I am shopping for a new cell phone carrier. I spent a little time today scoping out some other providers. Here's what happened:The T-Mobile guy was very helpful, very friendly, and very knowledgable. He typed Nate's parents' zip code into his handy dandy computer to see what sort of coverage T-Mobile can provide in the woods of Northern Michigan, and the news was good - coverage is provided by their "carrier partners," but the coverage is strong and there's no roaming.
I've been with Sprint for the last four years, and they've been my only cell phone carrier. I wasn't totally unhappy with them, but they were going to have to offer me some pretty sweet stuff to get me to stay. And - NOTHING! When I said to the Sprint guy "What are you going to give me to get me to stay?" he said "Unfortunately, we have to follow all the rules and I can't make any deals with you." That's a bunch of bullshit. Buddy, if you wanted me to stay, you would have made deals, I guarantee it. Sprint is off the list.
I waited a long time to be helped at the Verizon booth, which is never a good start, but once I was waited on, the service rep was very helpful. Verizon is the only place that took my phone number, and I fully expect Jaimie to call me back in a week to see if I've decided to go with Verizon. Verizon is number two on the list.The girl at the Cingular store was a straight shooter - she told me that when I first joined up with Sprint, cell phone carriers were giving phones away to practically anyone, and they just can't afford to do that anymore. She also told me that Cingular treats their old customers like new customers, but then she told me that old customers are rewarded with deals and rebates. Don't those two things cancel each other out? No matter. Cingular was fine, but I was more impressed with T-Mobile and Verizon.
So, dear readers, weigh in. Who do you use? Who should I use?
shopping for new cell phone coverage - B
9 comments:
I have T-Mobile and they have always been helpful, and CHEAP! Get more!
We've had good luck with T-Mobile. They gave me a new phone for $40 when I dropped my old one in the cat's water bowl, and they gave Mark & I both new phones just to keep us when our contract was up just before we moved. And the coverage has been excellent.
I use verizon. I was happy with them for the first few years, but lately, I'll get voicemails without having a missed call, calls have been dropped all the time, and I can never get bars when I need them. Maybe it's my phone, but I'm not convinced it isn't verizon's fault.
Whichever carrier you choose, do NOT choose the one that has "walkie talkie." I will walkie talkie your butt if you become one of Those People.
I have Verizon and have been mostly happy. Here in Ann Arbor the phones (mine and Slate's) act a little funny - always lighting up and saying "entering service area" when we're just sitting around the apartment. This may have something to do with those voicemail no ring that equipped mentioned...
As far as replacing phones, they give you a bunch of credit (you can get most phones free) when you sign up for 2 years... then they give you that plus another $100 towards a new phone if you sign up again at the end. If you drop your phone in a bar toilet between now and the two years, you tell them you need an "out of warranty replacement" and get another same phone for $50.
I have Cingular. I'm not suggesting you go with them. I live in an area where Cingular gets the best coverage. I have very few dropped calls, but I wish I could find a better deal on minutes. The T-Mobile people sound good to me!
I have Verizon. I really like it.
Everyone we know has Verizon so we NEVER use up all of our minutes.
We're in a bad place for cell phone reception, period. In the mountains... so, I really recommend Verizon for this area.
However, you're not in this area and I don't know if you know that many people who have Verizon, so I don't know how your minutes or reception will be....
I've been doing the same thing Amanda! I'm leaning towrds TMobile too. They just seem to be the best all around. Cingular does NOT treat their old customers like new-one of the reasons I'm leaving. Their texting plans are the worst I think, and being in a bigger city, coverage isn't really an issue with me. check out this place: letstalk.com Free phones galore! :-*
Last time I went phone shopping... I got two numbers! I don't know how I do it!
I say AllTel then we can talk free all of the time.
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