topic Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone in Electronics

Question about Tracfone /smartphone

sipp — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 08:34:41 GMT

MY husband and I have the triple minute lg tracfone and the battery is not charging as long as it used to- I tried finding replacements but pickings are slim to none-- So considering the previous TSV (yes I KNOW there are conflicting reports about the triple minute option (how infuriating!) HOWEVER---- MY QUESTION IS---- how does the cost of the triple minute LG phone compare with the Previous TSV SMARTPHONE by Tracfone? I buy a 60 minute card every 3 months for $19.99- (I really don't use it much and have like 4000 minutes- I rarely text- tend to use it more when I'm taking a plane to see our kids so they know we're doing ok and if flight's on time etc.----however it does sync w/our car so if I need to call home or whatever-- but because I don't use it much I would like to know if it's worth it to take the plunge before my triple minute one becomes completely obsolete. ( My husband barely knows how to USE his LG- so a smartphone would really mess with him- (he'd like to go back to flip-phones). I'm more concerned with the cost of the smart version cards and time.( I do have a home phone for everyday use) TIA

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

Pook — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:02:39 GMT

@sipp I would say the cost is probably about the same for a new phone without the triple minutes. If you have an overabundance of minutes for talk/text and data time then triple minutes is not an issue and meaningless. The cost to add minutes is the same and you can also purchase talk text and data seperately depending on what you need. You also could just get a new battery for your old phones.

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

kitcat51 — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:09:09 GMT

I have a basic flip & have accumulated lots of minutes on the triple plan so now I buy a 30 minute card & a 1yr no minutes card so an entire year of coverage costs less than $65.00 with taxes & fees. You can find info on the Tracfone website about the different phones available with plans or using pay as you go cards. I purchased another 3x phone from HSN as a backup before the plan ended, it can be activated at anytime but it's not a flip phone...going to miss mine when it stops working, love that little flip.

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

hick — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:49:44 GMT

I feel your pain! After much urging by my daughter, I bit the bullet and went from a trac phone to an iphone 7 a couple of years ago. I too don't use it much although I find myself texting more than i used to.

That said......I love the iphone. I am 70 years old and somewhat technically challenged. It was much easier to set up than the trac phone. Also, the camera on the iphone is fabulous. I take photos all the time.

I was initally hesitant to buy an iphone because of the costly minute/text plans which I found very confusing. As I said, I don't call or text much and couldn't see the point of paying for something I wouldn't use.

I found TING - it's a mobile phone service kinda like tracphone. You pay for what you use although there is a base rate of $12 per month. So it's about $5 each for 100 minutes, 100 texts and 100 megabytes. My bill runs $15.00 per month. I find that acceptable. TING worked great during my trip to Scotland also.

Hope that helps!

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

Beauty$Junkie — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 11:08:50 GMT

I would order a tracfone from hsn; $80 you can get a new Samsung Galaxy that would cover you for 365 days and give you plenty of minutes. You would have a new phone and I don't see where you can beat the price. I have tracfone and would hate to have to add to it every 60 days. I do the year and am done with it.

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

151949 — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 12:57:49 GMT

@Beauty$Junkie wrote:
I would order a tracfone from hsn; $80 you can get a new Samsung Galaxy that would cover you for 365 days and give you plenty of minutes. You would have a new phone and I don't see where you can beat the price. I have tracfone and would hate to have to add to it every 60 days. I do the year and am done with it.

My Samsung tracfone from HSN came with 1200 talk,text and data and a year of service all for about $100. It doesn't sound like you understand what a good deal the tracfones from HSN are.

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

software — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 13:00:25 GMT

I've never had a problem finding a quality battery replacement for a reasonable price.

Personally I would not recommend LG

But if you do buy, be sure your internal memory is at least 16GB

Based on how you describe your usage, if you are only concerned about losing the triple minutes, I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt you will spend more money for usage on a new phone

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

hckynut — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 14:49:59 GMT

@sipp

If you have over 4,000 minutes why are you buying a 60 minute card every 3 months. Expiration I presume, so I say "buy a new phone" with a 365 expiration, you obviously do not need any more minutes.

The brand? Some like LG/Samsung, and some like others. I've had mostly the 2 I mentioned and have been happy with both. Mine is only On when I am somewhere other than home, and only my wife has the number. Text? Don't use it. Data? Use only wifi, so it is not touched. Minutes left? Like you, I have thousands that will never be used.

