the RadioShack guys in your area are idiots then. i've done numerous activations like the one i just mentioned. they just don't want to sell the phone because they don't get a spiff bonus if they sell it like that, or they don't know how. it's approaching the holiday shopping season though so i'm assuming there's a bunch of newbies in training that don't know what they're doing. anyways, you gotta go with the service that works best in your area. i hope the new one works out for you.