Switch & get up to $1,100 off iPhone 17 Pro Max. After $270 Gift Card & eligible phone trade-in & new line on Unlimited Ultimate. | Buy | DetailsUp to $1,999.99 purchase w/port-in and new smartphone line on Unlimited Ultimate plan req'd. Less $270 Verizon e-gift card (sent w/in 8 wks) + $830 trade-in/promo credit applied credit applied over 36 mos.; promo credit ends if eligibility req’s are no longer met; 0% APR. Trade-in terms apply. Apple Intelligence requires iOS 18.1 or later.
RC Cares is the employee engagement and philanthropic arm of Russell Cellular. We believe the culture of family should extend to our customers, and we’re committed to giving back to our communities. The RC Cares team works closely with team members in our retail locations and Home Office on a variety of community outreach projects and philanthropy work to celebrate successes and support employees and community members through times of need.
Who is Ron Wallace?
“What is a Ron Wallace?” At Russell Cellular in 2017, this was a common question throughout the company. In July of that year, Ron Wallace was hired by RC as the “Employee and Community Outreach Advocate”. What does that even mean? Team members were slightly confused, as Ron’s extensive background included work in ministry and counseling, but not wireless retail. So why would RC hire Ron Wallace?
Ron’s onboarding helped to shape and represent the heart of RC. With Ron’s leadership, Russell Cellular ventured into the formalization of a new employee and community program. Thus, RC Cares was born and quickly Ron’s title became Director of RC Cares. Caring for people and communities was nothing new to RC. In fact, the Russell family and national team members had been giving to local causes and initiatives for 25 years. But RC Cares became a way to structure the opportunities, and to give every store a local fund that they could utilize in their communities as they saw needs arise in their town.
Not only did outreach causes become identified, but employee emergency assistance was further enhanced. With RC Cares, employees now had an official process to apply for and receive small grants if they or their immediate family were in need. Employees began to contribute to the employee emergency fund in record numbers, and that allowed for a record number of team members to be assisted in 2021.
Ron’s inspiration and passion is unmatched, and his willingness to help people in need is unwavering. Join us as we hear from Ron’s heart and listen as he discusses practical ways that we can support those around us, and ourselves.
Community Outreach and Philanthropy
There are needs all around us every day. People in our communities that we know and see that are hurting or struggling. It might be an emergency or event that has happened and has left them in a situation that has greatly impacted or changed their life. The bigger question that we like to ask ourselves here at Russell Cellular, is “what are we doing to help with those needs”? That is where RC Cares comes in. We want to be a part of the positive impact that helps change someone’s life. With community outreach events, philanthropy, fundraising through product sales, donations that we take and make, or more, we just want to make a difference. Our teams all over the nation are working every day to help make a difference in the lives of their friends, family, and communities.
This blog series is not to highlight what we are doing here at Russell Cellular, but rather inspire others to make a difference too. Through these stories that we will share here, we hope that you too will join us in being the change in this world.
When you’re looking to buy a new phone, there are a lot of decisions to make. Android or iOS? Large screen or pocket-sized? 5G Play More or 5G Do More? And, of course, buying a new phone online vs in-store?
To help you make your decision, here are the main advantages and disadvantages of buying a new phone online vs in-store.
Buying a new phone online
Advantages
Since you have hundreds of online retailers to choose from, you’re not limited to your local stores. That means you can browse a much wider variety of makes, models, and colors.
As you explore the available options, it’s easy to check specs, features, and user reviews for each phone. This information gives you a better idea of what each device is like so that you can find the right fit.
High-street retailers generally only carry the most up-to-date phones on the market. But online, you can buy second-hand or refurbished phones for much less than their recommended retail price.
It’s much easier to take advantage of promotions and deals online because they’re easier for retailers to advertise. That means you can save money on your new purchase and perhaps even grab some free accessories.
You can take as long as you need to research the right phone and add-ons for your usage habits with no pressure from sales staff.
You benefit from fast deliveries and returns that match your schedule, and you can order from the comfort of your own home.
Disadvantages
With access to so much information about specs, features, and user experiences, it takes significantly longer to make a choice. And if you don’t like your phone once you receive it, you might experience buyer’s remorse.
While you have a wider range of choices when buying a new phone online, you might experience compatibility issues between devices and service providers. This doesn’t apply when shopping in-store, as brick-and-mortar retailers only stock compatible phones.
You won’t receive personal guidance when setting up your phone, which can make it difficult to transfer data or learn how to use it. Instead, you’ll have to rely on online guides, which might not have the answers you’re looking for.
Final verdict
Buying a new phone online means you have much more choice and information. So you’re more likely to find a phone that suits your needs and you might even save a few dollars. But it can take a long time to carry out all that research, which doesn’t even end when your new phone arrives.
Buying a new phone in-store
Advantages
Since retail staff have a detailed knowledge of their products, their advice makes it much easier and quicker to find the right phone for you.
Once you’ve bought the one, staff can set up your phone for you to give you a great user experience right away.
Because you don’t need to wait for delivery, you can start using your phone immediately.
Verizon-authorized retailers like Russell Cellular only carry phones that are compatible with their specific service provider. That means there will be no compatibility issues that prevent you from enjoying your new phone.
