In the past 11 years, my main source of income has been Cellular phones. The first phone I sold looked like something that Don Johnson might have carried on Miami Vice.... Since then I have sold Alltel, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, Southern Linc, Nextel, Virgin Mobile, Cingular, and AT&T.... I currently work selling Alltel, T-Mobile, Sprint and Southern Linc. I feel like I can offer you some insight to all of them.
First. Coverage maps LIE..... They'll show you coverage, and vary greatly when you actually get it. The LAW states that you have 14 days to return any contracted item....in this case a cell phone. The first thing you do when you're looking is tell the representative....flat out...."I'm fully aware of my 14 day restitution option, and if this phone does not live up to your promise of coverage, I'll be returning it. Please Explain your refund policy to me". The reason you ask for the refund policy is simple...just because the COMPANY may let you out of a contract...does not mean you'll get a refund from the DEALER....Refund policies are DEALER policies.....not providers.... and don't let them tell you otherwise.... If they try....then you don't want their sales, and they dont want your business.
Buy what you NEED, not what they want you to spend 300 dollars on. I, myself, am more of the type of person that will sooner GIVE you a free phone that does NOTHING BUT TALK than sell you 300 dollars worth of stuff you don't need.... There may be a great phone out there that does all sorts of fancy stuff...but what do you care...you want to talk......buy one that talks..... When in doubt.....NOKIA....in the three carriers I sell that have nokia phones (the fourth only has motorola).....the Nokia phones that are low priced or FREE with contracts will pick up better than phones we sell for 300 dollars....in order...for reception......Nokia...Motorola....and probably Samsung is third.....Brands like "LG" and "Sharp"....buy if you live in town and need the features...
By provider, without any doubt, the greatest coverage is Alltel's service...and that should go for just about anywhere.....but here's some advantages and disadvantages of the main providers
Alltel. Great coverage.....when all else fails...alltel usually works there....the downfall is their phones....they don't have the greatest selection of "cool" By far the coolest phone is the Motorola V710....but their best reception is a Nokia. They'll show you three plans on the brochures.....a "Local" plan...skip it....if you leave your particular state, you're screwed....and the "total freedom"...again, unless you live in the extreme western part of the country or the mountains....you dont need it. The best service is the one they give you on "national freedom". And stay at or above a 49.99 plan....because at that point...you have negotiation rights....on a 49.99 plan, the dealer (in most cases) gets paid enough money to sufficiently discount phones, and they can waive the activation fees for you at this level too.... Watch them though...credit challenged people will hit a minimum of a 300 dollar deposit... Don't let them tell you there's only a two-year contract. You CAN sign one year....there's just a higher price on phones...
T-Mobile. GREAT phones....Cool service...lots of perks....and hellaciously large amounts of minutes for low prices. Right now....1000 Anytime minutes, Unlimited Nights and Weekends....and for the no credit/bad credit people..they're by far the most lenient......what alltel sees as a 300 dollar deposit may be zero or 75 dollars with tmobile...AND they only require a one year contract (They dont have two years). There are disadvantages however in their coverage. They'll tell you no roaming no long disatance..which to a point is true.....but not really useful in rural areas...major interstates, major highways, major cities....no problem...grandma lives in the back woods, you're gonna have trouble.......
Sprint - I carry sprint. I like sprint. They treat me very well....their coverage is great....but it's along the same lines as T-Mobile's....major interstates, major highways, major cities. They DO have features out the wazoo....their vision service (web and internet) is top notch...their "ready link" (two way walkie talkie) is flawless....and their voicemail and messaging is top of the line....and without any doubt, their phones are the coolest. One thing with Sprint...stay with Sanyo. They're the most durable phones alive with sprint.... Their top deposit is 250.00, which isn't BAD considering it's lower than alltel's lowest deposit. Always find a sprint dealer who can give you instant rebates. I'll warn you....if you can get it knocked off the top....at the counter...take it...because sprint is notorious for screwing people out of mail in rebates....dont know why...i think it's their clearing house or something...but it's just bad.... Their plans are so-so and tend to be higher. If you're not surfing, not walkie-talkie-ing....not downloading...and not into fancy wallpapers etc, a basic plan can get you a bill of about 50 a month...which is fair. One DISTINCT advantage to sprint....7PM NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS.....careful though...specific changes to your account will restart your contract....
AT&T/Cingular. Don't waste your time. This company changes hands more times than the pigskin at a Buffalo Bills game..... They don't hold their promises, they lock people into contracts without cause and without permisson...and they lie. Their phones are cool, but their coverage sucks....I sold it for a lot of years...I can vouch for it. It was US Cellular and then AT&T and that merger was HELL....to make it worse....they're now part of Cingular...and while they may CLAIM to have great coverage...don't hold your breath. A great majority of your coverage is analog and sucks.....
Verizon. I have nothing bad to say about Verizon. If you have a reason to have them, go for it. DO NOT however purchase their phones based on their claim of the "largest coverage of anybody" and their fancy "Can you hear me now" commercials. They'll claim 100% coverage, no roaming, no long distance....but come see ME....or for that matter, go anywhere between Atlanta GA and Lake City FL, and say "can you hear me now" and your answer will be static. Its like that for a LOT of places in the country...and while their phone works in all those areas, it's not on their tower, so take a Cigarette Lighter Adapter with you for your phone....cause if you roam, your battery dies three times as fast...
That's what I can tell you based on experience....
When picking a dealer...it sounds bad, but go with what they give you free! Let's do some math. A Nokia phone....costs a dealer 80 dollars....they're giving it away free, that means they lost 80 dollars.....but they get paid a 250.00 commission, that's 170.00 positive for the dealer, and he STILL wants to charge you 20 bucks for a car charger...no.... Car chargers, at most cost a dealer 2.00.....a leather case...about the same....an earpiece...roughly five..... ALL OF THAT should be free when you sign up on a new plan (maybe not on the secondary lines...but definitely on the first line). At least get a discount out of it....accept nothin less. You come buy a phone from me, you're walking out with a car charger, at no charge, guaran-damn-teed.....you're likely to walk out with a basic leather or a holster too....the earpieces I can't claim I "give" away because I only carry higher end bluetooth stuff and high end body glove stuff....but they'll go out at LEAST at cost....and if you've got a phone with an interchangable faceplate, that's yours too, and bet your bottom dollar I'm STILL makin money. I wouldnt do it if I didnt.
EVERY ONE of my customers who buys a phone leaves with free accessories (at LEAST one....) And a promise of at least a 25% discount on all accessories for LIFE...
Lastly...DO YOUR HOMEWORK. The major providers will put out on their web pages the price that SHOULD be charged for each phone. I know that
Alltel ,
T-Mobile ,
Sprint and
Verizon all put the cost of phones on the web sites (linked as you can see). Do your homework...Take web price sheets with you. Check features of the phones online, at [
Phone Scoop , probably. Find out what phone you want, with what carrier, and print it out. Your first indication that someone's out to take all your money is probably a price tag showing 400.00...and the internet shows 199.99....its not someone you want to deal with. Caveat Emptor...never meant more than when buying a cell phone. Any questions...email me or PM me...I'm available...
