Maybe I'm the Only One Who Didn't Know This

Over the course of the weekend, my phone died - which means I had to go shopping yesterday for the THIRD phone of this contract period. Adding a lack of reliability to the fact that I can't even USE the damn thing in my own home, because of a crappy signal...I was not a happy camper when I approached Cingular's storefront yesterday. I knew from experience that I would be accosted by overly-eager sales people attempting to sign me up for service "bundles" of cell, internet and land phone offerings of various types. I also knew they wouldn't take "I'm not interested" for an answer. So, I started this whole process in a very bad mood.

As luck would have it, the sales freaks were busy annoying other customers. I had a mere 30-minute wait before I got to talk to a Cingular associate. I spent that time weighing the features and prices of the current crop of phones, and was resigned to buying a $250 model with far too many bells and whistles. The Cingular guy checked my account and said that in about three months I would be eligible for an "upgrade," which would require my extending my contract. I already knew I didn't want to do that, because of the impossible reception from my home. I had already accepted the fact that I would have to buy an expensive new phone and pray it lasted until the end of the contract.

This kid was incredibly honest. He advised me to go to Walmart and buy the "Go Phone" from Cingular for "about $25." Further, he said I could take the SIM card out of my broken phone and place it in the "Go Phone," and it would work just fine. Same number...same minutes...same everything. I wasn't keen on making another stop, or on fiddling with the guts of my phone. I asked whether he couldn't just sell me the "Go Phone" himself. He allowed as to how he could, but that it would cost me $45 in activation fees if I bought it from them. There would be NO activation fee if I bought it from Walmart. Talk about your no-brainers.

So, I drove to Walmart and bought the recommended phone. Eighteen bucks! That's all it cost me. And, lo! The SIM card slid right in and worked like a charm. The kid had advised me that all companies have similar phones - the "pay-as-you-go" variety. All you have to do is buy the same company's phone and swap the SIM card, and you're good to go. Who knew? I certainly didn't.

Oh...and on the way out of the store, the "Bundle Boys" did try to snag me, but I was too fast for them! Had to get to Walmart, doncha know...