Look what I just got, a brand new smartphone, a Motorola G7. The price was $200, but I got 50.00 off for signing up for a year’s service with Mint Mobile, at $15.00 a month (prepaid, no other fees).
That’s for 4GB of data, unlimited talk & text.
This is also my very first smartphone, so I did a bit of research before deciding on this make & model. Motorolas are budget smartphones, but highest rated when compared to flagship models like iphones & Samsung. I’ve been playing with it a lot, it looks and works great.
When it arrived this past Friday, I didn’t have a clue how to make a call or even turn it on. (All my past cell phones have been flip phones.) But thanks to Google & my friend Danielle, I’m getting the hang of it.
Here’s the thing: I didn’t need or really want this. I’ve written on here before that I planned to go to my grave without ever owning a smartphone, I spend plenty of time already on my laptop & e-reader. But then something happened a couple weeks ago that changed that.
I like the fingertip reader below the camera, and got this $30 Otterbox case on Ebay for just $8.00, brand new
On June 17th I got an email from Xfinity, that said because of the pandemic and lack of sports on tv, they were giving me a one-time rebate of $23.00 on my next cable bill.
Aren’t we wonderful, Doug? We love taking care of our customers.
I called Xfinity and asked why I was paying for sports in the first place, as I don’t watch any. Shayna (the Xfinity Lady) said everyone paid it. I said it wasn’t fair, it was like going to the store with my neighbor, she buys a pound of liver, I buy none because I don’t like liver but I’m forced to pay for a pound of it anyway since I shop there. How does that make sense.
Shayna said “Well, when you put it THAT way!” and laughed. I asked if she could help me break down my $205.66 monthly bill, it seemed like an awful lot for expanded basic cable, phone & internet. She was unable to break my ‘Triple Play’ bundle down, aside from my X1 cable box costing $10.00 to rent and $10.00 to use (to record tv).
Shayna then asked if I’d noticed my X1 was recently reduced to 20 hours recording time and would I like an upgrade. You mean to what I thought I already had? No thanks.
I felt myself starting to get ticked off. I asked Shayna how much I would save if I gave up my landline phone service, then I’d be forced to get a cellphone. She said it would raise my bill $20.00 higher. (I would lose the discount of the Triple Play.)
While I sat here dumbfounded, she asked if I was familar with Xfinity Mobile, their smartphone plan for $30.00 a month.
I suddenly remembered why I was on the phone with this woman in the first place, thanked her for her time then got on my computer and looked for that Ryan Reynolds commercial where he promises you a Mint smartphone plan for $15 a month with no hidden fees.
After finding it, I got a nice smartphone—now I need to start looking into these streaming packages like Philo & Sling, as I don’t want to pay for the convenience of cable tv anymore.
Xfinity, thanks again for that rebate—it was just the motivation I needed!
TO BE CONTINUED
I've been thinking about subscribing to YouTube TV for $65/month and getting rid of cable for similar reasons. But I've been putting it off until after I get back from vacation.
ReplyDeleteEd if you do this, please let me know or blog about it? I've been giving YT a lot of thought, even though I don't watch a lot of cable, purely for it's local stations being included and cloud dvr.
DeleteHi Doug, first of all I want to ask you if you are feeling better? Your last post sounded like you've had some very bad health issues and I was concerned about you. I hope you are feeling much better now.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much I would like to say about cable but I don't want to bore you. We had Comcast which is the parent company of Xfinity. Comcast used to be rated as having the worst customer service in our country. We went through so much **** with them similar to yours until we finally said no more, just like you did! Do you know we were able to get some channels without cable that we could not get with it? Channels like the additional public TV channels and Me TV which we now love.
We got a leaf indoor antennae (but there are many different kinds) to help us with the local channels. Then we got Sling Blue for $35 a month. We love it and you can't compare the price. Our TV is older so we have a Roku to make it easier to get all the many free streaming channels, but since you have a new smart TV you probably don't need Roku. You will be amazed at all the free streaming channels. You might try Peacock, Pluto and IMDB for starters. They may not have new shows but there are many good ones and movies as well. Did you know you can also subscribe to things like HBO on a monthly basis if they have something you really want to see. We subscribed to it for two months and watched all of Game of Thrones and then canceled. OK, I know I'm writing way too much here - sorry. But I guess you can see I have some strong feelings about the cable companies and how they treat people.
Enjoy that new phone. I hope you are feeling better!
Bonnie thanks so much for the good health wishes (I am doing a lot better) and I verymuch enjoyed your Comcast story... as I went thru this a few years ago (switched to OTA with a leaf antenna) but then moved to a rural area and had to go back to cable. Things are a lot different now with all the streaming channels available (yes I am familiar with it all)! I've just been putting it off for sheer laziness--no more!
DeleteI am assuming you are feeling better now and that every thing passed. Have been worried about you and glad you are back on your blog.
ReplyDeleteAs for a smart phone, I am still in your former mind set of never getting one. Hope you get rid of Xfinity completely. They sound like a rip off.
Patti, thanks so much you always know what to say. I am feeling a lot better but have yet to pass the final stone--not to be gross but I can even feel where it is, if I bend down to pick up something--OUCH! It's getting there! As for the smartphone...I'm still on your side of the fence more than the phone! My barber asked me why I didn't bring it with me this morning when I went to get my haircut, I told her I'm not there yet (carrying it everywhere)! My laptop still suits me just fine :)
DeleteComcast is a rip off but it would take too much effort for me to get rid of it. (a terrible excuse, I know) I bundle so I would need to find internet, streaming services and possibly a landline phone. I still have one because my cell phone doesn't always work great in my house. (better than it used to when I'd have to talk in the garage) I'm glad you're feeling better and hope that last kidney stone goes bye bye SOON, and painlessly.
