Not from USA, and there is no SIM card slot in my S3 phone...

[amIdoomed]

Ok, I'm from Brazil, where smatphones and electronics are incredibly expensive, so I bought my first ever smartphone in my first ever visit to the USA. Spent 400$ + taxes on a Samsung Galaxy S3 which said "NO CONTRACT" on an automatic machine at the airport, on my way out. The phone was from StraightTalk, whatever that is. I didn't care for which provider it was, as long as it was pre-paid with no contract.

But when I got here in Brazil, I saw that this phone DOESN'T HAVE A SIM CARD SLOT. It's EDITED BY MODERATOR missing! No other phone from any one of my friends ever had this! WTF! How am I supposed to use it as a phone then? Am I supposed to open the screws on the phone or something???

I wanted to know if I am doomed. If I just spent 450$ on something that I can't use. If I should regret ever buying a smartphone. Is there any way I can solve this? How can a phone be "NO CONTRACT" when I can't use other phone companies?

I feel so much frustration. I feel like they fooled me. I feel like garbage right now. I don't know when I'll be back in business in the USA, probably only in a few years. Until then, I just wish for the people at StraightTalk who did this to drop dead and go to hell. I'll spit in your graves and curse you and your entire children for this.

 

[Jennifer Stough]

Ok, I'm from Brazil, where smatphones and electronics are incredibly expensive, so I bought my first ever smartphone in my first ever visit to the USA. Spent 400$ + taxes on a Samsung Galaxy S3 which said "NO CONTRACT" on an automatic machine at the airport, on my way out. The phone was from StraightTalk, whatever that is. I didn't care for which provider it was, as long as it was pre-paid with no contract.

But when I got here in Brazil, I saw that this phone DOESN'T HAVE A SIM CARD SLOT. It's f*'ing missing! No other phone from any one of my friends ever had this! WTF! How am I supposed to use it as a phone then? Am I supposed to open the screws on the phone or something???

I wanted to know if I am doomed. If I just spent 450$ on something that I can't use. If I should regret ever buying a smartphone. Is there any way I can solve this? How can a phone be "NO CONTRACT" when I can't use other phone companies?

I feel so much frustration. I feel like they fooled me. I feel like garbage right now. I don't know when I'll be back in business in the USA, probably only in a few years. Until then, I just wish for the people at StraightTalk who did this to drop dead and go to hell. I'll spit in your graves and curse you and your entire children for this.

As much as you don't want to hear it, you are as you put it, "doomed." While I've never seen an automatic dispenser with phones at an airport, I am assuming that your issue lies in the fact that it is a CDMA device opposed to a GSM, that takes sim cards. Straight talk is contract free meaning you have no obligation to stay loyal to their provider(s) for a set amount of time. They are month to month with no penalty if disconnected. This does not mean that the device is globally unlocked, or usable on any provider. You would need a globally unlocked device for GSM use out of the United States. Your best course of action would be to list the device for sale on eBay or another online market place, sell it a bit under the average asking price to compensate for OCONUS shipping, and use the money from the flip to purchase a smart phone online, more specifically, a dual sim or globally unlocked device. They come out of China pretty cheap.

 

[amIdoomed]

Well, I feel doomed then.

I thought I had done enough research to know what I was doing. This issue never came up in the forums I searched. The fact that it is sold on an automatic machine with no salesmen around and inside an international airport seems like a way of fooling people. They sure had me there. I never had time in this trip to buy anything, so I tried that last resort and got myself the biggest lost bet of my life so far.

Straight Talk told me by email that they would refund me if I sent the phone back, minus the taxes and shipping costs. I don't even feel like doing that, since they already fooled me once. Since I'm not a citizen of USA, I feel like they will simply keep the phone, resell it, and never refund me. I don't trust them. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[GSDer]

Straight Talk told me by email that they would refund me if I sent the phone back, minus the taxes and shipping costs.

That seems like a pretty fair offer. You should take them at face value and get it done sooner rather than later.

