advise unlocked quard cell phone to purchase here in usa
Sep 25th, 2012, 10:07 AM
#21
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Before I purchased new SIMs in France, I´d try to purchase Lebara recharge minutes from a tabac or magazine store, dial 2323, and enter the recharge codes. You might be able to use the SIMs you now have.
Lebara does have a help line but it´s only in French. Maybe someone at your hotel could call for you because helpline personnel can activate the phone if you ask.
Lebara does have a help line but it´s only in French. Maybe someone at your hotel could call for you because helpline personnel can activate the phone if you ask.
Sep 25th, 2012, 10:29 AM
#22
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At the risk of making a total fool of myself, here is the updated update:
I took the phone back to J&R and the return manager kindly agreed to exchange the phone. Before he did so, he took a look at it.
It was not dead, after all! I thought it had not charged because I neglected to turn the phone on!!!! (In my defense, I will say that all the other cell phones I've used have indicated that they are being charged, even if the phone is turned off.....but I do plead guilty to being technically moronic!)
I took the phone back to J&R and the return manager kindly agreed to exchange the phone. Before he did so, he took a look at it.
It was not dead, after all! I thought it had not charged because I neglected to turn the phone on!!!! (In my defense, I will say that all the other cell phones I've used have indicated that they are being charged, even if the phone is turned off.....but I do plead guilty to being technically moronic!)
Sep 25th, 2012, 12:16 PM
#23
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Good advise, Sarastro. I'll certainly give that a try, even though just buying a new Lebara SIM from scratch would only be a pittance more.
I should mention, as a help for others, that my screw up with the free cards were that I put the first one in a French cell phone I had bought in Paris on our last trip. It had an Orange SIM in it, and the phone was apparently locked to Orange. That "activated" the first free Lebara SIM, and I could not get a code. The second SIM I just plain screwed up on, as I mentioned earlier.
We only plan to use the phones for reservations and to call each other when we go our separate ways, and those calls would be free, I understand. In actuality we probably will mostly use them to coordinate meeting back at the apartment. We have found that French landlords are very reluctant to give out two sets of keys; the explanation given is that keys in France are prohibitively expensive to replace.
I should mention, as a help for others, that my screw up with the free cards were that I put the first one in a French cell phone I had bought in Paris on our last trip. It had an Orange SIM in it, and the phone was apparently locked to Orange. That "activated" the first free Lebara SIM, and I could not get a code. The second SIM I just plain screwed up on, as I mentioned earlier.
We only plan to use the phones for reservations and to call each other when we go our separate ways, and those calls would be free, I understand. In actuality we probably will mostly use them to coordinate meeting back at the apartment. We have found that French landlords are very reluctant to give out two sets of keys; the explanation given is that keys in France are prohibitively expensive to replace.
Sep 25th, 2012, 01:02 PM
#24
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True nukesafe but the last time I searched for a Lebara SIM in Paris, I found they were not as plentiful as I had hoped. It´s easy to buy the tickets for recharge but the SIMs are only sold at tabacs and magazine stores.
One fine point for which I do not have an answer is that while Lebara to Lebara calls are free, Lebara never rules out the possibility of a connect fee which is .15€ for almost all other calls. There might be one, there might not but I have not found any other carrier, available to tourists, that is as inexpensive overall as is Lebara.
One fine point for which I do not have an answer is that while Lebara to Lebara calls are free, Lebara never rules out the possibility of a connect fee which is .15€ for almost all other calls. There might be one, there might not but I have not found any other carrier, available to tourists, that is as inexpensive overall as is Lebara.
Sep 25th, 2012, 01:58 PM
#25
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Yes, Sarastro, the availability of Lebara SIMs is a puzzlement. There used to be a "Locator" feature for their dealers on their web site, but it now appears to be broken. I searched Tabacs, libraries, book/magazine shops, etc., on Google Maps, and there are bunches of them. Whether most/many/any actually carry the cards remains to be seen.
