consumer cellular
find out how consumer reports rated consumer cellular based on its annual survey of subscribers .
who' s consumer cellular? consumer cellular is one of the most established operators of cellular phone service in the u. s. our ...
consumer cellular and u. s. cellular sit atop the new consumer reports cell service provider ratings; at & t; remains at the bottom
consumer cellular received consumer reports’ highest rating for customer satisfaction for contract carriers in an article published in december .
grow fast with consumer cellular. learn about our current openings and apply today .
us mobile operator consumer cellular has selected squaretrade to provide its customers with mobile phone protection plans. squaretrade protection plans will allow consumer cellular customers to replace damaged or broken phones via a monthly plan. squaretrade plans are available for consumer cellular subscribers to protect their devices and can be added for any new phone that consumer cellular offers .
consumer cellular is getting a spring tryout – in the cactus league, no less .
“boomers aren’t that different from everybody else, ” said consumer cellular ceo john marick .
but that will be coming shortly ,
says consumer cellular ceo john marick .
35 thoughts on
consumer cellular ranked highest in j. d. power study
glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it' s like to work at consumer cellular, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. this is the consumer cellular company profile. all content is posted anonymously by employees working at consumer cellular .
while consumer cellular operates a niche business, it’s a rapidly growing niche as baby boomers age and wireless technology becomes pervasive. consumer cellular’s revenues hit $ 355 million last year .
for more information about the samsung a177 and additional consumer cellular product offerings, visit urltoken .
consumer cellular offers discounts to aarp members, including 5% on monthly service. learn more
u. s. cellular corporation | about us | company info | u. s. cellular
consumer cellular entered the home - phone market last year with the launch of a cellular base station that plugs into a home phone to carry incoming and outgoing calls over the mvno’s cellular network .
that’s on top of surpassing the 1 million subscriber point, which consumer cellular achieved last year .
consumer cellular has what many telecom companies want: a reseller contract with a national wireless carrier .
remember, with consumer cellular you may change your plan at any time, no strings attached .
consumer cellular, the mobile carrier with the highest overall customer satisfaction according to nielsen mobile insights, announces the addition of the huawei mediapad t1 - 10 to its product line - up. this is consumer cellular' s first tablet offering and is available through the consumer cellular website and call centers .
consumer cellular is among oregon’s biggest technology businesses and fastest growing, though one of its least known .
for chronic users, consumer cellular' s connect max plan offers 10, 000 messages and 1 gigabyte of web data each month for $ 30. that' s not the typical consumer cellular user .
consumer cellular has been an aarp provider since 2008. we offer aarp members special benefits, including :
consumer cellular is testing more advanced phones but doesn' t have the iphone or other hot gadgets .
for a visual tour of consumer cellular' s new headquarters, click through on the picture above .
consumer cellular is a national provider of cellular phones & services. our goal is to provide affordable, no contract cell phone plans & high - quality phones .
the oregonian quoted consumer cellular ceo john marick, but the company declined to offer details of the rollout .
consumer cellular ranks highest for the first time among wireless non - contract carriers, scoring 899. consumer cellular performs particularly well across all six purchase experience factors, especially in offerings and promotions and cost of service .
us mobile operator consumer cellular has renewed its agreement with the us national parks conservation association (npca) .
us mobile operator consumer cellular has added the lg 930 and samsung galaxy exhilarate smartphones to its product portfolio .
aiming to broaden its market, consumer cellular is testing retail kiosks in sears stores around the portland area .
consumer cellular ranks highest among wireless non - contract carriers, scoring 871. consumer cellular performs above the non - contract average in all four service channels and achieves an especially high score in the ars, then csr channel .
one factor that helped ease some angst was a growing relationship with aarp. around that time consumer cellular began advertising with the national group and exploring strategic partnerships. in 2008 consumer cellular became the association' s preferred carrier .
a consumer cellular call center. the company, which long relied on phone sales for most of its business, now sells the greatest share of its phones through retail partnerships with sears and target. (consumer cellular photo )
the portland business journal named consumer cellular one of the fastest - growing private 100 companies for the fifth year in a row. this month, the same publication named consumer cellular as one of oregon' s most admired companies .
it’s an experiment to see if consumer cellular can gain the same kind of traction with target that it’s had with sears, which stocks consumer cellular’s phones across the country. the company expects a decision on a wider rollout by summer .
consumer cellular consumer cellular continues to show the value of good service at an affordable price backed by solid customer support. the company, known for its focus on retired / older customers, wins its third straight readers' choice award .
the point isn’t lost on marick, who notes that consumer cellular has always been nimble in adapting to its consumers .
us mobile operator consumer cellular is set to introduce increased allowances for its voice and data plans starting on 1 august .
