Take me to your cell phone

I went to the local Sprint store. I must say that cell phone stores are an experience. I’ve always gotten mine online, so this was a first, but I wanted to know what my $$ would be getting me into.

Boy, what a bunch of toys. Like crackerjack prizes. Flimsy plasticy things that look like they should knock three digits off the price. Of course, you don’t really pay for the shell, you pay for the Bluetooth and the fancy MP3 ringtones and whatnot, but if the thing is going to ride around in the end pocket of my purse it shouldn’t scratch easy, nor should it be the size of a Cheerio.

Do I want a camera phone with video, with still, or no camera? Do I want speakerphone? What about web stuff? They all have web stuff, or at least they’re capable of it. Even if the screen is thumbnail-sized. One of them had a click wheel. Another had a hideous coloration, another had buttons I’d have to use a stickpin to press. The free phones seriously look like they belong in the hands of toddlers — icky pastel colors and totally cheap plastic.

I’m tossed between a nice matte-finish Motorola and another black phone with Bluetooth and a tiny display that shows who’s calling without opening the clamshell. But it’s a sure thing I’ll order on the web - activation is free that way. Which brings me to another thing - why they have stores at all. The place was totally empty, and the sales guy practically jumped into my arms. Distraction! Of course, he also had a really neat phone he could play games on, between customers.