Today, due to not having a SmartPhone, I mssed out on $70 Awhile back, I dropped my landline in a disagreement with AT&T, but do not carry nor make outgoing calls on my cell; I find Google talk to be far superior. My current carrier is Consumer Cellular, but they, understandably have no incentive for me to have no more than I need in a phone. My primary purpose will be for shopping. Please share your thoughts as to coverage and a phone.

I love the Samsung phones. Picture quality is superb. I have an old one (Galaxy 5) and will be looking to replace it with another one, not so old. BUT, I do not buy NEW. My carrier is Verizon and I will visit their full service stores and see who comes up with a Samsung Galaxy, not the newer ones, but newer than my G5, at a good price.

I would not consider buying a phone on line; too many possible frauds and/or stolen phones out there. Also, I do not enter reports on my phone or use it for web surfing. It is for calls, email, texts, and pictures, as far as I am concerned. Oh, and a few simple games to play while waiting in parking garages.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2021 08:39PM by walesmaven.

??!

shopperbob is getting a smartphone?

...fainting

I did some mystery shops for an MSC (one of the big ones) that required that I order cell phones online from eBay. I was told what model, and even given a link to follow. I tracked the process, and when the cell phone came, I took photos, turned it on, but did not do anything to "personalize" the phone. Then I packed it up, and shipped it back for a full refund.

I was impressed. I would suggest that you look for a relatively recent Samsung Galaxy on eBay. The prices are good. You can trade cosmetic damage (scratches to the case, etc.) for a lower price. Look at the S20 series, and anything in the A series. You could go back to the S10 or S11, but it really depends on your price point.

BTW, you can probably go to a Verizon store and get a brand new S21+ for free with a 2-year contract. No matter where you buy a phone (used or new), you will have to pay for calls, data, messaging, etc. Compare the prices for (a bring your own phone monthly plan at Cricket (the cheap brand of AT&T) plus buying a used phone) with the cost of getting a new phone at AT&T or Verizon with a 2-year contract.

With cell phones, the weak link is always the battery. So, I suggest you consider a new A-series Samsung rather than a used S-series Samsung. Whether an 18-hour battery life versus a 12-hour battery life matters depends upon how you use the phone and how long you need to go before recharging (buy a fast charger for home and car and you can get 50% charge in less than an hour with newer Samsung phones).

Sorry if this sounds like a commercial. I also really like the Google Pixel phones. They are also available used on eBay as well.

TMobile has a great plan for military and vets. Just need your DD 214. 50% off. Even includes family members.

I like LG phones. I have never had good luck with Samsung phones. I've ordered used online from swappa.com with no complaints, but it took a lot of research and was a pain. Now what I do is just walk into my carrier's store and look for the second-lowest-tier phones (not the cheapest) and pick one by size. I spend around $100 on the phone. If you are 55 or older, T-Mobile has a cheap plan with good data and coverage. Places like Boost and PCMetro are good and cheap but the coverage can be lacking, especially outside of cities.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2021 01:50AM by mystery2me.

As this headline from April 2021 says, "LG has officially quit making phones – here's what's next" [www.techradar.com] so I would be cautious about buying any LG cell phone because support for it and upgrades (necessary for security reasons) to the operating system may disappear. I have owned LG cell phones and they were fine. But once I switched to Samsung, I stayed there.

ShopperBob, I resisted the cell phone thing for YEARS. Then my daughter gave me her old one, when she upgraded. Then a couple years later, she did it again. This year I bought a friend's iPhone10 for $140 when she upgraded.

I use Verizon (only carrier available, actually). I pay a flat fee, $60 a month pre-paid, no contract, month to month. This is for unlimited data, texts, and calls.

I've only had it a couple months. It has already paid for itself. How? I did my first Presto (blue pin) shop on it (doable only on the app). I did my very first Customer Impact job on it -- only available on the GoSpotCheck app (earned $100). Did a Field Agent job (another app) for $10, but hey, they add up and pay really, really fast.