consumer cellular ceo john marick at the company' s new headquarters in tigard. (mike rogoway / the oregonian )
hi. any idea when the iphone consumer cellular app will be updated? it stopped working 45 days ago. thanks
consumer cellular for the fourth year in a row, consumer cellular wins our readers' choice award. the company offers an affordable, reliable service backed by top - notch customer support. unlike google' s project fi, consumer cellular offers a wide variety of popular, modern smartphones including the iphone 7 and 7 plus and the samsung galaxy s7 .
still, the overall ratings offer unique insight, and it' s probably no coincidence that consumer cellular received the highest consumer reports score in five of the last six years .
consumer cellular has long marketed its phones through aarp, which claims 40 million senior citizens as members. that drives tens of thousands of people to consumer cellular' s website or phone sales centers, in tigard, redmond and in arizona .
the portland business journal honored consumer cellular in 2016 by placing the company on its annual list of oregon' s 100 fastest - growing companies. this was the seventh consecutive year consumer cellular earned a spot among oregon' s top performers .
consumer cellular sits at the top of a ranking based on a survey of nearly 90, 000 consumer reports subscribers. not only did consumer cellular top the charts, all of the companies that scored the highest in overall consumer satisfaction were small carriers. and not one of the
big four
carriers received a high score, according to the ranking .
the moto g also comes with 16 gb memory. will consumer cellular be offering that option as well as the 8gb ?
us mobile operator consumer cellular has added a wireless home phone device to the company' s product portfolio. the wireless home
what’s fueled the growth has been consumer cellular’s targeting of the niche senior market, an effort boosted by a partnership with aarp .
consumer cellular, which was at the top of the ratings overall, also got a top - notch rating for customer support .
us mobile operator consumer cellular has introduced lg escape smartphone. the lg escape supports the android 4. 1. 2 os and
* the totals shown here are costs for your monthly consumer cellular service only. they do not include any taxes and fees .
i applied online. the process took 3 weeks. i interviewed at consumer cellular (portland, or) in january 2014 .
maintaining consumer cellular' s growth, however, may prove to be at least as challenging as building the company from scratch .
oregon business magazine selected consumer cellular as one of the 100 best companies to work for in oregon for the fourth consecutive year .
aarp closely monitors consumer cellular and its other retail partners, according to byck, checking to ensure that customer service meets aarp' s specifications. he said his organization encouraged consumer cellular to add its new call center to ensure it could accommodate continued subscriber growth .
john marick, co - founder and ceo of consumer cellular, was selected as one of ernst & young' s 2011 entrepreneur of the year finalists. john and his employees make consumer cellular different–by providing affordable cell phone plans with no contract and exceptional service .
about consumer cellular consumer cellular, the exclusive wireless provider for aarp® members, was founded in 1995 on the belief that everyone should have affordable access to the safety and convenience of cellular service. the company provides its customers with simple, affordable cell phones and calling plans, guaranteed satisfaction and top - ranked customer support staff all located within the united states. plus, consumer cellular customers never have to sign a long - term contract in order to start service .
even so, marick said consumer cellular' s growth rate is cooling this year, dropping under 30 percent. slower growth is inevitable as companies grow, he said, but consumer cellular is also facing a saturated wireless market where cell phone ownership is almost universal .
consumer cellular thrived in the competitive wireless market by doing things differently. now, its rivals have learned many of the same tricks .
when consumer cellular moved into its new headquarters last spring, it brought 250 employees with them. the office has capacity for 650 .
consumer cellular had also tested standalone stores and mall kiosks, but the results were disappointing. so it is working with target, already a major retail partner, to deputize the retailer' s employees to provide customer service for consumer cellular phones inside its own stores .
in 2012, consumer cellular won inc. magazine' s inaugural inc. hire power award for leading the way in creating american jobs. with more than 1, 300 employees, consumer cellular is proud to be an entirely u. s. - based company .
in october, consumer cellular began selling its affordable, no - contract wireless phones and plans at more than 1, 800 target stores nationwide. target, the country' s second largest general merchandise retailer, represents consumer cellular' s largest retail partnership to date .
consumer cellular specializes in basic phones like this $ 30 model from a swedish company called doro. it’s got big buttons for consumer cellular’s senior citizen demographic and is hearing aid compatible. the company sells the phone online and at its kiosks in portland - area sears stores .
in the newest satisfaction survey of consumer reports online subscribers, a provider called consumer cellular topped the ratings—and at & t found itself at the bottom of the ratings for the second year in a row .
it took no fewer than seven months of serious hunting in the tigard area before consumer cellular found the right fit for its new headquarters .
this year, consumer cellular had the iphone 6 and 6 plus within a week of the launch (though supplies have been limited. )
if you' re under 50 you may not know the name - but among seniors, consumer cellular is rapidly becoming a household brand .
as for consumer cellular' s former tigard headquarters, marick said it' s not been subleased yet, but they' re trying .
