Category: Garage Sale
A few months ago, I got a landline as part of my Verizon Fios plan. It comes with voicemail, but I really don't like that, as I can't screen calls or even check the messages by hitting a simple button. Instead, I have to call my number, enter a pin and go through each one. I still haven't found a way to skip messages or to delete them,. In any case, I'm looking for an answering machine. I would prefer a dual-cassette one which uses standard sized tapes, though I might take a microcassette if the price is right. I just think standard tapes have better quality, and the two-tape design means that it doesn't have to rewind itself each time someone calls, but can start the greeting right away. I've seen several good ones on Ebay, but either the prices were ridiculous (over $40, some as much as $80 and a few over $100), there were no descriptions or they were missing parts. Some were actually too complicated, with loads of features like an lcd screen which displayed date and time stamp or selections for different lines etc., and since they're analogue, they don't speak. That, or they were built into phones. All I want is a simple machine with modular jacks so it can be plugged into a modern phone line, record, play, rewind, fastforward, stop and pause. If it has some kind of remote to let me access my messages from a phone when I'm out that would be cool too. I think $30 and below is a good price for a working machine, but if you want to charge more and it really is in decent condition, I might be willing to negotiate, since I know most of you on here are trustworthy. I actually do have such a machine but have no idea how easy it is to use, since it wasn't originally mine, and don't know where it or it's power cord is. I'm also looking for a simple corded phone with a bell and a modular jack or a no-frills cordless phone.
Finally, if you can't help me find a machine or phone but know where I can find a basic caller id, that would be great. At least I can know who's calling and if I missed a call from someone. I have one with a 10-number memory, which is fine for my use, but it won't speak when I try to review numbers, only when someone is calling. I want one that's completely accessible and that's only in English. I refuse to buy something with English and Spanish, unless, maybe, it has another language as well. I doubt I'd ever find Greek, though that would be really nice.
Aah, the beauty of phones mae accessible, is that you get all of these features. Why do you want an answering machine you can check while out of the house, such a feature is called Voicemail, now really it is.
Usually pressing either "3" or "7" during a message will erase it and you do not have to listen to the rest. I know not all voicemails are the same, but this is worth a try.
What about:
ClassCo VoiceAnnounce Caller ID 9900CW
ILA and Amazon have them (Amazon has a used model for $42, they were under $40 in December, so they may always go on sale).
Worth a look.
Seriously, and I know you'll nevr do this anyway, but getting a cell phone is so infinitely much easier than all of this stuff you keep buying, only to find out it won't work, at least not without extensive and expensive rewiring and repairing.
Aah, the beauty of phones mae accessible, is that you get all of these features. Why do you want an answering machine you can check while out of the house, such a feature is called Voicemail, now really it is.
Usually pressing either "3" or "7" during a message will erase it and you do not have to listen to the rest. I know not all voicemails are the same, but this is worth a try.
What about:
ClassCo VoiceAnnounce Caller ID 9900CW
ILA and Amazon have them (Amazon has a used model for $42, they were under $40 in December, so they may always go on sale).
Worth a look.
Seriously, and I know you'll nevr do this anyway, but getting a cell phone is so infinitely much easier than all of this stuff you keep buying, only to find out it won't work, at least not without extensive and expensive rewiring and repairing.
I'll check into that caller id, thanks. Hopefully, the price will be lower, as it really does seem very expensive just to announce the call. For that price, I could just get a machine. Normally, I have no need to check my messages while I'm away, so it's more of a novelty for me. I actually do have a mobile phone, a Motorola Motofone F3. But I think there's something wrong with the card, since it keeps saying insert sim card. I may just get another card or another of the same phone, as I haven't found anything else that meets my needs. At any rate, I'm on a family plan, so can only use it after 9 PM on week nights and on the weekends. I got the landline so that I can use it whenever I want and so that people can always reach me instead of having to worry about the battery dying etc. I only bought one regular phone which gave me a problem. Spiros did manage to get over to the guy with the electronics and he even said that it's one of the best phones in the world, but he didn't know how to fix it. However, my uncle, with whom we've recently started speaking after years of not doing so, is literally a genius with such things. If he can't fix it no one can, including the guys who made it. lol I just need to either send it to him, since he's out of state, or wait until we go see him, hopefully this July. I should also bring the phone that he built from scratch as a treat for him to remember. *smile*
I believe that speak to me has some. The website is
www.speaktomecatalog.com
I just went there and the only things they had were talking amplified phones with built-in caller ids and answering machines. One was $119 and another was $175. But thanks for trying.
Hmm, I had a GE answering machine in the early 90s that was tapeless, but did all the things you require. You could call in to it and check messages, screen calls when you were home. It had voice announcements for most settings. As this was before the 'net, I don't know if Googling will turn up any info on it, but I'll try to find a model number.
