Mobile Phone contracts - conspiracy theory

[Chris]

Hey Guys,

I wonder if its just because I am a mechanic, or that all my hobbies are so full on, etc maybe its just that eveything I do is so 100 percent that my mobile phone hardware wise will not last........seems like i must be TRYING to damage them.

Its a funny thing, where in a world where technology gets cheaper as it gets older, it seems everytime a new type of mobile phone comes out, they are a little more fragile, so I think every contract I sign is at least a 12 month deal, but the phones seem to last just after their warranty period, but fail before the contract is up, therefore necessitating a purchase of another phone until you are able to sign up on a new contract.

Am I going crazy, or do mobile phone companies have us by the short and curlies? :1syellow1

[DOC]

Hi Chris, I think you have the last part right, a phone these days are give aways to lure you into the contract, i picked up 2 free black motorola Vs just for changing to a cheaper contract with another company they supposedly retailed originally for around $800 odd $.

But i keep it handy incase i need to ring a good mechanic. _2:

[FGX-351]

my nokia 3220 isnt even a year old and its already starting to fall to bits hmm its funny cause i got it when my old 3100 broke in the begining of the year and that one lasted about 9 months too, its gettin abit ridiculous cause they both broke with the exact same.**

*** edited by XA Coupe.. don't try to get around the censor. ***

[XD-Machine]

Originally Posted by hbk_dx

my nokia 3220 isnt even a year old and its already starting to fall to bits hmm its funny cause i got it when my old 3100 broke in the begining of the year and that one lasted about 9 months too, its gettin abit ridiculous cause they both broke with the exact same

get somethink besides a nokia for a change lol

[GT-P 390]

Sounds like you need to give Snap-on a ring Chris and get em to re-engineer one for you ;)

[Chris]

Originally Posted by hbk_dx

my nokia 3220 isnt even a year old and its already starting to fall to bits hmm its funny cause i got it when my old 3100 broke in the begining of the year and that one lasted about 9 months too, its gettin abit ridiculous cause they both broke with the exact same

it seems as though they last just nearly long enough then wham, all over.

[Steffo]

Ah, glad I have an old phone. Trusty Nokia 3510 (of 2002 vintage). Can drop it onto a concrete floor from a metre up, and the worst that'll happen is the changeable case will come off, the phone will be fine. Its 'big' by some people's standards, but I love it.

[Kenaz]

My latest phone (Nokia 6230) is a piece of junk. It's been very unreliable and the battery life is terrible. I should've stuck with Sony Ericsson.

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by Kenaz

My latest phone (Nokia 6230) is a piece of junk. It's been very unreliable and the battery life is terrible. I should've stuck with Sony Ericsson.

Ohh no!... We're (manager & myself on a $500 shared plan) due for 2 new phones & the 6230i was going to be my choice (over the n70 or n90) We've had 7250i's for 2 years & they're been great. Now I hear this!... What would you guys suggest then?

[Fairlane]

I hate the newer phones they are flimsy and have junk, youll never use. I just cant agree to signing up with a contract with a crappy flimsy phone which will be "outdated" in 6 months. I believe in this conspiracy theory.

So Im still using an old Nokia 6210 (mainly cause it fits my car kit), a Nokia 3315 and an oldskool Panasonic (1997 vintage). None of them have colour screens, no fancy junk just solid and reliable and work reasonably well on pre-paid. I guess Ill have to sign a contract soon, so im kind of dreading getting a new phone.

[parawolf]

I had an ericcson T28 when it came out. inside of 5 months I had gone through 7 phones (all warranty). Silly things like the flip not answering the call, people unable to hear, minmal reception, 12 hours battery life on standby (rated at 6 days).

That was a lemon of a phone design.

[CarBroker]

Originally Posted by charliewool

Ohh no!... We're (manager & myself on a $500 shared plan) due for 2 new phones & the 6230i was going to be my choice (over the n70 or n90) We've had 7250i's for 2 years & they're been great. Now I hear this!... What would you guys suggest then?

I have 2 of the 6230s, for myself and my business partner. Both about 1 year old I think. Mine is in perfect condition. His has a cracked screen and looks like it's been thru hell. He claims (genuinely) that he looks after his phones, but it's been the same with every phone I've bought him.

The 6230 has been excellent to me. I listen to audio books on it. I put in a 1GB memory card. If I had to upgrade, I'd go for the 6230i. AFAIK there is no better mp3 player in any other phone. I hope this will change soon, though, because the mp3 player could use a lot of improvement in user interface on the 6230.

[rodderz]

I got a Nokia 6610 prob about 3 years ago or so, the ringer went about a week after the warranty lapsed...costed $60 to fix that at one of those shopping centre stalls....but has been fine since, even after a water incident at work where I had to jump in a lake to save a workmates drowning staffy!!

[RED_EL_XR8]

Originally Posted by charliewool

Ohh no!... We're (manager & myself on a $500 shared plan) due for 2 new phones & the 6230i was going to be my choice (over the n70 or n90) We've had 7250i's for 2 years & they're been great. Now I hear this!... What would you guys suggest then?

6230's and 6230i's are fine the early ones were junk, this seems to be a current trait with leading edge Nokia, with the first releases of firmware being no better than Beta releases. These phones have been around long enough for current version to have most of the bugs now ironed out.

