Cheap Tablet for Verizon

swbluto · #1 09-28-2015

I'm trying to add verizon mifi to my laptop. I saw that the "jetpack" was $60 for 4gb, while the "tablet" was $40/month (They anticipate tablets users use less data, but I think I could use a tethering app on the device so I use my laptop using the tablet's plan.). Their tablets, however, cost north of $200. Are there cheap tablets out there that I could use with Verizon's mifi at the tablet price? I've found verizon tablets on Craigslist, but one takes a mini-sim (Thought verizon mifi was CDMA?) and it's 'never been used with verizon', so I'm not sure if I could use it with verizon even though it has the "4G LTE" logo on it?

Seems like shopping for a tablet for verizon is not as easy as shopping for a device with tmobile; t-mobile accepts pretty much any device that takes a SIM. Verizon seems a bit more restrictive, as the lack of Amazon search results suggests.

swbluto · #2 10-01-2015

Just bought a used last-gen Samsung Galaxy Tablet for $100 on Amazon. It's the only one I could find that had "4g LTE verizon" capability that had a used market value below $100 and wasn't a complete piece of crap like the $50 ellipsis 7. Seems that "4g lte verizon"-capable tablets, though exist, aren't that common and are almost universally >$130 on the used market (Motorola XOOM, galaxy Tab, and Ipads seem to be the only contenders, outside the infamous Ellipsis tablets from Verizon.). This particular galaxy was the only exception I found.

I also didn't trust the Ellipsis because it was Verizon's own tablet, and who knows what complications it might have with the tethering apps out there being Verizon's own tablet. (Also, too many reports of "My tablet died 2 months later". I can't help but feel when there's a lot of failed products in a brand, many of those turn up in the online used markets posing as working. I've had too many broken used cell phones off of ebay to trust used electronics online, generally speaking.)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 - SCH-I905

unkown5454 · #3 10-01-2015

For portability, buying just the tablet with an internal modem is the best. But, for functionality and price, picking up a Verizon MiFi from sellers on here or on EB and then pairing it with a cheap tablet of your choice is the best bet. For example, I just picked up an Asus tablet from Gamestop for $40. They had a 7" and 8", but both are using the same specs so I wanted to try the smaller one hoping it might do a bit better on battery life with the smaller screen. Anyways, it's the best cheap tablet I've ever used. These Memo Pads were close to $100 at Best Buy before this clearance sale at Gamestop. I'm always looking to play with nice tablets that eventually go on sale for 50% off or more. You basically have a device that works great, but you don't mind if you destroy it at the same time.

swbluto · #4 10-01-2015

If you pick up a mifi router for the tablet, I believe you're paying verizon's so-called "jetpack" price which is $60/month for 4GB rather than the tablet price of $40. Correct me if I'm wrong.

sewy · #5 10-01-2015

If you are looking for cheap tablet, i know that you can find some cheap and quite good models at aliexpress.com

unkown5454 · #6 10-01-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by swbluto

If you pick up a mifi router for the tablet, I believe you're paying verizon's so-called "jetpack" price which is $60/month for 4GB rather than the tablet price of $40. Correct me if I'm wrong.

go look at balsero's selling thread and also on EB for Verizon MiFi flashed 2200. i'm not talking about the normal plans they advertise

MM78 · #7 10-01-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewy

If you are looking for cheap tablet, i know that you can find some cheap and quite good models at aliexpress.com

Aliexpress + Cheap + Tablet = not exactly the right combo. I would recommend anyone get a decent tablet like a Samsung or even a IPad.

I've tried those cheap tablets and they are exactly that...cheap quality, slow, out-dated, you break the screen and it's junk.

rsot · #8 10-01-2015

swbluto · #9 10-01-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by unkown5454

go look at balsero's selling thread and also on EB for Verizon MiFi flashed 2200. i'm not talking about the normal plans they advertise

Thanks, I'm asking him for a quote in his thread.

swbluto · #10 10-02-2015

This sucks. It turns out my distrust for used electronics online has just been more than verified. I bought a "trusthworthy brand" from a "trusthworthy seller" on Amazon and it won't even turn on, even when plugged in. Well, I guess I'll absolutely never buy used electronics online at this point - I was /hoping/ it was just a problem with used /cellphones/, but I guess it's pretty much true of used /everything/.

Time to file an A-Z return. Thank god for this forum for making me aware such a thing existed, and that it such a bane to sellers. Maybe the seller will be buying the ghost amazon book in the near future, lol.

On second thoughts, I should give him the benefit of the doubt and at least google this issue first. Maybe there's something I'm overlooking/not-aware-of.

Can't file it until tomorrow, hope for his sake I get this solved before then.

aking · #11 10-02-2015

I'm using an Acer Aspire SW5-012 with a 4G Verizon Jetpack. The Acer Aspire 10" screen can disconnect from the keyboard and become a tablet. I love it.

unkown5454 · #12 10-02-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by swbluto

This sucks. It turns out my distrust for used electronics online has just been more than verified. I bought a "trusthworthy brand" from a "trusthworthy seller" on Amazon and it won't even turn on, even when plugged in. Well, I guess I'll absolutely never buy used electronics online at this point - I was /hoping/ it was just a problem with used /cellphones/, but I guess it's pretty much true of used /everything/.

Time to file an A-Z return. Thank god for this forum for making me aware such a thing existed, and that it such a bane to sellers. Maybe the seller will be buying the ghost amazon book in the near future, lol.

On second thoughts, I should give him the benefit of the doubt and at least google this issue first. Maybe there's something I'm overlooking/not-aware-of.

Can't file it until tomorrow, hope for his sake I get this solved before then.

fatwallet and slickdeals keep pumping "deals" from 2 EB sellers who pawn refurbs and used devices as brand new. one seller has like 80,000 feedback and the other has 100,000 or something. there are negative and neutral feedbacks all over their accounts of the fra.udulent activity they engage in, but EB does nothing to them. you are not dreaming...there are a ton of sellers out there passing off broken/damaged refurbs as BRAND NEW or in like new (working) condition and selling absolute garbage and getting away with it.

swbluto · #13 10-03-2015

The seller wants me to pay return postage and they'll reimburse me later, so she says.

Wow, she actually wants me to trust them when they sold me a completely defective product described as in "Good condition"? Uhhh, no thank you. Give me a return label like everyone else or I'm filing an A-Z return in 2 days, that's your two options. Credit card chargeback as a last resort.

I'm not accommodating to the cheaters in this world.

My revised used electronics purchase strategy...

I will interview EVERY potential seller from now on, regardless of how good their feedback looks.

1) Does your product work? Does it turn on?
2) Are there any functional issues like the touchpad doesn't work 100% or other issues?
3) Any battery issues?
4) Do you offer refunds if the product is defective?

Sellers who don't answer obviously won't get my dollars.

swbluto · #14 10-05-2015

She failed to send a return label like she promised so I filled out the A-Z return claim. Now Amazon's going to review it and, hmmm, I'm thinking she might be in hot water soon! lol. We'll see.

123 · #15 10-06-2015

That sucks, but luckily you got it on amazon so they'll def take care of everything for you