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Verizon iPhone 6 (Edge plan) for 12 year old. Would you get AC+? Other insurance?

Old Yeller said:
I bought my 11 year old a very nice "dumb phone". She could call, text, and take pictures. The main reason I got it was because of all her school extracurricular activities so she could call for a ride home when she was done. Well... She hated her dumb phone because all her peers had "smart phones". Because of that, she never carried it and I was throwing money away. I gave her my old iPhone 4s and let her use it as an iPod for three months. Guess what? She always had it on her and as long as she had wifi access, I could always reach her. I went ahead and activated it for her and now she has her fully functional smart phone. She has been very responsible with it for 6 months and I know I can always reach her. By the way, it also has a Lifeproof case for those little accidents thanks to grandpa who decided he didn't need it.
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Love this post.

Luddites might complain, but personal tech is a very real fashion statement. You can eschew that reality, reject it, whatever, but it doesn't change the fact that our kids are living with that. No parent has to provide their kid with a cell phone. Any parent that does, doesn't have to provide them with something as significant as an iPhone. But many parents do (myself included) and I find it surprising that there's as much incredulousness as there is over that idea.

I don't get my kids iPhones because it's a fashion statement, I do it because I can, they enjoy them, I can locate them whenever I need to (FMIP, etc), and they get great use out of them. But Old Yeller makes a very cogent observation: he/she was throwing money away because their kid was embarrassed to carry something outdated. Some people may not like it, but that's a not insignificant contributing factor to the decision of 'what device should I get my child if I'm going to get them one'.
 
eoblaed said:
Love this post.

Luddites might complain, but personal tech is a very real fashion statement. You can eschew that reality, reject it, whatever, but it doesn't change the fact that our kids are living with that. No parent has to provide their kid with a cell phone. Any parent that does, doesn't have to provide them with something as significant as an iPhone. But many parents do (myself included) and I find it surprising that there's as much incredulousness as there is over that idea.

I don't get my kids iPhones because it's a fashion statement, I do it because I can, they enjoy them, I can locate them whenever I need to (FMIP, etc), and they get great use out of them. But Old Yeller makes a very cogent observation: he/she was throwing money away because their kid was embarrassed to carry something outdated. Some people may not like it, but that's a not insignificant contributing factor to the decision of 'what device should I get my child if I'm going to get them one'.
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Thank you for your support! I am a divorced parent and being able to track and or reach my child is very important, plus she loves her iPhone, even if it is just a 4s. She can't wait to get ahold of my 5s.
 
sundog925 said:
Hold on, I'm still hung up on 12 and and a phone of any matter....

Let's see, what did I have when i was 12:
books.
my batman and army guys
tag outside
a very old packard bell computer
my bike/motorcycle with detachable ace playing card

oh yeah, quarters for the pay phone...
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Were you 12 100 years ago or something?:confused:
Face it kids now a days have **** a lot better the you did. Get the **** over it and don't be jealous
 
rui no onna said:
While this is true, I never owned a single item that costs $650 brand new, either. I think that's what has most posters raising their eyebrows. In the US, the cost of handsets is often hidden within plan costs so most folks only see $199 5s, $99 5c and free 4S. They don't really see the extra $25/mo or so that gets tacked on to their monthly bill or a total of $600 for 2 years. I reckon a hand me down iPhone 4/4S/5 is likely quite the norm nowadays, though.

Sure, game consoles are pretty close to iPhone MSRP. My parents never bought me those, either. If I wanted the PlayStation, I had to save my allowance and scholarship stipend. :rolleyes: Granted, sometimes they'd split the cost of high ticket items in half with me as a reward for good grades. :)

To answer the OP's question, I'd get insurance with theft protection. I've had phones stolen at school and one of those times, my bag was right beside me and I just turned my head away for a second. :rolleyes:
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Yes, but there is inflation to consider.
 
My daughter got her 1st dumb phone at 11 only because she doesn't live with me and we talked and text everyday. She would tell me how school went, what she did, and everything. Through the years she's never complained how all her friends had smart phone, and never even asked for one. She worked hard in school, in school activities, and stays out of trouble. She kept it on her at all times, never lost it or broke it, and called me ASAP as soon she saw a missed call from me.

