I had resisted it for two reasons. One I did not want to pay another phone company for service I would rarely use, and two: I was not sure I would ever learn how to operate one (that point still remains a question). I would see people pecking at them or flipping it up down and sideways in a manner that completely confused me. Then one night Saul (my major fix it man and friend) was showing me photos on his cell phone I will not tell you what of, but you would not want them on your phone (or maybe you would) I commented that the cell phone takes better photos than my camera. When he told me what he paid for it I was amazed. Then I asked what his service bill was and he said 100 pesos a month. I was astonished and he said that included not only unlimited calls but internet as well. My cheap Mexican phone (it is called a dumb phone here) has a volume so low that I had a terrible time understanding what any one was saying. (my hearing problems are getting worse). He showed me that I could almost hear what was being said across the table. He then told me that I could take the SIM card out of my old phone and insert it so I would have the same number and all my contacts would appear. How could I resist any longer? So I told him when he found another one on the internet to call me.
A few days later my buzzer rang and there was Saul holding out the package, then saying he must run to catch the bus to Tuito and was gone. I took it out and decided to charge it. But the phone said it was 96% charged already. Okay, so how do we turn it on? Saul said he would be back at 4:00. At 9:30 that night my door bell rang and of course, it was Saul. I had not even paid him for it as he ran off so fast. He took the SIM card out of my old phone and tried to insert it in the new one. (I have no idea what SIM stands for but it is a tiny piece of card board with a brass chip attached) It would not fit. He said I had an old fashioned card and we must go to Telcel to get it exchanged. This was just the beginning of my problems.
At the Telcel store the guy merely cut down my SIM card and it fit. He also switched it to English (not that it has been much help to me anyway). But as far as the 100 peso a month plan, I did not qualify as I was already a Telcel user. Does that make any sense to you? Also the plan is actually for 33 days instead of one month. HEY, IT IS MEXICO ! He said I could continue just buying more time at any OXXO store like I have before. That was fine with me as I rarely use more than 100 pesos a month anyway.
We went back to my place (Saul insisted I turn on my airconditioner) and he did manage to hook it up with the wifi modem I have for the computer. But when I tried to get Google Crome, it asked for my account number. What account number? All computers just come with Google (don't they?) I tried to put in a password that I use for almost everything. That is when I discovered that I cannot hit the right number or key. The one next to it always pops up. Then when I had almost completed it, the entire thing would disappear. I gave up. He showed me where my Contacts were, but by then I was tired. He also adjusted the sound. He said I could have any kind of ring I wanted and I said, "Just make it loud" I should have had him call me on it, but we were both tired.
The next morning Richard called me. My phone was ringing and it said "Richard" but I had no idea how to answer it. I pressed everything on the screen and it kept ringing until he hung up. There was a ringing spot in the middle of the screen, but nothing happened. I must get my computer guru over here to help me. Since I had such a problem hearing on the dumb phone, 80% of my correspondence was by text messaging. It is essential with my Spanish speaking friends. I may not be able to understand a word they say, but when I see it written, I can usually figure it out. Where is messaging on the phone? One day it beeped so I know it was an incoming message, but no clue how to find it. I was about to pull the SIM card out and put it back in my old phone. But then would it fit?
By now you must be thinking "how dumb can this guy be?" You must understand that I was middle aged before computer came into common usage, You are also probably much younger than I am (Hell, almost everyone is) and your parents gave you some kind of computer while you were still in your baby crib, so Give me a Break! I am old. This is hard for me. Okay!
I had to wait a day to call my computer guy because it was Sunday. He is one of the brightest people I have met, but he does love to get drunk. Especially Saturday night so I knew he was either passed out or getting drunk in a bar. At least he is a happy drunk, not a mean one like Martin. So Monday morning I tried to call. I would get a mechanized voice that said something, but I had no idea what she was trying to tell me. Was his line busy, out of order, or wrong number. Finally I remembered that I had his email address. I missed his first message when he said he would be there at 5:30 so he later said 12:30 the following day.
