How attached are you to your mobile device? (2025 Edition)

[Scott5114]

That brings up another problem I have with the mobile phone industrial complex, the absolutely insane machinations their marketing departments devise to ensnare people. I've been burned too many times by them getting my wife excited about some promotion offering a free phone, only to find out once we pick a new one out, and sit down with the rep to go through the paperwork that the free phone deal only applies to customers whose last name has a Scrabble score between 4 and 9 points who purchased their last phone on a Tuesday that is neither in February nor on Election Day.

Yeah, I think I'm fine with my 5-year-old phone rather than dealing with that horseshit, thanks.

When I bought an iPhone 15, I had no luck trying to get a trade-in credit on my old iPhone 8. There may be a limit on old phones. Or if you're not buying the latest model (in my case, an iPhone 16, which I didn't want since I try to stay at least one generation behind, to make sure all the bugs have been fixed, and also not pay for AI features since I'm allergic to AI).

Some Walmarts have machines offering cash for old smartphones. I tried to cash in an old flip phone, no luck there, but I have yet tried to cash in my old iPhone 8.

The problem is that they advertise "Free phone!" while maintaining a list of arbitrary exemptions approximately the length of Interstate 90. While I'm sure they have the legal right and business reasons to do so, it doesn't give me the stomach to buy a ticket to the circus they have going on.

[ZLoth]

Yeah, I think I'm fine with my 5-year-old phone rather than dealing with that horseshit, thanks.

The technological upgrade from year to year isn't as great as when you upgrade every three-four years. While I upgraded from the Pixel 6 to the Pixel 9 last year, I decided to hold off on my mother's phone because of my mother's age.

It's the tax laws that make "free" phones not free, including taxing the "unactivated price of the phone" which is due at time of purchase. There is also that contract change, as a result, I no longer have Hulu, Disney+, or ESPN+ which I wasn't using anyways.

Of course, you can watch Woot! to see if they have a one-day deal on a refurbished phone.

[Max Rockatansky]

From what I'm reading about Woot it seems it more or less is just new age QVC?  Also, I didn't realize QVC was still even a thing. 

[ZLoth]

From what I'm reading about Woot it seems it more or less is just new age QVC?  Also, I didn't realize QVC was still even a thing.

I've been using Woot! to land some good bargains on factory refurbished products and last years models. My three monitors on my desk are all Woot specials. I also got a 4060Ti card which is used for transcoding on my Plex server.

[Scott5114]

Of course, you can watch Woot! to see if they have a one-day deal on a refurbished phone.

Call me when they have a one-day deal on all phone companies going out of business forever.

Oh, wait, you won't be able to.

[hbelkins]

The battery on my mother's Pixel 6 phone pillowed yesterday. 

Suddenly? It didn't happen gradually?

Every time it's happened to me, it's been gradual.

Some Walmarts have machines offering cash for old smartphones. I tried to cash in an old flip phone, no luck there, but I have yet tried to cash in my old iPhone 8.

From what I've heard, those machines offer rock-bottom prices. You're better off hanging on to that old phone as a spare or for use as an iPod Touch.

[Rothman]

Some Walmarts have machines offering cash for old smartphones. I tried to cash in an old flip phone, no luck there, but I have yet tried to cash in my old iPhone 8.

From what I've heard, those machines offer rock-bottom prices. You're better off hanging on to that old phone as a spare or for use as an iPod Touch.

If I don't need a backup, might as well get something for it.

I mean, doesn't the idea of "I'm only going to get $20 for it, so I'm keeping it" just eventually lead to a house full of junk? ;D

[Molandfreak]

Some Walmarts have machines offering cash for old smartphones. I tried to cash in an old flip phone, no luck there, but I have yet tried to cash in my old iPhone 8.

From what I've heard, those machines offer rock-bottom prices. You're better off hanging on to that old phone as a spare or for use as an iPod Touch.

If I don't need a backup, might as well get something for it.

I mean, doesn't the idea of "I'm only going to get $20 for it, so I'm keeping it" just eventually lead to a house full of junk? ;D

I keep an old junker phone around for the purposes of having something easy to stick a foreign SIM in abroad, or to have a decoy to give if I know I'm going into a sketchy area of a big city.

[formulanone]

From what I'm reading about Woot it seems it more or less is just new age QVC?  Also, I didn't realize QVC was still even a thing.

I've been using Woot! to land some good bargains on factory refurbished products and last years models. My three monitors on my desk are all Woot specials. I also got a 4060Ti card which is used for transcoding on my Plex server.

[checks out Woot]

Pretty good deal, actually. (Sold out, but I have one.)

[ZLoth]

The battery on my mother's Pixel 6 phone pillowed yesterday. 

Suddenly? It didn't happen gradually?

Every time it's happened to me, it's been gradual.

It was fine on Friday, and the screen separated on Saturday, probably because the phone was dropped. It's my mother's phone, so I don't monitor it that closely.

Call me when they have a one-day deal on all phone companies going out of business forever.

Oh, wait, you won't be able to.

I don't have your phone number, never asked for your phone number, and have no need for your phone number.

Also, I'm assuming your comments apply to landline carriers as well as mobile carriers. As it is now, with VoIP/mobile connections, you can have a phone number anywhere in the United States.

[Rothman]

Call me when they have a one-day deal on all phone companies going out of business forever.

Oh, wait, you won't be able to.

I don't have your phone number, never asked for your phone number, and have no need for your phone number.

Never say never.

[ZLoth]

FWIW... Woot has a set of Samsung Android Phones on sale today (October 18th). They are not the latest, but they are listed as both "Factory Refurbished" and "Scratch and Dent" which means that there is cosmetic damange. The cost range is from $130 to $550.

[ZLoth]

Oh, and add another function to my phone.... my Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor and my Figertip Pulse Oximeter have Bluetooth so that I can transfer the readings from those devices to my mobile device. I can then send those results to my physician.