By Segun Oni
Gbam!!! There it drops and right away, I picked it up, dusted and kept it back in my pocket.
I am not talking about my good old original Nokia 3310.
You will agree with me that till date, Nokia has been rechristened as ‘o jabo ko fo’, ‘omo na bouncing’, by its numerous users as a result of its durability and quality, and presently, it’s added numerous functions. Nokia now has technology savvy handsets which are called the Nokia smart phones with GPRS, Navigator, Ovi Chat, Facebook, etc. In this group are the N, E and X series.
Nokia has become a household name and like a faithful wife, sticks with you through thick and thin.
It does not have embarrassing ring tones, or a pillow like size that will need your both hands to carry and receive your calls.It is highly durable and sleek enough for the status conscious ones amongst us.
This reminds me of an experience I had with a counterfeit phone all because I really desired a sleek phone but wanted to do so through the back door. Remember those Chinese ‘Nokla’ phones that came with mobile TV?
There was a day I was with my ‘cream friends’ you know- hanging out at the galleria and checking out these cute boys loitering the foyer. It turns out Aisha, one of my friends knew one of the guys and we all went to have drinks upstairs. Soon after, we were on our way for karaoke at this new place none of us had been before. One of my friends brought out her Nokia E7 to use its navigator in getting us to our destination while another chatted away on Nokia X7 with what she called Ovi chat. I was there wondering how I needed to save up to buy my own original Nokia phone too and at the same time, praying that my disgraceful, ‘rubber bounded Chinese ‘Nokla’ TV phone should not ring and ruin my ‘fine girl’ career.
Suddenly, a call came in. I could not afford to pick it and the guys kept wondering why I was not picking my calls. But because the tone was too loud and disgraceful, I kept pressing it from my pocket to mute it since I knew I would not be able to stand the shame. The ringing tone was not only embarrassing, but the giant size phone was also rubber bound and the toaster at the other end will not stop calling. But trust me, no dulling, I simply said it was an alarm; it would go off by itself. At that point, I realized what an asset an original phone is and not just that, the new Nokia series.
When I got home that night, I sent him a text: if you really wanna talk to me, get me a ‘cool’ Nokia phone
Yeah cheap I know. But a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.
Did the dude get me the phone? Of course! I have since stepped up. You too can step up; away from cheap, ‘I –better-pass-my- roommate’ counterfeit phones.
What has been your own experience with counterfeit phones too? Share with us your genuine counterfeit phone experience and win a Nokia smart phone. This will run for four weeks and at the end of the four weeks, the most genuine and interesting story wins. Remember, be true, no lies.
Cheers!
31 comments
Oh boy which kind tin be dis nw! Those were d words ringing in my head. The reason…? We were asked 2 submit our phones b4 we could b allowed 2 write d exam. Check out my phone nw! Nokia though, but had lost a few bottons, nd hed a fractured screen. Come see eyes nw…fortunately it was d last paper. No 1 had 2 tell me I needed some mobile phone upgrade, cos d nxt tym somtin lyk dis happenes…well hopefully it will not.
Re : My experience As a matter of fact, this short piece will enable me to share my funny experience while using one of those counterfeit ”china” phones, permit me to say.
Although i also own a small Nokia phone with few features that can barely keep one busy…i decided to join the trend and keep up with the fad, the unnecessary acquisition of the phone gave me some fond memories and few embarrassing scenes, that will forever be green in my memory.
