By Richard M. Sherwin

OK, I missed this one big time in my lectures and syndicated columns. I emphasized that Consumer Cellular was the number one mobile service provider because it had the twin backing of T-Mobile and AT&T. I didn’t take into account that Ma Bell and T-Mobile had split from each other’s towers leaving Consumer Cellular with only AT&T. Which means slightly less coverage and you need to switch out your sim card …  a very annoying and difficult thing to do.

So now I’m taking myself to Target to get the new sim card from Consumer Cellular. You could also call them, and they will mail it free of charge.

IPHONE VS. ONE PLUS VS. GOOGLE PIXEL

My family finally made the switch and tried out the iPhone 13 (best deals at Comcast Cellular and Verizon). Both offer very low-priced hardware with a three-year contract and an Xfinity/Comcast TV and Internet subscription. I also thought that for folks who wanted Android, the One Plus Series of mobile phones was still a better buy than the iPhone. It includes video and audio features, and 5G is now available with many providers.

I didn’t take into account that Comcast (using Verizon’s towers and its own tech support) had switched the support to Portugal and Chile. So even though I got my iPhones almost overnight, the overseas tech support couldn’t activate the devices for three days and nights of calls. The Comcast stores were even worse. They were also unable to activate the phones. 

So, OK, we give up, here are the phones, just give us our money back, and we’ll be on our way. Here’s what they said. I swear this is true: We cannot give you back your money or give you a label so you can send them back because we cannot find a way to activate them, and we can’t do anything unless they are activated. 

I had to call Comcast Corp Executive services. And four days later, they sent us a label.

The backup plan was to go to the Verizon store, but that failed as they couldn’t switch our phones from Consumer Cellular, and even if they could, there were so many hidden costs it wasn’t worth it. Finally, we read CNET Consumer Reports and Tom’s cellular reviews and thought the One Plus Android phone with Consumer Cellular was the best deal. But then we found out from a very good source that One Plus has NO North American tech support.

 And, if you buy through Amazon, be aware, some of their phones do not carry a U.S. warranty.

HAPPY ENDING? YES 😊!

So, I read independent mobile phone reviews on various sites and realized for my and Susan’s needs…  music, photos, videos, games, and other digital content; the iPhone was not nearly the best phone for me. One Plus and Motorola’s well-respected Android line were just OK, and I refuse to buy Samsung. What did that leave? Google’s Pixel! This line of phones priced from $449 and up got almost unanimous 100% great reviews, and I went back to Consumer Cellular, the only service provider with 100% US-based tech support and still the best pricing structure, too… if you use data and other features.

WALMART, AMAZON, FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE, EBAY 

In one of my last lectures at Palm Isles, I discussed what I thought were the best online stores for buying, shopping, pricing, returning, and speed of delivery. 

This was predicated on trying to buy audio, video, home computer, mobile technology, and accessories. Then about three months ago, it was a hands-down Amazon win.

I was absolutely wrong. Amazon has shifted its entire consumer retail business overseas, resulting in bad tech support, bad return guarantees, and more negative experiences, so I had to shift my purchasing habits.

RICHARD GOES SHOPPING AGAIN

I wanted a wireless mouse, backlit keyboard, external blue tooth speaker, and a universal portable backup charger for all my mobile devices. I priced these products at all the likely online stores and brick-and-mortar stores, including Walmart, TJ Maxx, Kohl’s, Big Lots, and others. I chose a few from Walmart. When I found that these accessories were knockoffs of knockoffs and there were no free returns, I was stunned. I asked for the store manager, who admitted that those products should have listed the new Walmart return policy. The store manager said that this time only he would cover the return fees and send back my products.

THIS TIME NO WINNER FOR PRICING, EASE OF RETURNS, AND RELIABILITY.

Amazon, the previous easy winner for tech accessories, is now not telling customers in their web orders that the mouse, speaker, accessor, or charger is not an Amazon Prime-guaranteed free return (even if it says Prime). I purchased a midsize computer monitor/video screen from Amazon. Even though the order said Prime, I didn’t read the fine print, which said the monitor was subject to a return restocking fee…something that never before happened at Amazon.

As far as shopping both in stores and online, Walmart beat Amazon in audio, video, TV, and PC accessories pricing.

But the company was just cited by the FTC and regional attorney generals because Walmart was allegedly not making it clear that some of its products were not sourced by Walmart, making returns very tricky.

TARGET AND COSTCO BEST CHOICES

So now, after being burned by Amazon and Walmart, I’ll pay a little more (sometimes) and have 90 days to return whatever I’ve bought to the store or get a free UPS return label.

BYTES AND PIECES

As a snowbird, I found it easy to spend too much on Wi-Fi or just service provider Internet access. Sometimes here in New England or my daughter’s condo in California, basic service for phone and internet no TV was around $125 or more.

Recently I found a solution. T-Mobile and Verizon are offering Home Internet Gateways, and other providers have similar offers. Some of these new devices can cost a third of what you are paying now for internet, phone, and cable tv.

Depending on where you live and can access to either of those providers, these home Hubs run about $50 to $70 a month depending on what channels you need.

What is the T-Mobile TVision HUB?

The TVision HUB is a 4K HMDI device with access to over 8,000 video streaming, music, and gaming applications along with programmable Guide and DVR buttons to jump directly into your favorite Live TV application.

Verizon sells two different Smart HUBS…one makes your tv into a Smart TV offering many Apps sort of like Roku or Firestick. The other Hub available in select areas is Verizon’s top of the line FIOS HUB.

Why would I need A FIOS Smart HUB?

A FIOS smart home hub is hardware or software that connects devices on a home automation network and controls communications among them. Smart home hubs, which connect either locally or to the cloud, are useful  managing multiple home  devices that done se Wi-Fi . Instead it use the Zigbee or Z-Wave protocols or Bluetooth, rather than Wi-Fi for supposedly faster and safer connections.