Updated list of qwerty phones with either no or minimal data pkg requirments

mrsulin

Trying to get new phones for my parents; something fairly rugged (sturdy) aka. no touch screens.

Wanted to hook them up with new g'zOne Brigade's (I love mine) but hear they have been discontinued and I cannot find a similar suitable replacement... sturdy with qwerty keyboard with at least a >3 camera

 

Recommendations?

MojaveMoon_

I have good news for you. When the inner display screen quit working on an out-of-warranty phone of ours, I called Verizon a few days ago to learn about our options.

 

The agent told me about their "Certified Preowned Phones". I can't find my notes that included the prices. But these are phones that are either returns or refurbished units. Verizon allows a customer (any customer) once a year to purchase one of these regardless of whether you're in a contract, out of a contract, replacing an out-of-warranty-phone, etc. The price is lower than the full retail price but higher than the contract price. Also, I think he said that these "Certified Preowned Phones" phones come with a one year warranty provided by Verizon.

 

Among the "Certified Preowned Phones" phones that are currently available is your Brigade. I think the price he quoted me for the certfied preowned version of it is something like 200 something. The information about availability and price is not available online -- you have to call to inquire.

 

Since the limit is one per customer per year, then maybe two of the Verizon customer in your family would have to separately inquire to purchase two units.

 

Also, if you can afford the full retail price for it, the LG Octane based on the online reviews seems to *now* be a very reliable phone now that the bugs have apparently been addressed through software updates. The main or only shortcoming seems to be the low-ish ringer volume even when the volume is turned up high because of the speaker(s) being located inside the phone when the phone is closed.