Sent from my rooted, debloated, deodexed Sinclair ZX-80 running CM 10.2 using Tapatalk 4

 

[meyerweb#CB]

I'm sorry you got a device that doesn't work internationally, but I really think you're wrong to blame Straight Talk. Straight Talk is a reputable company that resells phone service from all the major carriers, and phones that work on each of those carriers. I've seen Straight Talk kiosks in airports and don't recall any claims that the phones would work internationally (although some will). You say their placement in an international airport is a way to "fool people," but does it not occur to you that many people are arriving IN the U.S., and need a phone to use while they are here?

It makes no sense to me to make a $400 purchase without spending at least a little time understanding what you're going to spend your money on. That's hardly Straight Talk's fault. Anyway, they're a reputable US company, and I think that if they offered to refund your money they will refund you money.

 

[amIdoomed]

I spent $400 after researching with fellow people from my country and friends how to choose and buy the exact model I bought. I couldn't expect something that never happened to anyone I researched. Most people I know are just baffled by my case, they say they never even heard of an S3 without SIM card, they didn't think it was possible. If you search the internet in my language you'll see there are no mentions of such cases. I did what I could.

I might be overreacting a little, but I don't see how the people of Straight Talk couldn't put a single message about how if you're not going to use it in the USA you better not buy it. It was, after all, an international airport in Houston, one of the most visited areas in the USA by business travelers. All I read all around was how there was no contract involved, how it was free of monthly charges and so on. Yes, I am certain they are trying to fool foreigners there. I has "NO CONTRACT", as they said, but they didn't tell it would be IMPOSSIBLE to get a contract with any other company, anywhere, ever.

 

[Jennifer Stough]

I spent $400 after researching with fellow people from my country and friends how to choose and buy the exact model I bought. I couldn't expect something that never happened to anyone I researched. Most people I know are just baffled by my case, they say they never even heard of an S3 without SIM card, they didn't think it was possible. If you search the internet in my language you'll see there are no mentions of such cases. I did what I could.

I might be overreacting a little, but I don't see how the people of Straight Talk couldn't put a single message about how if you're not going to use it in the USA you better not buy it. It was, after all, an international airport in Houston, one of the most visited areas in the USA by business travelers. All I read all around was how there was no contract involved, how it was free of monthly charges and so on. Yes, I am certain they are trying to fool foreigners there. I has "NO CONTRACT", as they said, but they didn't tell it would be IMPOSSIBLE to get a contract with any other company, anywhere, ever.

It is very unfortunate that you are out of pocket for a phone that does not serve a purpose to you, but no contract does not equal globally unlocked. It literally has no tie to whether or not a device can be used on a different carrier. As terrible as it is, it seems like you may have confused the two.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using AC Forums mobile app

 

[Enrique2SIM]

Hi,

Hey men, is sad to hear your case. But here are my 2 cents, why don't you put the device on sale in one of the most popular online stores? At least you will be able to get some money back, remember that if you let the time pass its price will keep going down...

Regards

 

[roguetrader]

As a matter of interest, what is in place of the SIM slot inside the phone, directly below the battery? Remember, it only takes micro-sims! The sd card slot is the left hand one. Is it just bare plastic? It is certainly very curious indeed.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[beecaudle]

roguetrader
As a matter of interest, what is in place of the SIM slot inside the phone, directly below the battery? Remember, it only takes micro-sims! The sd card slot is the left hand one. Is it just bare plastic? It is certainly very curious indeed.


I have the same issue...no sim card. In answer to your question, there is a slot for the sim card and has the words "sim card" stamped in the metal. :-\

 

[Deanig_12]

roguetrader
As a matter of interest, what is in place of the SIM slot inside the phone, directly below the battery? Remember, it only takes micro-sims! The sd card slot is the left hand one. Is it just bare plastic? It is certainly very curious indeed.

can you post a screen shot? im curiouse too

I have the same issue...no sim card. In answer to your question, there is a slot for the sim card and has the words "sim card" stamped in the metal. :-\

 

[_YoKolorMeBadd]

The only reason a phone would not have a sim card is if it's a CDMA version of a phone, which both of you have. Unfortunately they don't work in different countries like GSM phones do. IMO you should do what straight talk said, you should return the phone and get the refund. I'm sorry you had to go through this, but my question to you is, why didn't you just buy one from your home country? Wouldn't that have been a lot easier?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[nhick]

we the same phone. and i cant use it now im here at philippines anyone can help me out here. or anyone wants to buy my phone it is original and "virgin mobile" from USA.