waaay off topic: cellphone advice??

[powerdog]

Anyone ever need to replace a cellphone that's in the middle of a contract, no warranty?
My wife put hers in a nice, leakproof bag to go kayaking, along with an OPEN water bottle. DOA. What do you do? ebay? Verizon charges a fortune if you don't buy with a plan.

 

[nullphonic]

Just went through this in a different sort of way. Sometimes, depending on the features you want with the phone, it's CHEAPER to terminate the contract and reinstate with a new phone. Most terminations cost around $200.00 where some of the newer 'cooler' phones will hit you for $350.00+ with no plan.

Just a thought.

 

[mmm]

I always get insurance.

Try ebay, but I don't know if they lock a phone to one sim card in the states. Here in the UK they often do, but you can find a guy at most markets stalls to unlock it for you...for a few quid.

 

[Owen]

I always go the ebay route if I'm mid-plan. Works fine for me, but I don't ever care about what features the phone has as long as I can place calls. (I have my DVX, why do I need my cell phone to shoot video??!)

 

[powerdog]

Owen, do you buy the refurbs on eBay? They seem to be the most common of the no-plan phones.

 

[Mino]

I dropped mine in the toilet once. I took all the covers off, battery out. put it on a heat register and it dried out eventaully and worked good as new. It did take about two weeks before it was totally stable but it worked.

 

[Owen]

The only refurbs I've had were given to my by the actual service provider. My ebay phones are used phones from individuals who claim to have either upgraded or switched providers.

It may depend on your provider, but it seems that you could buy a cheap used/refurb unit, enroll in the insurance/replacement program with your carrier, and see what happens over the course of 2 - 3 months. If everythings seems to be working fine I'd cancel the insurance at that point. (I figure that a year of insurance pretty much pays for another used/refurbed phone, so I never do it).

 

[mmm]

I dropped mine in the toilet once.

It is amazing how many people do that! I have nearly a few times.

I always take it with me to play golf :grin:

 

[powerdog]

After all this, the phone seems to be coming back to life. First it could only flash the Verizon logo. Now it's starting up, and even seems to remember the speed-dials. Amazing!

 

[kai]

I dropped mine in the toilet once.

I dunno... something about putting it up to my face after that just doesn't seem kosher.

 

[powerdog]

Kai, maybe if you slit its hinge, salt it and hang it up to dry....?