Battery life isn't great but then all the GPRS/MP3/Bluetooth etc has to take its toll. Get a proper car-kit with a charging cradle and you wont have to think about batteries. I know all the business people that had me put in bluetooth only car-kits have reverted to the more traditional kits or the Combo kits that offer best of both worlds..

[GT-P 390]

You guys must have been unlucky..only ever had three phones in the last 10 years odd:

1. Nokia 5110 - 4-5 years
2. Nokia 6310 - 12-18 months till I dropped it over the side of the boat
3. Nokia 6310i - 2-3 years and still going strong

and one Nokia car kit thats done all three.

[needfordspeed]

I bought a Nokia 6260 earlier in the year for $500+, about 3-4 months later I was having trouble selling it for $350 :S after that I made up my mind that I will never buy a brand new expensive mobile phone ever again. The 6260 was also poorly designed, the chrome around the edge rubbed against the keypad when it was closed(flip phone) and it got worn till there was no chrome left! It had lots of software glitches, but it had awesome features and took good photos and video's. Then I swapped it for a Sony Ericsson K700i, it's a good smallish phone but the battery life is pretty shocking.

There's no point in wasting money on phones, they depriciate at a rapid rate and they get outdated quick.

[XRated]

My 3100 has copped a fair beating and still going reasonably well. It's even been hit about 30 metres by a tennis raquet!!

[Laminge]

just buy the phones outright Chris

try graysonline or similar!

Picked up a V3 from ebay, brand spanker, $300 less than retail!

[Sagerian]

Wow I've never had a problem with any of my phones.

[bindi]

Originally Posted by XRated

My 3100 has copped a fair beating and still going reasonably well. It's even been hit about 30 metres by a tennis raquet!!

Whereas my 3100 has not coped well with the Clumsy Bindi syndrome, and after dropping it three times in one week onto concrete I no longer have any reception.

The old 3315 I have has replaced the 3100 until it is fixed, and to be honest I think I prefer it.

Oh and PS: I always go prepaid. I pick up phones from ebay new for cheap and try not to spend over $150 in case it gets stolen or lost... cos $150 is less heartbreaking than $300 plus.

[gtfpv]

i'm with 3 network the first phone clapped out after 6 months got it repaired under warranty . took them 4 months to repair it they were kind enough to giveme a new phone after 2 months of waiting for the repair then i got the phone back after the 4 months wait . and the replacement phone they gave me clapped out so got it repaired under warranty (only took 2 weeks to fix this ) during this time i reverted back to thew 1st phone which is huge . i left it in my pocket and it went through the washing machione . so i have the 2nd phone now and contract expires in 4 more months . FINGERS CROSSED.

[NAK302]

mobile phones...........bah who needs them? my life seems to manage without being phoned or messaged.

[Psycho Chicken]

My 3210 lasted for friggin ages. Must of been at least 4 years. 8250 died after about 2 years. Current 5140 doesn't look like it's going to last that long. The whole thing just died about 7 months into having it, got that fixed under warranty. A few turning off by itself at random issues that have seemed to of sorted them selves out, but still not convinced.

Really couldn't be stuffed with them, don't use them enough to bother. Probably won't buy another one after this, I'll just put it onto some sort of pay what I spend plan when the contract is up (another 12 months) and keep it til it dies.

[aimzes]

My 3210 lasted for friggin ages.

those things were tough as. dad had one for a work phone (builder), he had it for bloody years... then accidentally dropped it from about 40ft onto concrete. it only had one day left till retirement.

[RED_EL_XR8]

Originally Posted by nak351

mobile phones...........bah who needs them? my life seems to manage without being phoned or messaged.

Yeah and electricity and that internet thingy are over-rated too... :

[SpoolMan]

Chris have you considered how many hours you talk on it..
Someone could have a mobile for 2 years, but may not have had the amount of use yours has had in 6 months....
How many Hours a day is your phone is use talk, text, pics, etc:
Your mobiles do a fair bit of work...

[GasoLane]

I've only ever had one phone on a 12/24mth plan. If you break the phone -or drop it into the fishpond- you're still stuck with paying for a phone you dont have.

Now I just buy them outright and stick with Vodafone, best coverage, no plans, good prices.

...and NO, I have no affiliation with Vodafone

[frenzal]

nokia 5140.
you wont have a problem at all.

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by RED_EL_XR8

Yeah and electricity and that internet thingy are over-rated too... :

Yep!...And unfortunately the ability to contact or be contacted 24/7 IS now simply a fact of life!
Seriously, my phone is my right arm in business! It would rank up there with any major piece of equipment in our machine shop.
I have had the same number since 1988 (now with a 4 in 018) Early days it was purely in-car (Phillips I think, AND about 3 grand) Then the 3kg "box" complete with shoulder strap, then "bricks" & so on.. Never in my wildest dreams back then, did I imagine having the ability to take pics of a job on site in another state with my PHONE then being able to instantly send them back to our plant for perusal!..
Waffling here : (but IT IS quite amazing, methinks!)

[NAK302]

Originally Posted by RED_EL_XR8

Yeah and electricity and that internet thingy are over-rated too... :

no they're not. electricity is good for my aircon so i can sit on the internet for hours in comfort without being annoyed by useless messages on a mobile :evil3: whats your number? :