Mobile Phone Carrier Help

#1
kiddiedoc

kiddiedoc

Renaissance Man
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#1
So, I'm about to say "Screw Verizon." I just found out my wife got suckered into paying monthly installments on her and my son's phones (totalling over $500 each over the next 24 months). I need to replace mine and they are telling me it will be $30 a month (x24 = $720) for the new Motorola version of what I am currently using. The agent said they aren't doing two-year contracts with free/discounted phones anymore. Of course, we also shell out $200/month for service.

I have been very pleased with my service/network, but $3600/year is insane. I'm considering switching carriers, but I need really good coverage, as I take after-hours call and keep a fairly active lifestyle.

Any suggestions/advice is much appreciated.
 
#2
#2
Sprint is doing the same installments, so is ATT and so is ATT. Cricket or MetroPCS is your other options.

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
 
#3
#3
We switched from Verizon to Straight Talk a few years ago due to similar billing BS. The only complaint I have is don't get the latest greatest phones with Straight Talk, and you pay full retail price for them. Most of the phones through Straight Talk actually run on the Verizon network. We haven't noticed any loss in coverage. As far as data neither of us has ever come close to exceeding the 5Gb they are offering now.
 
#4
#4
All the major carriers are doing this. Are you loyal to Apple or would you entertain a Google device?
 
#6
#6
So I did a little research, and I think my older phone might just have a loose connection, dislodged by some recent minor trauma (I have faint, dark horizontal lines in the screen). If Verizon is going to try to bend me over to the tune of $720, it might be worth trying to open the phone and fix it. I'm going to look at some videos...
 
#7
#7
All the big carriers are doing it. You're paying full price but in payments (with no interest). We got the wife's iPhone 6 and a Lifeproof case for $139 on a 2 year contract just about a year ago. They stopped soon after I believe
 
#9
#9
Kiddiedoc,I've got Verizon. All I've ever had. But swappa is a site that volinbham recommended. I buy late (or current) models of used devices...some in original plastic for 20-50% off. Very pleased with it so far. Allows me to keep getting grandfathered into good Verizon plans.
 
#10
#10
kiddiedoc said:
Only my son has an Apple device. I'm a Droid user with Google services.
Click to expand...

Have you thought about the Pixel devices? They aren't the deal the Nexus was, but still cheaper.

You could also try to find a Nexus 6P new on eBay. The 5X was garbage. Wouldn't advise.
 
#11
#11
McDad said:
Kiddiedoc,I've got Verizon. All I've ever had. But swappa is a site that volinbham recommended. I buy late (or current) models of used devices...some in original plastic for 20-50% off. Very pleased with it so far. Allows me to keep getting grandfathered into good Verizon plans.
Click to expand...

Cool, that site looks promising. I'm still hopeful I can get mine fixed and have found a repair guy that's a friend of a friend. I think it's just a connection because it varies some and definitely improved when I heated the phone a bit.

Honestly, the phone market has become a crazy racket.
 
#12
#12
kiddiedoc said:
So I did a little research, and I think my older phone might just have a loose connection, dislodged by some recent minor trauma (I have faint, dark horizontal lines in the screen). If Verizon is going to try to bend me over to the tune of $720, it might be worth trying to open the phone and fix it. I'm going to look at some videos...
Click to expand...
Verizon isn't bending you over, the phone manufacturers are.
 
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#13
#13
BearCat204 said:
Verizon isn't bending you over, the phone manufacturers are.
Click to expand...

True dat. They sell phones for up to around $1,000 and then stop supporting them within about 5 years thus rendering them obsolete. When AT&T had a landline monopoly, their equipment lasted 50 years.

Virgin Mobile is owned by Sprint and has decent plans and the same coverage. But buying a lot of additional data at full access speed could add up. I think that the basic plan is about $30/month per phone plus another $10-15 for hot spot.
 
#14
#14
McDad said:
Kiddiedoc,I've got Verizon. All I've ever had. But swappa is a site that volinbham recommended. I buy late (or current) models of used devices...some in original plastic for 20-50% off. Very pleased with it so far. Allows me to keep getting grandfathered into good Verizon plans.
Click to expand...

Ditto on the Swappa. Only way to fly if you're not wanting to get into the financing of a phone.

TMobile an option where you live? (Although on a super basic skim through, Republic Wireless seems to be a similar option with how they use Wi-Fi for everything when possible, just without the unlimited cell data TMobile offers).
 
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#16
#16
Can also vouch for the Nexus 6P if you aren't quite ready for a Pixel.

LOVE that phone.
 
#17
#17
I'm grandfathered in on a Verizon unlimited. I buy reman phones for around $125. the last 3 have been great. like new. usually last about 18 months before they start pooping out.

I've currently got the Samsung Galaxy5, and have the Drod turbo arriving today. my external Speaker failed (likely due to a drop).

