Yes, I know that this isn't a true update about the family. But I do feel that it is something you all should know, if you didn't already know.
A few months back, my phone came up for it's "New Every Two" upgrade. So, I started looking into these cool Touch Screen phones that almost everyone has! A few people I work with own one which is how I became obsessed with having to have one. At anyrate, there are three other people on our plan that are up for the upgrade also. So I began investigating the phones. After checking what my phone provider carried as far as touch phones, I settled on one in particular and began asking an "Online Representative" about the phones. I explained to the guy what I was looking for in the phone, what I used and what I didn't use. I'm not a big "Apps" kinda guy. I like my phones to be simple. I don't text and I sure don't surf the internet on my phone. Why should I when I have three computers at home, one being a Laptop if I need to take the internet with me! So, really, I don't need all that crap on my phone. I just need to beable to store important phone numbers in it and make phone calls. Up untill recently, the only thing I used my phone for was to make emergencey phone calls. Well then I started seeing that these newer phones are able to carry a significant amount of Mp3's in them. And you all know what a fanatic about music I am! I'm a musician, it goes with the territory! So of coarse, this option makes the particular phone I'm interested in, more appealing to me. Not to mention that it also has it's own built in AM/FM radio built in to boot! By now, I'm in Heaven because this phone has everything that I want! Untill...
I start talking to the guy about purchasing the phone. He begins by asking me what Data Plan I would like. Confused, I ask the guy what a Data plan is and how much this thing is going to set me back. He begins by telling me that the data plan is what helps the phone work, it allows you to work your Apps, get on the internet and text. Well, I don't need this Data pack, because I don't do any of that stuff with my phone. I already told the guy what I wanted the phone to do. He proceeds to tell me the cost of just the Data plans. They range in price, depending on the phone you get, from $9.99 to $25.99 or higher. Yeah, for what I'm paying a month for just phone service??? Your outta your bird I tell the guy. Well, knowing that I've got three other people on the plan with me, I ask if that $25 will cover everyone on the plan. He tells me no, that the plan only covers one phone. Everyone else on my package will have to get their own Data plan. See, and there's where they get ya! Now, instead of a simple $75 a month "Family Phone Plan", it now becomes much more just because of these goofy Data plans that they are trying to force you into. I proceed to argue more with the guy, telling him all I really need it for is to make my phone calls and use it maybe as an Mp3 player, but I want it to be Touch Screen. He then retorts by telling me that there is not a Touch phone out there that will operate without a Data plan. Hmmm....
Then how does it turn on? How does this thing even turn on if it needs a Data plan to work?? He tells me that it will turn on, I'll just be looking at a blank screen. Really??? Then why when they are on display in the store, there isn't a blank screen staring back at me there?? The guy didn't have an answer. All he kept repeating was that the phone I wanted, or any Touch phone for that matter, could not function without the Data plan. This was my first clue that this guy is probably from that little known Hawaian Island called "Whatalottahooy". So, I imediatly end the conversation with the guy and I talk to a few friends of mine at work. Turns out, there are quite a few of them I work with that were sucked into this scam as well. So those people had no answers for me. Untill I ran into another guy who told me that all I had to do was go to Best Buy or Target, and they could set me up with the phone that I wanted without the Data Plan. So that's what I did. Amy and I went to Target to get our phones. So did Amy's Dad. All three of us currently have the same phone and love it. The phone is the LG Chocolate Touch. Great phone. Except one thing. They were having problems last night when we (Amy and I) went in to get our phones. The same problem that Amy had when she had gone in over the weekend to get her Dad's phone. We waited for damn near 4 hrs. there for these phones, and still walked out without them. Well, at least I walked out without mine. The kids were cranky because we had came straight from the Doctor's office to Target. Not to mention, I hadn't even been home from work yet. But yet, Amy was able to weasle her phone out of the guy so that she had something incase she broke down taking the kids to their appointments the following day.
But the point is this. Do not get your Touch screen phone online, no matter what Carrier you use. They will try to feed you a line of crap while selling you the phone and a bunch of crap you really don't need. If your like me and you like the idea of a Touch Screen phone, but you don't want all the crap they try and talk you into buying for it online, then got to either Best Buy or Target. You'll walk out of there with your new phone in tow and no expensive Data Plan either. You don't need that crap for the phone to work, no matter what they tell you. My phone is proof of that and so is Amy's Dad's phone. The Data plan is just a way for them to try and squeeze more money out of the general consumer who doesn't really know any better. Now, if you do use your phone for the internet, email and texting, then you may want one of the goofy Data plans they want to sell you. By all means, go ahead and get one then. But if you just want your phone to be a Touch Screen without all the bells and whistles, go to a Kiosk in the mall, or Best buy or Target. They aren't going to try and sell you something you don't want, or for that matter, you don't really need. THAT, my friends, is the truth about the Touch Screen phones. Hopefully this helps most of you out and you don't get screwed like some other people may be. In fact, if you want to pass this blog on to others for their information, by all means do so! People need to know that they are being taken for a ride. Oh, and... thanks for reading my little rant here. I appreciate it.
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