If there’s a problem with your phone, store staff can offer easy post-sale support to fix the issue. You can speak directly to a real person rather than struggling through weeks of emails and online checks.
With a physical phone, you can try before you buy rather than relying on images and testimonies that might not reveal the whole truth. That means you can check whether the size, weight, and features are right for you.
Disadvantages
Stores only carry a limited selection of phones and might not have the model or color you want in stock. If you don’t like the available phones, it can take several days to order the right one in.
Phones bought from a store are usually locked to that service carrier. This makes it very difficult to change carriers while keeping the same phone.
Unless you’re willing to travel to another city, you’re limited to local stores. And if you live in a small town, you might have barely any choice at all.
Final verdict
Buying a new phone in-store is often quicker and easier than buying online. Store staff can offer advice on good models, they can set up your phone for you, and you can start using it that same day. On the other hand, you’re limited to local stores and the phones they stock, meaning there are fewer options to choose from.
So what’s the best way to buy a new phone?
Whether you decide to buy a new phone online or in-store depends on your priorities. If you’d prefer to carry out extensive research and find satisfaction with the perfect phone, go for an online purchase. But if you want a smooth, simple experience with straightforward expert advice, in-store might be the best place to buy your phones.
Whatever you choose, you’ll find your ideal phone much more quickly if you decide what features are most important to you in advance. You might want:
A high-definition camera to take lots of pictures
Plenty of memory for storing files
A large screen for watching videos, reading, or playing games
A long battery life to ensure plenty of use
A headphone jack so you can listen to music on the go
Buy online or in-store with Russell Cellular
Russell Cellular makes the question of buying a new phone online or in-store easy by offering both options. Our knowledgeable store staff are available to offer friendly guidance and help you through the setup process, as well as advise you on useful add-ons. Online, you’ll find device listings with plenty of useful information, easy access to amazing deals, and convenient guides such as:
How to transfer data to your new iPhone
How to trade in your phone at Verizon
How to use the mobile hotspot on your Verizon phone
Unlike smartphones, devices like laptops aren’t able to connect to the internet without a Wi-Fi signal. But rather than risk using an unsecured network while you’re on the go, you can generate your own secure Wi-Fi by turning your phone into a mobile hotspot.
Every smartphone and basic phone from Verizon comes preinstalled with a mobile hotspot feature. Different devices use different names for this, such as:
Personal Hotspot (iOS)
Internet Sharing (Windows)
Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot (Google Nexus devices)
Your mobile hotspot lets you share your network connection with up to 10 devices, which use your phone’s data plan to access the internet. This feature is available anywhere that has 4G LTE service, or anywhere in the US with 5G Ultra Wideband or 5G Nationwide. Your mobile hotspot even includes password protection to prevent strangers from joining your network and accessing your information.
How to use your mobile hotspot
Go to Settings or Manage Connections, and activate Verizon Wireless Mobile Hotspot.
Open the App Tray and click Mobile Hotspot.
Turn it on and an icon will appear in your notifications panel showing that your hotspot is available for connection.
On your other device, scan for available Wi-Fi networks and click the name of your hotspot. You’ll need to enter your cell phone’s hotspot password. To find this:
Go to Settings.
Click Wireless & Networks.
Click Tethering & Portable Hotspot.
Check the Show Password box to see your password.
Enter the password, then click Join or Connect to start browsing the internet.
Sign in with your My Verizon username and password for a personalized solution, or simply click Continue.
Hover over Data Internet and Connectivity.
Click the issue you need help with.
Follow the on-screen instructions to fix your mobile hotspot issue.
Share unlimited data with a Verizon Unlimited Plan
When you turn your cell phone into a hotspot, any device that connects to it uses your data to access the internet. If you use the feature often, or if you connect a lot of devices, it’s easy to accidentally run out of data.
But if you have a Verizon Unlimited Plan, you can use as much data as you want without ever running out or paying extra. That means you never need to worry about using your cell phone as a mobile hotspot.
Best Verizon Unlimited Plans
5G Get More: 50GB premium mobile hotspot data, then unlimited lower-speed data
5G Do More, and 5G Play More: 25GB premium mobile hotspot data, then unlimited lower-speed data
How to use your mobile hotspot without data
You’ll have the fastest and most stable mobile hotspot experience by using your data for an internet connection. But in a pinch, it’s possible to use your mobile hotspot without data through the Wi-Fi tethering feature.
Wi-Fi tethering lets your device behave as an internet router. Some devices need a physical connection through a USB cable, but most can simply use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Android
1) Go to Settings.
2) Click WiFi & Internet.
3) If you can’t see an option for Wi-Fi tethering, click More.
4) Turn on Tethering.
iOS
1) Go to Settings.
2) Click Personal Hotspot. (For some iOS devices, you might need to click General, then Network, then Personal Hotspot.)
3) Turn on Personal Hotspot.
Visit us in-store to find the perfect phone and plan
When you’re ready to upgrade your phone or data plan, our friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you find the perfect match for your usage needs and habits. They’ll even show you how to use the mobile hotspot and Wi-Fi tethering features on your new phone, so you can quickly set up a connection.