ReplyDeleteMargaret thanks very much and I appreciate your honesty because everything you said I agree with. They are a convenience that's hard to give up.
DeleteI’m so glad to see that you’re feeling a bit better now and I hope that last bit of stone leaves very quickly. Ouch!
ReplyDeleteI’m glad you got a smart phone. Art didn’t want one for the LONGEST time and just relied on me. But then my son-in-law got him a “good deal” a few years back (I can’t remember when) and he is totally devoted to it…. More than me! No kidding! Sometimes he’s got his hearing aids tuned to the phone and he’s listening to the news so he won’t hear if I’m asking him something. 🙄 We’re with T-Mobile and we’re under my son-in-law’s family plan which is nice since we don’t have to think about it. We just pay them our share at the end of each year. It’s more than $15 a month though. You are so good at finances.
Kay, thank you and I think my face hurts a little because I always read your Art shares with a big smile! That sounds great about joining your son's plan, My sister offered to let me join her family plan awhile back, but I'm the Lone Wolf :^)
DeleteGee... You haven't posted in a while. I was just checking to see if you're OK.
DeleteHi Kay, that's very nice of you to notice :^) I did start a new one, I'm just trying to figure out a way to make it a little less boring! Hopefully I'll post it this week. :^)
DeleteYou’re never boring, Doug.
DeleteKay you're a very dear friend, thank you. :^)
DeleteSorry, the above "removed by author" is my bad. Anyway, we have Verizon. We pay less than you for cable/phone/internet (we still have a landline), and more than you for wireless -- but then there are two of us, plus for some reason I can't explain my son is still on our plan. Hope you're feeling okay now. Ciao!
ReplyDeleteTom no problem about the deleted comment--so you have Verizon Fios for your tv? My building is actually wired for that, I was VERY close to signing up for that when I moved in here 4 years ago--maybe I should give them a call, it couldn't hurt--thanks for sharing :^)
DeleteAlthough I didn’t need convincing, you have reinforced my notion to retain my flip phone. All that does is make and receive phone calls (and also send and receive texts, but I’ve only used that function a couple of times, confirming a restaurant reservation, back when we could do that sort of thing).
ReplyDeleteI have my desk top computer (probably not many of those still around) and a laptop for when I travel (not doing much of that at the moment either).
Peter it's always good to hear from you. FYI, I WANTED to hold onto my flip phone! I don't understand why they're not more popular--but last year, T-Mobile unceremoniously DROPPED my plan because they no longer supported 3G whatever. I've been without mobile for 15 months, so... if you can hold onto yours, more power to you :^)
DeleteXfinity doesn't sound like a company I would ever sign up with, especially the bit about paying for something I never use (sports). I'm not currently signed up for anything like that and probably won't ever be. Not even Foxtel or Netflix. one of my kids has Netflix and downloads all kinds of stuff and I get it via usb sticks.
ReplyDeleteRiver, I WISH I could be more independent of these 'entertainment corporations' like you, you've told me about your usb sticks before, I'm glad you've got that option. :^) I might become a little more like you soon.
DeleteSo glad to learn your kidney stone ordeal is almost over. (whew) My brother is prone to this painful condition. Good for you in shopping for the best deal in communications services. Still loving my little flip phone. I gave up my landline shortly after signing my cell service contract. My sister (unlike you and I) is a sports hound and pays hefty extra for her sports channels. Hope your thumbs hold up with all that new toy exploration! Enjoy, Doug, you've earned your perks!
ReplyDeleteFlorence, thanks so much for your caring remarks--I'm sorry your brother is prone to these stones too, they're the worst. As for your little flip phone, I am envious because that's what I had until a year or so ago. And the more people who tell me they still have theirs... they're definitely easier to carry around & I miss that.
DeleteDug, so glad you are doing better. I have heard that kidney stones can be awful. I had gall stones and had my gall bladder removed years ago. As for the cell phone, we do have an iPhone 6 (old one as I think they are on #13 now), but love it and use it for everything (but talking). Kids send pics all the time - best feature! We got rid of our landline a few years ago. We have the old codgers T-mobile plan which is $30 a month for unlimited everything. It's been great. As for cable, we got rid of that a while back too. Now we get Netflix, Disney, and Prime from our son and pay for Acorn and Britbox (which is like $6/mo.)
ReplyDeleteRian, thanks for the kind thoughts and why do I smile everytime I read what you have to say? I think you're quirky but dear--and smart too, you guys sound like you know what you're doing in regards to phones & tv! I AM GETTING THERE. :^)
DeleteHi Doug, glad to read you are almost through your kidney stone episode.
ReplyDeleteIn reading the comments I guess I must be one of the few people that doesn’t have a cell phone. Still chugging along with our landline. I phone people or email, wouldn’t know how to turn a cell phone on. Not big tv watchers so we don’t have cable or any streaming services . I think we pay $100.00 for the landline and internet a month. I know sometime we will have to pull ourselves into the 21st century but hopefully not for awhile!
Take care!
Robin
Robin, thanks very much for the kind remarks and--I was ready to propose when I read what you have--rather, don't have--in regards to this cellphone and streaming and other jazz! One of the reasons I wanted a smartphone was because my vision isn't what it used to be, had to sell my car and rely on a couple friends to arrange Uber trips for me to the doctor & such. I need to start doing that on my own. But I'm a lot more comfortable in your camp, trust me :)
DeleteI know I should have a cell phone, there have been a couple instances when it was needed. I didn’t realize you had trouble with your vision. Living without a car is something I have never done. I am sure your friends are quite happy to help you!
DeleteTake care!
Terrific bargain, Doug! And I am glad that you are recovering well from your kidney stone ordeal.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Gigi! :^)
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteBeautiful name! Thanks Rajani :^)
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