🚀 go-pugleaf

alex@anat3d1.anatomy.upenn.edu (Alex Shrom) writes:


[stuff deleted]
>	Recently, I also rec'd a cellular phone that I have no use for
>as-is (can't afford to subscribe), but is otherwise in perfect working
>order. What can I do with it (other than using the battery, etc.)? Can
>I program it to listen in on active cells, switch cells to follow a
>call, etc.?

Try selling it. Call your local cellular dealer (not the generic 
department store, but a cellular-only dealer) and let them know you have
a used phone you want to sell. They'll be able to tell you what it's
worth and find a buyer.

My wife works for Cellular One, and the usual premise is this.

Customer can't afford a good phone, but really needs the service. In our
area, log truck drivers are in this category. They are required by law
to have communication systems handy (for forest fire and OSHA purposes) 
but radios need a base station and operator. They shop around and discover
that the department stores have these phenomenal prices on phones, but
they require you to obtain service through them. Otherwise the price goes
up by about $350. They have virtually no service or support, and they
don't really know anything about the product they're selling. Joe Logtruck
then goes to Cellular One, only to discover that the phone costs much more,
because the retailer kickback is already in the price of the phone. However,
for such cases my wife keeps a list of people dropping service or trading
up to a newer phone, and she can often get our cheapskate hero a used 
phone for $50-100 and sign him up for the ultra-cheap service rate.

He gets what he needs, a yuppie gets lunch money, and Cellular One gets
another customer. Slick.

Mark G. Forbes | forbesm@atlantis.cs.orst.edu