It really felt nostalgic having my dead smartphone again in my hands. It felt unusually bulky than the keypad phone I’m beginning to get used to.
And this is the time to take it out from its grave. Because my work and lifestyle is way much intertwined with how I connect to mobile devices.
I thought I could last a year with just having a dumbphone and you know, survive the hyperconnectivity we are in. But it’s getting challenging to login to your mobile banks without a smartphone these days. Some don’t even allow you to login via browser; companies want you to download their app to enjoy their services.
After a quick device diagnosis (which I really found amazing and efficient, thanks customer service center!), I am now in the dilemma between having it fixed at ~60% less than its original price and buying a new phone either at its refurbished (~60% less) or original price.
I looked around, you see. And you cannot buy a new phone at the ~60% less of the original price while having the same specs it has. Buying a new one which is at par to it still costs more.
Fortunately, I’ve recently read about Seth’s blog post on getting upgrades and somehow, it helped me remember what it was that made me buy the now dead smartphone three years ago.
For the upgrade (a blog post by Seth Godin)
The phone in your pocket cost $600, but that was two years ago, so now, it seems to be free and fully paid for.
The upgrade has a slightly better camera and a slightly faster processor.
Here’s the question: “If you could have chosen between the phone you have now and the phone you want now two years ago, would you have paid $700 more for the newer one?”
Most people would not.
So why do we upgrade? Software, phones, cars, houses…
It’s because we’re not making that simple choice. Instead, we’re embracing the wisdom of the choice we made years ago at the same time we’re focusing on the glaring defects that status and affiliation relentlessly point out.
They’re not trying to sell you a phone any longer. Or a house. They’re spending all their time selling you an upgrade.
Status and affiliation.
They are a driving force why it’s so tempting to buy the latest (or perhaps last year’s) iPhone (or Samsung Flip).
What does it cost to use the same phone from three years ago?
Perhaps a shattered ego and a demotion from your perceived social status.
But if both of them doesn’t really bother you much, it’s still worth it to have your old smartphone model fixed, even if people will tell you that it’s not worth it anymore because it’s already so three years ago.
Hearing that, I realized (thanks, Seth!) that the market is not selling phones anymore. They are simply selling me an upgrade.
jessa 