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Post by billhammond on Jun 28, 2020 9:49:37 GMT -5
Anyone have any experience with this outfit? How do they charge for minutes?
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Post by Marshall on Jun 28, 2020 10:39:16 GMT -5
By the minute I suppose.
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Post by Russell Letson on Jun 28, 2020 10:53:51 GMT -5
I did a very quick bit of Googling and found this quick-and-dirty overview: www.reviews.org/mobile/consumer-cellular-review/From this, I decided that there's no reason to switch from our two Tracfone accounts. It might not be apples/apples, but we bought the phones from Tracfone (on special sales--solid LG smart models) and maintain them with annual contracts that currently run about $120 each. There's also a bring-your-own-phone option that I haven't bothered to cost out, since the LG phones are more than adequate. I rarely use the data function and don't even make that many calls, so we have thousands of minutes (which roll over when you renew) and reliable service when we need it. Tracfone is not a perfect provider--there are the usual grumbles about customer service call-center stuff--but we've had very few problems. Here's an AARP thread about Consumer Celluar: community.aarp.org/t5/About-Our-Community/Consumer-Cellular-NOT-Necessarily-the-Best-Choice/td-p/1801524
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Post by billhammond on Jun 28, 2020 11:04:59 GMT -5
I did a very quick bit of Googling and found this quick-and-dirty overview: www.reviews.org/mobile/consumer-cellular-review/From this, I decided that there's no reason to switch from our two Tracfone accounts. It might not be apples/apples, but we bought the phones from Tracfone (on special sales--solid LG smart models) and maintain them with annual contracts that currently run about $120 each. There's also a bring-your-own-phone option that I haven't bothered to cost out, since the LG phones are more than adequate. I rarely use the data function and don't even make that many calls, so we have thousands of minutes (which roll over when you renew) and reliable service when we need it. Tracfone is not a perfect provider--there are the usual grumbles about customer service call-center stuff--but we've had very few problems. Here's an AARP thread about Consumer Celluar: community.aarp.org/t5/About-Our-Community/Consumer-Cellular-NOT-Necessarily-the-Best-Choice/td-p/1801524Thanks, Russ.
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Post by millring on Jun 28, 2020 11:35:27 GMT -5
I don't know, but I do know a guy who is good with knobs.
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Post by Hobson on Jun 28, 2020 13:36:47 GMT -5
Have had Consumer Cellular for about 2 years. We get two lines for $45, minus AARP discount of $2.25, plus tax. Current monthly bill is $52.81. The second line is $15, so one line would be $30. We get unlimited talk and text. We get 3Gb of data to share. Started out as 1Gb and they've upped it twice at no additional charge. We never get anywhere near the limit. It's possible to go over and get bumped into a higher priced plan. There are many plans. Some are talk only. We had to buy the phones, which are Samsung Galaxy J7s. Each cost us $150. I don't think that model is available anymore, but there are other Samsung models and other brands listed at the Consumer Cellular website. With the Samsungs we can change the batteries ourselves instead of having to send the phones in. We had a choice of AT&T or T-Mobile as the carrier. At our old house in the boonies T-Moble didn't work. AT&T worked in most of the house, so that's what we picked. We still had a coverage problem in that we would not get notified when we had a voicemail or text message. Never have that problem in Tucson and we have excellent coverage in Tucson. Also have used the phones in Mexico, Panama, Columbia, and Guatemala. High roaming charges applied for talk, but texts were only 50 cents. The few times that we've had to contact Consumer Cellular's customer service have been good experiences. Competent people in the U.S. with no language problem. www.consumercellular.com/shopping/choose/plan
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Post by Russell Letson on Jun 28, 2020 13:45:46 GMT -5
I should add: The more accurate description of the Tracfone model would be "subscription" rather than "contract," since you pay for a period of service (30 days-1 year) with a quantity of starter minutes and can separately add any number of additional minutes and/or amounts of data. The minutes/data persist as long as you keep up the subscription. They also run frequent special deals on minutes or phone upgrades, and there's an independent website that tracks those and posts reviews of new gear and such. tracfonereviewer.blogspot.com/
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Post by Marty on Jun 28, 2020 13:46:11 GMT -5
Are you going to get rid of that ancient coal powered flip phone and move up to a limited use semi-smart phone? Or are you going to join the modern world?
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Post by billhammond on Jun 28, 2020 14:12:39 GMT -5
Are you going to get rid of that ancient coal powered flip phone and move up to a limited use semi-smart phone? Or are you going to join the modern world? My $30 Samsung's ringer has stopped working, there's a crack in the front screen cover and I've never liked that you have to open the phone to see the time/date. So I'm thinking of getting a new FLIP PHONE, as long as I can be assured that I can keep my current number. I kinda like this one.
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Post by John B on Jun 28, 2020 16:07:36 GMT -5
This phone solves the "need to open it to see the time" issue.
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Post by Marty on Jun 28, 2020 16:19:35 GMT -5
Well at least it has push buttons instead of a dial. Still won't do text.
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Post by billhammond on Jun 28, 2020 16:27:18 GMT -5
Well at least it has push buttons instead of a dial. Still won't do text. I doan wanna text no one -- I call people and actually talk to them, or at least leave them a voicemail.
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Post by John B on Jun 28, 2020 16:29:39 GMT -5
The phone I picked out for Bill has some nice wood inlay.
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Post by Rob Hanesworth on Jun 28, 2020 17:21:31 GMT -5
Doug recommended Consumer Cellular to me and I have had it for five or six years. We like it fine. Customer service is excellent.
If you switch to it, mention the name of one of the users here and they get $10 credit.
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Post by drlj on Jun 28, 2020 17:31:32 GMT -5
Well at least it has push buttons instead of a dial. Still won't do text. I doan wanna text no one -- I call people and actually talk to them, or at least leave them a voicemail. What an old fogey. You probably don’t Tic Tok either. Get with the program, man!
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Post by epaul on Jun 28, 2020 18:38:32 GMT -5
Well at least it has push buttons instead of a dial. Still won't do text. I doan wanna text no one -- I call people and actually talk to them, or at least leave them a voicemail. Well, that works sometimes, but other times, texting is very useful. For instance, you are having a burger at the lunch counter and you realize the fellow next to you is a Russian spy. You can't very well call the FBI on your cellphone, the Russian spy will hear you. They are highly trained. Likewise, getting up go to the bathroom in mid-burger to make a call will arouse suspicion, he may even follow you. But, you can text the FBI surreptitiously under the counter using your napkin as a shield. You can even use your phone to record your conversation with the spy, perhaps getting him to incriminate himself and becoming a hero! Plus, many newer smartphones come with an option to install an capsule containing an incapacitating nerve gas (primarily in models targeted for females, but if you order online, who's the wiser, plus pink is cool). Granted, these situations don't occur that often, but when they do, it's a good feeling to know you are equipped to handle them.
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Post by dradtke on Jun 29, 2020 7:25:34 GMT -5
The phone I picked out for Bill has some nice wood inlay. But where's the coalbox for the boiler?
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Post by mnhermit on Jun 29, 2020 10:07:42 GMT -5
The only problem I've had with consumer cellular is the coverage here on the island, but thats at&t/t-mobile not cc. Ive been very happy with them, no long term contract, good experiences with service people.
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Post by Marshall on Jun 29, 2020 11:10:12 GMT -5
I doan wanna text no one -- I call people and actually talk to them, or at least leave them a voicemail. What an old fogey. You probably don’t Tic Tok either. I'll bet he doesn't even listen to k-pop.
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