What Happened ?!?

I don't understand. I can't tell you how much I searched for prepaid phones online. I can't recall how many times I've visited Amazon.com to check if they had prepaid phones. I've typed "Prepaid Phones"....nothing. I've typed "QWERTY+prepaid"...nothing. I've typed Tracfone, and beyond the regular Tracfones seen many times before, there was nothing new. Now, after purchasing an ugly (neon green) prepaid phone from AT&T, I received from Amazon.com an email with the tag line "someone who has searched for cell phones" that included a link to... -- get this... a line of prepaid cell phones. Including a grey and black phone just like the ugly green (refurbished) one I purchased.

CHEAPER!!!

On the AT&T site, my (refurbished)phone was offered for $299 with a $200 (online)discount making the purchased price $99(with a $25 prepaid minutes card). At Amazon.com the same phone (better color) is being offered for $74(with a $50 prepaid minutes card)... no mentioning of a discount, but with a MSRP$99 with accessories not shown on the AT&T site.

What Happened?!?

I should be angry, but strangely, I'm not. Annoyed Yes, but not angry. I already know I'm not the smartest or the quickest. My first impulse was to order from Amazon.com and return the AT&T phone unopened. But, with the green phone arriving tomorrow, and the Amazon phone not arriving until Jan. 5th at the earliest, I'm going to stick with the green. I don't like the green color, but it really isn't as ugly as I'm suggesting. Besides, I'm happy with being able to carry over my Tracfone phone number (which has been my "official" phone number for the last 4 years). I can't tell you how many applications and documents with "my phone number" I have completed in the last 4 years, I have no desire to backtrack to find out or update. As long as the phone arrives early and works well, then I'm happy. Besides, I don't mind the idea of upgrading to a fancier model on this new system. Tracfone has been a good company but their phone selection suck! Besides, I'm someone who doesn't like change. If Tracfone even suggested that they might have "QWERTY" phones in the near future, I would have probably stuck with Tracfone. I'm someone who gets (too quickly) set in my ways and routines.

If this green phone doesn't measure up, I have no problem going out and buying a newer (fancier) model. Although, knowing I'm eager to buy a new phone when the green one breaks or gets a scratch, this green one will probably last much longer than I want it to last. That's how my luck works.

Lesson learned? Being impatient is costly.

Post Date - Tuesday, December 29, 2009 12:50PM

New Phone

I just brought a new phone!!!!

I guess you didn't think I would be able to hold out for very long.

So, What do I think about spending about $100 per month for a cell phone?

Actually...

I didn't buy the one mentioned in the previous blog entry. Nope. I settled for a refurbished phone. Yes, refurbished. The cheapskate in me won out. I hate the color, but I like the style -- just what I was looking for in a new phone. Easy texting...I hope. I ordered the phone online. If everything goes well, I will be switching companies..

Snag...My credit card was rejected. That can be correct later.

I'll post a photo found from the internet.


Gotta say, having just looked at the posting. I'm really starting to hate that color (light neon lime green). Maybe the ugly color will keep me from burning through my minutes. Anyway, I'm hoping that if the phone is activated and works, I will then be on a network that would allow me to purchase a newer better "unlocked" model. Unfortunately, the Tracfone network system doesn't allow compatability with other phones not on their network.

P.S. - In the excitement, I forgot to add the most important part.
THE PHONE IS A PREPAID PHONE!!!No contract!!! No fees!!!

New Phone

The title should have been "Should I or Shouldn't I". I'm thinking about getting a new cell phone. For the past 4 years, I've been using a prepaid Tracfone. The cost of the Tracfone are only the minutes I've paid to use. I don't use my phone very often. 100 minutes will last me a couple of months (or more). For the last couple of days, I've been wanting a new phone. With the prepaid, the services are very limited, not to mention the slow texting ability. Well, I was surfing online, and checked out the various cell phone providers. I was just about to make my online purchase, when I saw the monthly charge for the basic package (about the same as my landline phone). The monthly cost does not include "the extras" like internet connection, etc... Do I really want to be locked into paying about $80 per month every month(about $96 per year). That's excluding taxes, fees & other charges). Once the "extras" are factored in, I could be spending over a thousand dollars for a phone I don't use very often. Now that I think about it, the "extras"(Taxes, Fees & Other Charges) could be as high as $15 per month.

In the past, I've always smile when those around me complained about their cell phone payments. Do I really want to join the ranks of those who have to deal with contracts, penalties, monthly payments, etc...? I saved the shopping cart page. For once, I resisted the impulse buy I usually cave in to. But since I saved the shopping page, isn't it a matter of time before I cave. Also, I like the idea of starting something new at the beginning of the new year. Well, ...

"Should I or Shouldn't I?"

Below is a picture of the phone I was planning to get.