Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread

I haven’t heard of it till this morning either !!!
You should be a Mod here simply based on your contributions on FW.
I officially propose your name for a Moderator.

mikk1

@fivetalents said in Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread:

@mikk1 said in Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread:

@marcopolomle said in Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread:

tracfancier

has anyone reached out to tracfancier?

Look one post above yours…

Okay, so, like I said earlier, I’m having some issues with the difference in navigation/structure…

Can I get some points for inclusion?

Pennsatuckian

Hey, I have a question. I bought one of the tracfone Rebel bundles from HSN in July. I’m wondering how long I can wait to activate it and still be safe?

@pennsatuckian
I do not believe there is an activation cutoff point any longer, but I could not get a definitive answer to this question when I spoke to HSN about two weeks ago. There is only a 30 day return period. Their holiday returns extension until January begins with purchases beginning in early October.

You would have to go to Tracfone for a replacement if the phone is defective or the bundled airtime does not show up. For a problem getting the bundled airtime, you would probably be bounced back and forth between HSN and Tracfone, each saying it was the others responsibility.

@tracfancier
Is there a way to edit a post? OK, I see it is the three stacked (black) dots to the far right.

jaytrader

@tracfancier click the vertical red dots at the bottom right corner of a post.

There’s a new promo code 34674 for 300 bonus minutes added to the 1 year 400 minutes card advertised on TracFone’s homepage.

New Tracfone bundle available from HSN on presale:
https://www.hsn.com/products/lg-55-16gb-tracfone-with-13mp-camera-and-1500-minutes/8501879

They are limiting the quantity sold each day, so it sells out each day. Monday, Memorial Day is the actual Sale day, price goes back up Tuesday.

MAKE THAT COLUMBUS DAY 10/9/17

marcopolomle

WinterTexan said:
Am trying to help someone that uses more minutes than most. Looking for best deal on minutes, not days, as I am used to.

Also, can you transfer minutes and phone number to a used LG800?
…
tracfancier said:
The LG 800 is 2G technology, it CANNOT be used any longer for AT&T service, not sure about T-Mobile as no one talks about that service…
You can transfer service (phone number/minutes/days) to an UNACTIVATED phone, but not to an active phone (Tracfone will not let you combine phones)

A phone bundle upgrade is the cheapest way to buy airtime = discounted airtime and a free phone in most cases.
But the NEW Smartphones cannot use the Pay as you Go plans, just the Smartphone Only plans.
Tracfone is doing away with TMFL. So buy the TMFL phones and BYOP SIM kits while you still can find them
Tracfone can change this grandfather TMFL policy whenever they wish to chance losing customers.

EDIT: Posting words of wisdom by tracfancier from FW

marcopolomle

@tracfancier
I am currently using BYOP on PAYG plan.
Do you suggest buying this phone which is smartphone only ?

marcopolomle

tracfancier said:
You can sign up for a $25 off code on bottom right of any HSN page to apply for it with your e-mail address.
It must be an e-mail HSN has never seen before.

https://www.hsn.com/products/lg-55-16gb-tracfone-with-13mp-camera-and-1500-minutes/8501879

@marcopolomle said in Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread:

@tracfancier
I am currently using BYOP on PAYG plan.
Do you suggest buying this phone which is smartphone only ?

How far can you go on the 1500/1500/1500 and 365 days that comes with it (added to what you transfer)? Sooner or later, when old stock runs out, all phones available will be the Smartphone only Plan phones. The Smartphone only plans will fit many people quite well, especially if you upgrade every year with a phone bundle. You have a BYOP, do you think this Tracfone is equal or better or do you plan to SIM swap (Verizon nano SIM)? There have been some better deals if the bundled airtime i9s your main objective.

