Anybody have any experience with MobileKarma?

[Notes_Norton]

I'm thinking about getting a used 'droid phone to take overseas and use as an off-line language translator. I don't want to bring my real phone because I understand that tourists are targeted for theft - this might be an exaggeration to keep us on our guard, but better safe than sorry.

So I figure I could buy a decent, used, out-dated WiFi enabled phone, download my translation app and a web browser (to use in hotel WiFi hot spots) and I would then not risk losing my data if the worst happens.

I've already asked about this on this thread:
http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/738538-used-droid-use-translator-will-work-if-so-how.html
and some kind people answered my questions and it should work. (Thanks again)

Looking around for used droid phones, I found this site:
Mobile Karma | Used Cell Phones and Refurbished Electronics
that sells used phones, and I can pick up an old 'droid for around $30 - refurbished and 100% working.

I wonder if anybody has had any experience dealing with Mobile Karma, and if so, are they honest? And how did they treat you?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[new optimus]

Hi bob, I have no personal experience with them but I have heard a few people mention them.
The mention was favorable if that helps.

I understand your concern, theft of a $500+ device would be terrible, and the data loss may be worse I hope you never experience that. And have a great trip.

 

[Notes_Norton]

The data loss would be worse than the phone. After plane tickets, hotel, train tickets, admissions and so on, the phone price would be less than 10% (not that it wouldn't hurt, I live frugally and save up for my vacations). When I was in college learning electronics theory, the teacher told me something I never have forgotten. Less than 10% in most things is negligible.

The manager of my cell phone store might have a couple of trade-ins for me. She needs a few days (I have over a month) so if she comes through with nice and inexpensive stuff, I'll take that route. It's always better to see what you are buying in person.

Two years ago, I went to Oaxaca, Mexico and the Spanish Translator App from Lonely Planet was a real help. I can speak a little "baby-talk" Spanish, but when it comes to anything other than basic needs and courtesy phrases, the phone is much better than the old guide books. But Oaxaca is so peaceful, I don't think I even needed to lock the door to my hotel room.

A couple of years before that we went to Budapest. We took my mother-in-law who has Parkinson's Disease there. It was on her bucket list (her parents were born there). PD people fall a lot, the disease affects the nerve/motor coordination. In getting mom on a trolley, we dropped my wife's jacket, with her passport in a hidden pocket. We got off at the next stop and I ran back, but it was gone.

We got home and the US Embassy called. Someone had turned the jacket in to the Embassy with the old passport. They said they couldn't send the old cancelled passport back (they issued her a new one while in Budapest), but if she wanted, they would send the jacket back. It arrived in the mail a week later. I'm impressed. That wouldn't have happened in my home town or most any major city I know in the USA.

We didn't have a Hungarian Language app, just a tree-ware dictionary, but in Budapest it's not too difficult to find someone who speaks English.

This year Spain. I read that Barcelona is the pickpocket capital of the world - taking the honors from Rome, Paris, and Naples. (I read that they closed the Louvre for a few days because of the pickpockets working the museum).

Times are hard now, and when people are desperate, they do desperate things. I'm by no means rich, I cut my living expenses to the bone so I can travel (no Cable TV, don't use Air Conditioning, MetroPCS, etc.) but to someone who doesn't have enough to eat, I'm a wealthy tourist. And a possible target.

I've been to Rome and Naples, and found similar claims to be exaggerated. But if it happens to one in a thousand, and I'm that one, I don't want to lose the data on my phone.

We also plan to do Madrid and Andalusia. Should be a great time.

Mother-in-law isn't coming, so we don't plan to drop any jackets

 

[new optimus]

The data loss would be worse than the phone. After plane tickets, hotel, train tickets, admissions and so on, the phone price would be less than 10% (not that it wouldn't hurt, I live frugally and save up for my vacations). When I was in college learning electronics theory, the teacher told me something I never have forgotten. Less than 10% in most things is negligible.

The manager of my cell phone store might have a couple of trade-ins for me. She needs a few days (I have over a month) so if she comes through with nice and inexpensive stuff, I'll take that route. It's always better to see what you are buying in person.