Now 5 years later I got her an iPhone. I figured as I stated above that she deserved it, it's also not new, but used.

Insurance, that's a hard one. Don't people use square trade? (I think that's the name of it) don't most credit cards have some kind of insurance on stuff you buy also?

To each it's own, but rewarding a kid with an iPhone because they never carried their dumb phone with.... Sorry.
 
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Primejimbo said:
My daughter got her 1st dumb phone at 11 only because she doesn't live with me and we talked and text everyday. She would tell me how school went, what she did, and everything. Through the years she's never complained how all her friends had smart phone, and never even asked for one. She worked hard in school, in school activities, and stays out of trouble. She kept it on her at all times, never lost it or broke it, and called me ASAP as soon she saw a missed call from me.

Now 5 years later I got her an iPhone. I figured as I stated above that she deserved it.

Insurance, that's a hard one. Don't people use square trade? (I think that's the name of it) don't most credit cards have some kind of insurance on stuff you buy also?

To each it's own, but rewarding a kid with an iPhone because they never carried their dumb phone with.... Sorry.
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It wasn't a reward, it was a step towards responsibility and the inevitable. She took care of it, she answered it when she had it. And it's her backup phone if she ever loses or breaks her iPhone.
 
Get as much insurance as you feel is necessary.
If she's responsible, then there is no need to to overboard....but I guess there is no such thing as going overboard.

Just get as much as you need.
 
The Doctor11 said:
Were you 12 100 years ago or something?:confused:
Face it kids now a days have **** a lot better the you did. Get the **** over it and don't be jealous
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Wow, not jealous. I bought my own cell phone at 17. nothing to be jealous over.
id rather earn something and be prideful rather than be given it.
 
jekjones1558 said:
OP here.
I know that I will get AC+ as a minimum. I just don't know what to do about lost/stolen insurance. I don't think the homeowner's insurance strategy will work because this 12 year old is my great niece and does not live with me. She is very responsible but I know weird things happen. I lost my own new iPhone 5 on a ride at Disneyworld when it slipped out of my hand as I sat down. It was not damaged but I could not reach it and the attendants refused to do anything until park closing. It was supposed to be turned in to Lost and Found but that didn't happen. I tracked it with my iPad and it never moved until after park closing, then it ended up in Downtown Orlando somewhere. I was heart broken (I only had AC+) and I know she would be also, if some freak thing happened. So I am leaning towards getting lost/stolen insurance just to be safe. But Verizon's plan seems really expensive (more than ATT's) and research online doesn't really seem to indicate a top choice for lost/stolen insurance. Anyone out there buy AND HAVE TO USE lost/stolen insurance? I have started checking with my credit cards but if I buy with Edge I don't think that will work either.
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I seem to be the only one here that thinks the carrier insurance is a complete ripoff. Read the fine print, it doesn't cover half the stuff you want, and usually has huge deductibles which raise the effective cost even higher.

I just got my 12yo her first smartphone. Went with a cheap one because I can't afford to throw away more cash on high-end phones. It works, she's happy. She also has an iPad Mini, and that has AC+.
 
OP-Any chance that an i6 might be a bit OTT for a 12 year old?

It could also bring it's own dangers-someone sees a young child with a $700 device next to their ear and BAM, it's been swiped and your daughter left feeling not very nice, IMO it's a lot of (unnecessary) pressure on a 12 year old.

What about a 4/4S and see how she goes? She may be perfectly happy with it and let's be honest, she's unlikely to take advantage of the features the 6 has that the 4/4S doesn't.

Maybe see how that goes for a while?

[Edit] - Sorry, I mentioned OP's daughter, but just re read that it's his great niece.
 
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Verizon iPhone 6 (Edge plan) for 12 year old. Would you get AC+? Other insur...

Azzin said:
OP-Any chance that an i6 might be a bit OTT for a 12 year old?

