Where should I buy an unlocked Cingular phone today in Chicago?

December 9, 2006 11:50 AM

Where can I find an unlocked Cingular phone, preferably a Nokia 6030, but whatever is fine, that I can buy today for a reasonable price (not necessarily as cheap as on the internet, but not hundreds of dollars) , that I can put my SIM card into and just start using? Oh, yeah, and I know that I can get one on the internet for cheap, but I want to get it today, in Chicago, and without an additional contract.

The dog ate my phone!

posted by jcwagner to Technology (9 answers total)

At a Cingular store. This page will help.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 12:15 PM on December 9, 2006

You can buy one of the no-contract "go phones" and just pop your SIM card into it.
posted by ferociouskitty at 12:16 PM on December 9, 2006

Second-hand shop? Worked very well for me in the UK.
posted by Idcoytco at 1:01 PM on December 9, 2006

Response by poster: Anyone know any good secondhand electronics shops? Craigslist feels like I would get ripped off.
posted by jcwagner at 2:23 PM on December 9, 2006

You might want to try a thrift store near you. I live in Chicago also and have found replacements for 5 or 6 dollars. Try Unique Thrift, or some others.
posted by lee at 3:01 PM on December 9, 2006

Craigslist!
posted by neilkod at 3:21 PM on December 9, 2006

I bought a "trade-in" at the Cingular store for about $25. Worked great for me.
posted by JujuB at 5:49 PM on December 9, 2006

There's a place under the el at the belmont red line. On the north side of the street. Or on Devon.
posted by rbs at 7:50 PM on December 9, 2006

Definitely get a Go Phone. I bought one for $20, and you can find cheap ones on Walmart.com. Just type in Cingular Go Phone.
posted by Aanidaani at 10:15 PM on December 9, 2006