Oh boy which kind tin b dis! Were d words I was muttering wen d invigilator asked us to submit our phones. Check out my phone nw. A nokia phone though, but d chinese brother 4fm anoda mother. Come and see d eyes nw. I felt lyk disappearing at dat point. After d exams nko. Come nd hear coments nw..nd d most anoying nd embarasing but stupid was “omo dis ur phone fit cause hold up oo”. At dat point I knew I was due for an upgrade
On a normal good day, the class should be loud and noisy, i still wonder why that day wasn’t ‘a normal good day’ beause unusually the class was so quiet that all the grave yards around got jealous. I never saw that as an omious sign. I had always been careful with my ‘unique’ phone, always putting it on silence before entering any lecture room, but on that faithful day i guess i forgot. Back in the lecture room the lecturer was analysing a literary text and that was when my beloveth mom choose to call. I can still remember the ring tone: All of my life by Phil collins. All eyes turned and got fixed on me in a lecture room where nothing less than 800 students were sitted. I thought it couldn’t be worse, but i was wrong. The lecturer, being one who love to have fun and make fun of others, called me out in front of the class and hightened my disgrace. I then silenced the phone, put it in my back pocket and went back to my sit. After the class, i realised that i had sat on the phone and the screen got broken. But yet the phone was still working as i could receive calls and half of the screen was showing. I put it back in my pocket and hurried to my room so share the story with my room mates. Then it began to rain, no problem for me since my phone was tucked in my pocket. When i got to my room, as i was narrating my experience to my roomies i brought out the phone only to find it of and it refused to come on. That day i was filled with mixed feelings, embaraced by my phone but yet i felt relive of some sort knowing it would never happen again. This is my story and it is as true as it can get, i was in my first year and first semester in school. After that day i became popular in a weird way. People just didn’t want to for get the quiet class.
@ Innocent, I remember back then in school too. I was lucky to use a phone in my first year but guess what, i could only get network in the academic area but not in the hostel. so i had to give my parents a particular time to call me. But any time any other person called me and i was in the hostel, i would have to climb up my bunk, tip toe and place my hand on the ceiling to hear clearly like the network was hiding there. sometimes, i would have to run to the end of the hostel where there were usually stinking ‘shut-put’ in order to receive my calls. You know those times we girls had many scopers as jambites. But gonna those days and thanks to network providers then too that added to our ordeal.
Yeah, this happened in 2009, at a time in that year, the Nokia 5330 DSTV Mobile phone was out in Nigeria, also there was free subscription to watch the Premier league, Big Brother and so on..Well I didn’t have enough money to buy one at that time so I acquired a counterfeit China phone that had TV, thinking it had the same DSTV function. On a certain day, I saw my friend who had the DSTV phone and was showing off with it, I also told him ‘guy me sef get phone wey the watch tv naw’ and wanted to see it sha, when I brought it out he had a BIG LAFF, I was so embarassed mehn. The phone had a big antenna and the stations were not even clear. Though I enjoyed the phone for some months, later the phone got spoilted…anyways my friend gave me some money which I added some more to get my own Nokia 5330 Phone. Yaaaay!!!!
I saw a ladies pic online and after browsing her profile we got talking and she eventually gave me her number, I was so happy afterwards and I called her everyday and night. I usually load her line with 750mtn 2times a week and sometimes once. After 3months I decided to travel to Abuja to see her. When I got there i was shocked to meet a man in the hotel she claimed she booked for both of us… It was a man I was talking to all along… He was using a CHINA PHONE that can change a mans voice to sound like a woman.. I felt so foolish…and he was laughing and just could not stop laughing. #TrueStory
my motorola talkabout fall my hand.
SMH for myself. I can never forget my own experience with all these chinko fones. But come to think of it, why do all these people have such a large market in Nigeria? Does it mean we are poor or I am poor? There was this guy that has been scoping me for some time and i was really taking my time with him. He was an American based guy though. He invited me out for dinner in an exquisite hotel which i pleasurably went with him. I had my chinko phone in my bag and i forgot to silent it so i could have a record of my missed calls or better still, switch it off. On this fateful afternoon, we settled down for lunch, feeling cool with myself because i knew myself i was beautifully dressed with a cheap chinko phone in my bag that must not ring out. As we started enjoying our meal, suddenly the phone rang in such an alarming way that scared heaven out of me myself because i had totally forgotten about the phone in my bag myself. My suitor lost control with fear, jumped up as he broke the glass of champagne by his side. I was really embarrassed and told him it was my phone that rang that I was sorry. He was sore with pains and asked, ” You mean you mean you also use that godforsaken cheap and loud phone? Why dint you just tell me to get you a phone when i was coming?” Imagine that disgrace. A guy i dint want to appear to as cheap or running after his money. I could not share my experience with anyone o and i hope the guy did not as well.
