Cell phone gurus???

I have AT&T...my old phone just died, my contract expires soon. I don't want a cheap phone from AT&T if it means another 2 years...where can you just buy a reasonably priced phone free of hassle?

  My phone died a year into the contract. I went in and asked what to do as the "retail" replacement phones are ridiculous. I asked the salesman if he had any "parts" laying around and he went into the back and came out with a brand new matching phone that was missing the back cover....free of charge. My lucky day.  Good Luck..Allen

ps always dreamed of a cell phone for dummies:

loud, big buttons, waterproof, shock proof, doubles as an electric razor and has a built-in flashlight

I went in and asked what to do as the "retail" replacement phones are ridiculous.

Exactly. 

There is a bomb proof phone, but no razor...but that would be cool! 

Sean, do you have and friends or family who might have recently upgraded their AT&T phones?

After dunking my first AT@T cell phone, my sister-in-law hooked me up with two spares.  I fried the first spare after a few months.  I'm down to my last spare.  Man... do I need a waterproof phone.

I'll ask around...good suggestion.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Nokia-2610-For-AT-T-Cingl-Plans-Just-Insert-Sim_W0QQitemZ260348235933QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCell_Phones?hash=item260348235933&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

it's a little shady but if you bought the insurance on the contract, you could "accidentally" drop your phone overboard or drop it from a high place and get a new one if your contract hasn't expired.

You'll have credit towards a new phone when your contract does expire.  If you like at&t you'll be able to step up the quality of the phone then.

also, I've had some success in pitting my current provider against a new provider but i had to get fairly vocal and you can't deal with a salesperson.  you have to go manager level.  "if you want to keep me as a customer..."

Lastly, changing companies will usually net a pretty good deal (when your contract is up - of course).

In my job at State, I've used at&t, verizon, sprint and a couple others so i"m pretty experienced at this sort of thing.

I didn't really like the confrontation of trying to convince at&t that they needed to give me a better deal to keep me as a customer but it worked.

Verizon is the best provider I've used so far

Shirk (Azteckayak) from down south

Sean are you wanting to stay with AT&T? If so, you should be able to swap out your sim card and slip it into another device. Finding a used phone is a piece of cake. I may even have one laying around.

If you want another carrier then like others said have them fight it out. In most cases you can buy yourself out of the contract for just a few bucks....And with a nice smile you may be able to get the new carrier to cover it (or waive some or all of the start up fees)

E

Finding a used phone is a piece of cake.

I'm great at finding cake...where do I find a used/cheap phone?

I might still have my old AT&T phone. I moved to Verizon for better signal (or the phone was acting up). If you want it, I'll look for it. Wouldn't AT&T charge you to activate it?

You should be able to put your SIM card into any AT&T phone.  Check ebay, or ask around to see if anyone has old AT&T phones.  I have old Verizon phones, but those won't work with AT&T :\

I had the same situation. i bought a new one at target for 20 bucks. i have at&t also.

Oh good call!  My boss's son got the cheap GO-phone (I think) and you can stick your SIM card in that.

Finding a used phone is a piece of cake.

I'm great at finding cake...where do I find a used/cheap phone?

  hence, BLOTY???

The SIM card thing is probably your ticket - any AT&T or "unlocked" phone should work with your current service. If you can't find one you like, try checking shops that repair cell phones. They usually have a variety of used phones in good condition to choose from.

I had the same situation. i bought a new one at target for 20 bucks. i have at&t also.

Sweet...was it some sort of prepaid phone and then you swapped out the sim?  That would be sweet!!!

Thanks Hojo! H.ow is Verizon?  I was thinking of switching when our contract runs out

[quoteany AT&T or "unlocked" phone should work with your current service. If you can't find one you like, try checking shops that repair cell phones.][/quote]

So the question is...where do you buy these?  FYI-I am not an ebayer...I can't figure it out!