A small Iphone emergency

[tymaster50]

when I was 12, about 5 years ago I was in 7/8th grade going on gamefaqs forums, I had a small red pre-paid samsung phone that I didn't even use half the time and I never knew the number to it lol. I mainly sat at home watching TV, where I lived it was an apartment complex a town over from where I went to school at so I went to my grandmas house after school until my mom got home, I also had an iPod touch I think so it's not that far fetched to give their 12 year old an old iPhone, they're not really losing anything if he breaks/loses it.

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I think the big issue here is a 12 year old with a phone, let alone an iPhone. I got my first cellphone when I was 17. What are kids doing these days that they need them anyway?

sports afterschool, hanging out with friends, anything that doesn't involve them being at home?

 

[iRooney]

I say again. TWELVE. What hanging out with friends is going on? What grade is 12? 7th?

 

[tl01]

I think the big issue here is a 12 year old with a phone, let alone an iPhone. I got my first cellphone when I was 17. What are kids doing these days that they need them anyway?

Your comment is not helpful. You have no idea why this child might need a phone. Furthermore, who made you the example of all things right and correct? Self absorbed much?

 

[XboxMySocks]

'My son is going to have to wait a bit longer to get a $700 phone at its inception for free' Oh my heart bleeds for this child . What a first world issue truly.

Simply explain you made a mistake to him and let him know he can have your old 4 as soon as your 5 is in your hand. If it's not a spoilt brat he will understand and STILL thank you for your kindness in giving him a free phone (I'd still sell a phone like that to my child, and expect the same from my parents.)

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I say again. TWELVE. What hanging out with friends is going on? What grade is 12? 7th?

While I agree with you 100% I'm gonna have to go and say that you don't really have any say in how other people raise their children...

 

[willmtaylor]

OP asked for advice on buying an iPhone, not on how to raise his child.

For goodness sake, this is an IPHONE forum, NOT a parenting forum, so get off of your high horses.

OP, try the Apple store reservation system after 10 pm as already mentioned or try less k own stores for iPhones in your area.

Best of luck.

 

[Bruins Fan]

So Verizon doesn't allow non Verizon branded or previously locked Verizon phones on their network? Just asking since I really don't know. I've only had Sprint and AT&T. I thought that as long as the frequencies were compatible and it was unlocked, you could register it and get it to work.

An AT&T iPhone 4 would be a GSM model and would not have the proper radios to function on Verizon's CDMA network (different technology). So their lack of willingness to activate it would be a moot point.

 

[Interstella5555]

I think the big issue here is a 12 year old with a phone, let alone an iPhone. I got my first cellphone when I was 17. What are kids doing these days that they need them anyway?

I wasn't going to say it but you opened the door... I can understand that the world is a different place than it was 20 years ago when I was twelve. I do not understand, however, getting a 12 year old (or really any teenager) a smart phone. If they need a phone, fine, get them a cheap headset, I can't see any reason someone that young would need a $400 phone with a $100 monthly plan.

 

[Jtludwig]

OP asked for advice on buying an iPhone, not on how to raise his child.

For goodness sake, this is an IPHONE forum, NOT a parenting forum, so get off of your high horses.

OP, try the Apple store reservation system after 10 pm as already mentioned or try less k own stores for iPhones in your area.

Best of luck.

I had good luck with the online reservation system as well...got a couple of black IPhone 5's that way.

 

[darngooddesign]

Just buy a used VZW iPhone 4; that's what the kid was expecting afterall. They are all over Craigslist, and you can recoup most of the cost by selling your Aunt's old iPhone.

 

[dontwalkhand]

I think the big issue here is a 12 year old with a phone, let alone an iPhone. I got my first cellphone when I was 17. What are kids doing these days that they need them anyway?

When you were 17, it was the year 1902

The way I see it is this, if I never had access to technology when I was younger, I never probably would have gotten interested, and had my job.

You could be stifling the next Steve Jobs

 

[HowardSmith]

Let him use the Verizone phone on WiFi and tell him you are trying to get another phone but it might be a week or so.

12 year old kids are different that 12 year old kids 10-20 years ago. Let the parents deal with their kid without telling them how to do so.

 

[Dartanian]

OP asked for advice on buying an iPhone, not on how to raise his child.

