How I Got My Palm Centro for $30

Posted on 05.26.08 in Tech Stuff and there are 16 comments.

Last Monday I got a Palm Centro for $30. Here’s how:

1. Saw the Best Buy ad for a Palm Centro for $49 for new lines of service.
2. Took ad to Sprint store to see if they could match it.
3. Brought all three kids with me. I figured the service people would either A) give me what I wanted so that my kids would stop messing with their phones or B) they would do anything I asked because my kids are simply THAT adorable.
4. Sprint people couldn’t match the price.
5. I was bummed but not defeated.
6.Stated that I’ve been a Sprint customer for 8 years and asked if there was any discount for long time customers.

STEP 7 WAS A VERY STRATEGIC MOVE
7. My 4 year old declared she needed to go peepee. N-O-W.
8. Looking nervous they pointed me toward the backroom.
9. Apparently this bought them time to come up with a deal.
10. They gave me a discount on the phone and my next month of phone service for free - essentially giving me the Palm Centro for $30.

So far, I love this little phone.

What kind of phone do you have? Do you like it?

The Comments:

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Hey Kat. I have the Treo 755p but my wife has the Centro (red). We both love the Palm Treo line. It’s stable, easy to use and well, it’s not $400-500 like an iPhone.

I’ve got the Blackberry 8830 World Edition through Verizon and love it. In fact, I just learned last night that if something catastrophic happens and all the cell phones go down, Blackberry people will still be able to communicate with each other via the Blackberry network. Pretty cool, huh? Just another reason to get a Crackberry…

Centro.  Had it for a week now.  Effin’ awesome.

I have an iPhone (saved up for it for a year) and absolutely LOVE it. It’s the first phone I actually use a lot - to make calls, get directions, send a quick email, twitter, take notes, take pictures of projects when I am on the road, watch YouTube. I am pretty much in love .

I see you’ve slightly modified Cachinnator’s plan.  Very strategic.

I use a Motorola Z6C - it is a WorldPhone, so I can use it when I travel.  I leave it on all the time (it is my morning alarm clock) and only need to charge it for about two hours twice a week - best phone battery I’ve every had.  I don’t text message, and I don’t e-mail through my phone - moreover, I don’t want to be in a position where I have to be that available - so anything more would be wasted.  Perhaps an odd view for a tech junkie like me, but I’m happy.

Kyle,
Have you tried The Missing Sync. I know you mentioned that you couldn’t sync your palm and entourage. The Missing Sync says it syncs with entourage. I just used it to sync my centro with ical and address book and it worked like a charm.

Any palm apps you recommend?

Jeremy,
Ok. That is pretty cool. I thought about getting a Blackberry Pearl, but I’m used to the Palm interface so I went with what I know.

That’s pretty cool about the Blackberry network. In case of a national disaster, I’ll be sure to look for policemen, firefighters and blackberry owners.

Cach,
So are you saying you have one too? I must say your cell phone post inspired me to keep asking even when they said no. Thank you Obiwon.

Jeaninw,
Yes, the iPhone looks stinkin’ cool, but it just wasn’t in the budget and we’re on Sprint and not wanting to change...so the Centro it is. I’m like you though, I had no idea how much I would like this phone. I use it all the time.

Euphrony,
Worldphone - that sounds pretty cool. I do email and such from my phone - it keeps me connected to the grownup world after 12 hours of Candyland.

Mine’s red.  Boo ya.

You all are very cool with your very cool phones.  I have a Katana and LOVE it.  I loved my slider phone before this one, but am thrilled with the one I have now. 

Kat, by saying Worldphone it only means that it will work on a CDMA network (USA and a few other countries) or a GSM network (Europe and much of the world).  I could choose this phone or a Blackberry like Jeremy’s for global calling capabilities, and I went with the simpler phone because I like being disconnected at times, but want to have the phone for emergencies.  Like when I got to the Norwegian airport at 5:30 a.m. and found out I had been booted from my scheduled flight.

I just bought a centro on eBay and should be here soon - very excited for my first PDA!.  Kat, the sync stuff you were discussing, was that for Mac?  Please post any other cool apps or suggestions.  Thanks!

I’ve got the same one. I really like it, and the pics are so big. a little on the magenta side

I also turned off the css on my web browser, but all in all I’m really digging it. Bluetooth rules by the way.

@Kat - I have tried missing sync. For some reason, it’s the conflict of Microsoft sync and apple sync that’s causing the problems. Because they both update each other through “push” technology, I’m stuck trying to figure out which one has the “right” content with the sync conflict app is resurrected.

Hi! I’m new here. I just bought a Centro with a rebate.  I love it, but I miss my cool applications I had on my (worthless) Razor:  Bejewled, Telenav, Bible Search, Sprint Search.  I paid $9.99/mo to have my own GPS in my pocket at all times.  Wonderful!  Now I have to look for a Palm friendly app.  Sprint Search is (free with vision; locates you with GPS, you say the City, State and what you want directions for and it gives it to you on the screen.  No more 411 calls for businesses.

Just got the same phone.  Also looked at the Pearl, but was way more familiar with Palm design.  Love it!  Cute little phone with lots of fun extras!  Great for twitter.

Was a little bummed because they announced the new iPhone for $199, I could have swung that (after my birthday next month).  But hey, in two years when I need a new contract I’ll go iPhone then!

just got one. just wish it had a wifi receiver

please list some free cool unharmful downloadable apps

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