It's Not Fair
By LindaOH
@LindaOHio (156159)
United States
July 30, 2021 4:55am CST
More and more these days you have to have a smartphone to participate in many different programs. My husband and I have basic flip phones.
Texas Roadhouse requires a smartphone to participate in their frequent diners program, many contests can't be entered without a smartphone and one of the states we're visiting requires a smartphone to get discount coupons for their attractions, restaurants and hotels/motels. I could go on and on.
Why can't they have a computer option for obtaining a membership or coupons or a contest entry? It's just not fair.
Have you run into anything that can't be accessed without a smartphone?
Photo Credit: Pixabay
18 people like this
17 responses
@Tampa_girl7 (48929)
• United States
30 Jul 21
@LadyDuck I like my flip phone just fine.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
30 Jul 21
@Tampa_girl7 This is my opinion, smartphones are expensive and many people do not need one. I am even going to write to the local authorities.
1 person likes this
@paigea (35680)
• Canada
31 Jul 21
@LindaOHio Actually, at the hotel we stayed at, we had to scan a QR code to get all the Hotel info, like pool hours, etc. I assumed it was a Covid thing to avoid having the papers/information booklets in the room.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
1 Aug 21
@paigea That's just the type of thing that I can't do with a basic cell phone.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (43074)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Jul 21
And now I've noticed that some places do not have menus. When you want to look at what to order they make you scan the QR code with your phone to access their menu online. You need Internet access for that and your phone has to have battery. Not to mention that it has to be a smart phone.
To get coupons or enter a drawing, etc. should not require an app or a smartphone. That is not fair.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (43074)
• Staten Island, New York
31 Jul 21
@LindaOHio We went out to a Japanese restaurant recently and we were told to scan the QR to get the menu.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
1 Aug 21
@lovebuglena See? We wouldn't be able to see the menu!
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (15860)
• United States
30 Jul 21
I am sorry you are dealing with this issue. I had a flip phone for a long time. I have a simple LG smart phone now after having a Samsung 4. I like the LG better, same operating system as the Samsung, but it is easier to use or for me anyway. They ought to have the ability to use a computer as an option. We use tracfone as our service.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
31 Jul 21
Yes, I feel it's discriminatory to exclude those without a smartphone.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
31 Jul 21
@Marty1 Same here. I pay about $7 a month for a pay-as-you-go phone; and we also have a landline. I hardly ever use my cell phone.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
1 Aug 21
@Marty1 Same here, except that a new company took over; and they are using the $$ that I had accumulated in my account by paying $20+ dollars per month soooo I haven't paid anything in a couple of years now! Sweet!
@MommyOfEli2013 (81983)
• Rupert, Idaho
30 Jul 21
That is unfair, for sure. They should at least give other options. I am sure I have, just can't think of anything at the moment
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
31 Jul 21
I miss out on a lot of things that are for smartphones only.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
2 Aug 21
@MommyOfEli2013 I'm thinking about getting a flip phone that's a smartphone; but I don't want to sign up for a data plan because I'm only paying $7 a month right now for a pay-as-you-go plan.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (81983)
• Rupert, Idaho
1 Aug 21
@LindaOHio I am sorry to hear that. That really stinks
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
2 Aug 21
I have a smartphone but Al has a flip phone. I guess it is just easier to reach more people. I held out for a while but now I can't imagine not having my smartphone.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
3 Aug 21
I'm only paying $7 per month on a pay-as-you-go plan. I probably would have to switch to a data plan.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
3 Aug 21
@LindaOHio I know QVC sells some pay-as-you-go smartphones and the price of the date is reasonable.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
4 Aug 21
@BelleStarr Thank you for the info! I will check it out.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95144)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Jul 21
I have a smart phone so no problem. Do you know someone who has an old prepaid smart phone you could use. You would just need to activate it for the one month.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95144)
• Marion, Ohio
31 Jul 21
@LindaOHio Sadly it is the old supply and demand story. Most people have them anymore.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
3 Aug 21
Yup. Some things are impossible without a smartphone.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
1 Aug 21
Yes, they'll make it impossible for basic cell phone users to take advantage of a lot of things.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
•
5 Aug 21
I still have my flip phone cause I like the more compact size and don't really use apps. I like that I can put the flip phone in my pocket. It's just a matter of time before the flips will be obsolete and gone, sigh....
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
6 Aug 21
I know. I will be very sad on that day. I like my little flip phone.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
31 Jul 21
Especially things like diner rewards. Everyone that goes to the restaurant should be rewarded for their patronage...not just smartphone owners. Same goes for a lot of other things.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
31 Jul 21
@LindaOHio I totally agree with you.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
30 Jul 21
it is all about market size. There are many more smartphones in the world (nearly 4 billion) than there are computers (just over 1 billion).
go to the market is what they always say. more phones focus on phones.
sorry.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
30 Jul 21
Yes; but they could still make the programs available on the computer as well. I think it's just laziness. The cost can't be that much.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
30 Jul 21
@LindaOHio normally supporting multiple platforms can be as much as 1.5 times the cost of one platform. Plus mobile versus laptop/desktop is a lot different.
i do understand the frustration, it just isn't easy sadly.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
1 Aug 21
Yes, eventually I will probably have to get a smartphone.
@porwest (78761)
• United States
31 Jul 21
Things always adapt. And unfortunately we have to adapt with it. It's like when they sold cassettes. Eventually all they sold were CDs. If you didn't have a CD player yet, you couldn't do anything with the CDs. Same thing with records really.
Same thing with debit cards. Same thing with a lot of things. Eventually we all have to upgrade whether we like it or not.
I am not saying I like it either. But it is what it is.
1 person likes this
@yoalldudes (35040)
• Philippines
30 Jul 21
Even with online shopping games when youre android version is old you cant play some games. I just bought a new smartphone so I'm back in the game.
1 person likes this