Verizon makes it more difficult to do something with a phone you have SIM swapped from, since they require a phone`s IMEI on activation of a SIM, thus making AT&T a better fit for SIM swapping maneuvers. There are a lot more details to go with what I have just said, unless your have a lot of experience on the subject. As the years have passed Tracfone complexity has advanced along with their offerings.

marcopolomle

@tracfancier
I have been following your advice for many years and have successfully got onto dumbphone to smartphone glitch and also been able to do BYOP with your help to currently have an AT&T SIM in my unlocked Windows Phone Lumia 640. Prior to that I had Verizon service on FREE LG Fuel (all courtesy to you).
However, I am getting bored with my Lumia 640 and was thinking of swapping my SIM to an android phone.
IIUC this phone is not the right one based on your suggestion.
Due to dumbphone to smartphone glitch and various refill card deal/glitches, I currently have:
Minutes: 2400
Text Messages: 4000
Data (MB): 4500
Service End Date: 2021

@tracfancier said in Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread:

@marcopolomle said in Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread:

@tracfancier
I am currently using BYOP on PAYG plan.
Do you suggest buying this phone which is smartphone only ?

How far can you go on the 1500/1500/1500 and 365 days that comes with it (added to what you transfer)? Sooner or later, when old stock runs out, all phones available will be the Smartphone only Plan phones. The Smartphone only plans will fit many people quite well, especially if you upgrade every year with a phone bundle. You have a BYOP, do you think this Tracfone is equal or better or do you plan to SIM swap (Verizon nano SIM)? There have been some better deals if the bundled airtime i9s your main objective.

Verizon makes it more difficult to do something with a phone you have SIM swapped from, since they require a phone`s IMEI on activation of a SIM, thus making AT&T a better fit for SIM swapping maneuvers. There are a lot more details to go with what I have just said, unless your have a lot of experience on the subject. As the years have passed Tracfone complexity has advanced along with their offerings.

I would suggest the Verizon prepaid Moto E4, available from Walmart for $40, or from US Cellular for $20 if you are in their sales area. I will refer you to the following HoFo thread to do some reading, rather than me trying to relay all the details. I believe you will find this phone very interesting for its ability and pricing.
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1900929-Moto-E4

shaniko86

Thanks for getting this going

mikk1

Welcome @shaniko86 - thanks for joining us!

marcopolomle

@tracfancier said in Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread:

@tracfancier said in Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread:

@marcopolomle said in Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread:

@tracfancier
I am currently using BYOP on PAYG plan.
Do you suggest buying this phone which is smartphone only ?

How far can you go on the 1500/1500/1500 and 365 days that comes with it (added to what you transfer)? Sooner or later, when old stock runs out, all phones available will be the Smartphone only Plan phones. The Smartphone only plans will fit many people quite well, especially if you upgrade every year with a phone bundle. You have a BYOP, do you think this Tracfone is equal or better or do you plan to SIM swap (Verizon nano SIM)? There have been some better deals if the bundled airtime i9s your main objective.

Verizon makes it more difficult to do something with a phone you have SIM swapped from, since they require a phone`s IMEI on activation of a SIM, thus making AT&T a better fit for SIM swapping maneuvers. There are a lot more details to go with what I have just said, unless your have a lot of experience on the subject. As the years have passed Tracfone complexity has advanced along with their offerings.

I would suggest the Verizon prepaid Moto E4, available from Walmart for $40, or from US Cellular for $20 if you are in their sales area. I will refer you to the following HoFo thread to do some reading, rather than me trying to relay all the details. I believe you will find this phone very interesting for its ability and pricing.
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1900929-Moto-E4

Thanks.
Hopefully I’ll find a deal on MotoE4 on Black Friday

@marcopolomle
Family Dollar has the Moto E4 priced everyday at $34. But when I looked locally there were none, in fact they only had a total of 3 or 4 total phones in the whole store. There are 6 local stores. So check FD black Friday ad. Actually I would prefer to buy from a business with a more certain no questions asked return policy.

Tangster

Toto,
We’re home…

Sniff…sniff…

mikk1

Welcome home! @Tangster

Now when you click on a FatWallet link it takes you to E-Bates, a part of the Rakuten cesspool.

mikk1

@tracfancier and, as we said in another thread, that’s when the bile raises into your throat…

shaniko86

fatwallet is gone !!

shaniko86

Any ebay seller suggestions ? My old seller is gone

@shaniko86 said in Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread:

Any ebay seller suggestions ? My old seller is gone

What are you buying?
I really do not have any suggestions myself. Maybe others will.

If anyone is looking for a new Phone for use with BYOP, look at the Moto E4 (link below)
I will not go through all the details as it is better that you read the full thread as there is much to learn.
This may well be a Black Friday Special priced item, so learn about it now…
I plan on getting one if a Black Friday special.
??? My link bloated??