I will not buy a new phone. that's where they clobber you.
 
#18
#18
New flagship phones have the highest margins of cell phones.

Get last years best phone for half the price.

Nexus 6P is ok (despite Android 7.0 trying to ruin it), the Nexus 5x is ok now (software issues mainly fixed now), and the Moto G4 is good.

Get one unlocked. Try different carriers. Cricket is owned by ATT and good. Verizon is good if you don't mind wasting money. TMO and their 100 resellers are decent enough for most. Sprint is solid now and has the newest network.

If you pay more than $60 or $70/mo for service per line, you are probably paying more than you need to. And you are paying a lot more than me.

Ring+ had free service again last night. 2,000 minutes/text and 2g+ of LTE data for the low monthly total of free. My buddy runs up 1000+ minutes and text every month without spending a dime.
 
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#19
#19
These phone companies are getting worse and worse. I've paid no more than $40 a month for over 10 years now with Cricket. They've only offered phone deals on new accounts so you basically pay market price for whatever phone you want up front. They were bought by ATT last year but their concept has not changed. They can't screw you with underhanded contracts as they don't have contracts and plans are flat rates.
 
#20
#20
kiddiedoc said:
So I did a little research, and I think my older phone might just have a loose connection, dislodged by some recent minor trauma (I have faint, dark horizontal lines in the screen). If Verizon is going to try to bend me over to the tune of $720, it might be worth trying to open the phone and fix it. I'm going to look at some videos...
Click to expand...

Do you have insurance on the phone? If so may wanna look into that route. They'll send you a refurb for free or if they don't make the phone you have anymore they will send you the newest model of phone. Unless Verizon has changed that.
 
#21
#21
Vol$_Deep_11_9 said:
Do you have insurance on the phone? If so may wanna look into that route. They'll send you a refurb for free or if they don't make the phone you have anymore they will send you the newest model of phone. Unless Verizon has changed that.
Click to expand...

That's my backup plan. It's still usable, just with static lines in the screen. Still working on a possible fix.
 
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#22
#22
kiddiedoc said:
That's my backup plan. It's still usable, just with static lines in the screen. Still working on a possible fix.
Click to expand...

The way it is now, you should be able to use it should you decide to go that route. I haven't had to use mine in a long time so I may be giving outdated information but you shouldn't have to pay a dime to do it. I know it's a pain to deal with people in the store though.

My Dad has a Galaxy S5 and he was having issues with the charger port and he was going to have to pay 150$ deductible before he could use his insurance but he was on the device payment plan.

Hope you get it worked out though, crazy how problems with technology bug the crap out of us these days. Just the world we live in. I will say though, unless you're a diehard droid person you may want to give the iPhone a shot. They come with a warranty and you wouldn't have to deal with anything through the store should one mess up. You take it to the Apple Store and they either fix it or give you a brand new phone, not a refurbished one.
 
#23
#23
DrRosenRosen said:
New flagship phones have the highest margins of cell phones.

Get last years best phone for half the price.

Nexus 6P is ok (despite Android 7.0 trying to ruin it), the Nexus 5x is ok now (software issues mainly fixed now), and the Moto G4 is good.

Get one unlocked. Try different carriers. Cricket is owned by ATT and good. Verizon is good if you don't mind wasting money. TMO and their 100 resellers are decent enough for most. Sprint is solid now and has the newest network.

If you pay more than $60 or $70/mo for service per line, you are probably paying more than you need to. And you are paying a lot more than me.

Ring+ had free service again last night. 2,000 minutes/text and 2g+ of LTE data for the low monthly total of free. My buddy runs up 1000+ minutes and text every month without spending a dime.
Click to expand...

DRR, I'm seriously considering switching to Google Fi, and have read you were using or testing it out. Any thoughts?
 
#24
#24
g8terh8ter_eric said:
DRR, I'm seriously considering switching to Google Fi, and have read you were using or testing it out. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

No problems here on Fi. I don't use a ton of cell data. I work at home and most places I hang out have wifi. So, I average 1 to 2gig of mobile data a month. Ends up being about $35-$45 each month after taxes.

One month I was under a gig of data and paid about $29 for the month.

TMo's walmart $30 plan is solid if you don't use more than 100 minutes a month.
 
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#25
#25
DrRosenRosen said:
No problems here on Fi. I don't use a ton of cell data. I work at home and most places I hang out have wifi. So, I average 1 to 2gig of mobile data a month. Ends up being about $35-$45 each month after taxes.

One month I was under a gig of data and paid about $29 for the month.

TMo's walmart $30 plan is solid if you don't use more than 100 minutes a month.
Click to expand...

What about call quality? I talk a lot, much more than I text. Also, do photos from the messaging use wifi if you are on it?
 
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