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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:39 am Post subject: Should I cancel my Sk telecom cell plan and switch to LG? |
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I'm on the fence becuase I'm paying roughly 65k won a month on my SK plan and they gave me the crappiest phone in the store...I know it's a crappy cheapy becuase I used to sell cell phones back in the states...I just assumed everyone in Korea shelled out $700 for nice phones....I had a funny feeling the Yakuza guy selling the plan to my co-teacher was screwing me over.
Basically I'm curious if it's worth paying the cancelation fee(200k won) and switching to LG becuase I heard it's cheaper and they actually offer you a decent phone when you sign a 2 year contract....if it's 20k won cheaper It will work itself out after 10 months(I'm on a 2 yr plan my school picked).
I call & text a decent amount, but 65K seems a bit much |
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definitely maybe
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:44 am Post subject: |
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200,000 cancellation fee? holy shit! i didn't know they did that over her. haven't been here too long, but after 5 years that's the first i've heard of this. i've never had to sign a 1 or 2 year contract either though.
i have switched from lg to ktf to sk, but never been forced to pay a cancellation fee. the activation fee, normally ranging 30,000-50,000 is generally the only extra cost i've had to deal with when switching services.. |
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Johnwayne

Joined: 28 Jun 2007
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:44 am Post subject: |
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One of my Korean co-workers used to work for LG and told me never to use them. Said people always complained about poor reception or something.
Take that for what you will. |
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kprrok
Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:20 am Post subject: |
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I've been on LG for almost 4 years now, my wife for over 7 years. Never had a problem with reception, except in the subway in Seoul, shouldn't be talking there anyway.
Before that, I had SK, and they sucked. I'm much happier with LG, good phone, average under 30,000 a month on my plan. Never had a problem. |
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mmace1
Joined: 08 Jul 2007
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 7:37 am Post subject: |
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I'm not sure...but don't most Korean cell cancellation fees only apply for the first 9 months? I didn't think they did 2-year contracts here.
As far as reception goes - there are only a few carriers, and it's a very dense country compared to the US, I wouldn't worry much about reception. I recently switched from SK to KTF, & as always, I have yet to hit a dead spot. |
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Tommy

Joined: 24 Aug 2005
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:00 am Post subject: |
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LG FTW!
- Foreign friendly
- Best customer service I've had in Korea (conveniently in English)
- Never had a problem with reception, not even on the subway
- No crazy $200 deposit, just a one time $30 activation fee
- They started sending me a copy of the bill in English to accompany their regular bill.. now that deserves a gold star!!
Don't deal with Yakuza-type guys in Itaewon or the likes. Go with a Korean friend (not your clueless co-worker) to Myeongdong, Gangnam, or Yongsan and get a great phone for free or practically free if you stay on a plan for only 3-months! |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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For those on LG and paying roughly $30 a month...how often do you call?...at that price it might be worth switching for both me and my other co-worker who's on KTF and paying $100 a month!
Do you get a free phone with the plan?
The Basic fee on SK is 35k but after that I'm getting hit with some taxes and being charged for the free phone(according to the german speaking yakuza wannabe)...my younger co-worker is coming with me monday to work it out with SK....otherwise I think I'll cancel this POS contract....
My school informed m they put me on a very "basic plan" because it was intended for them to contact me early on....maybe I'm overusing my minutes.....
Because I'm through my school I'm on a contract...I heard other E-2s had trouble getting a cell phone contract....my friend says he pays something like $100 becuase of that. |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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This is my old phone that I received second-hand from my mother-in-law...
http://www.lgtelecom.com/PhoneInfoViewForm.lgtservice?seq=216&company=CYON
I think it's a crappy phone, but it's still listing for close to $200.
This is my new phone(albeit in blue)...
http://www.lgtelecom.com/PhoneInfoViewForm.lgtservice?seq=704&company=CYON&isSearch=Y&companyPara=&pixelPara=&memory_ynPara=&model_nmPara=lg-lh2300&slide_ynPara=&mp3_ynPara=&bankon_ynPara=&camera_ynPara=&sdmb_ynPara=&telematics_ynPara=&feelzone_ynPara=&new_yn_1=&new_yn_2=&new_yn_4=&new_yn_9=&new_yn_11=&video_ynPara=&targetRow=
It's an okay phone, but definitely not nearly worth the near $700 price. My wife was able to get a long-term customer discount on the phone. Even so, I'll be looking at paying around 80,000 monthly for two years while I had been paying between 45 and 55 for the old phone.
So, you do the math. 24 times 40(at the very least) equals nearly $1,000 for the phone. Worth it? The Internet is not the best, even though I'm getting unlimited usage for 9 months. When we first went to get the phone, it was a bit of a hassle. I wanted it and the bill in my own name. They told me I had to pay that new membership sign-up fee along with changing to a new number. The shop lied just to get their commission. Wife wasn't impressed after she called lg's head office and got some more info. Cancelled the phone. Went to a different shop and got a new one in her name rather than go through the hassle of having things in my name(even though I've been here for more than 11 years and should have my F-5 visa in the very near future). The new shop didn't have any new blue ones in stock, so they gave me a loaner(wife referred to it as a DP model! Apparently, DP refers to "display phone" in Korea). They gave me all the accessories, but failed to include the stylus. Finally got a message that the new one was in about a month later. Went to the shop, but it had disappeared! Had to travel to a different area of the city to get it. Finally got it last Saturday. Got a message from lg telecom asking if we had received good service. My wife wanted me to reply "NO!" but I just deleted it.
I switched from SK a long time ago, and have since said that lg seems too expensive. However, I guess all companies have been increasing their prices. Long story, short. Phones are expensive in Korea. Definitely overpriced. If you have the cash and really need that nice phone, drop it. Don't get on one of those rip-off two-year plans. I guess we could go into a lenghy discussion about future value and depreciation though.
I can also say that I am no more or less pleased with either lg or sk. Both companies have faults, and both are expensive in my mind. Neither are terrible. |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah I noticed they qouted the MSRP for phones...so 3 year old phones still cost $400
I'm gonna buy a better phone off an expat. |
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Cheonmunka

Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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We've sold new phones in our family store for as little as 110k with a one year LG contract going along with the E2 term. About 22k month usual bill. No cancel fees, no deposits ... no activation fees. Prices may be up a little now, but still ... |
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Tommy

Joined: 24 Aug 2005
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Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 12:12 am Post subject: |
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Ukon wrote: |
Because I'm through my school I'm on a contract...I heard other E-2s had trouble getting a cell phone contract....my friend says he pays something like $100 becuase of that. |
Dude.. LG. No $100, $200 deposit. One time $30 activation fee. Simple. |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 12:34 am Post subject: |
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Cheonmunka wrote: |
We've sold new phones in our family store for as little as 110k with a one year LG contract going along with the E2 term. About 22k month usual bill. No cancel fees, no deposits ... no activation fees. Prices may be up a little now, but still ... |
I might take you up on that...how are the minutes for 2ok won a month? Do you have lots of taxes and fees? |
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CGully

Joined: 23 Aug 2005
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Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:55 am Post subject: |
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I know nothing about LG.
But I've been on an SK contract for about a year and a half, and everything has been perfect. My base plan for the month is 14,500 and the total bill never tops 30,000. It sounds to me like you're just on an expensive plan.
Either way, always bring a friend!
- CGully |
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Cheonmunka

Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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Ukon, I 'spose if you want to watch TV or download heavily, or if you talk mostly after midnight, that sort of stuff you could wade thru the booklets on the pricings.
Pick the plan you want. But then, only certain phones work with LG or with SK or KTF so you will be asked to buy one of those phones - the price may suit, it may not.
That's why I recommend the basic plan as it is about 22k for a month and that allows for 10 three minute calls a day and texts or so, like that, and the phones are basic but decent and cheaper.
I also recommend LG because the software that goes along with LG and usually their phones is simple compared to Anycall's PC lync. Getting your photos onto your pc with Anycall can be a real mission at first and during. LG's s/ware you can push a button and immediately change a video to avi - Anycall's can't do that - from mem. once you finally get it to - it goes to Quicktime's .mov file, which is a pain in the arse for editing! So, if you need the software link for photos etc go for some LG compatible phone.
A lot of people were into saving their photos for when they go home so that was the consideration ...
Maybe you could simply switch to another plan within Sk. |
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Ukon
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
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Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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Cheonmunka wrote: |
Ukon, I 'spose if you want to watch TV or download heavily, or if you talk mostly after midnight, that sort of stuff you could wade thru the booklets on the pricings.
Pick the plan you want. But then, only certain phones work with LG or with SK or KTF so you will be asked to buy one of those phones - the price may suit, it may not.
That's why I recommend the basic plan as it is about 22k for a month and that allows for 10 three minute calls a day and texts or so, like that, and the phones are basic but decent and cheaper.
I also recommend LG because the software that goes along with LG and usually their phones is simple compared to Anycall's PC lync. Getting your photos onto your pc with Anycall can be a real mission at first and during. LG's s/ware you can push a button and immediately change a video to avi - Anycall's can't do that - from mem. once you finally get it to - it goes to Quicktime's .mov file, which is a pain in the arse for editing! So, if you need the software link for photos etc go for some LG compatible phone.
A lot of people were into saving their photos for when they go home so that was the consideration ...
Maybe you could simply switch to another plan within Sk. |
Nah, I don't really do any of that(sometimes call after midnight)....but I do think limiting myself to 3 minute calls i a bit of a stretch....could it be simply 30 minutes a day?
As for software, I'm a pro with that stuff...so I'll use bitprim or whatever to do what I need...
Hey, would the LG viewty work on SK's plan? |
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