Mehnnnn!!!!!!!!!!! This is going down the memory lane o. I remember when those chinko phones first came out. Am sure those of us that used that phone must have felt cool with ourselves and on top of the world till it disgraced us at one point or the other. Mine was at the cinema where i was supposed to switch off my phone but because even Heaven knew that i was due for a change, I forgot to. Right in the middle of the movie with my newest babe beside me that respected me so much and i knew it, off the phone went with “Iwe nle mi, iwe nle mi” meaning book is pursuing me as my ringing tone. I got the tone from my friends in school during our exams cos i found it hilarious. And this made me a laughing stock that day. I appeared like an illiterate and a nuisance. I then got stock on how to bring out to switch it off as it would get louder. I just kept a straight face and started thinking how I would apologize to my babe. I got home that day and off the phone went on the wall. I smashed it myself! It was even old anyways.
Hahaha didn’t have cash † buy a fancy fone but always wanted a fone that played music , ♏Ɣ sisters loved ♏Ɣ new china fone with 3 sims even ♏Ɣ Dad bcos Ʊ can actually hear it play from outside . !but the terrible thing was that d ☎ ever since I bought it, it had charging problems that is I had † leave it in d charger .one day I met this guy we talked and fixed a date.he asked ♏ε̲̣̣̣̥ † come meet him at airport road 7 and 8 busstop . On gettin there I tot I ws going † find him at the busstop but lo and behold he ws nt there bcos he ws expectin $e † call him but ♏Ɣ stupid ☎ ws off. I quickly walked into one shop † beg them † help ♏ε̲̣̣̣̥ charge,checking ♏Ɣ bag I discovered I had d wrong charger I almost cried had † beg the lady † borrow ♏ε̲̣̣̣̥ her fone so I could put ♏Ɣ sim. I called him he came and d babe ws his sister I almost fainted. After all ♏Ɣ ajebo forming na chinko I d̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ use.=))º°˚˚˚°ºнaħaнaº°˚˚˚°º=))
My phone battery is supported by a rubber band and am proud of it cos i cant afford black berry yet.
i never used a counterfeit phone but ve gotten embarrassed for others a couple of times. lolllzzzz
This is HORRIBLE competition! While I’m an advocate of ambition and hardwork, one should not be embarrased of the little they can afford. I used to have a china phone and I carried it with me everywhere with a big freakin’ smile! And if anyone insulted my phone, I insulted their father’s and their mother’s phone. I can afford a nice phone now, but as a young adult I refused to be embarrassed bcz my parents werent wealthy And Shame on You razz girl who wrote this story!!! Is it ok to depend on a man for stuff? Bcz u cldnt possibly get a nokia phone u had to ask a taoster? What services were required to pay for that phone? Shame!!! U r a terrible role model and I hope to God u don’t have a younger sister. Nonsense!!!
hehehehehe this is a very interesting write up. just a few days ago i nearly fell for a ‘china’ nokia E5. if not that i knew the features of the original phone, i would have fallen. it’s quite amazing the number of people who use ‘china’ phones and feel they are using the real thing
2009 I traveled to imo state for a burial,somehow I misplace my original nokia phone. So I was looking for a long lasting battery phone like nokia and I was having #20,000 naira with me,a guy brought a very beautiful phone with 2 sims but without battery for 15k but I price it for 12k and the guy sold it to me hoping to get the battery soon..I searched for the battery throughout the whole east but couldn’t get it so I said when I get to lagos (computer village) I’ll get it..u won’t believe it that up till date I can’t find that shining but useless china nokia’s battery…i later went to nokia office to buy the original battery for my shining and beautiful nonsense nokia but on getting there they said my phone is nokia…I was shocked…
counterfeit phone … won po .. repete and i can remember one phone i never liked my dad bought it for me immediately i finished secondary school. i boated to all my friends that i have a new phone not knowing that it had the loudest ring tone on planet earth and the my dad used to monitor me with that phone. he calls me at odd times … most especially when im with my friends … i get embarrassed and most times i say it is alarm ..lol!!! i will never forget that phone
menh i really felt bad when my start messing up, and i dont have enough money to get another phone,and i was xpecting very important call that very day, not untill my phon e fucked me demn up.