I paid $10 at Dollar General for a car charger. Works great.

It also has enabled me to input reports on the road -- something I could never do before. I can do a fast food shop, complete the shop and report in less than half an hour, and be on my way to my next shop. I can e-mail schedulers and pick up additional shops that fit into my route. I can do a USPS shop and complete the shop report in about 10 minutes, and be on my way.

I'm currently consistently doing fast food shops that have a requirement of submitting the report within an hour -- and I'm hours from home. With the unlimited data option, I am able to do the report right after completing the shop. I've done $800 of those shops so far this month, and about the same last month. Couldn't have done a single one without the iPhone.

So yeah, that phone's paid for itself over and over. In just two months.

It seems that the industry is embracing tech, and demanding faster reporting, etc. (I remember MAILING and FAXING reports in!!!)

I now don't know how I functioned without one.

And I'm tech-resistant, a tech dinosaur!

Literally, if I can do it, anyone can.

There is so much I don't know about my iPhone, so much I don't understand. Even with my extremely limited knowledge, it's worth it.

I would advise buying a phone from someone you know and trust. Reach out to friends and family, let them know instead of getting the paltry "trade-in" on their old phone when they upgrade, you might be interested in buying it at a reasonable price. Even a fellow shopper on the forum!!! More trustworthy than some stranger on Facebook, Craigslist, or e-Bay.

I would advise against a "contract". My friend who sold me her old phone asked me what plan I was on; when I told her I paid $60 a month for unlimited data, she about fainted. She said she pays about $280 a month for unlimited data, but hers is on a "contract".

I find the iPhone to be more versatile and intuitive than the Samsung I had previously. I much prefer the iPhone for ease of use and understanding.

There is a STEEP learning curve, but once you've got it, I hope you'll feel like I do now.

Just M2CW.

I am a recent phone adopter as well. I had a trac phone for several years that I used only for scanning rewards at restaurants to get a freebie once in a while. That was $50 a year with phone, minutes, texts and data plan included and worked just fine since I almost never used it. A few months ago I bought a used Pixel and switched to my friends T Mobile plan which was a free plan for me. I do like the phone but have never tried using it to do a mystery shop. I have still not mastered how to answer a phone call since almost no one has my number.
But if anyone is in the market for a used phone I highly recommend a company called Back Market. I got a flawless phone there for the price of a scratched and dented one on ebay or amazon. And it has a one year warrantee. The experience was wonderful with the owner emailing me several times to let me know where in transit my phone was. Their team have a good sense of humor and seem caring and honest.

Thanks to all for sharing. In an indirect way, the move toward immediate reporting has been a boon for me, as those clients requiring a novella length report are learning they must pay if they wish to play.

On an unrelated note to Ken, 60 years ago, the DD214 was NOT a discharge form, but a separation paper; one's discharge was in the form of a diploma and arrived, for me, 2 1/2 years after I was mustered out. I was not aware of the change until my local DMV refused to accept my discharge or V,A, ID card.

I have a Samsung S10e and am enjoying it tremendously. I keep my phones forever, usually until they die. Battery life is excellent and it charges to 100% in no time. I use it to report several shops...ones with little narrative. I have Verizon and only have 2GBs of data and never go over. They do have roll over which gives me a bit extra. I use wifi at home. I use it for Field Agent and other app shops frequently. My plan is cheapo since I don't require unlimited data. It's only about $60 + month. Verizon also offers some great incentives. You just need to ask. Whenever I call they reduce my plan or add a few bonus gigs to data. BTW, I got the phone through a shop using an upgrade, so I was reimbursed some, not all of the cost. I pay about $20+ a month for the phone until it's paid off...no interest.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2021 08:05PM by MsJudi.

@shopperbob wrote:

.... I was not aware of the change until my local DMV refused to accept my discharge or V,A, ID card.