consumer cellular (urltoken), a national provider of wireless phones and services, announced the completion and official opening of its second u. s. - based customer support center in phoenix, ariz. consumer cellular also maintains a customer service facility at its headquarters in portland, ore .
consumer cellular emerged 15 years ago from mccaw communications, the redmond, wash. - based cell phone pioneer that became at & t wireless .
so the onus is on consumer cellular to keep its service plans appealing and its customer service responsive to keep customers for as long as possible .
consumer cellular expects to continue its steady growth. the company will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2015 and anticipates reaching two million customers in q4 .
always mindful of the consumer and our employees. consumer cellular was one of the first companies to offer affordable cellphone service to all, not just a privileged few. we stay ahead of their needs, and this mindset remains evident in how we invest in our employees, too. at consumer cellular, you can count on the reward of our success with :
even better in consumer reports' survey is u. s. cellular, which rated highest for customer satisfaction. it is available in 26 states .
consumer cellular' s wholesale clients resell its plans to their customers under their own brand name, or private label. for several telecom companies, obtaining a reseller contract with consumer was vital to their long - term livelihood .
does the moto g from consumer cellular have a sim chip? i got the phone a few years ago but cannot remember if it does or not .
consumer cellular has grown its revenue from $ 17 million to $ 185 million in just six years by selling the newest technology to the oldest american consumers .
working at consumer cellular is both challenging and rewarding. we thrive from the excitement of creating innovative products and services that are truly valued by our customers .
on a web site that targets its wholesale customers, consumer says
the merger ultimately will give consumer cellular wholesale clients the ability to offer the most advanced services on the most extensive national network in the u. s .
obviously, price is a big factor when choosing a wireless carrier, and even though
value
is one consumer reports' metrics, you should check price carefully before considering a switch to consumer cellular or another service provider .
in june of 2015, consumer cellular was selected by careerbuilder as one of the “top companies to work for in arizona. ” careerbuilder, the largest online job site in north america, is a global leader in human capital solutions. this is the second time that consumer cellular has been featured on their list .
your phone should either be a consumer cellular phone, a phone previously used with at & t; or t - mobile, or an unlocked gsm phone .
company milestones consumer cellular' s rapid growth allowed the company to reach two major milestones this year, 1, 000 employees and 1. 5 million customers :
we’re pleased to announce that consumer cellular has partnered with best buy® to make the unique grandpad, powered by consumer cellular available at select stores. grandpad is our specially designed tablet that’s customized for the convenience of older users. it’s an excellent fit with best buy’s expanding line of senior care solutions, focusing on ...
consumer cellular a top - rated cellphone carrier and the exclusive wireless provider for aarp members, is set to end 2014 with 30 percent company growth and nearly 1. 7 million customers. throughout the year, consumer cellular saw significant retail expansion, celebrated several major company milestones, and received noteworthy business awards and industry recognition .
get help and support for your u. s. cellular device with interactive tutorials .
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more than 1, 800 target stores across the country will begin stocking phones from consumer cellular this week, the tigard company' s biggest retail partnership to date .
consumer cellular markets cell phones to seniors, offering no - contract plans for everything from basic cell phones to apple' s two new models of the iphone 6 .
partnerships have been key to its growth, starting with the aarp and then expanding with a 2011 deal to put consumer cellular’s phones in hundreds of sears stores nationwide .
with a wider territory from which to tap, consumer cellular’s customer base grew to 700, 000 this year and is projected to reach 900, 000 this year .
as an aarp member, monthly service with consumer cellular starts at under $ 15 a month, and includes a 5% discount on service and usage every month .
you can find information about specific phones on our videos & manuals pages or find out more about consumer cellular’s great plans and service on our support & faqs page .
to this point, consumer cellular has attracted most of its customers through ads, direct mail and online. the phone comes in the mail with quick setup instructions .
the latest gizmo may never be necessary in consumer cellular' s niche, according to patrick hayes, vice president of csmg, a communications strategy firm in boston .
at 6 p. m. one friday night about a month ago, consumer cellular closed the doors on the tigard office it had called home for 14 years .
this year consumer cellular was ranked no. 1 in the mobile carrier category of pc magazine' s readers' choice awards survey, earning the highest marks for overall customer satisfaction. the survey findings also indicate that consumer cellular customers are more likely to recommend their carrier than customers of any other mobile carrier in the united states .
though target' s brand is built on catering to young moms and families, marick said consumer cellular' s approach isn' t changing. it still targets older consumers, he said, and expects most of them will drop into a nearby target looking for a consumer cellular phone they saw advertised in a magazine or on tv .
from the day we started consumer cellular in 1995, our focus has been on finding ways to make the best modern technology accessible, and affordable, to users over 50. that’s why we’re so delighted to introduce grandpad, powered by consumer cellular to our product selection. grandpad is a tablet that’s customized for the convenience ...