For goodness sake, this is an IPHONE forum, NOT a parenting forum, so get off of your high horses.

Than maybe he shouldn't have explained why he needed the phone. His post could've simply been:

"Do you know if stores have the iPhone 5 in stock? If so, which ones?"

Then he wouldn'y have to deal with the people telling him why his son NEEDING and iPhone at the age of 12 should not be considered an emergeny.

Your comment is not helpful. You have no idea why this child might need a phone.

Maybe not, but a 12-year-old having to have an iPhone right away would never be considered an emergency no matter what his situation. If he really needs an emergency phone, then there's other readily available routes to get him one.

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'My son is going to have to wait a bit longer to get a $700 phone at its inception for free' Oh my heart bleeds for this child . What a first world issue truly.

Simply explain you made a mistake to him and let him know he can have your old 4 as soon as your 5 is in your hand. If it's not a spoilt brat he will understand and STILL thank you for your kindness in giving him a free phone (I'd still sell a phone like that to my child, and expect the same from my parents.)

Well said!

 

[coffeemadmanUK]

I'm perplexed why people think a 12 year old *shouldn't* have an iPhone... do you really think that, had the iPhone - a great tool for social communication, learning and fun - was available 100 years ago we wouldn't be having the same conversation?

I got my first phone when I was 14. It was a brick of a phone and did basic functions. This isn't because I was 14 - it was because that's how phones were then.

Good grief - if TV was black and white when you were growing up would you insist on a 12 year old having a cheap black and white rather than colour just *because*?

There are things my little brother has now that I cannot understand why he would want them, but that's because when I was his age there was no products like those. That's all it comes down to. Older folk moaning about the youth. Again.

This man doesn't need to justify why he wants to give his child an iPhone, perhaps if you have issues with it you should explain why they *shouldn't* have one, not expecting the man to explain why his child should. The onus is on you.

 

[Dartanian]

I'm perplexed why people think a 12 year old *shouldn't* have an iPhone... do you really think that, had the iPhone - a great tool for social communication, learning and fun - was available 100 years ago we wouldn't be having the same conversation?

I got my first phone when I was 14. It was a brick of a phone and did basic functions. This isn't because I was 14 - it was because that's how phones were then.

Good grief - if TV was black and white when you were growing up would you insist on a 12 year old having a cheap black and white rather than colour just *because*?

There are things my little brother has now that I cannot understand why he would want them, but that's because when I was his age there was no products like those. That's all it comes down to. Older folk moaning about the youth. Again.

This man doesn't need to justify why he wants to give his child an iPhone, perhaps if you have issues with it you should explain why they *shouldn't* have one, not expecting the man to explain why his child should. The onus is on you.

For me, it's not a question of why he should have an iPhone... the question is why it is considered an emergency for him to have one imediately.

 

[Brettka7]

None of you know WHY this young guy is getting an iPhone. I'm 19 and I've had every non-S iPhone since the 2G, and the 4 was the first one I paid for myself. The first 2 were birthday presents from family members combined. No I didn't DESERVE them, but there are reasons to give something nice to a responsible teenager. I have taken complete care of my house for as long as I can remember. Same with our animals. I do all shopping an have since I got a car. I am essentially the "man of the house" and I have been for a long time. If it's a disrespectful punk that doesn't care about his parents and doesn't do anything, no, he shouldn't get anything nice. But it's perfectly fine giving nice things to young people that are responsible, respectful, etc.

Back to the original topic, if your son is anything like I was/am, I'm sure he will be fine waiting a couple weeks.

 

[willmtaylor]

Than maybe he shouldn't have explained why he needed the phone. His post could've simply been:

"Do you know if stores have the iPhone 5 in stock? If so, which ones?"

Then he wouldn'y have to deal with the people telling him why his son NEEDING and iPhone at the age of 12 should not be considered an emergeny [sic]....

You do realize how faulty your logic is and how arrogant that sounds, don't you?

ER Personnel: I'm sorry sir, but we can't help you; since you told us that you were speeding at the time of the accident, you won't be receiving care this evening.

It's YOUR choice if you CHOOSE to be judgmental and condemnatory; give me a ****ing break!

 

[lelisa13p]

Chill, folks who are being critical.