I think it absurd that you can't get a Veteran classification at the DMV with a current ID card, or even more absurd the Veterans Administration ID card. NY state DMV also requires the DD 214.

You have to do 6 months of active duty other than training to get a DD 214. Most people who served in the Reserves prior to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, won't have that time. However, if they did 20 years in the Reserves, they can still get a retirement check.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2021 01:40PM by wrosie.

Honestly, I don’t understand how you get anything done without a smartphone.

People survived for centuries without cell phones. It shouldn't be a shock.

Okay, shopperbob, my stun has worn off. Here is my opinion on phones:

I like Android phones and I use them heavily. My last 3 phones were Samsungs. Each one lasted for 2 years before the battery swelled. Each phone was bought used on eBay from The Cell Phone Dude. My current phone is an LG. I bought it new last year because my company paid for it.

Prior to Samsung, I had one Apple. I never have to do that again. Before that was a series of BlackBerries. After my LG dies, I will return to BB.

For service, I use Verizon. They are expensive but reliable. That is important to me as I am cell only. Look into T-Mobile for deals on 5G service.

I use my phone for calendar, email, shopping apps, entertainment, clock and calls. Because I have an Android phone, my laptop files are synced to my Google cloud, which I can access from my phone.

In 1955, the R 'n' B group, The Drifters, recorded a tune I am referencing: Honey Bee. Thank you Honey B for today's chuckle. I had no reason to believe I would ever consider a SmartPhone., but money talks.,

I do. The smartphone is not smart enough to clean the house, fold the laundry, cook the meal, etc....

Seriously.

Back to your regularly scheduled thread now.

@ColoKate63 wrote:

Honestly, I don’t understand how you get anything done without a smartphone.

My project for the next few days is to buy a smart phone! This is a timely thread.
I am buying it, also, for mystery shops only. I use a phone like a walkie-talkie when husband and I get separated in a store.
My son told me to get the oldest iPhone that will not be discontinued in a few years. AT&T guy said I should buy a used iPhone 8 as it has the innerds of iPhone 11 with an older case. I'm not thrilled to see there is a steep learning curve. I am locked into AT&T family plan for at least another year.
Like several of you--I have no doubt the new phone will pay for itself with shops and coupons I can access.

I am 36 so not your average shopper. I had a old flip phone forever and only had that as I needed something for mystery shopping on the road pre shopping apps. I only upgraded as I got a free phone through a shop I did and it was my first basic smartphone. I have had a newer smartphone now when I upgraded through a del taco promotion online paid $100 for two months service and got a decent Samsung Galaxy a10e for free well $100 but that like said included 2 months of service. I was and still am rigid to change and only do so when forced. I come from the old school adage of if it ain't broke don't fix it. I am still about 50 / 50 on using my phone camera vs my digital camera. I always use my digital one for gas station audits. I do a ton of cell phone shops and have great knowledge of how the cameras and other features of smartphones have progressed. Apple or iPhone is easiest to learn and IMHO Samsung makes better phones that are ahead of iPhone in everything. The samsung Galaxy 6 camera for example was not caught up to by Apple till the iPhone 10. T-Mobile has great deals for the newest models but again service depends on the area you live and shop. Verizon usually has the best service with AT&T a close 2nd. T-Mobile is good in densely populated areas.

When I mentioned the steep learning curve, I meant only for ME. I'm old, tech-averse, and find it very, very difficult.

Not so steep for someone younger and more tech-attuned.

And part of it was that I had an Android phone when I switched to iPhone -- so I kinda had to UN-learn and RE-learn, which was quite difficult -- but again, just for ME.

