In another thread, some of you recommended Wal-mart's StraighTalk prepaid cell phones. I bought one this weekend.
(Pic of phone: http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpdi...sionId=7184745 )

The people at Wal-mart couldn't answer all my questions, so I called the support number. The automated answering system said, "Due to unusually heavy call volume, we cannot answer your call." And it hung up on me! So... lousy customer service, and after spending $129 + tax on the phone, plus the 30-day card, I am not happy.

Maybe some of you can answer a few of my questions?

1. It said to charge the battery for 5 hours the first time. I didn't expect to have to charge the battery first thing, and I had to leave (and I needed the phone with me), so I unplugged it after less than two hours of charging. When I got back, I plugged it in to finish charging, but after less than 15 minutes, it beeped and said charging was complete. Is this okay? Or did I screw up my battery by not charging it fully the first time?

2. How do you push those teeny keys? I have small hands and fingers, but those keys are so small, only my fingernail works. I'd prefer not to use my nails on it. I expected it to come with a stylus, but it didn't.

3. It didn't come with a case. How do you keep it protected from hitting things? I have it in a pocket in my purse, but it's sharing the space with other things there.

As for actually using it, I haven't done more than experiment with that so far. I'm sure I'll have more questions...

I used my nieces phone last weekend and I didn't like those tiny little buttons on her's either. If you try and use a stylus on her's, it would tear up the rubbery coating I think.

I found that my cell phones needed various charging times for the first charge. My last one was fully charged :roll: I wonder if they said 5 hours just in case it was completely discharged?

I haven't heard a lot of good feedback regarding customer service with prepaid phones. From what I have seen and heard it is limited, and some even get charged minutes to talk to a customer service representative. Have you tried going to their website to get your questions answered?

I keep my phone in my pocket, or in it's own pocket in my purse. I think it is common to have to buy a protector for them, usually they have them for sale on their website, or dept stores carry some that may work too.

I went into the Cricket store here and they had cases for all kinds of phones. Got one for my Sprint phone for $10 that would have cost about $25 or $30 at the Sprint store.
They also sell cases at Walmart in or near the jewelry section.
Carol B

I would try Ebay for a phone case. I bought one for my phone and it was less than $5.00, and had free shipping.

Cell phones are much tougher than you think. It will be fine in your purse. Many of them live in gym bags under track spikes and live to make calls again. Keep in mind that every high school boy you see has a cell phone. There is no way you will treat yours as badly as they treat theirs!!

Your finger nails won't hurt the keys of the phone. I have long nails and have had the same phone for over two years. Just dial away and don't worry about it. If you really want to get fancy, most phone have a voice dial command. Then you only dial it once and give it a name. After that you just say, "Call Home" and it magically does it.

amma, yes, I tried going to the website, but the FAQ didn't have my questions. I imagine there's a way to email, so I'll check it again.

Lisa, good point about high school boys and phones. It has already survived me casually throwing my purse into my car - oops, I'll need to set it carefully on the floor of the car from now on.

I'd rather not use my nails to press the keys - for my nails' sake. I wasn't worried about the keys!

Thanks to everyone for suggestions about where to find cases. Has anyone quilted a case? I was thinking maybe a quilted outside and a foam inside?

I haven't seen ones with tiny keys, but wouldn't the eraser end of a plain or mechanical pencil work?

Some purses have a pocket for a cell phone. I have also seen a leather case that clips on to the ring of a purse. It's handier to get at a ringing phone if the pocket is exterior.

Every once in a while, we get a message on our answering machine or a phone call. Someone apparently has tossed their phone in their purse and they my # on speed dial........ARRRRGH! I can't figure out who it is, and everyone I know that has my # claims it's not them. One time, I heard EVERYTHING they said for over an hour! So BE CAREFUL!

I lock my phone (this locks the number pad - check your instructions) before I throw it in my bag...saves dialling up indescriminately if your phone rattles around. If the instruction manual is a bit pathetic - find their website they usually have a FAQ or customer service chat function.

Failing that, the average kid can give you a complete lesson in no time flat....if they could only clean their rooms as well as they can operate gadgets!

I've never had trouble with Virgin Mobile's customer service, which has the option of toll-free number, their website, e-mail, or Facebook. They're quick, friendly, and very good at fixing what few things I've had any difficulty with with them. I have no qualms about recommending them if you don't want to get stuck with a service contract. When I decided that, yes, I needed a cell phone, my income was erratic enough that a contract would have been a very bad thing. I could switch at this point, but feel no desire to. I don't use my cell phone much and Virgin Mobile's been fine for my needs.

Tracfone, on the other hand, is HIDEOUS. It took me six calls in three days to get voice-mail working, reps were too locked into their scripts (probably due to poor English skills, which were painfully evident) to really listen, they contradicted each other and observable facts, etc. A friend of mine recently had a Tracfone inflicted on her by her mother (who bought the phone, but stuck her daughter with periodic airtime purchases when said daughter is on a VERY tight budget), and her experience with their lack of customer service matches mine.

A ringing phone is not an issue. It will be off at all times except when I'm using it.

Hm, guess that won't work. I will need it on when I'm at home, but that will mean recharging the battery almost daily. How do you all manage?

I keep my charger plugged in close to where I spend most of my sitting time. That way I have it handy, but keep it charged too. Before I had it as my primary phone, I kept the charger by the front door so I could grab my phone on my way out.

I have a car charger and plug mine in overnight periodically or when I'm driving farther than just around town.

I just made a quilted cell phone holder with a neck strap for my niece who is paralyzed. She is bedridden and often could not reach her phone if it slipped or was moved by nursing attendents. I used pre-quilted fabric, and just made it to fit. My GD thought it was a pretty neat idea . And that statement about teen age boys and how they treat their phones, so very very true!!

try using the eraser on a pencil. It is usually small enough for most keys. Or you can go to game stop and purchase a stylist.

Personally, I don't like telephones at all, but do realize that
at some time they are vitally necessary. Since I'm a widow and
live alone, drive alone anywhere I please, I find that a Triple A
card with 100 mile towing, and a cell phone are about all I need.

I have a Trac phone, which I love. I drop it, the cat pushes it off
the shelf, I lose it in my purse, and sometimes have to call it from
the land phone to be able to find it before I leave the house.

I bought this phone about 3 years ago, and with it got over a year's
worth of minutes, all this for about 129.00. And each year on that
date I buy another 20 or 30 dollar card so I can punch in the number,
it goes over to another year, plus the left over minutes roll over too.
You can get these at Walmart or grocery stores, they are everywhere.

Since I have a hearing problem, I've found that I can turn up the sound
on this cell, and use it when calling my out of state kids and grandkids.

caught my puppy trying to eat mine has slipped out of my hands droped out of the car when getting out steped on lost in the recliner yep it still workes just fine i even got mad at my ex once and threw it across the room and it still worked they make them perty good now days once i even left mine on the hood of the car as i was driving away my mwireless head set lost conection so i went back to find it i ran over that one andit still worked for the rest of the year not everone is as hard on them as i am i have memory and grip trouble so you shouldn't have trouble watch out for the roaming cost wallmart charges double minuets for roaming pepaid are expensive i would pay the deposit for a contract service good luck with yours now you can always be found

The battery will last longer if you let it go dead and then fully recharge it. I was told recharging the battery a little at a time will shorten the battery life. You don't have to keep the phone to have the same service. Buy a phone you like that is compatible with your SIM card and put card in it.

the phone is fine in your purse, just make sure you lock your buttons on the phone while in your purse or pocket. Penny