What's with prepaid cellular?

[Throckmorton]

I was checking out the prepaid phones at Target the other day and NONE of the cards showed how many minutes you get. They only had the cost of the card. How does this make sense? When you look at products at the grocery store, EVERY one tells you how many ounces, grams, pounds, or whatever you are getting. They'll even tell you how much it costs per unit. Why is prepaid cellular service different?

 

[Crono]

It's deceptive. They know that if they mention the number of minutes you'd be like "only 200 minutes for $10? Wtf?" (for example) and would be less likely to buy it. Plus, maybe it allows them to change the exchange rate if they need to, while the value of the card stays the same.

 

[axelfox]

$100 for 1000 minutes on TMO.

 

[Finns14]

It all depends on the type of calls you will be making so they can't give you a certain number of minutes because there is no set number.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: axelfox
$100 for 1000 minutes on TMO.

I know about that, because I got that plan last year when they gave you a free phone with the $100 card. I think it was written on the card too, but other brands give you no indication.

 

[marvdmartian]

OP, here's how it works with my GoPhone:

When I signed up with their service, after buying the phone for $15, I was given a choice of which plan I wanted to go with. I could either go with $0.25/minute straight fee, or I could go with the plan I opted for, which is $1.00 for any day I use the phone (not that often) + $0.10/minute for calls (although calls to other AT&T/Cingular customers are free, and only incur the daily charge).

So if I buy a $15 card (which I have one in my wallet), it's worth $15. I can charge that amount into my account with the card, and use it in any combination I want (one day of calling @ $1 + $14 worth of calls @ $0.10/minute, or 140 minutes........or numerous days of calls @ $1/day + whatever minutes are left, etc).

Make more sense now??