Don't worry about the learning curve. What's steep to me is a mere crack in the sidewalk to others!!! (I'm even guilty of walking up to a teenage stranger -- probably frightening them and/or grossing them out, LOL-- and saying, "Hey, I'm trying to do this on my phone. Can you show me how?" And they DO! Normally quite cheerfully. I think they later laugh about it, too! )

@Rho* wrote:

My project for the next few days is to buy a smart phone! This is a timely thread.
I am buying it, also, for mystery shops only. I use a phone like a walkie-talkie when husband and I get separated in a store.
My son told me to get the oldest iPhone that will not be discontinued in a few years. AT&T guy said I should buy a used iPhone 8 as it has the innerds of iPhone 11 with an older case. I'm not thrilled to see there is a steep learning curve. I am locked into AT&T family plan for at least another year.
Like several of you--I have no doubt the new phone will pay for itself with shops and coupons I can access.

I bought my Mom's iPhone 5 new and she still uses it. She refuses to upgrade. I still have my iPhone 3. I use it as an iPod in my car.

Last year, I had to call customer support to reset my password. I can only imagine the look on dude's face when I told him I had an iPhone 3.

Your iPhone will last forever.

@Rho* wrote:

My project for the next few days is to buy a smart phone! This is a timely thread.
I am buying it, also, for mystery shops only. I use a phone like a walkie-talkie when husband and I get separated in a store.
My son told me to get the oldest iPhone that will not be discontinued in a few years. AT&T guy said I should buy a used iPhone 8 as it has the innerds of iPhone 11 with an older case. I'm not thrilled to see there is a steep learning curve. I am locked into AT&T family plan for at least another year.
Like several of you--I have no doubt the new phone will pay for itself with shops and coupons I can access.

We have Consumer Cellular and are very happy with both the service and the phones they offer. Until recently, all of us had Motorola phones, and I still have mine. My husband switched brands only because he wanted something small, but I don't think he likes his new one as much as he liked his Motorola, which lasted him forever. He changes phones rarely. My first Moto lasted probably 4 years and the one I currently have is about 2 years old. I'm very happy with it, but I do need to upgrade due only to memory. Mine has 32 GB, and I could use 64.

Motorolas are widely considered to be excellent-performing phones at a decent price. The better ones, like the Razr, aren't cheap, and rival some of the Samsung and iPhone prices. But you can get a good model for less than $200. The Moto G Stylus is currently $190 from CC. (If you look at Motorola, the Moto G Power (2020, not 2021) is a great phone. I usually buy Consumer Cellular's "certified return" phones and have had zero trouble. If you don't plan on using it a lot, I think these phones are a great value and easy to learn.

I've had Samsungs and LG, and my Motorola is the equivalent or better of any of the ones I've had. The camera is very good, too.

FWIW, I'd stick with Android; I think iPhones are overpriced, but that's just me.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/29/2021 03:05PM by BirdyC.

The iPhone 3 only runs on a 3G network. As far as I know, all of the cell phone carriers in the US are turning off their 3G service sometime next year. The carriers (including budget companies like Cricket) are often giving away free replacement phones to their customers. You might want to check that out.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I bought my Mom's iPhone 5 new and she still uses it. She refuses to upgrade. I still have my iPhone 3. I use it as an iPod in my car.

Last year, I had to call customer support to reset my password. I can only imagine the look on dude's face when I told him I had an iPhone 3.

Your iPhone will last forever.

@Rho* wrote:

My project for the next few days is to buy a smart phone! This is a timely thread.
I am buying it, also, for mystery shops only. I use a phone like a walkie-talkie when husband and I get separated in a store.
My son told me to get the oldest iPhone that will not be discontinued in a few years. AT&T guy said I should buy a used iPhone 8 as it has the innerds of iPhone 11 with an older case. I'm not thrilled to see there is a steep learning curve. I am locked into AT&T family plan for at least another year.
Like several of you--I have no doubt the new phone will pay for itself with shops and coupons I can access.

