not dive related: A question about Cell Phones in USA

[Dive-aholic]

I just saw a rack of these phones today. The cheapest was $19.99 plus minutes. Not much value afterwards, but you could probably unload it on ebay for half the price.

 

[scubavili]

I just saw a rack of these phones today. The cheapest was $19.99 plus minutes. Not much value afterwards, but you could probably unload it on ebay for half the price.

Could I perhaps buy/get somewhere an old phone and load phone time for it? I realize 20 bucks for a phone is nothing, but still it feels wasting when I buy a new phone and dump it after 6 weeks. A once-dumped phone would do the trick for me. Or, is it not possible for another user to buy phone time for somebody elses old phone...?

Anyway, thanks for the advice. Now I know how to be reached when I get there.

 

[Dive-aholic]

You might be able to find something on ebay, but by the time shipping is added you will end up paying more for it than if you just spend the $20 here. It shouldn't be any problem adding minutes. Just call in with a credit card number and they'll add them. And like someone said, then you can donate it to a shelter or something.

 

[mike_s]

My thoughts on buying a cell phone on Ebay are slightly negative. in the US, Phones are so "cheap" as part of the cell plan. Why buy a used phone that could be worn out or have an old battery that won't hold a charge when you can buy a new one so cheap.

 

[scubavili]

My thoughts on buying a cell phone on Ebay are slightly negative. in the US, Phones are so "cheap" as part of the cell plan. Why buy a used phone that could be worn out or have an old battery that won't hold a charge when you can buy a new one so cheap.

Right. Thanks for folks for helping. In Finland untill today you have been able to buy a phone and an operator deal separately. Thus, the minutes and the machnes have had completely separated markets. After buying a phone you can choose from about a dozen of operators providing you a SIM card with the connection. Each deal has its own features. If you get fed up with one provider, you can just get another SIM card by another provider and go on with that.

In Finland the pre paid deals never go with the phone. Its just the SIM card you buy from a local "seven eleven" and stick in in to your phone. And there you go, calling the minutes the SIM has in it. After youre done, you get another pre paid SIM (which operater provides you the most) and go on with that.

This way, a second hand phone works just fine. If you have the phone, you go and buy a SIM card for 20 euros and talk all day an night. In Finland the "air time" or "minuts" as you call it, are the cheapest in the world.

If your cell phone runs out of battery, you can borrow the cell phone from the people next to you, stick your SIM card in it, see your short messages and contacts in your neighbors phone, and use it like your own - you will be the one whos going to be charged, not the one who borrowed you the phone.

These things might be the same in US too. I dont know. Just wanted to write and tell you how things are here. We dont have "phones on the rack" as you do.

Cheers,

Ville

 

[super opus]

there are sim cards here as long your phone meets the us i think if you have a gsm of 1800 or 1900 that is the us then u can pick up a sim card prepay from t-moble but it would probly be cheaper to get the to go phone for 20 bucks when you come back you call up add mins to you and get a new number

 

[vondo]

Virgin Mobile is generally the cheapest pre-paid option in the U.S. That's what I got my parents into. A friend of mine just got a new phone from them and I think right now they are selling a basic black and white phone for $50 which includes $40 worth of airtime (let's say 160 minutes or so). I think what makes Virgin cheapest is that you have to add $20 every 3 months to keep your phone active, so it is great for those very occasional users. Other services have larger minimum charges.

And yeah, dump it in a bin at Best Buy when you are done with it. It will either be re-sold or go to a charity.