Do You Lose Your Cell Phone Often?
By NewbieHelper
@NewbieHelper (308)
Canada
August 26, 2007 6:10am CST
People lose cellphones all the time.
How do I know this?
Because my local paper had a front-cover story about Taxi Cab drivers who are really frustrated about customers leaving cell phones in their vehicles ALL THE TIME - on a daily basis.
A cab driver from the article said that it would be UNUSUAL now to go a day without having to try to track down the owner of a 'lost cell phone.' Apparently, there are hundreds of cell phones sitting without owners at various Taxi service company headquarters in my city and some have been unclaimed for a year!
I've never thought much about lost cell phones before, but after seeing this article, I asked some friends about their cell phones. Most of my friends have lost cell phones within the first week of purchasing them. Thankfully, they usually recover them within a short time.
I have had my cell phone for 18mo and just recently misplaced it. I left it at a friends' house 1 time about 6mo ago. Other than that, I think I have always been responsible with it. I used it for an alarm clock to wake me up for about half a year, so I always knew where it was. Come to think of it - I got a different alarm clock around the time, 6mo ago when I recall, clearly, losing my cell phone for a few days. Obviously not a coincidence.
Hey - maybe using your cell phone as an alarm clock will help you keep track of and not lose your cell phone as often as other people seem to lose cell phones!
How many times have you lost your cell phone? Does this happen often?
5 people like this
21 responses
@NewbieHelper (308)
• Canada
28 Aug 07
I love your comment, balasri!
I'm glad you found your wife again lol
Perhaps if you hadn't - she would have phoned you on your cell phone eventually!
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
27 Aug 07
Hi NewbieHelper! I know that many cell phones get lost and so many are stolen too. I have so many friends and relatives that have lost their cell phones and some were stolen. Fortunately, I haven't lost my cell phones since my first one. I used my phone as an alarm clock too and for reminders. I guess, setting your phone alarms for every hour or half hour will remind you of your cell phone. That's a good idea. Thanks and have a nice day! Take care!
@Dolcerina (3376)
• Hungary
25 Oct 07
I always believe, that I lost it, because I never find it :))
"Fortunatelly" I have 2 cell (one is for work) so when I do not find the one I ring it with my other cell.
@meemingNEW (2226)
• Philippines
26 Aug 07
Wow.. Hundreds of lost cell phones which are found in taxi cabs? wow.. and they are even returned by cab drivers in their taxi service/company office.. Well, it is really a different situation in my country (Philippines). Here, it is very unusual if someone like for example taxi cab drivers.. who returns the cell phones left inside their cabs. Or even people who see cell phones being left behind inside taxi cabs., it is very rare to see someone who will give effort in finding the owner of that lost phone. Most people here just get the lost phone, keep them for themselves and do whatever they want. (Just my opinion really, but it is really happening here). Cellphones being lost here happens often. But I personally think most cell phone losses happen because of robberies.
About losing my own cellphone.. I have experienced it once , year 2003. It was my little brother's phone (1 week old phone). We were in the mall, I borrowed it.. Someone robbed me. And I was totally shocked. I never recovered the phone. I just cried and cried till we got home from the mall. Ever since that day, I am so cautious of the place. I always look at people behind me and infront of me. It was an experience, and totally a negative one.
@NewbieHelper (308)
• Canada
27 Aug 07
meemingNew,
Thanks for your response - sounds like you had a terrible experience when you were robbed. I'm sorry that my topic reminded you of that now, actually. It was supposed to be about cell phones, but the discussion starter reminded you of a very nasty incident!
I'm glad you are very cautious now in the mall, but I hope you can still enjoy yourself when you go to the mall, and don't spend all your time being afraid!
The cab drivers from the recent article in my local paper don't really know HOW to return the phones - which is why there are a great many adding up! Sometimes the 'cabbies' answer the telephones when they ring and see if it is the owner trying to track down their lost cell phone. Sometimes this is the case and then the owner can make arrangements to come and pick up the phone.
Probably a lot of people never realize WHERE they lost their cell phone - whether in a store, on the street, and I think this is part of the reason why so many phones are just being collected.
@eprado (1467)
• Philippines
26 Aug 07
No I don't lose my cellphone often but I have lose one before in a taxi just like in the story. It was a long time ago, It was very late then I fell asleep in the taxi and the cellphone sleep out of my front right pants pocket. When I got out I did'nt notice that it was already gone. I never did get back that phone.
Luckily, up to now I have never lose a cellphone, that was the first and the last. :-)
@NewbieHelper (308)
• Canada
27 Aug 07
Hi eprado,
I'm glad you've done well with not losing more than 1 cell phone before. It is unfortunate that you weren't able to recover the one that you are sure slipped out of your pocket in the taxi!
Thank you for adding to the thread - and good wishes on your posting at myLot!
@necromancer_glene (51)
• United States
15 Feb 08
amazinG! wow! i cant believe how good- natured those cab drivers who returned lost phones!...wow..
i have lost twice..and both of them werent returned back...however i wasnt expecting somebody to return it:(
pretty much true back in my country, Philippines...its very much rare there for a person who would returned somebody else's belongings..its so sad..once youve lost, dont hope it will be returned to you..although there are still few honest people..
@angel_manders (912)
• Canada
27 Aug 07
thankfully i have never lost my cell phone if i ever would have lost my phone i think i would of had my parents flipping since they are paying for it. well they started paying for it since its on a 3 year term. its not in the best shape anymore because its been dropped a few thousand times but never lost it. well not yet... dont want to either
@thefuture (1749)
• Nigeria
9 Sep 07
It does happen like that friend. I have also heard about that too most especially people that are in haste of going somewhere usually forgets their phones as a result of them being in a hurry mood. I have never had such an experience before. Thanks
@wondericequeen (7876)
• Hong Kong
27 Aug 07
I have never lost a cell phone before and I think I have been having cell phones for at least 10 years. I seldom heard my friends losing their cell phones too and maybe we just pay attention to our stuff at all times. It would be really inconvenient if I lost mine and had to gather all the numbers again from my friends and stuff. It would definitely drive me nuts.
@shinjiao (1457)
• China
27 Aug 07
Fortunately,I have never lost my cell phone.But one of my classmates has lost 2 cell phones in the classroom,actually,she didn't lost her cell phones but someone stole them.
@annkenline (337)
• United States
27 Aug 07
I lose my cell phone alot. And then I have to take my home phone, call it and see where it rings. I wish this didn't happen so much because it is frustrating to be always looking for it.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
26 Aug 07
I have left my cell phone behind a couple of places, but I have always been able to go back and get it.
I wonder how some cab drivers would even be able to return some people's cell phones: a lot of people don't put their own home phone number or address into the phone. What are the drivers supposed to do?
@nangel78 (1454)
• United States
26 Aug 07
I usually keep my cell phone in one place and can find it most of the time. Occasionally I will forget where I placed it when I get home, but other than that I am pretty good about keeping up with it.
@youless (112100)
• Guangzhou, China
26 Aug 07
Since my wallet was stolen long time ago, I told myself I wouldn't let the same mistake happen again. After that, I have never lost anything that belongs to me, including the wallet and cellphone. Unfortunately my mom and my husband both lost their cellphone once. My mom's cellphone was stolen, my husband's cellphone was lost in the taxi and the driver was really unhonest.
@surajpkn (582)
• India
26 Aug 07
I lost my cell phone once when i was traveling in the train. I slept off in the train and apparently my phone which was in my pants pocket had slipped and fallen down. I never felt it and when i got home i saw my phone not in my pocket and i speculated that this is what would have happened. From then on, i am being very careful about the cellphones.