blyskal, of consumer reports, says consumer cellular customers are more satisfied with their service, for the price, than with other carriers like at & t; , which finished last in the survey of the top wireless carriers the past three years .
consumer cellular offers more phones, including the iphone x and samsung’s galaxy s8 and note8. it also pushes lesser - known models from alcatel, motorola, and zte .
patricia s. , 41, of pennsylvania recently switched to consumer cellular, and she enjoys being able to connect to facebook on the run with her new motorola bravo .
consumer cellular on twitter :
share your family history, photos & more with your smartphone by using the ancestry app. learn how in our blog: urltoken urltoken
consumer cellular thinks it has the answer to that question. the company, which tried outsourcing some of its customer service, brought everything back in house to ensure quality .
that' s more than enough to accommodate consumer cellular' s current workforce here of about 225. in fact, the new space should handle up to 500 people .
further demonstrating its commitment to customer satisfaction, consumer cellular has been accredited by the better business bureau since 1999, continually earning a rating of a + or a - .
monthly plans start at $ 20, half the cost of standard offerings from major wireless carriers, and basic phones are free. unlike mainstream cellular plans, consumer cellular customers don' t sign a contract, though they do pay a $ 35 activation fee .
consumer cellular
definitely are in an enviable position - - their potential is unlimited ,
said john wonak, chief financial officer of chicago - based opex communications, which resells consumer' s plans under the opex brand .
the carriers really don' t make it easy for someone new to get into the business, and without a consumer cellular, someone like us couldn' t do it any other way .
in june 2017, a consumer survey conducted by the nationwide customer experience firm market force information named consumer cellular the favorite wireless cellphone carrier among non - contract providers for the second year in a row. carriers were ranked in multiple categories to determine customer satisfaction and loyalty. consumer cellular came out on top for best value, best coverage, fewest dropped calls, easiest to change plan, and best flexibility, among others .
consumer' s marick cannot disclose the names of the national carriers consumer resells, but he said that his company has a
great relationship
with its carriers .
consumer cellular’s phoenix expansion comes six months after the company celebrated double - digit annual revenue growth from nearly $ 65 million in 2008 to more than $ 100 million in 2009 .
initially, marick said, that means steering new consumer cellular customers, most of whom sign up online or over the phone, to target to pick up their new phone .
consumer cellular has founded its growth rate, 35 to 40 percent, to be sustainable and manageable – and isn’t interested right now in taking risks that could jeopardize that success .
after starting out with a combination of private funds from marick and investors, as well as a small business administration loan, consumer cellular has operated debt - free for years .
still owned by the managers who founded the company, consumer cellular has resisted overtures from potential investors and possible acquirers. and that' s not changing, according to marick .
even if consumer cellular reaches its million - customer growth target, hayes said, the company will still be much too small to attract targeted competition from the biggest wireless carriers .
consumer cellular was recognized as one of the inc. 5000 fastest - growing companies for the sixth consecutive year, thanks to revenue growth of 157 percent between 2010 and 2013 .
consumer reports subscribers have rated consumer cellular highest in the magazine' s annual review of cellphone service providers for 6 of the last 7 years. the 2017 rankings were compiled from a survey of over 100, 000 subscribers, who graded carriers in eight different categories including value, voice and text quality, and customer support. consumer cellular' s 2016 and 2017 composite scores of 89 out of 100 outpolled even the “big 4” carriers !
one of oregon' s largest - but least - known - tech companies, consumer cellular sells wireless phones and phone plans for seniors. when the big carriers were trying to lock subscribers to multi - year deals, pitching the latest smartphones, consumer cellular won over more than 2 million customers by offering relatively simple phones with no up - front commitment .
the new space will much better accommodate consumer cellular’s existing workforce while also providing plenty of room for more. marick said the new office will comfortably fit up to 500 employees, a number that consumer will begin chipping away at with new hires in all areas soon .
best of all, as our customers know, you never have to sign a one or two - year contract to get a great phone for a great price from consumer cellular .
i currently have the moto g 16gb version that i am using with consumer cellular. can you tell me how i can get it to send pictures in my text messages. thanks
that' s up 20 percent from 2015, a healthy growth rate at many companies but a worrying sign at consumer cellular, which averaged 35 percent in the prior five years .
bring a phone or tablet you already own to u. s. cellular when you switch .
contact u. s. cellular®' s business concierge or customer service for help and support .
consumer cellular which earns its fourth straight readers' choice award, focuses on simplicity and value. if you' re 50 or older, you get a discount on the service through aarp. consumer cellular offers over a dozen smartphones including both iphones and android and uses both at & t and t - mobile' s networks. unlike project fi, however, consumer cellular gives you a sim for access to the network that they feel will work best for you. you only roam to the other network if the chosen network isn' t available .