It could also bring it's own dangers-someone sees a young child with a $700 device next to their ear and BAM, it's been swiped and your daughter left feeling not very nice, IMO it's a lot of (unnecessary) pressure on a 12 year old.

What about a 4/4S and see how she goes? She may be perfectly happy with it and let's be honest, she's unlikely to take advantage of the features the 6 has that the 4/4S doesn't.

Maybe see how that goes for a while?
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Agreed. Or even an iPhone 5/5S/5C. But in the end OP, it's your decision. If you really want to get your great niece the iPhone 6, no one can stop you but yourself.
 
I teach 8th grade math so I work with 120 middle schoolers a day not to mention the other 900 that I see moving through the halls. Most of them have an iPhone 4/4s at the very minimum. As bad as it might sound, there is something to the idea that "all the other kids have one." They do get teased if they don't have the tech that all the other kids have just as easily as if their pants weren't made by the right designer. I think of it as being similar to the game boy when I was a kid. This is how they interact with the world. The world is different than when I was younger and these kids are the ones that are forced to live in it. If their parents can afford an iPhone and want to get them one, then by all means get one. iPhones weren't around when I was younger, at that time it was pagers/beepers (I know, I'm dating myself a little bit). I would not have wanted my parents to refuse to get me one because they never had pagers when they were a kid (when pagers didn't even exist at that time).

And as for buying a phone subsidized and not realizing the extra cost, when I bought my daughter's 5c it was $50 subsidized. It did not raise my bill at all. The costs of subsidizing are built into the plans and you pay it no matter what. So at that point it makes more sense to use a subsidy if you know you are going to be sticking with that carrier for awhile.
 
Kealohilani said:
And as for buying a phone subsidized and not realizing the extra cost, when I bought my daughter's 5c it was $50 subsidized. It did not raise my bill at all. The costs of subsidizing are built into the plans and you pay it no matter what. So at that point it makes more sense to use a subsidy if you know you are going to be sticking with that carrier for awhile.
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I think the point that was being made re subsidies, was that it's not really a $50/£50 phone if it gets lost/stolen/damaged beyond repair.

At that point you're looking at the cost of a new 5C, on top of the plan you're paying for monthly.

In the UK, you're looking at a minimum of £429 for an contract free 5C from Apple, in the US that's circa $713, just top replace a "$50" phone...
 
Primejimbo said:
To each it's own, but rewarding a kid with an iPhone because they never carried their dumb phone with.... Sorry.
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You aren't thinking like a middle schooler. For them outdated tech is most definitely a reason to be embarrassed. I've seen kids teased for carrying the wrong pens much less the wrong phone. If they are too embarrassed to carry a phone so they hide it or "forget" to take it with them then what is the point of them having a phone. Now, while your kid has a phone, you still can't reach them because they won't carry it with them.

Don't get me wrong, that should not be the deciding factor. People shouldn't rush out to get their kids an iPhone just because they won't carry their dumb phones. But I don't see what is wrong with at least taking it into consideration.

----------
Azzin said:
I think the point that was being made re subsidies, was that it's not really a $50/£50 phone if it gets lost/stolen/damaged beyond repair.

At that point you're looking at the cost of a new 5C, on top of the plan you're paying for monthly.

In the UK, you're looking at a minimum of £429 for an contract free 5C from Apple, in the US that's circa $713, just top replace a "$50" phone...
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I understand that. That's why in an earlier post I recommended to OP to get some kind of coverage that will cover a lost or stolen device.
 
617aircav said:
Why would you not get insurance? Any reason?
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Cost would be the main reason.

Insurance is always a costly expense. After all, the insurance companies are making lots of money.

For some people that tend to break,damage or lose things, it does make sense.
 
Kealohilani said:
I teach 8th grade math so I work with 120 middle schoolers a day not to mention the other 900 that I see moving through the halls. Most of them have an iPhone 4/4s at the very minimum. As bad as it might sound, there is something to the idea that "all the other kids have one." They do get teased if they don't have the tech that all the other kids have just as easily as if their pants weren't made by the right designer. I think of it as being similar to the game boy when I was a kid. This is how they interact with the world. The world is different than when I was younger and these kids are the ones that are forced to live in it. If their parents can afford an iPhone and want to get them one, then by all means get one. iPhones weren't around when I was younger, at that time it was pagers/beepers (I know, I'm dating myself a little bit). I would not have wanted my parents to refuse to get me one because they never had pagers when they were a kid (when pagers didn't even exist at that time).

