Help with Cell phone plans

jjirons69 · 03-08-2010, 08:08 PM

Yep, I'm one. Never had a cell phone of any type. I'll be 41 next month and have avoided it like the plague. Things have come up with family and work and I think it's about time. Some background - my wife has a Tracfone, pay as you go. She uses it once every other day. Her brother gave her a Razor to use with it. Not a bad deal. We've talked a little and haven't decided if we want to do a family plan or let me go out on my own. I won't be using it much, because I don't like phones (burdened at work) and I have a land line. I don't see me texting much, if at all, and I may use it once or twice a day most days. I love my wife's iTouch and would love to have an iPhone, but it's a lot of commitment. I've thought about the pay-as-you-go route, the unlimited plans, and the roll-over minute plans. Let's hear what you have and why you like it. There's just so may types of phones (iPhone; Blackberry World, Bold, Curve, Storm; Droid; etc.) and so many carriers and plans.

aich75013 · 03-08-2010, 08:11 PM

If you just need a phone, get a free one with a small family plan.
Compare the rates with all carriers. Ask people around you about service/dropped calls.

MortonMilo · 03-08-2010, 08:24 PM

t-mobile offers cheap and easy pay as you go as well. no contract commitment either. Have had great reception wherever I go, although I can't comment on SC!

Razorhog · 03-08-2010, 08:28 PM

I'm like Charleton Heston with a gun, when it comes to my iPhone

Mobile Stogie rocks!

shilala · 03-08-2010, 08:45 PM

Jamie, why don't you just try a pay as you go phone and see how much you use it?
If you find that enjoyable, then you could move to whatever you like. A full blown expensive iphone plan or whatever.
Before you get wringed into a two year commitment, you should see how much you use the phone and if you can even stand it.
Once you see if you enjoy it, or just tolerate it, and guage your usage, then maybe a plan for you and the wife would make sense?
I absolutely love my iphone, it's a ton of fun. My first phone I hated. Couldn't stand the ex calling me every ten minutes, and I felt like I had zero privacy. Reason I mentioned that is I have hit both extremes. I sure hope you don't.

Kreth · 03-08-2010, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aich75013

If you just need a phone, get a free one with a small family plan.
Compare the rates with all carriers. Ask people around you about service/dropped calls.

It sounds like you basically just want an emergency phone. No sense getting a smartphone for that.
Posted via Mobile Device

elderboy02 · 03-08-2010, 09:11 PM

Verizon... I love it.

I never have any dead spots.

captain53 · 03-08-2010, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kreth

It sounds like you basically just want an emergency phone. No sense getting a smartphone for that.
Posted via Mobile Device

Keep it simple for what you are trying to do.

mmblz · 03-08-2010, 09:15 PM

Recently switched from US Cellular - one blackberry and one regular phone for something like 140 a month, to tracfone - 2 simple phones with minutes we think should last a year for $440.
Can't beat that!

BigFrank · 03-08-2010, 09:20 PM

do not get a blackberry
I have one now, it is my 5th since october. many fellas that I work with have them and are on their multiple phone. To easy to break/damage/what have you.

Wolfgang · 03-08-2010, 09:25 PM

Remember max out texting with barely any minutes. No one calls anymore

03-08-2010, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigFrank

do not get a blackberry
I have one now, it is my 5th since october. many fellas that I work with have them and are on their multiple phone. To easy to break/damage/what have you.

Yup, went through two of them in 6 months. The little track ball never works for me and if you drop it on a hard surface from a distance greater than 3ft it will crack like an egg.

bobarian · 03-08-2010, 09:45 PM

Check with co-workers and friends for the best local coverage. If you dont travel you will care little how much coverage a network will give you. Check promotional or bundled plans with your cable TV or land line. Bells and whistles are nice but you do pay for them.

jjirons69 · 03-09-2010, 07:26 AM

Good advice. I think I'll go the pay-as-you-go route and see how that works.

shilala · 03-09-2010, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjirons69

Good advice. I think I'll go the pay-as-you-go route and see how that works.

Phones are only a couple bucks at Walmart, Jamie.
Hey, if you can do the pay as you go with any verizon phone, I have a couple of the gzone unbreakable ones that kick ass. I can hook you up, tuna.