consumer cellular has tapped one of the wireless industry' s last growth markets. its revenues surged by 57 percent last year, crossing the $ 100 million threshold for the first time .
in many ways, consumer cellular seems more a marketing organization than wireless company. marick credits its partnerships, particularly a deal with aarp inked two years ago, for fueling its growth .
i have been with consumer cellular for a few years and was ready to upgrade to a phone model you do not offer. read instructions re. unlocked phone and purchased it elsewhere. called you and i was immediately shipped the necessary sim card (free). then called consumer cellular to activate and all went seamlessly! thank you - very pleased with excellent service .
retail expansion consumer cellular saw a substantial extension of its retail availability in 2014, with its presence increasing by nearly 2, 000 locations across the country. notable expansions include the following :
consumer cellular is the exclusive wireless provider for aarp members and a top - rated carrier that provides no contract cellphones and service plans to boomers and seniors. founded in 1995 on the belief that everyone should have affordable access to the safety and convenience of cellular service, consumer cellular is privately held with more than 400 employees. the portland, ore. - based company utilizes the nation' s largest voice and data network, covering more than 296 million people - or 97 percent of the u. s. population. consumer cellular’s cellphones and plans are sold nationwide at leading retailers such as sears and radioshack dealer franchise locations, as well as direct to consumers at
consumer reports has no commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor appearing on this web site .
with such a large customer base, the company has put an emphasis on consumer service .
at sears, those in - store pickups gradually grew into in - store sales as sears personnel grew more familiar with the product. consumer cellular is hoping the same pattern repeats at target .
the consumer cellular plan changes announced here will save my wife about $ 20 / year + tax. she won' t be running over her normal plan' s data allowance any more .
annual sales have climbed by at least 35 percent in each of the past several years, and consumer cellular expects that to continue this year – putting 2014 revenue just shy of $ 500 million .
had to dyor to make sense of this. turns out their data pricing is still uncompetitively higher than the current best rates. as a consumer, i find this cellular carrier to be lacking .
the feeling that we' re hearing from everybody is that they' re really liking it ,
said john marick, ceo of consumer cellular .
it' s very comfortable .
based in lake oswego, consumer retains its standing as reseller by bringing national carriers incremental revenue that they otherwise wouldn' t pursue or likely obtain. consumer cellular bills itself as a low - cost alternative for people who use cell phones infrequently, but want them for convenience and safety reasons .
employees at the new phoenix call center will provide sales and support for consumer cellular’s wireless customers from a 39, 000 - square - foot building near the arizona state university campus. currently, 24 new employees are trained and on the job, and another 80 will be hired by this september. later this year, consumer cellular plans to provide bi - lingual customer support from its phoenix location .
consumer cellular has been ranked the nation' s no. 1 wireless carrier in a consumer reports survey the past three years, but it couldn' t have done it without at & t. ; consumer cellular is so small that it' s actually a wireless carrier without its own wireless network. it lives like a snail on at & t;' s whale tail as a
mobile virtual network operator
that buys and resells space on at & t;' s network .
consumer cellular leases space on at & t' s network, giving the small company a wireless footprint that covers most of the country. the privately held company is owned by marick and other managers .
already one of oregon' s largest businesses, consumer cellular is crossing a half - billion dollars in sales this year and expects to sign up its 2 millionth customer by the end of the month .
rest assured, your information remains private and only you, or a qualified consumer cellular representative, may have access to it. to learn more about our security policy, go to privacy and security .
portland, ore. - - cellular mvno consumer cellular, which targets the 50 - plus age group with no - contract postpaid service, will substantially expand its brick - and - mortar presence this week when its products and services begin appearing in more than 1, 800 target stores, the portland oregonian reported .
grew up in vancouver, bachelor' s degree from university of portland followed by an mba from willamette university' s george h. atkinson graduate school of management. worked at cellular one, where he met greg pryor. in 1995, the friends co - founded consumer cellular; pryor is chief operating officer .
consider a lower - priced carrier. when consumer reports compared 100 plans to similar alternatives in 21 matchups covering the full spectrum of plans, both prepaid and standard, consumer cellular came out on top. it had the best deal most often – in more than one out of three cases. savings usually ranged from $ 30 - 40 per month over pricier rivals such as verizon and at & t, though you might find a smaller selection of the hottest smart phones with smaller carriers such as consumer cellular .
half of consumer cellular' s new customers are members of aarp, which serves people 50 and older. it just extended its initial two - year deal with the oregon company to run through fall 2011 .
in a 2012 survey sponsored by the oregonian, the largest news organization in the pacific northwest, consumer cellular was recognized as the # 1 mid - sized company to work for in the state of oregon .
without consumer, wonak added, opex would focus entirely on growing its voice over internet protocol service .
we really try and go after the group that they' re kind of avoiding ,
said consumer cellular ceo john marick, 40 .