The OP is a Dad who doesn't want his birthday boy to be disappointed when he had gotten his hopes up. There isn't anything wrong with that. Beyond that fact, his reasoning is none of anybody else's business. He wasn't buying a brand new iPhone for a 12-year old. It was a used item from a generous, helpful family member and it just isn't working out like they planned.

So many strangers casting aspersions on the OP's character, and his son's.

 

[erratikmind]

Chill, folks who are being critical.

The OP is a Dad who doesn't want his birthday boy to be disappointed when he had gotten his hopes up. There isn't anything wrong with that. Beyond that fact, his reasoning is none of anybody else's business. He wasn't buying a brand new iPhone for a 12-year old. It was a used item from a generous, helpful family member and it just isn't working out like they planned.

So many strangers casting aspersions on the OP's character, and his son's.

Very well stated.

 

[bwhli]

So, my son turned 12 and was promised his aunt's old iphone 4. We just got it today. And my son couldn't be happier. However, we didn't realize that an AT&T phone could not be used on Verizon network. He's going to be devastated tomorrow.

All is not lost. My wife gave the go ahead to get the iphone 5 for me. So now I would pass on my phone to him. But, a cursory glance online seems to indicate that the iphone 5 is nowhere to be found. Is that the case? I can't call stores now since they closed 15 minutes ago.

Do you know if stores have the iPhone 5 in stock? If so, which ones?

thanks

If you can't find one, then just wait a week or two. It's really not the end of the world.

 

[Adutrumque]

Its about your sons birthday present. He can wait.

I sure got to wait for other stuff when I flipped age.

Tell him "THE ONE WHO WAITS FOR SOMETHING GOOD, NEVER WAITS FOR TOO LONG…"

 

[MsRandall]

Both my sons got phones when they were 12. They are now 23 and 25, healthly and productive members of society.

I remembered all my family opinions and they were not favorable....my come back to my family members was "If I cant trust my son with a cellphone at 12how would I trust him with my Mercedes at 16?" They normally stopped commenting after that.
BUY YOURSELF AN IPHONE 5 AND PASS YOUR IPHONE DOWN TO HIM.

 

[canucksfan88]

OP asked for advice on buying an iPhone, not on how to raise his child.

For goodness sake, this is an IPHONE forum, NOT a parenting forum, so get off of your high horses.

OP, try the Apple store reservation system after 10 pm as already mentioned or try less k own stores for iPhones in your area.

Best of luck.

sorry, but if the OP thinks that it is an emergency to not be able to give his son an iPhone TODAY, we are allowed to chime in on that.

i have no problem with the 12 year old kid getting an iPhone. i understand times change (hell im only 24), but really, is is not an emergency.

there were things in life i did not get, or i had to wait for, or did not get when i thought i was...

would it not be simpler to just get a cheap phone for his son, show that he is responsible enough to handle a cell phone, and then get an iPhone later?

im still shocked at the use of the word "emergency"

 

[Jtludwig]

sorry, but if the OP thinks that it is an emergency to not be able to give his son an iPhone TODAY, we are allowed to chime in on that.

i have no problem with the 12 year old kid getting an iPhone. i understand times change (hell im only 24), but really, is is not an emergency.

there were things in life i did not get, or i had to wait for, or did not get when i thought i was...

would it not be simpler to just get a cheap phone for his son, show that he is responsible enough to handle a cell phone, and then get an iPhone later?

im still shocked at the use of the word "emergency"

Wow...someone is a little jealous? Did your dad not let you get an IPhone?

The OP most likely does not really consider this a real "emergency". He or she is just concerned that their kid will be disappointed because they were looking forward to having an IPhone...and as a kid that's a pretty cool thing.

 

[Jtludwig]

Wow...someone is a little jealous? Did your dad not let you get an IPhone?

The OP most likely does not really consider this a real "emergency". He or she is just concerned that their kid will be disappointed because they were looking forward to having an IPhone...and as a kid that's a pretty cool thing.

You must get shocked very easily.

 

[j.dstasio]

Why not post an ad on Craigslist and try to swap it for a Verizon iPhone 4?

The GSM version seems to have a higher demand and resale value, It's likely you'd find someone to trade you straight up pretty quickly.

Or just sell the At&t one and buy him a Verizon model. With as many for sale right now because of the recent upgrading, you could probably sell the GSM & buy a CDMA version in a couple of hours.