Cell Plans & Phones Recommendations wanted

[Diane]

I’m searching for cheapest, most reliable cell phone plan for talking only, without contract; most important is reliable reception, good customer service; any/all recommendations appreciated; I’ve been with Verizon for years, very frustrated with service, cost, and poor reception; no contract now, so open to anything else, and want to change asap; thanks, Diane

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for a phone, nothing fancy needed now; I want time to shop around for smart phone later; most important, easy to read who called and dial calls without having to put my glasses on, especially in dim light (yes, I’m getting old and my eyesight sucks now); thanks for your help

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[WSB]

I think it depends on what part of West Seattle you live in – because we (in upper Fauntleroy) have had Verizon for several years and it’s the best service we’ve had – we had T-Mobile for a while and currently also have an iPhone with AT&T, both suffer in comparison to Verizon. We have a Sprint wireless broadband device as backup but have never used them for voice.

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[JanS]

Diane…there’s always this…

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/

they use the sprint network…and it’s terrific where I’m at. Never a dropped call..great reception.

for 25 bucks a month and change, I get 300 anytime minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited web…not complaining :)

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[Diane]

thanks TR; I’m top of hill in Admiral, very spotty Verizon at home; but weird that I could go down to lowest part of Fauntleroy and get excellent reception; there have been many times in downtown that I could not get any reception at all, even standing right in front of Verizon store on 1st; ironic and beyond aggravating, especially for what they charge

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I switched from ATT 10 yrs ago, because reception at my home just below Alaska Junction had horrible to zero; so ATT would probably be last on my list

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[Diane]

wow, thanks JanS; that sounds too good to be true, and you’re within my vicinity, so sounds excellent; will check it out now

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[Diane]

Ooohhh, I love their opening line on http://www.virginmobileusa.com/

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“After years of stupid cell phone plans, here’s a crazy one”

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[Diane]

so which phone do you have JanS? looks like they only offer 5 phones, cheapest is $70

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[JanS]

I opted for the LG Rumor Touch. Yeah, you pay for the phone..but their service has been great. I picked up my phone at Radio Shack..so bought it locally. It’s not a droid, it’s not an iPhone…but it does what I want, so it works for me.

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[dawsonct]

Diane, ATT has plenty about it to not like, but I have had great reception with them over the past few years, including in the basement of my current house, and the basement of my house at the bottom of a hill near Ravenna Park. It even works on Chair 2 at Alpental, and High Campbell at Crystal. Not that I make a habit of talking and skiing, but sometimes the bragging can’t wait.

When I first started with them about 8 years ago, reception was pretty crappy, but it hasn’t been an issue at all the past 6.

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[Diane]

thanks for input dawsonct; good to know there’s been improvement

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thank you JanS for great tips; I’m on my way to Radio Shack tomorrow to check out phones; after further search of their website, turns out they have another phone plan with cheaper phones starting at $10 that I can get now, with $20 calling plan for 400 mins; that’s way more time than I need, for less than half what Verizon charges; then I can save to get one of the more expensive phones with plan like you have; I’m so exited to finally discover a great option; huge virtual hug til I see you in person

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[dawsonct]

ATT is still too expensive for how I use them. Would like to pay for fewer minutes but still have unl. long distance. I’m shopping around too, but reception is most important to me.

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[Kevin]

ATT pay as you go ! My wife and I have had it for several years. I have yet to find a dead spot in West Seattle. We live in Arbor Heights.

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My monthly bill can run anywhere from $1 to $30 per month, usually around $10 – 20 based on my low usage. $1 per day + 10 cents a minute, ONLY on days you actually use the phone. Free calls to other ATT users. NO contract!

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Available at Bartell’s and other stores.

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[Diane]

thanks Kevin; looks worth checking out that type of plan; only person I talk to more than a couple minutes is my dad in So Cal, maybe couple times per month; I have to really work hard to get up to 200 mins

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[bsmomma]

Diane- We’re at 42nd Walker, so just a block or few away. We have Sprint and the reception sucks……in our house. However, walk to the middle of the alley and shabam! Great and full reception! Front of the house, nada. Whenever our phones go to “roam”, we’re on the Verizon Network. I believe most, if not all cell service websites have a little map that you can type your location into and it’ll show you, on a scale, of what your level of reception would be.

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[Diane]

thanks bsmomma; well that’s a concern; guess I can only find out by trying it out; the Sprint map shows “very good” for our area

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[Diane]

well damn; I was so excited to get new phone today, but after calling 20 + stores on Virgin Mobile list, turns out no one sells their phones right now; grrrrr

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[Diane]

so after recovering from huge disappointment last night that there don’t seem to be any stores that carry Virgin Mobile phones in stock right now; my only option now is to buy phone online; has anyone used the PayLo phone plan by Virgin Mobile?

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[bsmomma]

Hmmmmm, that’s interesting…… I went to the Sprint website and put in my street/cross street 98116 and it came back with “BEST”. Put in my exact address and it came back as “GOOD”. The 1st info I put in falls smack dab in the middle of the ligh green/good area. Yet another reason why I just LOVE Sprint…………….. Did you check Target or Radio Shack for a Virgin Mobile phone to buy?

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[bertha]

Check Target I just looked at their Virgin Mobile phones this weekend.

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[Diane]

yes, I called several Radio Shacks, Target, RiteAid, Bartell, Sprint, CarToys, few others

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my initial plan was to go to Radio Shack on California; I was shocked at the horrible customer service when I called; I will be going in person asap to chat with managers (when I called they told me to call back or come in person, that they were too busy to talk to me on the phone; same thing at Westwoood Village Radio Shack; I asked for manager and was told they were too busy to take my call)

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[Diane]

well I went to Radio Shack this eve; first, talked to manager about my experience calling their store last night; he looked shocked, asked me if I was sure I dialed the right number; jeesh

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RS does have one of the VM PayLo phones, the LG 101; they have a display in front of store with boxes for couple more VM PayLo phones, but they’re empty; the phones aren’t in yet?!?

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then I went to Target; they also only have one of the VM PayLo phones, the Samsung M340

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both stores have in stock the more pricey phones that go with the VM Beyond Talk plans, which I hope to get in a couple months

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a very nice young man helped me at Target; he didn’t know anything about the VM PayLo phone plans, and he thanked me for telling him about it

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