Refurbished iPhones are available directly from Apple. They have new batteries, screens, warranty, etc.
Another plus about buying directly from Apple is that you'll get an unlocked model (7,8 or X) that will work on all 4 US carriers.
Apple used both Intel and Qualcomm modems in the 7,8 and X models. The Intel equipped ones, even if they’re unlocked really won’t work on Verizon and will not work period on Sprint. TMO & ATT are no problem. The Qualcomm equipped ones will work on all 4 US carriers, which is what Apple sells.
Something to be aware of: Not all iPhone 7,8 and X models are the same.
Search found 29 matches
- Thu Apr 04, 2019 12:12 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Ready to buy a new cheap smartphone - any gotchas?
- Replies: 44
- Views: 5605
- Sun Mar 10, 2019 9:18 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best Car Values
- Replies: 155
- Views: 15156
Re: Best Car Values
Google search. Then call and ask what they can/will provide for services.
- Sun Mar 10, 2019 8:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Dental care for mother-in-law with low income
- Replies: 26
- Views: 3194
Re: Dental care for mother-in-law with low income
Are there any colleges/universities nearby that have dental programs? They may offer discount dentistry services.
- Fri Mar 08, 2019 10:32 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best Car Values
- Replies: 155
- Views: 15156
Re: Best Car Values
I’m in the boat of buying (with cash) 3-5 yr old vehicles w around 30,000 miles. We now have a 3 and 10 year old vehicles. My question for you all is do you follow the recommendations for maintenance? Oil changes and tire rotation are a no brainer. I’m talking about spark plugs, transmission flush, brake fluid, etc. This can get expensive but it also in theory should keep the car running longer. Thoughts? I pretty much follow the same vehicle buying strategy you (and others) do. And, yes, I follow maintenance recommendations. Like I posted in another thread - if you have access to technical/trade schools, they (in my experience) are an excellent way to keep your vehicles maintained for a low, low cost. We’ve been utilizing trade/technical ...
- Fri Mar 08, 2019 8:54 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Best Car Values
- Replies: 155
- Views: 15156
Re: Best Car Values
I’m in the boat of buying (with cash) 3-5 yr old vehicles w around 30,000 miles. We now have a 3 and 10 year old vehicles. My question for you all is do you follow the recommendations for maintenance? Oil changes and tire rotation are a no brainer. I’m talking about spark plugs, transmission flush, brake fluid, etc. This can get expensive but it also in theory should keep the car running longer. Thoughts? I pretty much follow the same vehicle buying strategy you (and others) do. And, yes, I follow maintenance recommendations. Like I posted in another thread - if you have access to technical/trade schools, they (in my experience) are an excellent way to keep your vehicles maintained for a low, low cost. We’ve been utilizing trade/technical ...
- Fri Mar 08, 2019 8:23 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Things to do in Maine
- Replies: 87
- Views: 10993
Re: Things to do in Maine
Portland Museum of Art.
- Thu Mar 07, 2019 10:29 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: boom mobile compatible phone question
- Replies: 6
- Views: 537
Re: boom mobile compatible phone question
Cool. Good luck.
- Thu Mar 07, 2019 10:20 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: boom mobile compatible phone question
- Replies: 6
- Views: 537
Re: boom mobile compatible phone question
You’re welcome. I’ve never used Boom, but I would think they’d change you over to either ATT or Sprint. You'd might have to pay for a new SIM card? You should contact Boom and ask.
OTOH, if Verizon is working well for you, the easiest thing to do is find a comparable Verizon phone and also keep the same plan/SIM you have.
- Thu Mar 07, 2019 8:58 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: boom mobile compatible phone question
- Replies: 6
- Views: 537
Re: boom mobile compatible phone question
What carrier are you using on Boom?
For Sprint and ATT, yes. For Verizon, mostly yes.
https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_x4-8634.php
Verizon uses LTE bands 2, 4 and 13.
If you can connect to band 4 (and you'll only be able to connect to band 4 for LTE), it should work.
Again, if you’re relying on Verizon, it’s not the best choice, but is should work.
