Sunday, April 12, 2009

How do I buy a replacement cell phone without getting stuck with a new plan?

I just want an inexpensive rugged phone for keeping in the car in case of emergencies and also for making a very few calls (less than 30 min/week). I already have a Sprint PCS plan but my old (10 yrs) phone is failing badly. I don't want a camera or even color display, just a simple (cheap) phone.


You can get a free phone with the purchase of a $10 prepaid card at Beyond Wireless here: http://www.gobeyondwireless.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=5

$10 card gives you 80 minutes (12.5 cents/min) and their rates run as low as 10 cents/min. Minutes never expire as long as you make 1 call every 60 days. It's the best plan I've ever found for emergency use. The phones run on the Cingular/AT&T network, and they are not locked so you can use it on any network if you decide to switch.

Check eBay.com for used phones that work with your carrier. That way you don't have to buy a new phone and sign up for a new contract.

Sprint or authorized Spring stores will sell you a replacement phone, although it might not be too cheap. A good place to look is a third party store that sells phones and plans for a variety of cell phone providers and see what they have to offer you. We got a replacement phone for an Alltel plan midway through the plan (the phone crapped out) and we didn't get it free, but we got it at a reduced price from retail.

There are those "pay as you go" phones if you want to use them. You buy phone time on cards and only pay for what you use. Everyone sells the phones--from Walmart to 7-11, and you can often find the phones on sale. Look into them, too; VirginMobile, for example, offers a phone for as little as $20.

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/home.do;jsessionid=D5d2lDHjyn5n79gg28Jv7cpR2hnyvHLXcWCbYFX4mK1qbst8WTvD!-861858563!-839915353!7501!7502

You can manipulate most plans, or even transfer your current plan to your new phone if you want. One for our business phones was stolen, I was able to get a much cheaper phone to replace and the services downgraded and even cancelled all added services ie: bikini and horoscope texts that had been added by the person that took it without being charged for them. And I was able to keep my number.

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