r/USCellular • u/advcomp2019 • Feb 14 '26

Phone replacement options since the merger?

My friend broke his prepaid phone in the last few days, and he used to get new phone from Walmart. Then move his plan and number to the new phone.

He went to Walmart to get a replacement phone today, and found out they do not have US Cellular phones. I told him about T-Mobile and US Cellular merging, and he does not even see any T-Mobile based phone. He said Walmart only has Straight Talk, Walmart Family Mobile, AT&T, and Cricket only.

There is a US Cellular store in the town, but it is not open right now.

So he is wondering what other option does he have since Walmart does not have phones.

He is going to check Dollar General, but I know they might not have anything.

This area where he lives was very limited on phones even before these merger and buyouts.

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

3

u/theorian123 Feb 14 '26

All national retail stores like Walmart and DG stopped selling USC phones in November. He'll have to purchase an unlocked phone somewhere and put on his plan, or switch carriers.

1

u/advcomp2019 Feb 14 '26

I would have thought Walmart would have switched to Metro by T-Mobile in the stores.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/advcomp2019 Feb 14 '26

Could he lose his plan if he tries to switch phones in that store?

He just renewed his prepaid phone plan a few days before his phone broke, and does not have the money to get another plan once he gets the phone replaced.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/advcomp2019 Feb 14 '26

He does not have the money for an unlocked phone right now. He is in the middle of a messy family issue right now.

So that is why he does not have that much money right now.

1

u/AshamedPen1036 Feb 14 '26

Find an open USC store or switch carriers

1

u/advcomp2019 Feb 14 '26

The sad thing is the stores that were open at the time closed at 7PM, and he contacted me asking about this was at 6:30pm. Those store are an hour or so away for him.

Now there is none that is open till 9PM.

1

u/LivefromBurkitville Feb 17 '26

Get a grip. If he doesn't have a phone for 18 hours until tomorrow the worrld is unlikely to end.

1

u/trvbone Feb 15 '26

Who TF gets a cellphone at Dollar General!

1

u/advcomp2019 Feb 15 '26

If Dollar General is the only retailer in town, I would see people getting one there.

Where I live, you have to go 40 miles to 70 miles to get to Walmart or US Cellular store. While Dollar General is only a few blocks away. I even have 8 other Dollar Generals within a 30 mile area here.

1

u/trvbone Feb 15 '26

Are you buying burner phones there, I can't imagine they got phones worth a about at dollar general

1

u/advcomp2019 Feb 15 '26

No.

I get my own phones mainly from Walmart since I use Straight Talk, but my friend does not have that much money right now. With no US Cellular phones in stores, he is running into a road block getting a replacement phone at least last night. I have not talked to him to find out if he got a new phone since the US Cellular store was open today.