Actually ebay is ok, I got mine about 3 years ago there and its still going strong, just make sure it says it is new and sealed. My daughter also got hers there last year and is delighted with it. Otherwise go round the phone shops - do you want one with all the gadgets or one that just makes calls? You can get the latter for about £20-30 these days.
Posted by Debster on 28 March, 2006 at 8:43 AM
I don't use eBay (and won't, on principle).
Just calls and the odd TM.
A definite sighting of a cheap phone would be good...
Saw good phone deal in Tesco's t'other day - was fairly basic Nokia phone for about £20. Like Nokia as simple to use. But now 'basic' = only one camera, and minimal coffee-making facilities, n'est pas?
I think the nokia 6230 would do you nicely, the battery lasts about a week and its pocket/handbag friendly.
Also the nokia 6230 can be "unlocked" very easily so that it'll take any sim card, you just have to talk to the right person and it can be done for free :o)
Cheapest I can see is going to Orange online for a new PAYG Siemens A62 handset at £18.99.... I assume that'll take your existing Orange SIM.
The last time I was replacing a handset for an Orange PAYG I found the best deal in the local Link where they let me try the old SIMM (to confirm it worked) before I parted with any money. Interestingly the local Carphone Warehouse had assured me that it wouldn't work!
Carphone warehouse - Nokia 1100 for £30 including £15 minutes of virgin airtime - and unlocked so you can put your sim back in it when you have used up the 15 minutes.
Posted by nualao on 28 March, 2006 at 8:14 PM
Thanks for all the ideas.
For speed and ease, I've gone with NiC's suggestion - direct from Orange, who've confirmed it will work with my existing SIM/EVQ package, and that if I'm not happy, I can send it back for a full refund, within 7 days.
Cost - £18.99.
Repair for my existing phone would be £34.99, plus £24.99 for a new battery...
I really try not to fill landfill, I really do... (actually, I have a one-day-museum collection of every phone I've ever owned since 1992... all 4 of them!).
Given that my mobile phone bill is rarely more than £1.50 a month (that contract tarrif I'm on is amazing...), and that my last phone, 3.5 years ago was £149.99, I have no idea how any of it makes sense.
Posted by Blue Witch on 28 March, 2006 at 10:08 PM
Oh - and I went for the Siemens over the Nokia as it is tri band (rather than dual band -whcih won't work in many countries abroad), colour screen (rather than B&W), and the Siemens dishwasher we have is the best we've ever owned!
Posted by Blue Witch on 28 March, 2006 at 10:11 PM
Actually ebay is ok, I got mine about 3 years ago there and its still going strong, just make sure it says it is new and sealed. My daughter also got hers there last year and is delighted with it. Otherwise go round the phone shops - do you want one with all the gadgets or one that just makes calls? You can get the latter for about £20-30 these days.
Posted by Debster on 28 March, 2006 at 8:43 AMI don't use eBay (and won't, on principle).
Just calls and the odd TM.
A definite sighting of a cheap phone would be good...
Posted by Blue Witch on 28 March, 2006 at 8:45 AMJust out of interest, what's the eBay beef?
Saw good phone deal in Tesco's t'other day - was fairly basic Nokia phone for about £20. Like Nokia as simple to use. But now 'basic' = only one camera, and minimal coffee-making facilities, n'est pas?
Posted by KW on 28 March, 2006 at 9:40 AMBW,
I think the nokia 6230 would do you nicely, the battery lasts about a week and its pocket/handbag friendly.
Also the nokia 6230 can be "unlocked" very easily so that it'll take any sim card, you just have to talk to the right person and it can be done for free :o)
Posted by james on 28 March, 2006 at 10:13 AMWe get all our "Sim Free" phones from http://www.expansys.com
Based on your criteria I would suggest the Nokia 1100 @ £37.95
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=106469
Posted by mark on 28 March, 2006 at 10:25 AMCheapest I can see is going to Orange online for a new PAYG Siemens A62 handset at £18.99.... I assume that'll take your existing Orange SIM.
The last time I was replacing a handset for an Orange PAYG I found the best deal in the local Link where they let me try the old SIMM (to confirm it worked) before I parted with any money. Interestingly the local Carphone Warehouse had assured me that it wouldn't work!
Posted by NiC on 28 March, 2006 at 2:56 PMCarphone warehouse - Nokia 1100 for £30 including £15 minutes of virgin airtime - and unlocked so you can put your sim back in it when you have used up the 15 minutes.
Posted by nualao on 28 March, 2006 at 8:14 PMThanks for all the ideas.
For speed and ease, I've gone with NiC's suggestion - direct from Orange, who've confirmed it will work with my existing SIM/EVQ package, and that if I'm not happy, I can send it back for a full refund, within 7 days.
Cost - £18.99.
Repair for my existing phone would be £34.99, plus £24.99 for a new battery...
I really try not to fill landfill, I really do... (actually, I have a one-day-museum collection of every phone I've ever owned since 1992... all 4 of them!).
Given that my mobile phone bill is rarely more than £1.50 a month (that contract tarrif I'm on is amazing...), and that my last phone, 3.5 years ago was £149.99, I have no idea how any of it makes sense.
Posted by Blue Witch on 28 March, 2006 at 10:08 PMOh - and I went for the Siemens over the Nokia as it is tri band (rather than dual band -whcih won't work in many countries abroad), colour screen (rather than B&W), and the Siemens dishwasher we have is the best we've ever owned!
Posted by Blue Witch on 28 March, 2006 at 10:11 PM