For Sprint and ATT, yes. For Verizon, mostly yes.
https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_x4-8634.php
Verizon uses LTE bands 2, 4 and 13.
If you can connect to band 4 (and you'll only be able to connect to band 4 for LTE), it should work.
Again, if you’re relying on Verizon, it’s not the best choice, but is should work.
- Thu Mar 07, 2019 7:30 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Repair or Sell 2002 Avalon
- Replies: 32
- Views: 3619
Re: Repair or Sell 2002 Avalon
If you have technical and/or trade school(s) near you, they can be an excellent option for vehicle maintenance.
And used Toyotas (and Hondas) will always have a value to someone, even with a multitude of issues. They’re very rarely worth nothing. You should be able to sell your Avalon with little to no problems, even with disclosing known issues with it.
And used Toyotas (and Hondas) will always have a value to someone, even with a multitude of issues. They’re very rarely worth nothing. You should be able to sell your Avalon with little to no problems, even with disclosing known issues with it.
- Sun Mar 03, 2019 7:14 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Where to find inexpensive unlocked phone
- Replies: 56
- Views: 5790
Re: Where to find inexpensive unlocked phone
Right now Simple Mobile, is selling an “open box” iPhone 8/64 GB for $299, plus a minimum $25 for 1 month of service. These phones are in basically new/never used condition and unlocked. I’ve bought two of these.
That phone for that price is an excellent buy.
That phone for that price is an excellent buy.
- Thu Feb 28, 2019 10:27 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Going to "cash-only" restaurants?
- Replies: 109
- Views: 7147
Re: Going to "cash-only" restaurants?
A small business owner told me this many years ago:Cheyenne wrote: ↑Thu Feb 28, 2019 9:00 amI used to have a acquaintance who was a retired IRS agent and he told me they operated on the assumption that ALL small businesses cheated on their taxes. So if it's expected of them, is it any wonder that some of them might?Noble Knight wrote: ↑Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:35 am Restaurants claim they do it to avoid credit card fees, but in reality it's to pocket extra cash and not have to pay the taxes on it.
“You have three sets of books. A real set, a set for when you want to sell and a set for tax purposes.”.
- Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:59 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Going to "cash-only" restaurants?
- Replies: 109
- Views: 7147
Re: Going to "cash-only" restaurants?
- Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:48 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: How did mylife.com get my info?
- Replies: 115
- Views: 21534
Re: How did mylife.com get my info?
I looked myself up on mylife.com. Comical results.
*Wrong martial status.
*Wrong address.
*No info for religion, political affiliation, etc.
*Outside of my parents, no idea who the “family/associates” they listed are.
As a disinformation tool, it works. I’m leaving it as is; no request to remove it.
*Wrong martial status.
*Wrong address.
*No info for religion, political affiliation, etc.
*Outside of my parents, no idea who the “family/associates” they listed are.
As a disinformation tool, it works. I’m leaving it as is; no request to remove it.
- Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:42 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Going to "cash-only" restaurants?
- Replies: 109
- Views: 7147
Re: Going to "cash-only" restaurants?
There’s a nice, smaller, family run restaurant near me that offers a 10% discount for paying with cash.
- Sun Feb 24, 2019 8:09 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Thoreau Simplify
- Replies: 65
- Views: 9219
Re: Thoreau Simplify
“The things you own, end up owning you.”
-Tyler Durden, Fight Club
-Tyler Durden, Fight Club
- Wed Feb 20, 2019 8:08 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Problems Using ATT Phones on Verizon Network?
- Replies: 17
- Views: 2339
Re: Problems Using ATT Phones on Verizon Network?
Starting with the iPhone 7 through the iPhone X, Apple used two different manufacturers for their iPhone modems: Intel (for ATT and TMO) and Qualcomm (for Verizon and Sprint).
These iPhone models with the Qualcomm modems (assuming they’re unlocked), will work on all four US networks. These models with the Intel modems (again assuming they’re unlocked) will not. They'll work on ATT and TMO, sort of work on Verizon and will not work at all on Sprint.
The problem is a hardware compatibility issue.