Mugen910 · 03-09-2010, 08:12 AM

I usually see deals for tmobile and tracphone pay as you go...If you have never had a cell plan before then I assume you don't really need it. So for little situations just do the pay as you go.

captain53 · 03-09-2010, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjirons69

Good advice. I think I'll go the pay-as-you-go route and see how that works.

I had my son a TracPhone for a while and as long as you don't use it a lot (especially out of your area) then it is very reasonable and quite frankly the coverage service was excellent. I found the best deals by using TracPhone online for both minutes and phones.

Ashcan Bill · 03-09-2010, 10:50 AM

My wife and I went with a 2 year Verizon plan.

We went with Verizon because it has the best coverage for where we live. Friends and neighbors with other carriers always have problems, but ours tend to work pretty good. Also a lot of our friends and family have Verizon so the calls don't count against your minutes.

We got 2 free phones and I think around 750 minutes a month, which we'll never come close to using. I believe with taxes we pay around $75 a month.

One other thing I discovered when I was shopping around was it's cheaper to sign up on line than it is walking into a Verizon store. If I recall, we saved $20 or so a month by doing it on line.

Our plan expires at the end of this year, and I'm happy enough with Verizon that I plan on sticking with them if I can negotiate a decent enough renewal deal.

Phone companies are like banks - you have people that like certain ones, and others that hate them. Just depends on your personal experiences and needs.

MedicCook · 03-09-2010, 10:52 AM

I have a tracfone because I rarely use it. I have it so work can call me and if the baby momma's have an emergency with one of the girls. A $20 card will last me months.

J0eybb · 03-09-2010, 10:57 AM

Look into page plus. RIght now I beleive it is the cheapest, and it uses the same towers as Verizon wireless. I have verizon, and when my contract is up, I plan on switching over to page plus, pay as you go.

The best cell phone forum there is.

http://www.howardforums.com/

View Poll Results: Which do you use?
Verizon	20	35.09%
AT & T	18	31.58%
Sprint	10	17.54%
T-Mobile	7	12.28%
US Cellular	3	5.26%
Tracfone	2	3.51%
Boost Mobile	0	0%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 57. You may not vote on this poll

03-08-2010, 08:08 PM	#1
jjirons69 Haberdasher Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jamie Location: Chucktown, SC Posts: 4,120 Trading: (94)	Help with Cell phone plans Yep, I'm one. Never had a cell phone of any type. I'll be 41 next month and have avoided it like the plague. Things have come up with family and work and I think it's about time. Some background - my wife has a Tracfone, pay as you go. She uses it once every other day. Her brother gave her a Razor to use with it. Not a bad deal. We've talked a little and haven't decided if we want to do a family plan or let me go out on my own. I won't be using it much, because I don't like phones (burdened at work) and I have a land line. I don't see me texting much, if at all, and I may use it once or twice a day most days. I love my wife's iTouch and would love to have an iPhone, but it's a lot of commitment. I've thought about the pay-as-you-go route, the unlimited plans, and the roll-over minute plans. Let's hear what you have and why you like it. There's just so may types of phones (iPhone; Blackberry World, Bold, Curve, Storm; Droid; etc.) and so many carriers and plans. __________________ Somebody has to go back and get a chitload of dimes

03-08-2010, 08:11 PM	#2
aich75013 Feeling at Home Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Adrian Location: Allen, TX Posts: 774 Trading: (25)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans If you just need a phone, get a free one with a small family plan. Compare the rates with all carriers. Ask people around you about service/dropped calls.

03-08-2010, 08:24 PM	#3
MortonMilo Blowing smoke Join Date: Feb 2010 First Name: R Posts: 215 Trading: (10)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans t-mobile offers cheap and easy pay as you go as well. no contract commitment either. Have had great reception wherever I go, although I can't comment on SC!

03-08-2010, 08:28 PM	#4
Razorhog Feeling at Home Join Date: Jul 2009 First Name: Beau Location: NE Arkansas Posts: 600 Trading: (4)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans I'm like Charleton Heston with a gun, when it comes to my iPhone Mobile Stogie rocks!