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1900929-Moto-E4

fivetalents

@tracfancier said in Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread:

??? My link bloated??

We’re using a new plugin that embeds a picture or video inside of your post for some sites if you just copy and paste the link/url/web address without using any of the editing tools.

Alternatively, when you use the link tool/button in the text editor, it does just that: it provides an external link without embedding anything. —> [link text](link url). Example

HSN is no longer offering the $25 off $50 or more purchase email sign-up discount, they have now switched to a 15% off discount

shaniko86

nothing specific right now just looking to be prepared as I help others

A good source for news on all things prepaid:
http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/

NO Promotion Codes expired at the end of October.

2thrifty

tracfancier, let me begin by thanking you for all the posts over the years. I switched to tracfone after reading the thread on fatwallet.
Need some advice:
I have two lines and would like to see if it is possible to swap the services / minutes etc between the lines. Line one has 400min talk time and service expires Jan 2018. Line 2 has 1000 min and expires Jan 2019.
I would l like Line 1’s number to have service till 2019 and line 2 to expire 2018.
Ultimately, I may switch line 2 off tracfone but don’t want to waste the services I paid for till 2019. Better to give up 400min than 1000 plus 1 year life.
Thanks in advance.

@2thrifty
What you want to do is complicated and contains some risk. To reduce the risk you should use chat. Chat gives a transcript which you should cut and paste for safe keeping. You also need a Chat transaction number assigned to the chat so any later chats can use the feference number to find the old chat transcript.

Changing phone numbers requires the phone(s) to be de-activated, which causes a loss of the airtime and end date, UNLESS the CSR has given you this information at the beginning of the chat and thus it is written in the chat there will be no remaining record of the airtime for the CSR…

So go on chat, request the remaining airtime for both phones and only then ask to switch phone numbers between phones.

It is confusing to me exactly what phone number + what airtime you want on each phone. You will run into this with the CSR on chat. You must find a way to clearly state to the CSR what you want at the end on each phone. You must do it all on one chat or risk losing the airtime or phone number through delays.
Since I am having trouble understanding what you want done, can you now see why this is complicated and contains risk in dealing with a CSR who may be confused but may still try to do it anyway?

Two new Promo Codes out for Black Friday weekend
Both codes claim to end 11/27/17

1- Promo Code 54811 gives 500 free minutes with the regular 1 year/400 minute card.

2- Promo Code 35242 gives 1GB of free data on a $25 smartphone only card.

TenerifeSharon

tracfancier,
You’ve always been so generous with advice and it is much appreciated!

I’m in the US again right now, with a small-screen LG 840G (ancient) TMFL phone. The service year is due to expire in early February, and I still have over 4,000 minutes left on the phone, due to several promos and 1-year cards. I want to switch to a QVC or HSN bundle smartphone, including all 3 buckets. Any recommendations for a reasonably priced 5 or 5.5", Android package? Also, since I’ll be switching from a dumbphone to a smartphone, will I still be able to transfer phone number, minutes and remaining 2 months? thus having approx. 5,500 minutes, 1500 texts, and 1.5 gb data? Best doing it all on chat? Would I later be able to reactivate the TMFL dumbphone with a new SIM and small minute card (60 or 120) as an extra phone just for using minutes and no data (since I’m only here a couple of months each year)?
Thanks again for your continued help.

@tenerifesharon said in Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread:

tracfancier,
You’ve always been so generous with advice and it is much appreciated!

I’m in the US again right now, with a small-screen LG 840G (ancient) TMFL phone. The service year is due to expire in early February, and I still have over 4,000 minutes left on the phone, due to several promos and 1-year cards. I want to switch to a QVC or HSN bundle smartphone, including all 3 buckets. Any recommendations for a reasonably priced 5 or 5.5", Android package? Also, since I’ll be switching from a dumbphone to a smartphone, will I still be able to transfer phone number, minutes and remaining 2 months? thus having approx. 5,500 minutes, 1500 texts, and 1.5 gb data? Best doing it all on chat? Would I later be able to reactivate the TMFL dumbphone with a new SIM and small minute card (60 or 120) as an extra phone just for using minutes and no data (since I’m only here a couple of months each year)?
Thanks again for your continued help.

