Prepaid phone cards, local bodegas

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Looking for some belated stocking stuffers for my family, and in the past, phone cards have been a big hit. I know this group is mostly iPhone types, but my Nana is a landline type and doesn't have unlimited minutes. Just need something to call within the US without any miscellaneous fees, but don't want to drive all the convenience store clerks nuts examining their cards. Perhaps someone here has a card they're particularly fond of.

There was a card from RNK that gave 1000 minutes for $5, with no fees of any kind, which was great even for folks who don't make a lot of calls, because the card would last almost an entire year(!) However, that one's gotten hard to find. Most of the others charge some kind of connection fee, or a weekly usage fee, or don't have a lot of local access numbers. Usage fees really aren't appropriate for the way my grandmother uses the phone. I'm basically looking for something that costs no more than 5 cents a minute, no more than 9 cents for the first minute, no usage fees, and stays active for at least six months. I'm also looking for a physical card I can pick up in a local shop and present to someone, not a virtual card that's set up online.


Comments

[ron_newman]

Bodegas are an NYC thing. We have 'spas' instead.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_meej_/]

Pretty sure Farmer's Bounty on Elm St. sells them. I have no idea what they're like, as far as terms or rates or fees, though.

[duneidieann.livejournal.com]

Farmer's Bounty definitely has phone cards as does the shop next to Cameras Inc.

[ron_newman]

is that Robbins Tobacco?

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Every corner store sells phone cards. Whether someone's found one they like is another matter.

[duneidieann.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I probably should have noted that I think I have gotten RNK cards at both of those places in the past, which is why I mentioned those shops in particular. I think the RNK cards work well if you have local phone service so that calling the local access # is free and then you're only paying the low per minute rate for the long distance. I've been seeing the "RNK world" card around which according to their site is only 1/2 cent a minute in the US but you have to be able to use the local access #, otherwise there's an extra fee to use the 1-800 access #.

success!

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Farmer's Bounty had "RNK World" in the $5 denomination and the smoke shop across the street had it in the $2 denomination. "World" has plenty of local access numbers.

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Hodgkin's Spa ( next to Dave's Fresh Pasta ) has RNK World cards, as does Teele Square Market.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you could go to a small store where the owner works the counter and he or she might be able to tell you about the various cards?

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Some can help, and I think I'll go that route. Many times I've gone into the shops and they reccomend one by which country you want to call. It depends on the store, if the people there use the cards themselves or if theyre just another thing they stock, like lottery tickets.

Most of the Indian shops carry a variety of cards, and the people behind the desk usually are close to the owner. But these days, those folks tend to be big on unlimited cell plans, and Skype for international calls, and don't use the cards themselves much anymore. I've actually had the clerks ask me which cards are good.

Even the types of cards sold reflect that usage; one of the big cards now is $0.01 to call any of a long list of countries. The issue is it has very few local access numbers, and 800 costs 9 cents extra. Great if you already have an unlimited calling plan within the US, only so-so if you don't.

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

I recommend onesuite.com. Domestic calls are less than 3 cents per minute, with no fees, and the value never expires unless you stop using it for 6 months.

It's only sold online, but I think you can print a paper card. If not, you can always design one yourself.

I used to get those cards from

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Nobel.com . You have a huge array of choices. Some have weekly service fees, some expire after 1 year. Some have NO service fees and cost a bit more... You need got to know the person's habits to choose.