you given any thought to prepaid plans like those from Virgin Mobile? Those can offer some great alternatives, particularly without getting locked into a contract. Further, I believe that Virgin Mobile is a CDMA carrier (as opposed to GSM).
 
Ginseng said:
Thanks Dan. It's free but you have to re-up to a new contract for 2 years and I was hoping to avoid that. With no contract, it's something like $190.

That was the phone I was looking at though. ;)

Wilkey
Click to expand...

I work for a company that makes software for cellular companies. I buy phones from ebay all the time. I have never had a problem yet. I am a Blackberry fan but I like LG's over Motorola's. I like buying unlocked phones because they you are able to travel overseas with them. Just my two cents.

Kristin
 
Ginseng said:
I'll visit eBay as a last resort. I've got an irrational paranoia about dealing on eBay and so would not prefer to transact with individuals there unless absolutely necessary.
Click to expand...

Ebay is a great place to buy phones. I have bought tons of phones off of Ebay. Ask for the ESN number and call Verizon to verify that has not been reported stolen. I bought a phone off of Ebay one time that had been stolen. They busted the people. It is not a big deal. Good luck.
 
Ginseng said:
Hey you tech/gadget guys,

Do you have any preferred places to go buy celphones that can be activated to existing accounts, for example with Verizon's CDMA network? My wife's phone is starting to fritz out and when you buy a phone, you re-up with Verizon and have to sign a new contract. Not a problem except that they no longer offer the $50/mo. family plan we use and the replacement plan starts at $70/mo. That's better than $260/yr extra including fees and taxes.

We don't need anything fancy. Just a trustworthy place to buy Motorola or other makes. BTW, Verizon offers no-contract phone upgrades but I don't know if their prices are competitive.

Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

Wilkey
Click to expand...

I'm glad there are still people left in this country who would consider Motorola! :p
 
Thank you, Dan!

Although, I'm leaning towards just telling her to live with it. Life is too complicated these days. If I had the means, I'd pay a concierge just to handle junk like this.

Wilkey
 
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