Prepaid Phone?

I want a prepaid phone. I had planned to purchase an old phone on eBay and
then buy minutes from the carrier. But T-Mobile, at least, says I must
purchase a SIM card from them for $50 that comes with 15 minutes. But some
of the eBay auctions say SIM cards are included. But T-Mobiole says those
SIM cards are worthless.

Can someone give me the 411 on purchasing a prepaid phone on eBay and not
getting ripped off? I don't need the latest greatest. This is a second phone
that I will only need for a month or so. That's why I'm going "on the
cheap." My primary carieer is T-Mobile, but for this second phone I don't
care who the carrier is.

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On Thu, 19 Jan 2006 11:20:22 -0800, "Alan" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I want a prepaid phone. I had planned to purchase an old phone on eBay and
>then buy minutes from the carrier. But T-Mobile, at least, says I must
>purchase a SIM card from them for $50 that comes with 15 minutes. But some
>of the eBay auctions say SIM cards are included. But T-Mobiole says those
>SIM cards are worthless.
>
>Can someone give me the 411 on purchasing a prepaid phone on eBay and not
>getting ripped off? I don't need the latest greatest. This is a second phone
>that I will only need for a month or so. That's why I'm going "on the
>cheap." My primary carieer is T-Mobile, but for this second phone I don't
>care who the carrier is.

Drop by Walmart. They sell lots of prepaid phones much cheaper than
you quote.

Alan,
There are dozens of choices, especially if you shop online. T-Mobile has an
excellent prepaid plan. You do need to be a little more careful with eBay
purchases, ignorance on the part of sellers is as possible as fraud. But
for that price you can get an excellent phone (Nokia 6010), with SIM, from
Target for $40, sometimes less. Add a $100 card and your per minute rate
goes to .10/min. and expiration to 1 year. Once in a while, Target
discounts that phone another $5, but other retailers have similar offers.

I have 2 SIMS purchased from eBay, one with a phone, one without, and both
worked perfectly.


Bill Radio
Click for Wireless Reviews at:
http://www.mountainwireless.com



"Alan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> I want a prepaid phone. I had planned to purchase an old phone on eBay and
> then buy minutes from the carrier. But T-Mobile, at least, says I must
> purchase a SIM card from them for $50 that comes with 15 minutes. But some
> of the eBay auctions say SIM cards are included. But T-Mobiole says those
> SIM cards are worthless.
>
> Can someone give me the 411 on purchasing a prepaid phone on eBay and not
> getting ripped off? I don't need the latest greatest. This is a second
phone
> that I will only need for a month or so. That's why I'm going "on the
> cheap." My primary carieer is T-Mobile, but for this second phone I don't
> care who the carrier is.
>
>

Not sure about eBay. You may want to check out your local stores, such
as Target, WalMart, etc. You may be able to find something on sale.

I bought a Samsung x495, which is $100 at the T-Mobile online store, for
$60 at my local Target. Even at the T-Mobile online store, you can get a
Nokia for $50 after mail-in rebate. You can move the SIM card to any
compatible GSM phone if you don't like the phone, I'd think...

Q

Alan wrote:
>
> I want a prepaid phone. I had planned to purchase an old phone on eBay and
> then buy minutes from the carrier. But T-Mobile, at least, says I must
> purchase a SIM card from them for $50 that comes with 15 minutes. But some
> of the eBay auctions say SIM cards are included. But T-Mobiole says those
> SIM cards are worthless.
>
> Can someone give me the 411 on purchasing a prepaid phone on eBay and not
> getting ripped off? I don't need the latest greatest. This is a second phone
> that I will only need for a month or so. That's why I'm going "on the
> cheap." My primary carieer is T-Mobile, but for this second phone I don't
> care who the carrier is.

"Alan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
>I want a prepaid phone. I had planned to purchase an old phone on eBay and
>then buy minutes from the carrier. But T-Mobile, at least, says I must
>purchase a SIM card from them for $50 that comes with 15 minutes. But some
>of the eBay auctions say SIM cards are included. But T-Mobiole says those
>SIM cards are worthless.
>
> Can someone give me the 411 on purchasing a prepaid phone on eBay and not
> getting ripped off? I don't need the latest greatest. This is a second
> phone that I will only need for a month or so. That's why I'm going "on
> the cheap." My primary carieer is T-Mobile, but for this second phone I
> don't care who the carrier is.

Page Plus (CDMA) looks hard to beat http://www.cellguru.net/page_plus.htm
Verizon coverage (best there is) and dirt cheap per minute. Can it last?

This guy is selling refurbed LGs with 100 minutes for $30. Good feedback.
http://snipurl.com/mdsx

They seem to be tough phones, GPS. speakerphone.
http://reviews.cnet.com/LG_VX2000/45...-20827041.html

I might switch to them when my Motorola TDMA phone becomes useless.