<p>DS has started to get involvement in many e/c as a junior. I think we should get him a cell phone. Adding a line to our existing package (Dw and DD has a phone) will be like $10 a month. </p>
<p>I have not been to get one with reasonable cost from eBay nor Craiglist. Is there any other place I should try?</p>
<p>You should be able to get a new one free or at a greatly reduced cost when you add his line to your family package. Our basic camera phone LGs were free, and our son’s Chocolate was $35 (a year ago). Check with your carrier. You may be able to get a better deal online than you will at a store. Which carrier?</p>
<p>I agree with kelsmom - they’ll usually give you the phone free when you add a line. Keep in mind that it’ll probably extend your contract by 2 years so make sure you’re okay with that before committing.</p>
<p>That’s right. Some carriers will extend it for a year & give you the phone for a reduced price - free if you extend it 2 years. Other carriers only give you the 2 year extension (no 1 year option). I assume you have a national carrier (the locals are the ones who won’t make you sign a contract).</p>
<p>Interesting point and something that should be investigated in greater detail. </p>
<p>to the cell company. What is more important, a new line for $10/mn that includes a new cell phone and 2 year commitment. OR $5/mn that does not include a phone but a 2 year commitment? </p>
<p>to the cell phone user. What is more important, the phone or the service and at what cost? </p>
<p>This I know.
<p>This I question.
If I keep the phone longer than 2 years (4 years on average), I am really giving the cell phone company more profit?</p>
<p>I think my contract is coming due. I am going to try to renew at lower cost and not get a new phone. If they balk, I may change carriers.</p>
<p>Get a larger phone. Smaller phones tend to get lost, dropped, fall out of pocket/purse. </p>
<p>I often see phones at Salvation Army Mission, Goodwill, garage sales. I have a drawer full of older phones, that I keep to give to son when he loses his and ours get broken. I go green and avoid anything new for practically everything.</p>
<p>
Yes, you are since you normally could get a free phone for that extra two years which would be subsidized by the phone company and reduce their profits. They love people who pay the ‘full fare’ by not having a currently subsidized phone. It’d be nice if they’d give a reduction if one was not on a subsidized timeframe. </p>
<p>Dad II - If you decide you want a used phone, ask around to coworkers, family, friends to see if they have old phones they’re no longer using that were on the same network as you. They might be willing to just give you one. People are getting rid of old phones all the time. I donate mine.</p>
<p>And if you do go with an old phone, your phone company may still charge you $20 or so for a simcard to go with the number, or an “activation fee”.</p>
<p>Also, adding a line to your existing plan may trigger your plan’s time counter to reset to zero, and you’ll be stuck with the phone co. for the next two years even if you do not get a new phone for that line. Just make sure you read the fine print and interrogate the sales guy about these little details.</p>
<p>We use t-mobile. If you get a new phone, sometimes it is free, sometimes $20 for the cheap one with the 1 or 2 yr. contract for the extra line. However, without the phone, there is a charge for the sim card, which was $15 or 20, and the new phone comes with the sim card.</p>
<p>I would not pay for a used phone. The battery can cost 40 to replace if it is worn out, which after a couple of years it can be. A new phone comes with the battery.</p>
<p>DadII, we just renewed our contract with Verizon for 2 years. My three sons all got new cell phones and there was a choice of about four different ones which were free. That’s my deal with them. You want a phone? Pick out a free one, or if you’d like a fancier one, you pay for it. Not surprisingly, they all chose a free one.</p>
<p>Kids like the smaller phones. Yes, you might pay a little more on ebay, but you don’t have the 2 year commitment so it might be worth it.
Agree that you usually can add a line with a free or cheap phone (with decent selection).
Be warned- your son will become dependent and will want a device that texts well (Blackberry or iphone).</p>
<p>Thank you all. I think our current package has a special discount. I was told if we add a new line with a 2 year contract, the whole package will be reseted. If we get a phone ourself, we would only have to pay for the sim card and the activation fee is also waived.</p>
<p>DS understands our financial situation and only wants a simple phone that he could call when his schedule changes or something. Blackberry or iphone is definitely beyond our means. LOL, I don’t even have a phone.</p>
<p>after much effort, we finally spent the money and purchased a Motorola C168i from target for $14.99. It is a “go” phone but will take ATT sim card as a plan phone. </p>
<p>Based on reviews on amazon and best buy, it should serve our purpose well.</p>
<p>Thank you all.</p>
<p>Sounds good, Dad II!</p>