we can kind of fill a void in the marketplace .
consumer cellular now has 1, 200 employees, divided among its three offices. to celebrate its anniversary, the company is paying employees a $ 20 bonus for each month they' ve been with the company .
it' s available in 606 target stores nationwide, an example of the kind of personalized experience consumer cellular hopes will set the company apart and help push its sales growth back up, north of 30 percent .
both google and consumer cellular try to keep pricing simple. project fi costs $ 20 per month for unlimited domestic and international voice plus $ 10 per gigabyte of data, and it refunds you for data not used. consumer cellular works best if you' re not a heavy data or voice user; for $ 40 per month, you can get 1, 500 minutes of domestic talk and 1. 5gb of data .
marick was working with kirkland, wash. - based mccaw cellular communications — once the nation’s largest cellular phone company — through its 1993 acquisition by at & t; , which renamed the company at & t; wireless .
refer a friend or family member to u. s. cellular and earn up to $ 550 per year .
find your closest u. s. cellular® store location to stop by or schedule an in - store appointment .
there' s still room to grow at target, he said. the next step beyond that may be additional products marketed to existing customers. this year consumer cellular introduced a $ 150 cellular device seniors carry with them at all times, around their neck or on a belt, to call for help at virtually any moment .
project fi, a prepaid service launched by google last year, got high marks for value, availability, and its data service. but it didn’t do as well as consumer cellular when it came to voice quality .
but many people, seniors especially, want to see a device before they sign up for it. so consumer cellular has been working to place its phones in retail settings, including sears stores in the portland area .
smaller may be better smaller companies continue to be the customer - service stars in this industry. consumer cellular topped the ratings at 88 out of 100 points. it received high marks for service, value and customer support. u. s. cellular (75) and credo mobile (73) all scored higher than the majors .
power users should note that consumer cellular is a good candidate for a hand - me - down phone, too. so if you want to set up grandma or grandpa with inexpensive cell service, all it takes is a phone once used with at & t;' s service — that includes iphones — or an unlocked gsm phone. consumer cellular provides a free sim card, with no activation fee, that makes the phone operable .
the success of consumer cellular is attributed to its strategy of providing services for a niche market and the strength of the mvno’s customer service operations. consumer cellular targeted its services towards the niche market of consumers who are 50 years of age and higher. in order to gain a substantial portion of its target demographic, the mvno developed a marketing strategy that could reach a substantial number of its consumers and designed services that properly cater to its target consumers. in order to reach its target consumers, consumer cellular is working with the aarp to allow the mvno to advertise its services to the association’s members. this is a mutually beneficial relationship between the two entities, as consumer cellular shares with the aarp a portion of its revenue from the members of the non - profit organization. the company also made sure that its plans and some of its device offerings are simple enough for the elderly to use and understand. its customer service operation is also viewed by consumer cellular as one of its biggest strength, with the mvno ensuring that its customers feel that the company is devoted to resolving their issues with its services .
if you' re looking for a cell - phone service with no contract, a small company called consumer cellular came out on top. people found it offers great value. but it has a limited choice of phones .
consumer cellular distinguishes itself not through the phones - - it carries a selection of utilitarian models from motorola, nokia and others - - but through straightforward service plans, with low upfront costs and no long - term commitment .
the new headquarters, near the junction of highway 217 and interstate 5, spans two buildings and 82, 140 square feet. that' s nearly double consumer cellular' s prior office, three miles to the south .
corporate friend of tourism award - u. s. cellular coliseum bloomington - normal area convention and visitor' s bureau
consumer, which offers cellular phones and mobile services aimed largely at the senior market, announced yesterday that it will be moving into a new headquarters at 12123 and 12447 s. w. 69th ave. in tigard this summer .
i am really interested in signing up for consumer cellular but i want the motorola g (2014). the only one offer on your site is the motorola g 1st generation. when will the (2014) be available ?
so consumer cellular has stepped up marketing, with local tv ads and more training for sears' personnel. results have improved, according to marick, but it' s too early to know how successful the partnership can be .
consumer cellular also is getting a crash course in new technologies as the next generation of senior citizen taps into social networks, mobile apps and other hot technologies. aarp sees increasing demand for gadgets among its members, byck noted .
in just 22 years, consumer cellular soared to success by keeping mobile communications simple, affordable and free of contracts. unlike typical nationwide providers of cellular phones and services, we’re family - owned and operated. despite dramatic growth, we’ve kept our small - business culture. it’s as true to our brand now as when we opened our doors in 1995 .
citing data from media measurement firm the nielsen co. , consumer cellular said smartphone ownership in the third quarter of 2011 grew 76 percent for consumers aged 55 to 64, and 50 percent for the 64 - and - up set .
from there he co - founded consumer cellular as a re - seller of at & t; products, with the idea of designing service plans aimed at consumers who wanted a phone for convenience and security rather than regular daily use .
