| Don't just rush out and buy the first cell phone | | | | incurring any penalties. THIS SAVES YOU MONEY!!! |
| and calling plan you see. Finding the cheapest and | | | | The Early Termination Fee (ETF) is another term |
| best cell phone for your needs first requires you | | | | that you must read carefully BEFORE your |
| to educate yourself. It's very important to not | | | | contract expires. Not only will you owe the carrier |
| short-change yourself. Make sure you are TRULY | | | | this penalty amount, but you may also owe the |
| getting the cheapest cell phone deal. Do your | | | | third-party vendor you purchased the phone from. |
| research first! | | | | This isn't a hard and fast rule, but it's good to be |
| For example, say you saw an ad on TV or in the | | | | informed that this fee could be doubled. |
| local newspaper for a Samsung BlackJack in the | | | | If rebates are a deciding factor for your cell |
| color you want and is listed at a price you just | | | | phone and calling plan purchase, please make sure |
| can't refuse. Now you have to decide, what's the | | | | you read these terms as well. Rebates can have |
| best way to get this phone? Online? Costco? | | | | a lot of strings attached, such as having to wait |
| Cellular store? | | | | six months before you can apply for the rebate, |
| If price is your main criteria, then your best option | | | | and even then you only have a one-month |
| is purchasing your cell phone and calling plan online. | | | | window to turn it in or the rebate is invalid. So be |
| While you can buy directly from the cellular | | | | careful when you use a rebate for signing up for |
| vendor, a cheaper option is to check out Wirefly. | | | | your cell phone and calling plan contract. You don't |
| Wirefly offers the same cellular products and | | | | want to lose out on the rebate if it's impossible to |
| services as the big name cellular vendors, but at | | | | satisfy its terms. |
| reduced prices. Sometimes even the cellular | | | | Be sure to also compare carriers when |
| accessories are included at no cost to you. | | | | considering a cellular phone and calling plan |
| One thing to keep in mind when considering a cell | | | | purchase. Not all carriers have the same coverage |
| phone and calling plan purchase from a third-party | | | | areas (domestic vs. domestic AND international) |
| vendor (not the actual carrier, i.e., Nokia, Samsung, | | | | and customer service can vary greatly depending |
| Blackberry, Motorola) is to read the terms and | | | | on the carrier. Again, DO YOUR RESEARCH! |
| conditions of the contract very carefully. | | | | Match your calling needs with the best and |
| Sometimes there are restrictions if you lower | | | | CHEAPEST cell phone and calling plan you can get. |
| your calling plan within the first six months. This | | | | You will save your hard-earned money and grief |
| will result in huge penalties that could have been | | | | later down the road. Trust me, I've learned from |
| avoided if you had initially signed up for the | | | | experience. |
| cheapest calling plan (within reason) that fits your | | | | In summary, I recommend doing your cell phone |
| needs. This way if you find that you need a | | | | research online. |
| higher-level calling plan, you can upgrade without | | | | |