counterfeit phone … won po .. repete and i can remember one phone i never liked my dad bought it for me immediately i finished secondary school. i boated to all my friends that i have a new phone not knowing that it had the loudest ring tone on planet earth and the my dad used to monitor me with that phone. he calls me at odd times … most especially when im with my friends … i get embarrassed and most times i say it is alarm ..lol!!! i will never forget that phone, it’s a bad thing spending money on a bad phone
it was so nasty for finding it so difficult making a call with my cell phone,there are a lot of counterfeit phone out side there, so you have to be carefull when buying a phone.
i couldn’t believe the very last experience, that i had why i bought a very new flashing cell phone, to my greatest surprise, i just used the phone to receive a call ones and it stop working NOKIA E65. i felt very disappointed that day.and not having enough money in to buy another phone.
@charles obi…..even the phone that am still using now is now is messing up, just having battery problem NOKIAA express music
Life hasn’t been d same ever since i lost my ‘Sweet Arabian Lover’ :'(, thats what i called her, my beautiful ,slim, sleek & sophisticated nokia e55 my aunt got me when she went 2 Dubai, thats why i called her my arabian princess. Now i’m cursed with this China phone that can allegedly has every single feature a phone can hav but not implement any correctly. Browser that never opens, ringtone that freaks me d hell out, network that’s always disappearing, radio thats never clear, colours on d screen thats too bright, battery that never lasts.
I’m tired of nearly burstin everyone’s eardrums drums around me anytime my phone rings, tired of that sharp pain i feel in my ear after receiving a phone call, tired of not being able 2 access internet wit my phone. I know just how to get rid of this phone…the next time someone pisses me off..i know just the right object i should throw at them ….yours sincerely angry china phone user 😐
What a sad xperience…was in a party @d school hall….and was announced @ a point in time dat students without blackberry shud fall out…and me as a sure guy av been walking up to a gal…wu had a blackberry fone…after dis announcement…i had to lied to dis gurl dat i had an appointment outside d skool….d gurl knew i dont av dat fone…as i was leaving she laffed and turned away…..i tried to husstle to get a new fone and unknwingly i came accross a fone china blackberry for 10thousand…i was happy..a month later same fin happuned…@ d same spot and with d same gurl…i was confident and waited…d gurl was wondering…and chekd my fone…she laffed her pants off…and called d audience to tell dem wat a was callling a blackberry….@ dat moment som huge guys came to bully me out of d hall…i was so ashamed…dat news got spread and since den i neva wanted to meet dat girl….wat a disgrace within d school….
