Need to replace a cell phone? Get creative

By: Terry Maxon (KRT)
Posted In: News

DALLAS _ Ellen Savage dropped her cell phone one time too many. Kevin Brown went swimming with his cell phone, and then its replacement. David Stixroot knocked his phone into a hotel toilet, then dropped the replacement phone into a swimming pool skimmer.

The method of phone death may differ, but all three and many others have faced the same predicament _ how can one replace a broken, lost, stolen or dunked cell phone without going broke?

If you’re at or near the end of your contract, the cellular company usually will provide a new one for free or at a subsidized price. That’s how Brown, president and chief executive officer of Carrollton, Texas, company IPcelerate, received two new phones. It worked once for Stixroot, a vice president at IPcelerate.

And if your phone is under warranty, you can get a refurbished phone free if you haven’t violated the warranty.

But for those of us who don’t have that luxury, a replacement phone can be pricey, in most cases $150 or more.

That can force users to be more creative in replacing their cell phone. Here are some suggestions on getting a replacement:

Buy a used phone from a cellular phone dealer.That’s what Savage did when she had to replace her Nokia 3390 phone.

“It lasted me two years despite dropping it over and over. I finally dropped it to the point where it wasn’t going to work any more,” the Dallas restaurant employee said.

She had already renewed her contract with T-Mobile USA, so she didn’t qualify for the renewal discounts.

“I thought I was going to have to pay $150 at least on a new phone. I thought it was going to have gadgets that I really wasn’t interested in,” she said.

But when she visited a local cellular store, the salesman offered her the choice of several used phones. She bypassed the phone that was decorated with images of the Goo Goo Dolls. The Nokia 3390 she bought for $60 does have an iridescent white case and a big black “D” initial on the case, “but it works,” Savage said.

Company stores sometimes will have used phones available for sale. The only way to know is to ask. If one store doesn’t have one, go to the next.

Verizon Wireless LLC spokesman Jimmy Duvall said those used phones often are the best solution for those caught in cell phone limbo. In addition, Verizon sells a basic model for $50.

“It comes in particularly handy when they have a phone that’s broken or stolen and it’s out of warranty or isn’t insured,” he said.

Buy a new or used phone online.

Smart buyers have picked up on using sites like eBay to get a replacement phone relatively cheaply or to locate hard-to-find models.

For example, sellers are offering dozens and dozens of new Motorola RAZRs for $200 or less, although it would cost $300 or more from a store. In addition, the online phones are often “unlocked,” meaning that the same phone can be used on the networks of T-Mobile, Cingular Wireless

LLC or other companies that use the GSM standard.The online route also gives buyers access to the latest and greatest models that often haven’t been introduced in the United States. For example, eBay sellers are offering RAZRs that can handle data at higher speeds and take higher resolution photos than the RAZRs sold through official T-Mobile and Cingular channels.

Truck driver Michael Sammet of Maypearl said he’s drowned one phone on a ride at Six Flags. His cat knocked another phone off the bathroom vanity into the toilet. He’s run over two phones with his truck. He’s an old hand at replacing phones.

“As I am still on my old AT&T calling plan with Cingular, when I need a replacement, I go to eBay,” Sammet said.

See if the company will repair it, even if it’s not covered by warranty.

Sprint has started a program for walk-in repairs, ranging from $15 to $55 depending on the problem. An antenna replacement is a $15 problem, for example; a camera replacement is a $55 problem. The program also provides for phone replacements if the problem can’t be fixed.

Switch companies.

If you’ve been thinking about changing your service provider, now’s the time. Your new company will love you, and give you the steep discounts that your existing company originally provided.

The downside is that wireless companies charge fees for canceling a contract early. T-Mobile assesses a $200 fee, Verizon charges $175 and Sprint requires a $150 penalty. Cingular, which charges $150 in Texas and a majority of states, charges a pro-rated $240 fee for departing subscribers in 10 states and parts of 10 others, going down $10 for every month spent in the two-year contract.

That’s steep. But those fees _ assessed to recover the investment that a cellular company has in each subscriber _ are about equal to the extra $150 to $175 that a subscriber would have to pay to get a new phone from his old company. It is basically a wash.

Buy a prepaid phone and then use it as a replacement on your phone plan.

For example, 7-Eleven sells the Speak Out Wireless Service with basic phones that work on Cingular’s GSM network. After you use up the introductory minutes that came with the phone, pull out its SIM card and install the one from your dead phone.

You’re taking your chances with this method. We put our SIM card in a Nokia phone from Speak Out, and it worked on both the Cingular and T-Mobile networks. But all phones and carriers may not be so cooperative.

Check your credit card or your homeowner’s insurance.Many cards extend warranties and offer replacements if you damage or lose your phone. Homeowner policies often provide theft protection, but the deductible might be too high.

Think about buying insurance, particularly on expensive phones.This is not a good idea for many cheaper phones. Depending on the carrier and the plan, the replacement insurance costs generally $3.99 to $5.99 a month, with deductibles ranging from $50 to $110.

When all else fails, put on your best droopy face.Visit a company store run by the wireless provider. On a case-by-case basis, managers sometimes will waive the rules to retain trusted, longtime customers, especially ones who are good beggars.

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(c) 2006, The Dallas Morning News.