Two years ago, I went to Oaxaca, Mexico and the Spanish Translator App from Lonely Planet was a real help. I can speak a little "baby-talk" Spanish, but when it comes to anything other than basic needs and courtesy phrases, the phone is much better than the old guide books. But Oaxaca is so peaceful, I don't think I even needed to lock the door to my hotel room.

A couple of years before that we went to Budapest. We took my mother-in-law who has Parkinson's Disease there. It was on her bucket list (her parents were born there). PD people fall a lot, the disease affects the nerve/motor coordination. In getting mom on a trolley, we dropped my wife's jacket, with her passport in a hidden pocket. We got off at the next stop and I ran back, but it was gone.

We got home and the US Embassy called. Someone had turned the jacket in to the Embassy with the old passport. They said they couldn't send the old cancelled passport back (they issued her a new one while in Budapest), but if she wanted, they would send the jacket back. It arrived in the mail a week later. I'm impressed. That wouldn't have happened in my home town or most any major city I know in the USA.

We didn't have a Hungarian Language app, just a tree-ware dictionary, but in Budapest it's not too difficult to find someone who speaks English.

This year Spain. I read that Barcelona is the pickpocket capital of the world - taking the honors from Rome, Paris, and Naples. (I read that they closed the Louvre for a few days because of the pickpockets working the museum).

Times are hard now, and when people are desperate, they do desperate things. I'm by no means rich, I cut my living expenses to the bone so I can travel (no Cable TV, don't use Air Conditioning, MetroPCS, etc.) but to someone who doesn't have enough to eat, I'm a wealthy tourist. And a possible target.

I've been to Rome and Naples, and found similar claims to be exaggerated. But if it happens to one in a thousand, and I'm that one, I don't want to lose the data on my phone.

We also plan to do Madrid and Andalusia. Should be a great time.

Mother-in-law isn't coming, so we don't plan to drop any jackets

I can relate, though still have not managed to get any international traveling vacations
Cheap as can be to get the job done. I have been to a few rural vacation spots, Mount Rushmore and such and found the people nice but I never tested, nor do I want to, if they would return something of value
Never really did the big city tourist stuff.
Any way I hope that local store can help you out that sounds like the best deal, Have a great trip and good luck.:wavey::shakehands:

 

[mikedt]

The data loss would be worse than the phone. After plane tickets, hotel,

Aren't plane tickets all electronic these days, NO paper? Your passport or ID card is your plane ticket, they swipe it at the check-in(or use the self service check-in machines), get your boarding card and you're done. That's how it works for me.

 

[Notes_Norton]

Sorry, perhaps I didn't make myself clear.

I am saying that the price of the phone is less than 10% of the total price of the vacation, and in Engineering, anything less than 10% is negligible. So if I lose the phone, it's not so much the price of the phone that matters (though I still don't want the expense). More importantly it's the data on the phone.

---

BTW, Mikedt, I've been to China, from the Great Wall in the north we meandered to Hong Kong (the year before the UK got out). I never feared for my belongings in China.

Leilani and I are travelers. I've been to 49 US States (Plus Puerto Rico and all U.S.V.I), many Canadian provinces, quite a few in Mexico too, Costa Rica, Bahamas, dozens of Caribbean islands from Grand Cayman to the Leeward Islands, China, UK, Italy, Hungary, Netherlands, and more.

We live frugally so we can travel. I drive my car until repairs cost more than payments (it's a 2002), no Cable TV, no Air Conditioning (in Florida), mow my own lawn, paint my own house, and so on. The money we save goes for travel. And when we travel, we travel partly as tourists and partly as travelers.

The only country we took a tour in was China. The reason being that I couldn't read the road signs or the public transportation schedules.

Other than China the mode is to get there, take as much public transportation as possible, rent a car when needed, and we don't go shopping for souvenirs. We are more interested in the art, music, and culture.

When we travel, we try to blend in with the residents, dress as they do (it shows respect), eat at local eateries, and even stay in their hotels. The last thing I want to spend my money to do is to fly in an airplane, stay at a US hotel, listen to US music in the hotel lounge, and eat the US hotel food. I can do that here.

And I don't want to leave my phone there.

Notes