my experience is really funny,bt painful…i liv in ikeja,lagos…my story goes lyk dis..i ws usin a red,beautiful Nokia E63,i hv bin usin it 4 2yrs nw bt suddenly it strted givin me prblems.i wuld charge it 4 gud 2-3 hours bt yet d battery wnt even as much as shw any sign of it bin charged 4 dat long.so i sold it 4 15K and i decided 2 go get a new phone at computer village on getin der i met a guy,u knw all dis guys wit stolen phones willing 2 sell at any amount…so dis guy shwed me a replica of dat my phone i sold and due 2 d luv i had developed 4 my Nokia E63 i decided 2 buy it 4 7K.deep inside of me,i ws fuckin elated getin a phone of dat model 4 such a price…i tested it,since i ws already aquinted wit d kind of phone i knew wer and wer 2 check.afta dat i checked d battery,all ws gud and sound,i pocketed it and wnt home hapilly…on getin home,i tried putin it on,bt 2 no avail,i plugged it on in oda 2 charge it a lil,b4 switching it on all stil 2 no avail.den i decided 2 check and change d battery,low and behold on opening d bck cover,instead of me seeing a Nokia battery,i sw a wel Shaped FUFU as my battery….TRUE STORY
2009 I traveled to imo state for a burial,somehow I misplace my original nokia phone. So I was looking for a long lasting battery phone like nokia and I was having #20,000 naira with me,a guy brought a very beautiful phone with 2 sims but without battery for 15k but I price it for 12k and the guy sold it to me hoping to get the battery soon..I searched for the battery throughout the whole east but couldn’t get it so I said when I get to lagos (computer village) I’ll get it..u won’t believe it that up till date I can’t find that shining but useless china nokia’s battery…i later went to nokia office to buy the original battery for my shining and beautiful nonsense nokia but on getting there they said my nokia phone is not nokia…I was shocked…
dis my own case turned out 2 b a blessing 4 me smhow….if y’all knw,dos xpress music nokia fones na dem get chinko cameo pass…afta my 2100 wz stolen,i sey mk i upgrade o!na so i go computer village…ended up wit d xpress music fone o(d ones wit d play,next,etc..buttons on d syd)..i dey hapi sey beta fone don land….straightaway i went 2 airtel office @ adeniran ogunsanya 4 gprs settings….as a big boi,i dey proud,dey buga big tym….n on dt faithful day cm n c d queue @ dt place…so we were dispatchd in2 groups….sim swap oneside,gprs settings oneside etc……trust d gprs side na,cm c chics n guyz,sm wit laptops,sm wit fones…since mine wz new na(tear rubber)i dey show…we were tld 2 cm in 2’s…..na 1 chic pair wit me o!…it got 2 our turn,so we went in…i wz attended 2 1st…i gave my brand new xpress music 2 d agent dere n straightaway d guy tld me my fone wz fake…i almost fight d guy o!as we dey argue,laff wan kill d chic wey we enta 2gether….until d guy tried showin me d serial no n yr of production of my fone which wz bringin out error!!error!!dt chic ddnt stop laffin…i felt rili embarrassed…i walkd out wit ma head down….i wan cry!!!had 2 save moni…n guez wat …i vex go buy E72…mk i no c dt chic again o!
my first phone was a nokia phone i will never forget … the experience was bad and i mean really bad … i borrowed my friend my phone to use for a day and when she returned it .. i started seeing that something was wrong with it . first the keypad and later battery life … and i thought it was all phones that was like that .. cos it was my first phone and a nokia phone for that matter. i was pissed
the very first phone i bought was not it at all … it was d worse phone i ever got … i threw it at the end of the day .. it was just useless
My story is not a long one, and it’s sad it had to do with the Nokia brand, but then it definitely had to be counterfeit, as I have a colleague who is still using the same model of phone since 2007.
If memory serves me right, we both the phone the same month (March 2007), and I was excited to have the Nokia 6280. “Don’t forget to charge it for 6 hours before you put it on” – the salesman told, and I nodded in excitement. This was my first ‘big’ phone.
Cut the story short! I charged for a little more 6 hours and then used the phone for a little less than 6 weeks before it crashed. Crashed? How? Let’s just say, the phone wouldn’t come on again after getting a new battery, and a visit to the phone shop.
Thank God for warranty right? Well, to my utmost surprise, it couldn’t be covered, as it “fell” into water and was my fault. To the best of my knowledge, that phone has not settled or entered any element from the hydrosphere – aside atmospheric H20 of course.
Well, that’s my experience, but still a big fan on Nokia. Did use the 3310 before this event, and have used about 2 other Nokia phones afterwards – Nokia N1208, Nokia 6500 (slide). So is it time to get back on the Nokia train? Well, you decide.
My experience was my fault, i had a small nokia phone an i want to up grade myself so i went for less money more function and after some weeks my less money phone died,and am left with no phone,and i have to travel with my friends,and i have no money to get a phone, i was able get a very embarrasing phone from a friend all through our journey,my phone is swiched off,i keep my phone inside my bag an when i need to call i sneak out and move far away from my friend to call, so sad!! but now am now managing a nokia c1.