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

Zhills — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 00:03:56 GMT

@kitcat51 wrote:
I have a basic flip & have accumulated lots of minutes on the triple plan so now I buy a 30 minute card & a 1yr no minutes card so an entire year of coverage costs less than $65.00 with taxes & fees. You can find info on the Tracfone website about the different phones available with plans or using pay as you go cards. I purchased another 3x phone from HSN as a backup before the plan ended, it can be activated at anytime but it's not a flip phone...going to miss mine when it stops working, love that little flip.

You can keep your little flip! Buy the new Tracfone from HSN and call customer service and they will add the service time and minutes to your little flip!

Phones don't just "go bad", they last a long time!

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

sipp — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 09:45:50 GMT

I don't understand the way talk, text and data are purchased- how do I judge how much I would need? I do text sometimes- I do "call" sometimes and some are long-distance (but in the states) -- what is data? I prefer a camara for photos (I am able to take them on my lg but usually don't) Also I've tried to find batteries for my LG360 and not having much luck (checked amazon) and I really don't want to spend a lot on a battery that may not be a used or made by some weird company that ends up not being compatible.. I was also unaware that I could buy a one year card w/o minutes- yes I have so many minutes because I buy the 60 minute cards (which triple to 180) in order to keep it active- so I thought that's what I had to do- had tracfones for so long - never thought to investigate into new frontiers lol!---

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

sipp — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 09:47:39 GMT

Yes- you're correct- expiration was the reason.

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

sipp — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 09:51:13 GMT

Also my phone HAS to be on when I'm in the car in order for it to "link".I don't understand "DATA?--- I only give my cell number to my family- Ihave a home phone w/answering machine for anyone else. ..

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

Marp — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 13:48:10 GMT

@sipp wrote:
I don't understand the way talk, text and data are purchased- how do I judge how much I would need? I do text sometimes- I do "call" sometimes and some are long-distance (but in the states) -- what is data? I prefer a camara for photos (I am able to take them on my lg but usually don't) Also I've tried to find batteries for my LG360 and not having much luck (checked amazon) and I really don't want to spend a lot on a battery that may not be a used or made by some weird company that ends up not being compatible.. I was also unaware that I could buy a one year card w/o minutes- yes I have so many minutes because I buy the 60 minute cards (which triple to 180) in order to keep it active- so I thought that's what I had to do- had tracfones for so long - never thought to investigate into new frontiers lol!---

If you are hesitant to purchase a new battery through Amazon check out specialty places like batterywarehouseonline.com or batteriesplus.com

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

Zhills — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 14:41:29 GMT

Data is when you are using the internet.

I use very little data because I use the computer for browsing.

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

wagirl — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 20:47:37 GMT

Can anyone suggest a decent point and shoot camera for under $200 ? I am not a photog wanna be and the camera on cell phones are a joke, just want something I can carry around and take a pic when needed. thanks

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

151949 — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 00:57:01 GMT

DATA is internet access when you aren't in a Wi Fi area. For instance I was waiting for DH at the dentist for an hour. I wanted to use the internet but there was no public Wifi so I turned on DATA and played some games while I waited for him.

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

hckynut — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 01:51:53 GMT

@wagirl

Not sure what kinda cell phone you have, but my $79 5mp Samsung takes great pictures. And my wife's 13mg Galaxy S8? I ain't a photog expert, but those look better than Kodak 10mp/50X zoom camera!

Now if zoom is what you are looking for, even my wife's S8 doesn't do that job. I can't recommend any brand because don't do enough pix taking to check out the newer under $200 cameras.

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

Mom2Dogs — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 02:08:23 GMT

@wagirl....I have a panasonic digital camera. It takes good photos, it is pretty old now and I would guess you could get one with more mega pixels than what mine has.....it's easy to use as well.

After I take photos I transfer them to my MacBook via the cables that came with the camera, I also have a HP Photosmart printer that I can print to....very convenient.

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

sipp — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 04:54:15 GMT

Hmmm--- so if my phone links to my car- (can make and get calls but it will require using data? and if I'm driving- Am I using my data even if I'm not calling or getting a call?Or just when I'm talking w/someone?

Re: Question about Tracfone /smartphone

Big Sister — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 07:42:00 GMT

If and when you only need to extend your service date for one year,

remember you can go to Tracfone site and buy one year for $50.00

I do that because I don't need any more mins., data, etc.