03-08-2010, 08:45 PM	#5
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans Jamie, why don't you just try a pay as you go phone and see how much you use it? If you find that enjoyable, then you could move to whatever you like. A full blown expensive iphone plan or whatever. Before you get wringed into a two year commitment, you should see how much you use the phone and if you can even stand it. Once you see if you enjoy it, or just tolerate it, and guage your usage, then maybe a plan for you and the wife would make sense? I absolutely love my iphone, it's a ton of fun. My first phone I hated. Couldn't stand the ex calling me every ten minutes, and I felt like I had zero privacy. Reason I mentioned that is I have hit both extremes. I sure hope you don't. __________________

03-08-2010, 09:11 PM	#7
elderboy02 Lets Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 12,509 Trading: (133)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans Verizon... I love it. I never have any dead spots.

03-08-2010, 09:15 PM	#9
mmblz .090909... Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NH Posts: 4,031 Trading: (3)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans Recently switched from US Cellular - one blackberry and one regular phone for something like 140 a month, to tracfone - 2 simple phones with minutes we think should last a year for $440. Can't beat that! __________________ herf wear

03-08-2010, 09:20 PM	#10
BigFrank 5 3 1 Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Frank Location: Gym or Sofa. Posts: 1,896 Trading: (25)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans do not get a blackberry I have one now, it is my 5th since october. many fellas that I work with have them and are on their multiple phone. To easy to break/damage/what have you. __________________ " Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment. "

03-08-2010, 09:25 PM	#11
Wolfgang Back from the dead Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 2,541 Trading: (14)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans Remember max out texting with barely any minutes. No one calls anymore __________________ You probably wont remember that test you failed, but you'll never forget the girl you were with the night before, when you decided not to study.

03-08-2010, 09:45 PM	#13
bobarian Cranky Habanophile Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wine Country Posts: 8,869 Trading: (51)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans Check with co-workers and friends for the best local coverage. If you dont travel you will care little how much coverage a network will give you. Check promotional or bundled plans with your cable TV or land line. Bells and whistles are nice but you do pay for them.

03-09-2010, 07:26 AM	#14
jjirons69 Haberdasher Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jamie Location: Chucktown, SC Posts: 4,120 Trading: (94)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans Good advice. I think I'll go the pay-as-you-go route and see how that works. __________________ Somebody has to go back and get a chitload of dimes

03-09-2010, 08:12 AM	#16
Mugen910 I <3 Huy Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Location Location: First Name Posts: 8,387 Trading: (106)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans I usually see deals for tmobile and tracphone pay as you go...If you have never had a cell plan before then I assume you don't really need it. So for little situations just do the pay as you go. __________________ I'm not antisocial, I just think people are stupid.

03-09-2010, 10:50 AM	#18
Ashcan Bill Ol' Dude Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Bill Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 1,901 Trading: (6)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans My wife and I went with a 2 year Verizon plan. We went with Verizon because it has the best coverage for where we live. Friends and neighbors with other carriers always have problems, but ours tend to work pretty good. Also a lot of our friends and family have Verizon so the calls don't count against your minutes. We got 2 free phones and I think around 750 minutes a month, which we'll never come close to using. I believe with taxes we pay around $75 a month. One other thing I discovered when I was shopping around was it's cheaper to sign up on line than it is walking into a Verizon store. If I recall, we saved $20 or so a month by doing it on line. Our plan expires at the end of this year, and I'm happy enough with Verizon that I plan on sticking with them if I can negotiate a decent enough renewal deal. Phone companies are like banks - you have people that like certain ones, and others that hate them. Just depends on your personal experiences and needs.

03-09-2010, 10:52 AM	#19
MedicCook Mila smoked my cigar Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Ryan Location: Schaghticoke, NY Posts: 10,946 Trading: (7)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans I have a tracfone because I rarely use it. I have it so work can call me and if the baby momma's have an emergency with one of the girls. A $20 card will last me months. __________________ 27 World Series Championship's "If your wife doesn't like the aroma of your cigar, change your wife.", Zino Davidoff

03-09-2010, 10:57 AM	#20
J0eybb Feeling up at Home Join Date: Feb 2010 First Name: Joe Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,084 Trading: (5)	Re: Help with Cell phone plans Look into page plus. RIght now I beleive it is the cheapest, and it uses the same towers as Verizon wireless. I have verizon, and when my contract is up, I plan on switching over to page plus, pay as you go. The best cell phone forum there is. http://www.howardforums.com/ __________________ Live Chat http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=60202