These iPhone models with the Qualcomm modems (assuming they’re unlocked), will work on all four US networks. These models with the Intel modems (again assuming they’re unlocked) will not. They'll work on ATT and TMO, sort of work on Verizon and will not work at all on Sprint.
The problem is a hardware compatibility issue.
- Wed Feb 20, 2019 7:21 am
- Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
- Topic: Auto Extended Warranties
- Replies: 48
- Views: 3344
Re: Auto Extended Warranties
Skip the extended warranty. Do something productive with the money.
- Thu Feb 14, 2019 7:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Refurbished smart phone or new Consumer Cellular Smart phone?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1015
Re: Refurbished smart phone or new Consumer Cellular Smart phone?
Planning on making the tech leap from flip to smart phones, especially for easier google map viewings. Also makes plane boardings more convenient, plus better airport gate change apps. Consumer Cellular users (very happy with their service) has a budget Moto e5 Play for $80, which has very good reviews as a basic phone, which is mostly all we've used. That being said, Consumer Cellular allows unlocked AT&T and T-mobile phones. Before I start looking, would it be worthwhile to buy one of those older phones - refurbished - with better features such as camera & audio quality - 2 areas the e5 are weak? Not a tech geek - by a long shot - but have managed to transition smoothly from iMac to iPad much faster than I did from 8 track to cas...
- Thu Feb 14, 2019 4:54 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Refurbished smart phone or new Consumer Cellular Smart phone?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1015
Re: Refurbished smart phone or new Consumer Cellular Smart phone?
If you already have an iPad and iMac, you should stick with Apple. An iPhone 6s or 7 should be reasonable. although more $. You can use your existing Apple ID. The experience will be similar across devices. If you add an Android device, now you need a Gmail account. Photos from your phone go to your Google Drive. With an iPhone, photos go to iCloud and can be accessed from your iPad or Mac computer. Sharing and moving files isn't that tough, but it just adds a lot of complexity. Android devices tend to have a shorter life, especially in the budget under $100 range. Staying in one ecosystem may make sense for your first smartphone. https://www.consumercellular.com/Products/778/Details https://www.consumercellular.com/Products/748/Details It...
- Thu Feb 14, 2019 8:33 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need help with frequent week-long stays in Boston over next 18 mos
- Replies: 68
- Views: 4389
Re: Need help with frequent week-long stays in Boston over next 18 mos
Just out of curiosity, in what type of situation would a W-2 employee be expected to pay their own travel / lodging costs? It's a good question. It's an unusual situation. Briefly, it's like this. There would be a business need for me to be in Boston at a company owned facility. Company would prefer I relocate from an office near where I currently live. I balked on relocation. It is in all other respects an excellent opportunity. We discussed. The Boston location might not even be needed by the company in the relatively near future too. They understood concerns. Conclusion was that I would not need to relocate but I was needed to be there as needed. The compensation delta can more than cover my travel and lodging costs even after I adjust ...
- Tue Feb 12, 2019 1:53 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Need help with frequent week-long stays in Boston over next 18 mos
- Replies: 68
- Views: 4389
Re: Need help with frequent week-long stays in Boston over next 18 mos
Boston area resident here.
I vote for the AirBnB route. Try out a few of them, pick one that you like and see if you can do a deal with the owner/manager.
Otherwise, look at extended stay hotels. They can get pricey quick though and the quality of them can vary greatly.
Buying to rent out? Like others have said, be careful. Boston (and Cambridge) have resently passed some very anti-AirBnB legislation.
I vote for the AirBnB route. Try out a few of them, pick one that you like and see if you can do a deal with the owner/manager.
Otherwise, look at extended stay hotels. They can get pricey quick though and the quality of them can vary greatly.
Buying to rent out? Like others have said, be careful. Boston (and Cambridge) have resently passed some very anti-AirBnB legislation.
- Sun Feb 10, 2019 4:20 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Mint Mobile feedback
- Replies: 27
- Views: 3452
Re: Mint Mobile feedback
I have two lines with Mint. No complaints.
- Wed Jan 30, 2019 8:15 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Please share some lifestyle creep you regret.