uncertainty awaits, agrees john marick, consumer cellular' s chief executive and co - founder. but, he said, the company has found success through simplicity, and it believes the principles that grew the business will sustain it .
in 2017, consumer cellular was listed as one of america’s fastest growing private companies for the ninth year in a row. the honor was bestowed by inc. magazine, which has published its annual inc. 5000 rankings since 2007 .
can you guess which u. s. wireless provider makes its customers the happiest? hint: it' s not at & t, verizon wireless, sprint or t - mobile. it' s a relatively small, independent company you may have never hear of, called consumer cellular, at least according to a recent consumer satisfaction survey .
unrivaled, award - winning customer service. consistently rated highly by consumer reports, pc magazine, j. d. power and nielsen, consumer cellular offers flexible plans that comfortably align with our customers’ needs and tastes. come join our team. feel proud knowing you’re part of a great company with high integrity. and, grow fast with us .
privately held consumer cellular markets cell phones to seniors – offering low - cost, no - contract plans for people who want a mobile phone but don’t use it heavily, and don’t want to pay the big cell phone companies’ monthly fees .
its customers are getting older, after all, and new generations of seniors are more tech savvy, with an appetite for smart phones and other sophisticated gadgets that don' t fit consumer cellular' s do - it - simple model .
marick, a former mccaw marketer, and two former colleagues started consumer cellular by piggybacking on their old company' s network. he licenses cell phone minutes from at & t to provide his customers with coast - to - coast service .
“consumer cellular takes great pride in putting our customers first, and we’re continuously looking for ways to better serve our members. our phoenix expansion allows us to meet the demands of our expanding customer base by providing additional time zone coverage, increased data security, and emergency back - up customer support when needed, ” said john marick, ceo of consumer cellular. “we chose to locate the new call center in phoenix because of its excellent talent pool and business - friendly environment. ”
three of the country' s biggest cellular companies received some of the lowest scores in consumer reports’ 2017 cell - phone service survey, which rates carriers both big and small on overall customer satisfaction and various aspects of service reliability and customer support .
consumer cellular hired its 1, 000th full - time employee in may, reflecting steady growth in employment at all three of the company' s locations – the portland headquarters and fulfillment center as well as call centers in phoenix, ariz. and redmond, ore. in september, consumer cellular relocated its phoenix customer support center to a new 85, 000 - square - foot facility in tempe. the larger space will allow the company to hire an additional 300 employees by may 2015 .
consumer reports is the world’s largest and most trusted nonprofit, consumer organization working to improve the lives of consumers by driving marketplace change. founded in 1936, consumer reports has achieved substantial gains for consumers on health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other issues. the organization has advanced important policies to cut hospital - acquired infections, prohibit predatory lending practices and combat dangerous toxins in food. consumer reports tests and rates thousands of products and services in its 50 - plus labs, state - of - the - art auto test center and consumer research center. consumers union, a division of consumer reports, works for pro - consumer laws and regulations in washington, d. c. , the states, and in the marketplace. with more than eight million subscribers to its flagship magazine, website and other publications, consumer reports accepts no advertising, payment or other support from the companies whose products it evaluates .
never heard of consumer cellular? the tigard, ore. , company has only 1 million subscribers, including 15, 488 in connecticut. at & t; had 1. 2 million new smartphone subscribers alone in the first three months of 2013 .
well, this time around, consumer cellular is at it again. as revealed by marick via the carrier’s official blog, the postpaid mvno is boosting both the number of text messages and the amount of data its customers can use every month on select
growing at an annual rate of roughly 35 percent in each of the past six years, consumer cellular is on pace to top $ 1 billion in annual revenue by 2018 - provided it can maintain that pace. provided it can maintain that pace .
in the much the same way that seniors move into smaller homes, sell their second cars or unload storage closets as they age, many also will want to scale back their phone plans. consumer cellular can capitalize by emphasizing flexible, affordable plans .
in may, consumer cellular began expanding its retail footprint in sears stores nationwide for the third time since the two companies' partnership began in 2011. the increased presence in more than 750 stores nationwide included new, larger displays and additional smartphone offerings .
this year’s scores are based on information provided by 119, 772 consumer reports subscribers who use traditional or prepaid cellular services. (we combined prepaid and traditional services into one set of ratings rather than breaking them out as we have in the past. )
an early and enduring partnership with aarp helped establish consumer cellular' s brand. the target deal is the company' s second major retail deal – it has a similar arrangement with sears - - and follows a successful tryout with target earlier this year .
consumer cellular also customized the interface of the motorola bravo so customers can access their account through a free mobile application. the all - new application allows customers, with a push of a button, to view their minute and data usage and manage their account .
so consumer cellular is refining its marketing approach and partnerships, seeking to revive its growth by connecting more closely with customers. with more than 100 million americans older than 50, marick said, there' s still plenty of opportunity for his company to expand .