And as for buying a phone subsidized and not realizing the extra cost, when I bought my daughter's 5c it was $50 subsidized. It did not raise my bill at all. The costs of subsidizing are built into the plans and you pay it no matter what. So at that point it makes more sense to use a subsidy if you know you are going to be sticking with that carrier for awhile.
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That certainly has been true and likely still true on various (older) plans, but with a lot of the newer plans on different carriers, non-subsidized phones get a monthly discount on the bill, which can play a role (depending on all the particular details and math involved in each particular case).
 
Kealohilani said:
You aren't thinking like a middle schooler. For them outdated tech is most definitely a reason to be embarrassed. I've seen kids teased for carrying the wrong pens much less the wrong phone. If they are too embarrassed to carry a phone so they hide it or "forget" to take it with them then what is the point of them having a phone. Now, while your kid has a phone, you still can't reach them because they won't carry it with them.

Don't get me wrong, that should not be the deciding factor. People shouldn't rush out to get their kids an iPhone just because they won't carry their dumb phones. But I don't see what is wrong with at least taking it into consideration.
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I still don't get this. I was picked on in school when I was a kid because I didn't have cool clothes and stuff. I didn't care at all. My daughter had a dumb phone until she was 16 and didn't care either what othes had. I told her once to keep it with her and she did. I didn't have to beg or, bribe her, or anything to keep it on her. She never complained how her friends had smart phones or anything. Good grades, hard work on her school work and school activities, taking care of her electronics, and she got a (used) iPhone now.
 
Primejimbo said:
I still don't get this. I was picked on in school when I was a kid because I didn't have cool clothes and stuff. I didn't care at all. My daughter had a dumb phone until she was 16 and didn't care either what othes had. I told her once to keep it with her and she did. I didn't have to beg or, bribe her, or anything to keep it on her. She never complained how her friends had smart phones or anything. Good grades, hard work on her school work and school activities, taking care of her electronics, and she got a (used) iPhone now.
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Maybe she didn't think you would listen and be receptive to what she was saying. Or maybe smart phones weren't as popular with that age group at the time. Or you two must be the exception because your average pre-teen/teen most definitely cares about what others think. It's part of the normal development of that age group. And we all have seen how detrimental teasing and bullying can be to them. I have personally seen teasing over something small like what kind of cell phone they have turn into much more. I have seen an honor student turn into a struggling student and begin to hate school over it.

That being said, I never said all parents need to rush out and buy their young children iPhones. We just need to listen to them when they say something like that is embarrassing. That could be a sign that they are being teased or tormented at school and they just don't want to talk to you about it. We also have to remember, while the problem seems small to us, it is not small to them. As parents we can forget what. It was like and how every small thing is the end of the world
 
Kealohilani said:
Maybe she didn't think you would listen and be receptive to what she was saying. Or maybe smart phones weren't as popular with that age group at the time. Or you two must be the exception because your average pre-teen/teen most definitely cares about what others think. It's part of the normal development of that age group. And we all have seen how detrimental teasing and bullying can be to them. I have personally seen teasing over something small like what kind of cell phone they have turn into much more. I have seen an honor student turn into a struggling student and begin to hate school over it.

That being said, I never said all parents need to rush out and buy their young children iPhones. We just need to listen to them when they say something like that is embarrassing. That could be a sign that they are being teased or tormented at school and they just don't want to talk to you about it. We also have to remember, while the problem seems small to us, it is not small to them. As parents we can forget what. It was like and how every small thing is the end of the world
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As I said my daughter just got a smart phone and she's 16, so she's in that age group now. Maybe I got lucky, maybe I taught her not care what others think, maybe all the talks we have she listens. I didn't care what others thought of me when I was her age for the most part and maybe just talking to her over the years she's just grateful for what she has. I have a slight disability (and had to wear special clothes because of it) in school and a few people made fun of me for it, but I had closer friends who I could trust and helped me. So I know how cruel kids can be, but I also know there are kids who will just take charge. Her friends are good kids too, so maybe that also helps a lot also.
 