Can you use Verizon service? Most Tracfone Smartphones use Verizon service, only a few use AT&T like the LG 840. When you answer I can recommend a Bundle. Also, how much are you willing to spend, a price range?

Using your example of a bundle that includes 1500/1500/1500: When you transfer your service to activate the bundled phone you will have the following in the three buckets: 4000+1500 talk minutes/4000 + 1500 text/4000+1500Mb Data and transferred days + 365 days.

You MUST transfer activate. When you transfer to an active smartphone the incoming transfer wipes the phone number and all airtime off the receiving smartphone.

Since you are unfamiliar with how Tracfone handles Smartphones and BYOP usage, I recommend you ask before doing anything, so you avoid any costly mistakes.

You should be able to re-activate the 840 and retain TMFL until AT&T de-activates their 3G network in a year or two, unless there are AT&T delays in moving to LTE.

If you want to attempt BYOP, the hottest phone right now is the Verizon Prepaid Moto E4, unlockable for use with AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon with a $2 unlock code off e-bay. If you buy the Tracfone bundle with a NANO SIM you can later move its SIM into the Moto E4 and be activated. But the E4 is almost impossible to find right now, being sold out almost everywhere. There are different versions, E4+ and Moto factory unlocked versions, that are much more that the E4`s approximate $40 cost. Not sure if the E4 has European bands for Worldwide use with the proper SIM card.

For additional Tracfone information click on the two site links provided in the top introduction message provided by marcopolomle.

miserly

i have a TF sim (att phone) that has a few months left on it. can i buy a straight talk iphone and use it on that?

@miserly said in Current Tracfone Deals / Discussion thread:

i have a TF sim (att phone) that has a few months left on it. can i buy a straight talk iphone and use it on that?

My understanding is that you can simply SIM swap if both phones use the same sized SIM. If not you will have to transfer service to the correct size SIM for the I-phone.

Verizon SIM`s upon activating require that you give an IMEI of the phone, AT&T does not ask. You cannot give the IMEI of the Straight Talk I-phone or they may want to activate it with ST service only (depends on the CSR). IF NECESSARY say that the new SIM is for the OLD phone with a damaged SIM and hope that Tracfone does not notice you are changing SIM sizes. You could say you were using the SIM with an adapter and that is what ruined the old SIM which you originally ordered in the wrong size.

Always use chat to initially confirm the airtime and days you will be transferring and get a chat reference number, so the transcript can be easily found again if necessary for an airtime difference on the new SIM. Also copy and past the transcript in case it is needed for airtime proof if things go really wrong.

You should be able to FIRST put a new correct sized Tracfone SIM in your online account and have it accepted. Then transfer service to it. I recommend by chat in less there is something you are worried a CSR might catch but an online transfer would not.

You might want to verify what I have told you here. Note that Tracfone`s TOTAL WIRELESS is another brand that you can do this with. There are maybe 6-8 threads covering what you want to do (this is the same TRACFONE/NET10 link in the sticky above::

http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php/330-Tracfone-Net10?s=&pp=40&sort=lastpost&order=desc&daysprune=-1

TenerifeSharon

@tracfancier How can I find out if I am able to use Verizon service? The phone will be registered with a 407 (Orlando, FL) area code. The present LG 840 only has minutes, NO text units or data, so everything is deducted from those 4000. I’m looking for a bundle up to approx. $100 (max. $120). Any further advice is really appreciated!

Compatability for useage in Europe isn’t so important, as I already have a decent inexpensive dual SIM Huawei smartphone which is enough for my useage there. (After a great promo, it ends up costing around 2 Euros per month net for 3 gb of data, and using the second SIM costs just about 9 cents per minute to call almost anywhere in Europe or the US. In Europe there is no charge for incoming calls, so no loss of minutes. So, I’m using one card for data, one for calling.)

What is meant by: “You MUST transfer activate”. Online or with CSR?

Reactivation of the LG 840 is not an important factor since I never seem to use up the minutes I have on any Tracfone before I replace it (first TF was in 2004)! And, finally, since I’m never in the U.S. for more than just a few weeks at a time, I think I’d do best with a phone bundle for now, and leave the BYOP for the future. $100 for a phone, year’s service and bundled buckets will be just fine.

THANKS again!

