Comments on: Why Phone Insurance Is A Scam http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/why-phone-insurance-is-a-scam/ Spending Wisely: Making Smart Personal Finance Decisions Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: goat snot http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/why-phone-insurance-is-a-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-23134 goat snot Wed, 24 Aug 2011 03:46:39 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=549#comment-23134 Get a Wells Fargo credit card set up auto debit for your celly bill get basically the same insurance for free the phone company charges for Get a Wells Fargo credit card set up auto debit for your celly bill get basically the same insurance for free the phone company charges for

]]> By: Wojo http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/why-phone-insurance-is-a-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-12939 Wojo Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:31:32 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=549#comment-12939 We recently switched to MetroPCS, where you have to buy your phone for full price regardless (there's no contract), and we're still saving way more money than with these "subsidized" phones. Reason? Your plan costs are subsidizing them! I'd rather take care of my phones than be talked into getting a fancy BlackBerry just because it's "Free." We recently switched to MetroPCS, where you have to buy your phone for full price regardless (there’s no contract), and we’re still saving way more money than with these “subsidized” phones. Reason? Your plan costs are subsidizing them! I’d rather take care of my phones than be talked into getting a fancy BlackBerry just because it’s “Free.”

]]> By: Carnivals and Links, Week of November 21 – Don’t Quit Your Day Job http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/why-phone-insurance-is-a-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Carnivals and Links, Week of November 21 – Don’t Quit Your Day Job Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:40:27 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=549#comment-15 [...] “Why Phone Insurance is a Scam” – good article, but anecdotally, it works for me.  I got my first phone replaced (broken touchscreen) after complaining loudly and widely (but I didn’t have a phone for a few days).  I signed up for insurance after that incident since I had only had the phone for 6 months.  Since then, it’s broken twice, and been covered under the insurance (one replaced, one new screen).  (Un)lucky enough to have insurance work?  Maybe.  However, maybe the key to phone insurance is getting it for your new touchscreen phones and not your button ones?  For the record, I’ve now had the phone for 13 months. [...] [...] “Why Phone Insurance is a Scam” – good article, but anecdotally, it works for me.  I got my first phone replaced (broken touchscreen) after complaining loudly and widely (but I didn’t have a phone for a few days).  I signed up for insurance after that incident since I had only had the phone for 6 months.  Since then, it’s broken twice, and been covered under the insurance (one replaced, one new screen).  (Un)lucky enough to have insurance work?  Maybe.  However, maybe the key to phone insurance is getting it for your new touchscreen phones and not your button ones?  For the record, I’ve now had the phone for 13 months. [...]

]]> By: Daniel http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/why-phone-insurance-is-a-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Daniel Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:23:27 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=549#comment-9 I did a little research, and you're right to an extent, but it depends on the phone. For the free phones that you would get when upgrading, you can probably get them for fairly cheap, under $100. Going up the scale to nicer phones, such as the LG Xenon, my current phone, it can be found for under $200. Blackberries can be a little more, but even then, I see that many are available for around $200 or less. Would you take your chances breaking or losing 40% of your phones in the first year? Once you pass the first 12 months, you would actually be saving $25 each month (for 5 lines) that you didn't have to pay for a new phone. For those who are confident in themselves to not lose their phone, they could even buy a new phone every 12-18 months and come out way ahead! Plus, you could use the free upgrade and save it for emergencies, or you could use the upgrade and sell the phone! I did a little research, and you’re right to an extent, but it depends on the phone. For the free phones that you would get when upgrading, you can probably get them for fairly cheap, under $100. Going up the scale to nicer phones, such as the LG Xenon, my current phone, it can be found for under $200. Blackberries can be a little more, but even then, I see that many are available for around $200 or less.

Would you take your chances breaking or losing 40% of your phones in the first year? Once you pass the first 12 months, you would actually be saving $25 each month (for 5 lines) that you didn’t have to pay for a new phone. For those who are confident in themselves to not lose their phone, they could even buy a new phone every 12-18 months and come out way ahead!

Plus, you could use the free upgrade and save it for emergencies, or you could use the upgrade and sell the phone!

]]> By: Jeff http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/why-phone-insurance-is-a-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Jeff Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:04:15 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=549#comment-8 Yes, but are you considering the subsidized or unsubsidized prices of those phones. Unsubsidized phones can run upwards of $400/each, and you aren't eligible for a subsidized upgrade until at least half way through your contact (most of the time, you have to have finished the 2 years). For example, the Nokia Surge is $230 w/o subsidy. That would use up the $300+$50 deductible right there if you broke two of those (and they're free with a new 2 year contract). Yes, but are you considering the subsidized or unsubsidized prices of those phones. Unsubsidized phones can run upwards of $400/each, and you aren’t eligible for a subsidized upgrade until at least half way through your contact (most of the time, you have to have finished the 2 years). For example, the Nokia Surge is $230 w/o subsidy. That would use up the $300+$50 deductible right there if you broke two of those (and they’re free with a new 2 year contract).

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