- Replies: 226
- Views: 33045
Re: Please share some lifestyle creep you regret.
+1 for a Miata. I bought a ‘96 (last year with the pop up headlights). It was fun, but living in New England cuts down on the amount of available fun time.kacang wrote: ↑Wed Jan 30, 2019 12:44 am I'm of two minds about my Miata. It has lousy gas mileage, not practical, is an extraneous 4th car. Generally not a very boglehead-ish thing.
But it is also my guilty pleasure, absolutely a blast driving it top down. lol, maybe it belongs to the other thread.
Sold it after ~a year.
- Sun Jan 27, 2019 8:12 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Where to stay in Naples, Italy and along Amalfi coast
- Replies: 36
- Views: 3290
Re: Where to stay in Naples, Italy and along Amalfi coast
Agreed. It takes a certain breed to live there, that’s for sure.WestUniversity wrote: ↑Sun Jan 27, 2019 2:18 pmI just found Naples to be a large, filthy, industrial city. Everywhere we went there was garbage and cigarette butts...DarthEnol wrote: ↑Sat Jan 26, 2019 3:22 pmYep. Naples is zoo-ish. Sorrento, OTOH, is gorgeous.WestUniversity wrote: ↑Sat Jan 26, 2019 7:02 amI would agree. Really did not like Naples. Sorrento however is beautiful...
- Sat Jan 26, 2019 3:22 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Where to stay in Naples, Italy and along Amalfi coast
- Replies: 36
- Views: 3290
Re: Where to stay in Naples, Italy and along Amalfi coast
Yep. Naples is zoo-ish. Sorrento, OTOH, is gorgeous.WestUniversity wrote: ↑Sat Jan 26, 2019 7:02 amI would agree. Really did not like Naples. Sorrento however is beautiful...
- Thu Jan 24, 2019 4:26 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Where to stay in Naples, Italy and along Amalfi coast
- Replies: 36
- Views: 3290
Re: Where to stay in Naples, Italy and along Amalfi coast
If possible, check out Sorrento. It’s beautiful.
- Thu Jan 24, 2019 2:59 pm
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Cell Phone Plans - Question Re Best Plan for Combining Husband & Wife
- Replies: 65
- Views: 4969
Re: Cell Phone Plans - Question Re Best Plan for Combining Husband & Wife
I currently have Verizon for my cell phone plan. I'm paying $60 per month for unlimited talk & text and 5 gb max data per month. My wife has Sprint. She's paying $80 per month for unlimited talk & text and unlimited data. We are both happy with the respective carriers and plans but I'd like to get the two of us on one plan to save money. I called Verizon and they've offered a family plan covering the two of us for $110-$120 per month with unlimited talk & text but with a data cap of 4 gb per month. Neither of us mind this lower data cap since we're usually on WiFi and barely exceed 3 gb at most each month. Any idea which major carrier (i.e., TMobile, Sprint) would have the least expensive plan that would cover the two of us and...
- Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:47 am
- Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
- Topic: Sicily over Italian cities?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 4331
Re: Sicily over Italian cities?
“Anyone prefer exploring Sicily over Italian cities like Rome, Florence, Venice? I'm not a huge city person, and I'm thinking I would rather visit Sicily. Am I nuts?”
Are you nuts? Not at all.
I’ve been going to Italy since I was three and the two weeks I spent in Sicily stick out as a high point. If you’re not a big city person, you’ll like Sicily.
Most of the “must see” places (Taormina, Agrigento, Palermo, Cefalu) have been mentioned. I’ll add Noto and San Vito Lo Capo to the mix.
And from a financial point of view, Southern Italy (including Sicily) is cheaper than Rome, Florence, Venice, etc.
Are you nuts? Not at all.
I’ve been going to Italy since I was three and the two weeks I spent in Sicily stick out as a high point. If you’re not a big city person, you’ll like Sicily.
Most of the “must see” places (Taormina, Agrigento, Palermo, Cefalu) have been mentioned. I’ll add Noto and San Vito Lo Capo to the mix.
And from a financial point of view, Southern Italy (including Sicily) is cheaper than Rome, Florence, Venice, etc.