However, if there was that one, there were probably others. You shouldn't need to go the tape route. Tapes break, you have a lot of dead time while the things rewind, etc. Although quaint, they aren't as efficient.
Thanks, but I would prefer a tape machine, where everything is accessible and simple to use. While some of the more modern ones may be fully accessible, they're also expensive and still may have some features which don't speak. Besides, I don't need a speaking one if all I have to do is hit a button and it starts playing or recording and many of those won't even let you record your own message. But thanks for the suggestion.
i got my phone from walmart, has talking caller ID, answering machine, and some options for the hearing impaired. it's very simple to use, and only cost 40 bucks. it's cordless, and can support up to 4 extra handsets if needed. It's not one with tape, but i agree with others, ditch the tape machines and go this route. once a tape is full you have to delete them anyways, and tapes can break so easily.
I really don't need more crap from China that'll break or stop working in a year or three, especially at that price. I also know that some of the expandible cordless phones really mess up the line if they die or if one isn't put back properly. We had one that was so bad that we had to unplug it to let us use the other phones in the house. Still, it's really good to know that Wallmart is selling talking devices that are useful for both the blind and the hard of hearing. It sure beats paying over $100 for what's essentially the same thing. I'm not sure if the quality on those is better or if it's just expensive because it's made for the blind. But most people can afford $40 and if it means better communication and options, more power to them. How is the accessibility on it? That is, do all of the features talk?
All that said, I do have a Toshiba cordless phone somewhere that I'd love to find, preferably to get another one of the same. It's from the 90's, so probably really does come from Japan, which is why it's lasted so long. They make fantastic tech but their prices are high. Still, for that kind of quality, it's worth it.
Grandma actually found a phone that's at least 16-years-old. She claims that it comes from 1980, but I'm really not sure on that one, since it's made of a very light plastic and doesn't have a bell ringer. But it's simple, slim and very clear. It's corded but that's okay, since I now have two. If I could find a cordless for the sittingroom, I'd be set.
So the first phone that Grandma gave me stopped working after the second day. I have no clue why, but I was in the middle of dialing and it just stopped. Each time I hit a number it would do nothing as if I hadn't pressed anything. So she gave me another one and I was very glad to make the trade. I think it just may be a Trimline but will have to have someone see what it says on it and also the brand, as I'm very curious.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimline_telephone
It's long, slim and it's receiver is curved slightly, so is not straight. I'm positive that this is an 80's model as I clearly remember Mom having one exactly like this when I was very young. It has the real bell ringer with a single note instead of two like on my Western Electric 2500, is purely touch tone, is heavy and has small square buttons with nothing except the numbers plus star and pound and a hangup button just above the microphone. There's also a really long and very elevated button on the base which depresses when you place the receiver down. If you press on it while in a call, it hangs up the phone or if you do it quickly, I'm fairly sure it will transfer you to another one if you have call waiting. It's got small rubber feet and I'm not sure if it can be wall-mounted or is only for a desk, or in my case, the little table next to my bed. It also uses two cords, one for the handset and the other, built-into the phone, for the wall. Thank The Gods it's modular!!!
I have a later version of this phone in the kitchen on the wall. That one has an electric wringer, no button to depress when you hang it up, a pulse/tone switch (which doesn't work well, so that you could be making a call and have it switch from tone to pulse) and a switch on the side of the phone to set the ringer to high, low or off. Unlike in the older one, the buttons are really large, very flat and there's no mechanical feeling about them as they're pressed. I'm keeping it for sentimental value, as it belonged to my godfather, but would really like another wall phone, due to the pulse/tone issue. I've got another 80's one in mind, with an electric ringer, a receiver similar to the one on the 2500 and three extra buttons on the right side. I remember we had that one as I was growing up and am sure Mom still has it as I saw it a little less than a year ago. But for now, I'm just thrilled over this one! It's so cool! I feel like a little kid with a new toy. lol
Try LS and S group in New York. Phone: 800-468-4789. I think my caller ID cost $30. I connect it into a phone jack outlet and it tells me the phone number once when a person calls. the cost may have gone up since I got this about 4 years ago.
I'll just go to their site. Thanks for the idea.
Tiffanitsa, what you describe is indeed a trimline.
I just bought a Western Electric 500 off Ebay, and a touchtone princess, both have bell ringers. Love 'em!
The answering machine I mentioned was fully accessible, even though it didn't verbalize every button pressed, but suit yourself. Enjoy your tapes. LOL
Hopefully, I'll be going to the English Town flee market soon. That place is huge, so they're bound to have something. How's the 500! Is your's a touch tone? I heard that the 2500 is based off of it.
Mine is a rotary, and you're correct, the 2500 is just a touchtone version of the older 500. I wasn't sure, before I bought it if our line would support rotary dialing, but it does, and am very pleased I can make calls with it.
I'll make a sound sample of its pretty ring, and post a link. Care to share yours? *grin*