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HELP! My phone's dead ... need advice

DEinMA

Newbie
Apr 4, 2010
47
2
My Eris was in my pocket when my bro-in-law and I rolled a canoe this weekend. The phone appeared to be fine initially, but then started to update automatically and eventually faded to black and nothing will make it come back on now. I confirmed this at a Verizon store.

So, my options are (as I am told & since I did not purchase insurance):

1) Buy a new phone at retail price.

This is a $500+ investment for most smart phones and simply not happening.

2) Buy a refurbished Eris for $169.

I have had love/hate relationship with my Eris, and if I am going to shell out that much money I want an upgrade (i.e. Incredible, Droid 2, etc.). This is also somewhat outrageous for a phone that is discontinued and so problematic/buggy.

3) Wait for other phones to come on the list, like the Droid ($200) and Incredible ($?).


This sounds ok, but it seems there are others waiting to pounce on these better phones as soon as they become available.

4) Locate an older Verizon phone and wait for my upgrade (January '11/September '11)

I would have to drop the data plan and just use a normal phone for the next few months.

-------------------------

None of these options sounds appealing to me. Does anyone know of an additional way to go? How have others handled this issue/problem (?)

Thanks!
 
is it even possible to drop the data plan,
The CSR at the store said I could if I went back to a pre-smart phone. It did make me wonder why a company wouldn't give its customers a new phone in order to ensure they get the data plan fee though.

I am looking around to see if anyone has an old phone I can use. I think I may know someone who has an Eris they are not using. Thanks
 
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Check Craigslist or eBay. I have seen Droids for $175 on there.

You didn't mention this, although we can assume, was the phone officially water damaged? The sticker said so and all? Because if it hasn't changed color, don't tell VZW what really happened, just tell them it doesn't work.
I can buy an Eris from them for $169, or a Droid for $199 -- both are pretty much new/unused "recertified" phones.

I already told them it was submerged in water. No offense, but I try my best not to lie. :)
 
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I can buy an Eris from them for $169, or a Droid for $199 -- both are pretty much new/unused "recertified" phones.

Even though I preferred the Eris to the Droid when I bought it last December, at this point if I were given that choice, I'd go for the Droid myself.

Well, I say that, but I could actually afford to buy a DInc or DX full price, so I'd do that, but if I were you, I'd get the Droid. I think it is a better phone that the Eris, and much more than $30 better.

Next time that you canoe, and you need the phone with you, I'd suggest that you carry it in a sealed ziplock bag. It should protect it pretty well from a brief dunking like that.
 
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I would take a look at the classifieds forum along with craigslist and see how much you can get one for. I would also make sure that buying a refurb, if you go that route, isn't going to use up any future upgrades that you may have.

Another option, if you have a home phone right now and have a family plan on Verizon is to simply add a line. You can drop the home phone and use the added line (activated with a dumb phone) as your new home phone while activating the new phone you get to your current line. VZW will let you do this with no problem. You are also saving money by getting rid of the $30 - $60 home phone and just using the $10 added line.

FYI, Verizon is running a BOGA (Buy One Get Another Phone) offer with the Fascinate right now.
 
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Next time that you canoe, and you need the phone with you, I'd suggest that you carry it in a sealed ziplock bag. It should protect it pretty well from a brief dunking like that.

+1 and lol, doogald... eu1 recounted a story this past summer where he was in the ocean (just offshore, I believe) and got blasted by a larger than expected wave. Thank goodness his Eris was inside not one but two sealed ziplock bags. Fault-tolerance--gotta love it! :D
 
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Even though I preferred the Eris to the Droid when I bought it last December, at this point if I were given that choice, I'd go for the Droid myself.

Well, I say that, but I could actually afford to buy a DInc or DX full price, so I'd do that, but if I were you, I'd get the Droid. I think it is a better phone that the Eris, and much more than $30 better.

Next time that you canoe, and you need the phone with you, I'd suggest that you carry it in a sealed ziplock bag. It should protect it pretty well from a brief dunking like that.
I think I would go with the Droid now too, if it came to that. Luckily I found a coworker who just upgraded his phone to a Droid X and gave it to his son as a gift and took his son's old Droid. This left his Eris without a home ... until now. :)

Good advice on the canoeing too. I have been canoeing many times and had never rolled one before (well, unintentionally anyways -- ;) ) and it happened real fast! :eek:

Another option, if you have a home phone right now and have a family plan on Verizon is to simply add a line. You can drop the home phone and use the added line (activated with a dumb phone) as your new home phone while activating the new phone you get to your current line. VZW will let you do this with no problem. You are also saving money by getting rid of the $30 - $60 home phone and just using the $10 added line.
Thanks, that's something I was not aware of..
 
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That's part of the updated Google Maps. Check the market to see if there is an update to Maps.
Thanks for the tip. There was no update available to maps in the market for me, but it appears the phone has the app, just no shortcut. I discovered this by downloading "A Google Maps Navigation Book". When I enter a destination and hit "Navigate", it launches the Google turn-by-turn voice navigation app (?) :thinking:

Weird.
 
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