I went to Carl's Jr in one of the crappier parts of SoCal (there are many - you choose the one nearest you if you live here), and I think my phone fell out of my pocket. I noticed that my phone was missing as soon as I got back from work.
I ran back to the restaurant, even used a dude's phone to call it to see if maybe I had thrown it away. No dice, it was gone.
I went to Cingular to get a new phone. I'm only 3 month's into the contract so I don't get another "free" phone. I was shown a few model's and I cut the guy short,"What's the cheapest one?" He showed me a POS that had a tag of 150 bucks. "Maybe I'll keep searching!"
He told me that what I probably needed to do was go to Wal-Mart and grab a Go Phone. He gave me a SIM card and said to buy one of those and then plop my SIM card in, and I should be good to go. I went to Wal-Mart and found a replica of my phone for 100 bucks.
Still too steep. I don't want a camera, I don't need to impress my friends with how slender and cool looking my phone is, I just want to talk on a it a few minutes of the day. There was another for 20 bucks, and they were all sold out.
I got home and went online, to ATT's website for Go Phone's. $10 bucks! Now that's what I'm talking about, and with free two day shipping! I'm sold. I picked the more expensive "plan" that you have to choose (25 cents a minute) as I wouldn't be even using a plan at all, as I have my own. I ordered the thing and expected something to go wrong.
And nothing did. Got the phone in two days, works great. It's not a flip phone so I have to lock my keys (who cares) again like the old days. In addition to the phone, I actually got a car charger, a phone clip (so I won't lose it again), and a AC charger. This is crap I had to buy before, but now for 10 bucks I'm sitting great.
Now this begs the question, why the crap did I sign up for a 2 year agreement in the first place? I'm going month-to-month in the future! (or VOIP anyone?)