In the meanwhile my phone said the battery needed charging. I plugged it in, but nothing happened. When I got the phone the battery was 96% charged. What happened since I still cannot use it? So I plugged it in again and NOTHING! Either the cord is faulty or the battery. So before he got here I had to go to Telcel. I had been plugging it into the computer for that is the cord that it came with. When I was packaging it all up to take it to Telcel I noticed there was also a plug connection. I plugged it into the wall and VOILA ! it began to charge. Who knew? (Look, I know what you are thinking. DO NOT GO THERE!)
I spent two hours with my computer guy. Not all of that time on the phone as I also needed him to do some things on my computer (like getting the printer to work again). There is so much to learn and my brain is very old, plus the loss of all those brain cells from years of booze and drugs. It will certainly take some time and practice. The worst part is trying to type as the wrong letter or number keeps popping up. Some of it really seems dumb to me. When the phone rings and that spot in the middle keeps vibrating, you do not press anything, he said to swipe the entire screen to the right. Why doesn't it say so or better yet why not have a green button that says "answer"? Also to just hold the screen open you have to swipe it. Who came up with all this anyway? Oh, he told me that the cord to the computer should charge the battery. He said I must not have connected it properly (definitely as possibility) Since then I have had the same problem even when plugged into the wall socket. If I suck on the end of the cord before sticking in the phone, it works. It must be something about Mexican wiring as I have the same problem with the night light in my bathroom. I have to wet the plug before inserting it to get the light to go on.
Obviously I will have to spend a lot of time with my new phone, then call my guy after a week or so for more answers. The following day I got a call. That stupid circle kept pulsating and I swiped and swiped until they hung up, It was a number I did not know and all the caller ID said was "Mexico" Does that mean Mexico City or that the call came from somewhere in Mexico. I ignored it. Then I found out that swiping does not work on this phone. It may on some, but not mine. When not in use it shuts down to save on the battery. You have to turn it back on to answer the phone Then a bar pops up that you have to press Well, it really does not like to be pressed, you have to tap it (ever so lightly) You may have guessed this in not an Iphone. This is going to take me a while. Maybe the rest of my life.
The next morning I was determined to work with the phone and learn how to operate the stupid thing (Yes, I know it is not the phone that is stupid) It was dead. I could not charge the battery and it was a Sunday so unable to go to the Telcel store. I left it plugged in all day and the battery was still zero. Monday I went early only to find they do not open until 11:00. When I went back, he asked how old the phone was. Of course I do not know, but was not going to tell him I bought a stolen phone. I said, I could not remember. He said the batteries are only good for 2 or 3 years. He brought out a new battery plus he said I needed a crystal cover plus a protector. That came to 460 pesos. I went home to plug in the phone and NOTHING!! I went back and he said maybe the cord got wet, with the humidity. I was not going to tell him I had been sucking on the end of the cord (maybe that was not such a good idea). He sold me a new plug for 150 pesos. It did not work, so I went back AGAIN! He gave me a new more powerful cord connection "Gratis" Hell, I had already spent over 600 pesos with him that morning. I plugged in my new cord into the phone (making sure the power was off first). I then watched the battery go from 56% down to zero in about one hour (mind you the power is off) I went back and he wanted to sell me a new super cord for 550 pesos. I declined and called Saul.
Saul was upset as well, but not admitting any fault. He says the first Telcel guy that He took me to must have switched out the original battery for a cheap Chinese one. I told him that this was a new battery I had just bought as well as a new cable and still the phone zaps up any power left. I had gone to a different Telcel store down the street as Saul's guy spoke no English. We went first to see my guy, Saul ranted and screamed (I have no idea what was being said but the Telcel guy did not like it) Then we went to his Telcel guy (whom he thinks swicthed out the battery and he screamed, and cursed and treated to call the police). Nothing happened and Saul said he had spent too much time already on it and without the original battery his guy would not take it back. Left with no other choices I went back (5 trips today) and bought the 550 peso charger. It worked like a charm and within a few hours the battery was fully charged and it worked fine. But the following morning even with the power off, the battery had gone down to zero. I plugged it in and placed it on a table. Morning is kitty's play time. She thought it was a new toy, pulled on the cord and the phone crashed to the tile floor smashing the crystal. (so much for the protective cover)
MORAL: If you buy on the cheap, it will cost you in the long run.
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