Stanley Tek

I still have my very first cell phone. I don’t use it anymore, because it was rated one of the ten-​highest radiation phones in the United States, and because it’s 7 years old, which in cell phone terms makes it a thrice-​undead zombie phone.
In 2006, Stanley Tek carried the Motorola SLVR L7 in a color that was almost silver, but with a hint of purple, for $ 50 + a contract. It was unavailable in America, because pretty colors from Asian manufacturers must only be sold in Asia, or something to that effect. (Case in point: I hate pink, but the Galaxy Note 2 in pink is only available in Taiwan, and the red and brown Notes are only available in South Korea.) I signed up for a contract with T-​Mobile, which was so cost-​effective at the time, that I kept it even though I was perpetually roaming on Cingular (throwback?) while in school in Pennsylvania. I don’t understand how the reselling business works when it comes to cellular service, but it was cheaper than list prices at the T-​Mobile store itself, which is on the same block, along the street, whereas Stanley Tek is on the avenue.
It’s the only phone I purchased there because I fell for other, less practical phones over the next few years, and I lacked the patience to bag deals Stanley Tek was sure to offer. I’m learning that instant gratification loses its charm. While I didn’t purchase my Galaxy Note 2 from Stanley Tek, I did check in on the price — the same as I ended up paying online, but cheaper than anywhere else — and just went in to get a screen protector after several weeks of treating my phone like a fragile infant. It was $ 10 and the girl very patiently and meticulously applied it for me, which beats the $ 16 – 20 at all the major carriers, who wouldn’t have also saved me the trouble of checking for bubbles and lint.
She did try to sell me a different cover than the cheap one I had adorning my phone-​baby, but she wasn’t pushy (and had already showed me every single thing they had the week I first received my phone, knowing I wasn’t going to purchase one then). Every time I go in, I find myself hoping I need something just to give them some business. Their clientele seems to be comprised of the two+ generations that precede mine, who might be better at real-​life comparison shopping than we think we are with the Internet at our disposal. Thanks, Dad!