Enthusiasm not required

[kalypso_v]

I've always had a general impression that young men working as sales assistants in phone shops were a bit clueless - possibly unfair, as it's based largely on that shop in Market Street where I've bought a couple of phones in the last decade - but on the whole they've shown a vague interest in trying to persuade me to part with some money... until

Comments

[glitterboy1]

Sheesh.

I've used Carphone Warehouse for mobile phones for the last 13 years, and I've found it useful that they carry a wide range of phones. But it's true that the sales staff have varied between helpful and completely hopeless - and it's pretty clear which end of the spectrum your specimen was at. I'm just glad that I've never needed them to do much more than ring up the amount on the till.

As others have said, you should definitely be able to transfer your number. You probably won't use your old SIM, given how old your existing one is, and you definitely won't if you're changing networks (this means that you'll need to transfer any stored numbers by hand): your old number will be transferred to the new SIM. Though you may find that there's some interruption in service while the transfer happens.

[valderys]

I only need to add to the above good advice, is that it can take a few days because they won't do it all over the phone, they have to send you the code to enable you to take your number with you. I must admit, I also found Phones 4 U the most helpful - but I'm sure that kind of thing must vary!

[temeres]

One of the things that puts me off buying any kind of gadget is that Not The Nine O'Clock News sketch where Rowan Atkinson goes in to buy a 'gramophone' and ends up ... well, if you know the sketch you'll understand what I mean.

Not the Ninew Oclock News

[sweetheartwhale]

Oh yes. I loved that show!

[gaspode]

Basically if you stay on the same network as pay as you go you can usually keep your sim and just swap it (even if a new sim is provided in the the box)...

[sallymn]

EEp, he's worse than young computer salesmen (who look at you blankly when you ask questions too simple for them to answer)

I still don't have a mobile phone, despite family pressures, and hopefully can hold out a fair bit longer...

[jomacmouse]

I had that intention, but brother intervened for Christmas 2000 and bought me one as a present. At least he knows about these things. Which reminds me: my SIM card must be about 7 years old now, given that I changed networks as soon as my phone was unlocked from Vodafone. (Is in relation to how long you can go before having to recharge the credit on the phone. If Optus ever starts making you recharge your credit for shorter than half a year, I'm stuffed. I'm not garrulous enough when it comes to phones.)