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 Home >> Guide to Buying a Cell Phone

tmiWireless.com has been at the forefront of shopping online for wireless services since late 2001. We understand how complicated it can seem for you, the savvy Internet shopper, to order wireless phone service and select not only the right cell phone, but choose the best calling plan for your needs. This can be a confusing task even when you walk into a store and have a sales person try to explain everything to you, let alone trying to do it online by yourself!

This cell phone guide was developed to answer some of the most common questions people have before they commit to getting wireless service. We hope it helps you while shopping so that you get the perfect combination of calling plan and cell phone!

  1. Research our vast catalog of cell phone models. One of the biggest factors that people have is PRICE. If you're on a tight budget and you don't want to pay anything up front for the phone, then go to our Instant Rebate phone page.
  2. Decide if you want a high-end stylish phone that will cost you some money upfront, and are willing to wait for the mail-in rebates which can take several months to arrive. Note that our prices, even for the high-end models, are low compared to what you'll see in the shopping malls and retail stores.
  3. Once you've decided which phone model you like, you will then need to select a calling plan. This is a very important step and you should think a little bit about how you will be using your phone regularly before choosing a plan.
  4. When choosing a calling plan, you should ESTIMATE HOW MANY MINUTES YOU WILL USE EACH DAY (during peak hours which are typically 6AM - 9PM). For example, if you can limit your talk time to 30 minutes per day, that is roughly 600 minutes per month (not including weekends, which are usually free anyway).
  5. We highly recommend plans that have free nights & weekend calling. This allows you to talk for a long time on the weekends and most of these plans have free long distance too.
  6. Finally, when choosing a plan, keep in mind that you can increase it later during your contract without penalty. So, pick something reasonable and monitor your usage carefully. If you notice that you go over your limit, then you should increase your calling plan.

When you order a phone online, you will provide your credit card information when you checkout. However, you won't be charged until after your application for wireless service has been approved by the carrier. Once you have been approved, you will then be charged for the phone (if it's not free). At this point, your phone will be programmed and activated, and then shipped immediately to you. Once you receive it, you can start using it right away and will then be responsible for your monthly bill from the carrier.

You will be required to commit for a 1 or 2 year contract for wireless service with the carrier that you choose. Each carrier has their own "grace period" in which you can still return your phone and cancel service without penalty. Typically it is 14 days, but you are responsible for reading the Terms and Conditions that are displayed at the Checkout page before you place your order. After the grace period has expired, you will want to make every effort to keep your service intact by not missing payments or becoming delinquent on your cell phone bill. There are termination penalties (also detailed in the Terms & Conditions at checkout) that you will be responsible for if you let your account terminate before the contract is up.

Some advice about canceling your plan before your 1 or 2 year agreement expires: Don't do it! After the grace period (usually 14 days), you should not cancel your service plan because the wireless carrier (e.g., Cingular, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, Nextel, etc) will charge you an early termination fee. Plus you will also be responsible for an Equipment Discount fee (detailed in the Terms and Conditions at checkout). You're better off keeping your service for the remainder of the contract. This way, you still have the phone and service, and you dont have to pay these penalties.

Most carriers have a 14 day or 30 day grace period in which you can return your phone and cancel your contract. We strongly recommmend that you make your decision about keeping your phone within one week just to be safe. It shouldn't take long for you to determine if the phone service is a good fit.

All phones come with a standard manufacturer warranty (usually 1 year). If you suspect your phone is defective and it is beyond 30 days, contact your wireless carrier and tell them that you think your phone is defective. They can provide you with the manufacturer customer center to help you determine if it is eligible for replacement.




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