“target could be the next one, ” said consumer cellular chief executive john marick. “they’ve got 1, 800 stores across the country. you do the math – you don’t have to sell too many phones at each one for that to really add up. ”
so increasing the growth rate may be less important in the long run than holding on to existing customers. hayes said consumer cellular takes a big risk because its customers don' t sign contracts and are free to drop service - - what the industry calls churn .
consumer cellular says it' s outgrowing its headquarters and call center in tigard (above), but hasn' t settled on a next step. it just doubled the size of a call center in arizona. (brent wojahn / oregonian file photo (2012) )
consumer cellular depends on customer service centers in tigard (above), redmond and in arizona to connect with customers. it has a growing retail presence, though, selling its phone in sears stores - - and now in target. (brent wojahn / the oregonian )
as consumer cellular builds scale, it' s adding partnerships and marketing initiatives previously out of reach. in addition to target, the company has begun airing national television ads on
good morning america ,
the hallmark channel and other programs and networks with high senior viewership .
we' re very grateful to them ,
wonak said .
it was a very important relationship to get into with them. there are a handful of companies that can do what consumer cellular can - - offer a wholesale private label with a national network .
the tigard company turns 20 on thursday, thriving in a niche of the fiercely competitive cell phone market. consumer cellular focuses exclusively on seniors, marketing its no - contract phones through a partnership with aarp and two of the nation' s largest retailers, sears and target .
target wants to see immediate results, marick said, and will be making decisions about what it will stock this fall by early summer. so the key to making the new partnership work will be demonstrating that consumer cellular can drive shoppers to its stores, and doing it quickly .
founded in 1995, consumer cellular is still owned by marick and the other executives who run it. they have fielded calls from potential investors over the years, and interest has increased along with the company’s scale. marick said the company isn’t talking with prospective investors or buyers now .
over the past four years, though, its retail partnerships with sears and target have provided nearly all of consumer cellular' s growth. the company' s phones have been in sears stores since 2011, and a deal last year put them in 1, 800 target stores .
anticipating rapid expansion again in 2010, the privately held company is opening a new call center next month in phoenix, ariz. , and nurturing a fledgling relationship with sears. consumer cellular has a half - million customers now, a number it hopes to double within three years .
consumer cellular customers don’t sign long - term contracts. instead, the company offers monthly service plans that start as low as $ 10 per month, and text and web browsing options starting as low as $ 2. 50 per month for 100 text messages and 4 megabytes of data.
consumer cellular is an american postpaid mobile virtual network operator founded by john marick and greg pryor in october 1995 . based in tigard , oregon , near portland , the company pioneered the no contract plan model , with a key focus of their marketing being retirees . in september 2008 , the company began working with aarp , helping to enlarge the consumer cellular 's subscriber base from around 30,000 customers in 2006 to more than two million in 2016 . the company received the top customer satisfaction ranking from consumer reports magazine in 2010 , 2011 , 2012 , 2013 , 2014 and 2016 . the company has also been named one of oregon 's fastest-growing companies , listed on the inc. 5000 growth list since 2009 , and ranked in the portland business journal 's top 100 oregon companies list every year since 2010 . the company operates using network capacity from at&t and t-mobile , and also resells at&t wholesale wireless services to other virtual operators as well . 
consumer cellular is an american postpaid mobile virtual network operator founded by john marick and greg pryor in october 1995. based in tigard, oregon, near portland, the company pioneered the no contract plan model, with a key focus of their marketing being retirees. in september 2008, the company began working with aarp, helping to enlarge the consumer cellular's subscriber base from around 30,000 customers in 2006 to more than two million in 2016. the company received the top customer satisfaction ranking from consumer reports magazine in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016. the company has also been named one of oregon's fastest-growing companies, listed on the inc. 5000 growth list since 2009, and ranked in the portland business journal's top 100 oregon companies list every year since 2010. the company operates using network capacity from at&t and t-mobile, and also resells at&t wholesale wireless services to other virtual operators as well.
consumer cellular is an american postpaid mobile virtual network operator founded by john marick and greg pryor in october 1995. based in tigard, oregon, near portland, the company pioneered the no contract plan model, with a key focus of their marketing being retirees. in september 2008, the company began working with aarp, helping to enlarge the consumer cellular's subscriber base from around 30,000 customers in 2006 to more than two million in 2016. the company received the top customer satisfaction ranking from consumer reports magazine in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016. the company has also been named one of oregon's fastest-growing companies, listed on the inc. 5000 growth list since 2009, and ranked in the portland business journal's top 100 oregon companies list every year since 2010. the company operates using network capacity from at&t and t-mobile, and also resells at&t wholesale wireless services to other virtual operators as well.