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If I was going to get a phone for a 12 year old I wouldn't get any insurance, just let them know that if they break it or lose it they don't get another one.
 
mrkramer said:
If I was going to get a phone for a 12 year old I wouldn't get any insurance, just let them know that if they break it or lose it they don't get another one.
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That's exactly what I told my daughter I spoke of from my original reply. When it's gone it's gone. Her backup is her original dumb phone. I also explained numerous times to not keep anything private on the phone and to never put a passcode lock on it. Guess what? She did and couldn't remember it. I let her sweat out her mistake for 2 days before I reset it on iTunes then restored from backup. Trust me, she learned her lesson.
 
AC+ is a necessity, even for adults. My boyfriend is 25 and dropped his iPhone 5 at work and shattered the screen. $50 and he had a replacement. Definitely a good investment if she drops it.

Asurion is evil, so definitely look at other options for insurance. Squaretrade doesn't cover loss/theft (just damage like AC+). I'm not sure about other options.

Wow people are judgmental about what complete strangers will buy their young relatives. Sure, I had my first dumb phone when I was 14. But that was 2005. Things are quite different now. Kids much younger than 12 are latchkey kids and need to be able to reach their parents. People buy their toddlers iPads (by the way, those fancy apps do absolutely nothing for the kids; little ones under the age of 3 need real human interaction; best to wait until age 3 to slowly introduce tech). This is the part where I will encourage making use of iOS 8's new family-friendly features. Mom and Dad probably won't want to get that $4k App Store surprise on the credit card bill. Also talk about using wifi as much as possible and not wasting the data plan (it's expensive if you go over, trust me!). And of course not sharing everything on social media. A friend of mine when she was 14 had a Facebook status about being home alone, and her parents weren't happy when they saw it! Your great-niece should also only be talking to people she knows. Celebs on Twitter don't qualify ;)
 
KUguardgrl13 said:
AC+ is a necessity, even for adults. My boyfriend is 25 and dropped his iPhone 5 at work and shattered the screen. $50 and he had a replacement. Definitely a good investment if she drops it.

Asurion is evil, so definitely look at other options for insurance. Squaretrade doesn't cover loss/theft (just damage like AC+). I'm not sure about other options.

Wow people are judgmental about what complete strangers will buy their young relatives. Sure, I had my first dumb phone when I was 14. But that was 2005. Things are quite different now. Kids much younger than 12 are latchkey kids and need to be able to reach their parents. People buy their toddlers iPads (by the way, those fancy apps do absolutely nothing for the kids; little ones under the age of 3 need real human interaction; best to wait until age 3 to slowly introduce tech). This is the part where I will encourage making use of iOS 8's new family-friendly features. Mom and Dad probably won't want to get that $4k App Store surprise on the credit card bill. Also talk about using wifi as much as possible and not wasting the data plan (it's expensive if you go over, trust me!). And of course not sharing everything on social media. A friend of mine when she was 14 had a Facebook status about being home alone, and her parents weren't happy when they saw it! Your great-niece should also only be talking to people she knows. Celebs on Twitter don't qualify ;)
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Thanks for your input! This thread seems to have veered off course a bit. I always planned to get AC+, but I wanted advice about insurance that covers loss/theft because the reviews I found online aren't all that positive when a claim is filed.
My great-niece has abided by strict data rules with her iPod and Kindle because she lives in a rural area where the only HSI option is a Mifi. Their family of 4 has overages often. When she visits me she gets to use YouTube, Netflix, etc. because I live in the city and have cable. Since she will be on a shared Edge plan with me, I will get at least 10 GB and keep monitoring. I only use about .5 GB a month because I almost always have access to wifi. She has wonderful parents but your suggestion about social media is a good reminder for me to have her folks do a refresher discussion with her. Again, thanks for your suggestions.
 
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