I too prefer Motorola smartphones; the "Z" series my spouse and I have large 1Tb of external card storage which is great for music and (2) batteries, one internal and one that attaches magnetically to the back. We never plug in our phones, just swap out the magnetic batteries which can be charged without the smartphone. Motorola also has great gesture features and no preinstalled bloat-ware apps. Unfortunately, the "Z" series doesn't look like it will continue.

If I had to get a new middle of the road smartphone today it would be the Moto Edge 2021, but it doesn't have as much storage or removable battery. I'd continue with Republic Wireless or Mint carriers with pay as you go pricing...no contract.

@BirdyC wrote:

We have Consumer Cellular and are very happy with both the service and the phones they offer. Until recently, all of us had Motorola phones, and I still have mine. My husband switched brands only because he wanted something small, but I don't think he likes his new one as much as he liked his Motorola, which lasted him forever. He changes phones rarely. My first Moto lasted probably 4 years and the one I currently have is about 2 years old. I'm very happy with it, but I do need to upgrade due only to memory. Mine has 32 GB, and I could use 64.

Motorolas are widely considered to be excellent-performing phones at a decent price. The better ones, like the Razr, aren't cheap, and rival some of the Samsung and iPhone prices. But you can get a good model for less than $200. The Moto G Stylus is currently $190 from CC. (If you look at Motorola, the Moto G Power (2020, not 2021) is a great phone. I usually buy Consumer Cellular's "certified return" phones and have had zero trouble. If you don't plan on using it a lot, I think these phones are a great value and easy to learn.

I've had Samsungs and LG, and my Motorola is the equivalent or better of any of the ones I've had. The camera is very good, too.

FWIW, I'd stick with Android; I think iPhones are overpriced, but that's just me.

I use my iPhone 3 for music. No data is required.

@myst4au wrote:

The iPhone 3 only runs on a 3G network. As far as I know, all of the cell phone carriers in the US are turning off their 3G service sometime next year. The carriers (including budget companies like Cricket) are often giving away free replacement phones to their customers. You might want to check that out.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I bought my Mom's iPhone 5 new and she still uses it. She refuses to upgrade. I still have my iPhone 3. I use it as an iPod in my car.

@ wrote:

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

I just bought a Moto G Power 2020 (not 2021), unlocked, so I can find the right carrier for me. I love the phone, and the battery is just awesome! Buying it unlocked was pricier than buying it through a carrier...I paid $240.00 for mine. Right now, I'm trying out Mint Mobile...the pricing is great but the coverage is "meh"....the issue I'm finding with the second tier carriers is that they get the "left-over", if you will, space out there to use, and the coverage isn't so great. But I am very happy with the phone, and I'll keep searching for a carrier that has the features I want.

@guysmom wrote:

I just bought a Moto G Power 2020 (not 2021), unlocked, so I can find the right carrier for me. I love the phone, and the battery is just awesome! Buying it unlocked was pricier than buying it through a carrier...I paid $240.00 for mine. Right now, I'm trying out Mint Mobile...the pricing is great but the coverage is "meh"....the issue I'm finding with the second tier carriers is that they get the "left-over", if you will, space out there to use, and the coverage isn't so great. But I am very happy with the phone, and I'll keep searching for a carrier that has the features I want.

I'm trying to decide between the Moto G Power 2020 with 64 GB memory or the Stylus with 128 GB. I like the idea of having the stylus, and the price is almost the same (they're both on sale through Motorola right now, under $230). Battery life on the Stylus isn't as good, though.

I think Motorola used to be thought of as an "also ran," but they're putting out some great phones.

^^^^Yes, that was another selling point for me....the 64 GB^^^^

I'm cheap when it comes to cell phones. I pay $65.00 per month for an cell phone and cellular table from METRO by T Mobile. The Motorola G stylus (256g expandable to 512) was $19.00 the Alcatel Joy Tab Tablet (8 inch 32g expandable to 128h)) was FREE. Maybe worth researching. The tablet has really facilitated submitting reports on site.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2021 08:01AM by ShoppingDad.