@tenerifesharon
In looking through the phones I see only one GSM/AT&T model at HSN and it has been out for about four years now.
Verizon on average has the best coverage across the USA. But there are some areas where there is no service for Verizon. This is just as true for AT&T.

Tracfone Smartphones, both Verizon and AT&T, do NOT roam like your 840. Still there are only a few areas where there will be no coverage. Orlando, FL is a major area and should have excellent coverage. There will be some areas when traveling where you may not catch a signal, but this would also be true for AT&T.

The best deal right now is on a one day Sale (Tuesday through midnight eastern time) at HSN:
https://www.hsn.com/products/samsung-galaxy-5-16gb-tracfone-1500-mintextdata/8572138

The cheapest bundle is at QVC. If you are a first time buyer take another $5 off:
http://www.qvc.com/Tracfone-LG-Rebel-2-5"-Smartphone-with-Case-and-1500-MinTextData.product.E231414.html?sc=SRCH

Both phones come with free shipping, but you pay tax. Both use Verizon as the provider. The Luna Pro (HSN) is by far the better phone and it would be my recommendation at $20 more than the Rebel 2 (QVC). I have the Rebel 2 and it is a decent phone.

Before ordering another bundle from QVC or HSN you should ask for my recommendation. Because both sell Tracfone models that are outright JUNK. My two recommendations are good phones, the Luna Pro being near the best model available from Tracfone at this time.

You must transfer your service to activate the new phone. NEVER EVER activate the new SMARTPHONE first and then transfer another phones service to it, as the incoming transfer will wipe out the bundled airtime and it will be hell to get it back from Tracfone. After the phone activates with the transfer, then the bundled airtime will be added automatically as part of the activation. There is NO airtime card, the bundled airtime is automatically added.

When you transfer the 4000 minutes to the new smartphone it will become 4000/4000/4000 on the new phone and then the bundle will add to it, as will the days.

PS: I recommend you remove the battery from the 840 if you plan to store it. Some phones will still deplete the battery while off. Extended time at a low charge will ruin the battery. Pull the battery when it is at 80% charge.

To prolong a phone`s battery, try to keep the charge between 80 and 40%. There is an app that signals when the charge reaches 80% so you can disconnect the charger.

To satisfy worries about choosing Verizon as the provider I recommend you ask local people about their Verizon coverage. I really do not believe you can make a bad choice by going with Verizon.

QVC and HSN have lowered prices right now, you may end up paying more if you do not move quickly. So start reading about these two models. Here is a link to threads on each phone.
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Turk/topic/8080305/1/#new

http://s1.zetaboards.com/Turk/topic/8146564/1/s

Since you are unfamiliar with how Tracfone handles Smartphones, check back before activating the new phone for advice on the best way to active the phone to avoid problems with Tracfone.

@tenerifesharon
Forgot to mention that mid 2017 Tracfone began selling their newly released smartphones for use with ONLY the Smartphone only Airtime plans. Both of the recommended phones are of this type. But you will find that they can be cheaper when looking at cost for talk or for text or for data, especially when using the add on plans for individual buckets. You might find them skimpy on talk and days of service. This may not matter the years you buy a bundle since the overall cost can be below the cost of the one year airtime plan.
https://www.tracfone.com/shop/plans

If you want to check/compare the Verizon and AT&T coverage, go to their sites (NOT Tracfone) and make sure the coverage map is set to show PREPAID COVERAGE. You should be able to zoom in to better see smaller missing coverage areas detail for each provider

The Tracfone e-bay store has a $50 LG Rebel bundle with 1200/1200/1200/365

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TracFone-LG-Rebel-1-Year-of-Service-with-1200-MIN-1200-Text-1200MB-/282746875766

This older original Rebel is not much of a phone (not to be confused with the Rebel 2) but it`s free with 1/2 priced airtime. The airtime is most likely automatically added at activation. The Rebel uses Verizon.

Link to the full Tracfone e-bay store:

http://stores.ebay.com/Tracfone-Wireless/_i.html?_sop=15&rt=nc

alanmax

tracfancier,
I have this package from 8-2017.
Can I purchase this package now and use it to extend my current old phone if I don’t activate the new phone? I can just toss the new phone but keep the airtime etc on the new one. Is this even possible? Would I be adding another year too?
Thank You so much for any and all info.!!!