How to keep a Windows customer?

[Scorpio5x0]

I have a dilemma with trying to keep my son a Windows Phone user. I have been a Windows Phone user since the good ole HTC Trophy and used Windows Mobile before that. Last year when I upgraded to my Lumia 928, I gave my HTC 8x to my son, his first smartphone. Now almost a year later, he is hitting me up for a Galaxy S4. I am running out of things to tell him to get the idea of a S4 out of his head. His main argument are the quantity of apps and that his friends have a S4. I can see getting tired of the HTC 8x with the hardware that is out now, but was hoping to keep him a Windows Phone user. Anyone with any suggestions?

 

[AndyCalling]

Yes. Buy him a Windows 8.1 tablet and/or an Xbox as well as the phone. Once he's into the ecosystem he'll see the light.

 

[Scorpio5x0]

Yeah , he has an XBox and I gave him my Surface RT, when I upgraded to the Surface 2. It seems that it is more about what his friends have than it is anything else.

 

[sejgiul]

If he wants an S4 because his friends have that, then you need to work on the source of the problem instead of trying to sell him a WP.

If his "friends" won't accept him for his choice of a mobile phone (what are we really talking about here!?!), then maybe he should find some new ones.

And your son needs to live his own life and not try to fit in with others.

 

[gwinegarden]

Well, first thing would be, 'if you want one, pay for it, yourself'.

 

[o0Nighthawk0o]

Yeah , he has an XBox and I gave him my Surface RT, when I upgraded to the Surface 2. It seems that it is more about what his friends have than it is anything else.

That is what happened with my kids. They wanted iPhones because "all my friends have one". Since I paid the bill they got what I gave them but they still finagled iPhones from their friends. It took about a year of them using the iPhone to finally give up and return willingly to Windows Phones. In fact, they have now convinced many of their friends to switch.

One thing you can tell your son is that if he does go with and Android he is NOT to use it for anything that contains personal info because of it's susceptibility to malware and Google's privacy track record.

 

[Reflexx]

Since you pay the bill, I assume that the newest phone upgrades go to you. Therefore, your son ends up getting your old stuff.

If he wants an S4, he's going to have to buy it himself or he can pay for his phone bill for 2 yrs. But if he's not going to do that, then he takes hand-me-downs.

 

[James8561]

I can see getting your son a Galaxy S4 if he has valid reasons and shows that he really wants it. But that doesn't seems to be the case. This is a case of "my friends have it so I have to have it" which is beyond the Windows Phone problem. This is more of a teenage psychology problem and you need to teach him.

 

[Scorpio5x0]

He has already worked out how to pay for it. Trying to convince him of the downsides of Android and positives of Windows Phone is getting more difficult when what he keeps throwing at me are apps. Specifically games that exist on Android that he wants to play with his friends. Non-game apps aren't an issue since even if the official app doesn't exist on Windows Phone there is a good chance of having a high quality third-party app.

 

[xandros9]

The reason I picked up an iPod touch a long time ago when I was getting out of Palm OS was to be compatible with lots of people. (yup multiplayer fun and stuff) So its a legitimate reason matching other people.

Don't force it upon him, he is not you, nor would his preferences match mine. So if he wants to go Android, go ahead. He doesn't necessarily need to go S4, SIII and others still work fine.

tl;dr
let him go, but leave a light on

 

[Moiz Mian]

Well the S5 and MWC are around the corner. If you convince him to wait a few weeks, that at least will delay him and maybe more chance to change his mind. Otherwise he gets a better android phone. Win-win

 

[AndyCalling]

Remind him that he won't look cool if he doesn't stand out from the crowd. Doesn't he want a phone that demands Samsung owners take notice, rather than just another phone same as every follower out there? Ok, over blown, but I really don't get this postmodern idea of 'cool' that seems to be coming out if the US right now. Is it because I'm 40 in the next few months? No. One Direction suck balls. Proof. {Not that I'm blaming US for One Direction mind, but it's our expression of the Bieber experience I suppose.}

 

[peachy001]

A few years ago my daughter (aged 7 and having never mentioned any tech) was with me in a phone shop. All of a sudden she started harping on about an ipod Touch. Just came from nowhere.... Amazing how they pick things up. Anyway, she didn't get one, we ended up giving her my GF's HTC Desire. She was over the moon with it, but also green as hell. The poor thing has a beginner's naivety about good online etiquette. Needless to say she installed and clicked on everything she could. Her phone frequently seems to have a mind of its own. She is 10 soon and I am wondering where to go next for her. I have considered getting her a basic contract phone. I would like her to go the WP route, but suspect that she would prefer Android. I don't want to get her an iPhone, as I just think they are fragile tat. In the end, it is likely to be a Samsung product I imagine. Truth is, they need to make their own mistakes. If your son gives up the 8x, pass it on and let someone else sample WP. Spread the love, give someone else the chance at it.

 

[k0de]

Just buy him the phone that he wants. Don't force it on him. Just remind him often the great things that are going on with Windows Phone. He might change his mind later on.

 

[James8561]

I think him willing to work hard to pay for the phone and his "gaming" reasons are completely legit and you should let him get it when he saves up enough.
Personally I don't play mobile games a whole lot as I see it wasting valuable battery life for no good productivity. I game on PCs

 

[Marconis4]

A few years ago my daughter (aged 7 and having never mentioned any tech) was with me in a phone shop. All of a sudden she started harping on about an ipod Touch. Just came from nowhere.... Amazing how they pick things up. Anyway, she didn't get one, we ended up giving her my GF's HTC Desire. She was over the moon with it, but also green as hell. The poor thing has a beginner's naivety about good online etiquette. Needless to say she installed and clicked on everything she could. Her phone frequently seems to have a mind of its own. She is 10 soon and I am wondering where to go next for her. I have considered getting her a basic contract phone. I would like her to go the WP route, but suspect that she would prefer Android. I don't want to get her an iPhone, as I just think they are fragile tat. In the end, it is likely to be a Samsung product I imagine. Truth is, they need to make their own mistakes. If your son gives up the 8x, pass it on and let someone else sample WP. Spread the love, give someone else the chance at it.

What the hell does a 7 or even a 10 year old need a phone for?

 

[o0Nighthawk0o]

What the hell does a 7 or even a 10 year old need a phone for?

My kids had phones at that age. They were heavily involved in sports and other activities and they had phones in case they needed to get a hold of us for any reason at any time.

Why the hell wouldn't you want your child to always have a means of communication, just in case?

 

[Marconis4]

My kids had phones at that age. They were heavily involved in sports and other activities and they had phones in case they needed to get a hold of us for any reason at any time.

Why the hell wouldn't you want your child to always have a means of communication, just in case?

I don't mean to generalize, but most kids don't use the phone solely for emergency communication. Most that I see are playing stupid games and sitting in the corner.

 

[WasteSomeTime]

You can also wait for the iPhone 6 to come out. Who knows by that point his friends will be going nuts for for that.

If he gets really annoying, you can tell him he will get a phone with exclusive features. Something the iPhone, android and windows phone don't have. A dedicated mom / dad button.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/db/Firefly_phone.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Editguy1900]

Yep, I'm a high school teacher and that's absolutely what it's about. He wants what his friends have. They are very much followers.

Yeah , he has an XBox and I gave him my Surface RT, when I upgraded to the Surface 2. It seems that it is more about what his friends have than it is anything else.