Samsung Reality vs. Samsung u370?

[pva]

I've been in Costco today, and found out for sure, that:

1. u370 is NOT a global phone and doesn't have a sim card, Costco website is incorrect.

2. After 90 days Verizon must support the phone. Whether they can do this without knowing anything about it - it's a good question.

[MojaveMoon_]

Here's another concern that I have. The local Walmart still sells the Reality U820 and has a non-functioning display model of the U820. When I ran my finger all along the surface of the touchscreen and pressed down lightly, it felt like the touchscreen isn't fastened to the phone all along the perimeter of the touchscreen.

If the touchscreen of the real Reality / U370 is fastened just like this display phone, then I'm concerned that during even a limited exposure to getting wet that a fluid could enter the phone underneath certain parts of the touchscreen and either remain trapped or damage the technology that is sitting underneath the touchscreen.

You aren't always able to answer your cellphone in ideal circumstances -- sometimes the call is important enough that you're answering your phone during high humidity or when your hands are a little wet like from sweating [summer's coming ] My family's basic phones handle this kind of exposure just fine, but I have no idea what a touchscreen non-smartphone can tolerate. Anyone have any 1st hand or 3rd hand feedback about this based on other makes and models of touchscreen non-smartphones ?

[pva]

This shouldn't be a problem. I have LG env V Touch for almost two years and never had any issues. In fact I rarely use the touch screen to answer the phones, there is a button for it in the bottom of the phone. I think all touch screen phones have it, including u370.

[DTMproperites]

Will the accessories for the Reality fit the u370 ?

Particularly the hard cases as well as the screen protectors?

Thank you

[dionie]

I got the Samsung U370 yesterday from Costco.  Regarding your questions:

1. return policy for this phone is 14 days - to cancel phone and plan

2. costco (as far as I know) will not charge restocking fee and as per my experience dealing with Costco, cellphones can be returned/replaced within 90 days.  Support from 91 days onward to a year will have to be done with Samsung.

[dionie]

91 days onwards to a year - support will be with Samsung.

0-14 days phone can be returned and plan cancelled

0-90 days phone can be replaced with a new one (even a different one)

[DTMproperites]

After day 3 the contract says you will still be responsible to pay the activation fee even if you cancel prior to the 14th day, but you will not incur the early termination fee.

[MojaveMoon_]

Thank you, dionie, for finding out that information.

In regards to what DTMproperties said, I'm unclear about the activation fee. I *think* that when you are currently a Verizon customer, buy a phone from a Verizon corporate store, and renew your contract, that Verizon does not charge the $ 35 activation fee.

But what if, as a current customer who's renewing his/her contract, you buy the phone from Costco -- in that scenario, is Verizon or Costco going to charge the $ 35 activation fee ?

Also, maybe someone can help me see the bright side to something else -- if we as customers are not going to be able to walk into a Verizon store or contact via telephone Verizon's customer support and receive technical support for a hardware/software problem with the U370, then it seems like it could be a time-consuming pain in the neck to be force to deal solely with Samsung's support department [particularly if it's been outsourced overseas -- the combination of the language barrier and the script that is usually read from can be very exasperating] for each any every problem.

Furthermore, after the 90 days, can we as customers contact Samsung by any means we prefer, or will Samsung dictate that Samsung's support department be contacted by only mail, or telephone, or email ?

[NewtoSamsung]

I just purchased the Samsung U370 from Costco yesterday.  Seems like a very good feature phone (my prior phone was a company-supplied Blackberry).  The Costco web site has some incorrect information.  The Costco site says it is a "world phone" and that the U370 has a "SIM card".  It is not, and does not.  However, I called a friend's home phone and the voice quality was clear.  Then I called another friend's cell phone.  It was also clear and had good volume.  The Costco phone kit included a Bluetooth headset, a wired headset, a car charger and 110 volt charger plus a carrying case.  The Bluetooth was able to be set up in about 5 minutes with no problems.  The carrying case is cheap and I will probably not use it.  Overall--it looks like a very good buy for the low price of $9.99 when purchased with a two year plan.  I will write back when I have used it for a while.

[rocky11731]

I bought this phone from Costco a week or so ago to replace my Motorola Rival, which was the worst phone I ever had. The u370 has been everything I hoped for. I have been loading all my music into it and the included headphones are great. I never had a desire to text before, but I did upgrade my Verizon plan to include texting, which is the only way my son likes to communicate, and this phone makes it so easy. The included case is cheap, so I use my existing WorkForce case. The only problem was hitting the unlock key on the side when driving my car with the phone in the case. I bought a Body Glove snap on cover for the Reality , which fits perfectly ($5.50 shipped), from Verizon, and the problem has been solved since it prevents the key from being hit when I slide it into the WorkForce case. I also bought the screen protectors for a Reality from Verizon. It makes the touch screen a little less sensitive but does not affect operation at all. Don't know about long term quality, but so far this beats my last phone by far. After figuring out that I had to convert my ringtones from mp3 to qcp format, everything loaded easily and my phone is personalized to my liking.