Cheap cell phone and cell service options.....advice please!

[Pearl]

I posted earlier In this thread that I use Cricket, LOVE THEM!

 

[GrannyG]

I have a Trac phone...they were the only ones that would work when our area was hit by a tornado years ago....inexpensive...we only use it for Dr. visits, if our old car should break down and they work when the electricity is off.....

 

[TeeJ]

We use Ting mobile for our kids, which I find super flexible. Their "flex" plan is $10/mo for a line, and then it's pay as you use for pooled voice/text/data. I have data turned off on most of our lines, and usually end up spending $3-6 on voice and data each month for them - for a couple hundred minutes of calls and 400-600 texts. https://ting.com/

 

[Caribou]

AT&T and a flip phone. Wife won't tell me what anything costs. That works better for both of us.

 

[angie_nrs]

I thought we just had a fairly recent discussion about cell service, but now I can't find it. So, I figured I'd just revive this old thread so I can find it later. Actually this should go in the RANT thread, which I think is where the other one was.

Hubs put the final death crack in his cell phone. So, there was an unplanned trip to town to get him a new one. I'm still with Verizon, although I did some checking about a month ago and switched one phone off our plan and onto Mint moblie. It was the kids phone, so hopefully it works out for him. I also switched plans and saved some money without any agreement to stay with Verizon if we decide to switch soon, which I may.

I went to WM first to see how much their cheap phones were and the least expensive one was $170. But, if I bought that one, we couldn't return it once it left the store. So then we went to Verizon. All their phones on display were $500 and up to well over $1000 for a phone. WTH? Who pays that much for a phone? Not me! So I said, where's the cheap phones? I'm not paying that for a phone for him......he's works a rough job and we're here b/c he broke it......and it's likely to happen again. So, they open a drawer under the pricey phones and dig out the same phone they had at WM and said it's $199. I was not impressed, but I also wanted the whole ordeal over with, so just went with it.

When everything was done, there was a $35 upgrade fee added to the phone. I just wanted out of there (and was preoccupied whilst paying) and didn't even look at the receipt until we were home. I'd imagine it was for them transferring his data and arranging all his stuff the way he had it before? I paid the amount with cash up front b/c I told her I was thinking of going with another Verizon carrier and she said that cell service would be worse with anyone else even if they tell you it won't and we'd likely be back within a few weeks. Yeah? Well, we might just be testing that theory out.

In all honesty, even knowing ahead of time of the $35 fee for their services of transferring everything....I would have paid it b/c we had no idea how to do it and he needed his data. He's got puppy pics on there of our baby, which I need to get printed! Neither of us are techie people at all. It took them a while to do it all but it would have taken us days (or more), not to mention the frustration! So, yes....worth the dang fee. I just wish they'd have been upfront about it.

Rant over.......

Where is the best place to get cell phones that won't break the bank? I need an Android phone that works on the dreaded Verizon network b/c the other networks don't work very well where we live. I'm thinking of just buying him a spare phone and having it as a backup for when he breaks his phone again......b/c he will. I just ordered him a hard screen protector with rubberized case to hopefully extend the life of this one. I've threatened him with loss of life if he damages it BEFORE the protector gets here! The last one had several screen smash cracks and he even dropped it in antifreeze several months ago. He still managed to keep it going for almost 2 years, so I guess he could be worse.

 

[elkhound]

Motorola android with tracphone start at $49...owned by verizon....$144 plus tax for a year unlimited calling and text....12gb data...plus tax

 

[elkhound]

https://www.tracfone.com/smartphones

 

[Pearl]

CRICKET!!

 

[angie_nrs]

Thanks elkhound, but if we did that, there'd be no support. Being non-techie people, we kinda need that support for when he will eventually kill his next phone. He does the 'freak out' when his phone won't work. Although, he does business on his phone too.....so there's that. However, I'd bet this time of year there's more hunting pics and texts than anything else. Anyways.....we lean towards a brick and mortar store for the support if we should need it even though we know we'll likely pay more for that. It's the main reason I haven't switched yet.

Pearl, do you know if they have brick and mortar stores? It looks like Cricket uses AT&T, so that won't work for us. Verizon is the best coverage where we live.

 

[Pearl]

Thanks elkhound, but if we did that, there'd be no support. Being non-techie people, we kinda need that support for when he will eventually kill his next phone. He does the 'freak out' when his phone won't work. Although, he does business on his phone too.....so there's that. However, I'd bet this time of year there's more hunting pics and texts than anything else. Anyways.....we lean towards a brick and mortar store for the support if we should need it even though we know we'll likely pay more for that. It's the main reason I haven't switched yet.

Pearl, do you know if they have brick and mortar stores? It looks like Cricket uses AT&T, so that won't work for us. Verizon is the best coverage where we live.

Yes!! And they are always good to help! I know several people who run in for any kind of help!! They have just about any phone you want! I think the Moto G 5G is free or almost free if you are new! Check them out!!

 

[snappy1]

Where is the best place to get cell phones that won't break the bank?

I just ordered a Motorola Edge Plus 5G off of ebay and I love it. Paid $136 for open box. Free shipping. I am with Verizon, too. Took it in to have data transferred and the worker was jealous. She said it is an $800 phone and she has one just like it.

 

[angie_nrs]

The kid just reported back on Mint mobile. The coverage is horrible b/c it uses the T-mobile network and where we live, it's not good. I tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen. Now he's stuck there for 3 months. Live and learn. He says he knows some people who have Cricket and that it has good coverage. He's going to switch to that after his 3 months are up. I'll see how it works out for him before I make the jump too. I found a brick and mortar store not far from us, so that makes me happy.

 

[joel]

Only ATT, can not tell you about any other cell service.