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Buyer Beware When Purchasing A
Cellular Telephone
When it comes to buying a
cellular phone in Costa Rica, a
little sticker on the packaging
can make all the difference,
guaranteeing that the unit is
new and works perfectly in Costa
Rica. However, some cellular
phone vendors disagree, saying
that the vendor is what give the
units quality.
The Associacíon de
Representantes Autorizados de
Fabricantes de Celulares (ASOFAC)
- the association representing
cellular phone manufacturers -
says that their seal on the box
assures buyers quality and that
the unit will connect without
problems to the Instituto
Costarricense de Electricidad's
(ICE) cellular network and is
under guarantee.
ASOFAC says that some half of
all "new" cellular phones sold
in Costa Rica are in fact either
stolen in other countries or on
the grey market and may not work
properly on the local cellular
networks not being standardized
for Costa Rica, experiencing
problems with either the unit or
service or both.
Experts say that when a cellular
phone is not standardized to
work with the local network,
problems with coverage are
common, including damaging the
unit and giving problems to
other cellular phones on the
network.
When purchasing a new cellular
phone make sure that the box
contains the ASOFAC sticker, ask
for a "factura timbrada" - an
invoice registered with the
Ministerio de Hacienda and to
make your purchase from a
reputable cellular telephone
vendor.
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