Smartphone for a long weekend

tyllwyd

My DD is off on a school trip to Paris this summer. She has only just managed to persuade my OH to allow her to get an up to date smartphone, and I'm really not wild about letting her wander around Paris with a £300 phone.

My idea was to buy a cheap second hand android phone (around £50) and put a PAYG sim into it, and then sell it again afterwards. I've already warned her that she's not going to have internet abroad (unless she can find free wifi) but I'm happy for her to have £10 or so for a few texts home.

I would buy her a £10 nokia but I know that if I do that she will be too embarassed to use it in front of her friends so it will be worse than useless! She's actually not that bothered herself, but she's had a couple of years of teasing for having a lame phone, so she is a bit sensitive about it.

Is there a major flaw in this plan that I've missed? Are there any phones that people would recommend, and where is the best place to sell afterwards (to a company, I don't sell on ebay).

Thanks in advance for any help!

AngelsMadv

tyllwyd wrote: »

My DD is off on a school trip to Paris this summer. She has only just managed to persuade my OH to allow her to get an up to date smartphone, and I'm really not wild about letting her wander around Paris with a £300 phone.

My idea was to buy a cheap second hand android phone (around £50) and put a PAYG sim into it, and then sell it again afterwards. I've already warned her that she's not going to have internet abroad (unless she can find free wifi) but I'm happy for her to have £10 or so for a few texts home.

I would buy her a £10 nokia but I know that if I do that she will be too embarassed to use it in front of her friends so it will be worse than useless! She's actually not that bothered herself, but she's had a couple of years of teasing for having a lame phone, so she is a bit sensitive about it.

Is there a major flaw in this plan that I've missed? Are there any phones that people would recommend, and where is the best place to sell afterwards (to a company, I don't sell on ebay).

Thanks in advance for any help!

How long is she going on the trip for?

Whilst it's not strictly moral, could you not buy one then return in in the 14 day cooling off period?

sillygoose

How about this, nothing flash but has smart phones functions, 2.8" touch screen, wifi and usable 2.0mp camera with flash all for £25 on Virgin PAYG. (its not Android but that doesn't matter really)

Will be locked to Virgin but Virgin PAYG roaming charges are par for the course in Euro zone, 8p a text and 28p a call.

http://www.tesco.com/direct/virgin-media-alcatel-ot720-white/550-0809.prd?skuId=550-0809&pageLevel=sku&_requestid=2242649#

You won't be upset if it get lost/stolen and if she keeps it mint best bet to sell it is take it in a CEX store, might get £5 for it.

http://uk.webuy.com/product.php?sku=SALCOT720VIRA

tyllwyd

That certainly looks like good value for money - I'm a bit worried about the fashion concious teenager test though!

sillygoose

Well if your feeling really well off The Alcatel OT-983 on O2 is a good phone and can hold its own pretty well for £49, Android, 3.5" screen, 1GHz processor.

Del_Astra

As CEX has already been mentioned why not have a look in one? Or online if you don't have one local, failing that ebay, involve your DD in it, but set strict limit as to amount you are willing to pay.

As its a school trip assume her friends will be on it, would it be worth speaking to other parents, getting a shared phone so say a few of them have a way to contact on one phone whilst on the trip, with expensive models left at home. Whilst the teenagers may not appear keen I suspect the parents might. I suspect someone might have an old / spare backup smartphone that could be used for this purpose.

tyllwyd

Thanks! The second Alcatel does look good, that is a possibility. And yes, I will have to look in the CEX store - I've only just realised that it's just opened in our local shopping centre. Unfortunately DD doesn't have an close friends going on the trip, so she wouldn't be keen to share a phone, although that wouldnt be a bad idea.

Del_Astra

Ask around friends and family, someone might have a backup handset lying around. Friend of mine recently had iPhone stolen (that's another story) anyway she used her "old" smartphone, its higher spec'd and newer than my current smartphone lol.

easy

tyllwyd wrote: »

My DD is off on a school trip to Paris this summer. She has only just managed to persuade my OH to allow her to get an up to date smartphone, and I'm really not wild about letting her wander around Paris with a £300 phone.

My idea was to buy a cheap second hand android phone (around £50) and put a PAYG sim into it, and then sell it again afterwards. I've already warned her that she's not going to have internet abroad (unless she can find free wifi) but I'm happy for her to have £10 or so for a few texts home.

I would buy her a £10 nokia but I know that if I do that she will be too embarassed to use it in front of her friends so it will be worse than useless! She's actually not that bothered herself, but she's had a couple of years of teasing for having a lame phone, so she is a bit sensitive about it.

Is there a major flaw in this plan that I've missed? Are there any phones that people would recommend, and where is the best place to sell afterwards (to a company, I don't sell on ebay).

Thanks in advance for any help!

I'm sorry, as the mother of a 13 y.o. DS, I HAVE to say this. In your shoes I would be telling my DS ...

"It's only a PHONE. You are going off to a new city, this is a school trip, it's an opportunity for you to see and experience new things, test your language skills, immerse yourself in a different way of life. For 3 or 4 days you CAN live without the distractions of Facebook and Twitter and your emails, you'll be with your school mates all day & night anyway, anyone else can hear all about the trip WHEN YOU GET BACK . Now you can take my old nokia phone, that way you will be able to get in touch with us/your teachers etc if there is an emergency, or if there is something you are BURSTING to tell us."

I certainly wouldn't be spending money on a 'fashion-accessory' phone just for the trip - I'm assuming you are paying for your DD to go on the trip anyway ?

I know it may sound harsh to some folk, I just worry that kids are so immersed in their tech and gadgets that real life/experiences/what is really important is passing them by.

victor2

easy wrote: »

I'm sorry, as the mother of a 13 y.o. DS, I HAVE to say this. In your shoes I would be telling my DS ... etc.

:rotfl: And he's only just starting his teens.
It gets much much worse before it gets better.

securityguy

easy wrote: »

I'm sorry, as the mother of a 13 y.o. DS, I HAVE to say this. In your shoes I would be telling my DS ...

"It's only a PHONE.

Indeed. I've got a couple of ancient Motorola FONEs that get hauled out for tasks like this, and my kids have in fact deemed them retro cool. Batteries last forever, they weigh nothing and if they're lost with a PAYG SIM in them then they're worthless and not even worth worrying about. Perfect.