I have an AT&T cordless that has been in use for over 30 years. The batteries have been changed once or twice, and the buttons are getting a bit stiff, but it works and has better fidelity than the newer phones. It also is big enough you can tuck it under your ear/chin for hands-free operation.
Trivia: it’s the model they used on-camera in Friends.
I worked for BestBuy for years and was in charge of keeping track of the phones the departments used on a daily basis. These were the phones the departments used 10+ hours a day, off the charging base for prolonged periods, dropped a lot, carried around by employees and used a couple hundred feet from their bases around metal fixtures and a lot of electricity.
These phones were taken directly out of stock (Sony, AT&T, Uniden, Panasonic, VTech, etc.) and department managers were free to choose whatever phone they wanted. I didn’t care, I just kept track of them and wrote them off. If the phone crapped out they brought me the dead one and a new one (of their choice) to replace it.
Didn’t take more than 1 year before every department went to Panasonic. Simply put they just had the best combination of durability, reception, and battery life.
Biggest problem I had with Panasonic was when the battery reached EOL. I could not find a replacement battery & ended up with a Uniden phone in its place.
I have since acquired a Phillips DECT cordless for my office use. Its pretty nice. Less interference with wireless network using that. No feedback on durability yet, though.
[QUOTE=ralph124c]
I ask because all of the ones we’ve bought seem to fail within 2-3 years. We had a great phone (Panasonic), which lasted >7 years-and it was dropped and abused-at the end, it was held together with electricians tape. Since then , we have has several (SONY, GE, SAMSUNG)-and they allseem to break within 3 years.
[/QUOTE]
Why didn’t you just buy another Panasonic?
My Uniden gets dropped onto a concrete floor several times a day. Works great.
[QUOTE=Gary T]
My Uniden gets dropped onto a concrete floor several times a day. Works great.
[/QUOTE]
I sure hope you don’t get carpets.
Another vote for Panasonic. I’ve had a KX-TG2224 for years and haven’t had any problems whatsoever.
[QUOTE=me]
Anyway, I’ve had two good Panasonic cordless phones. I recently had to retire one (with two handsets and built-in answering machine/Caller ID) because we needed more handsets and this one wasn’t expandable. Otherwise it was still working great. I actually miss some of its features that the new phone doesn’t seem to have.
Want it? It’s a Panasonic KX-TG2344B. I’d be happy to mail it to you; I have no further use for it, can’t find anyone who needs one, and just want it to find a good home.
[/QUOTE]
No takers? Last call . . .
[QUOTE=Shayna]
We like our Uniden. Lots of models to pick from.
[/QUOTE]
We’re on our second Uniden. The first one lasted for over 10 years and was wonderful. The weight of the handset is “right” (I cannot* stand* a phone that’s too light). The sound is clear, controls work well, etc.
The one I have now is even better. I have a speaker in the base and then another base and phone in the other room that works off this. And I can add up to 10 additional bases. Also, I can talk for 10 hours or more before the battery craps out on me. Loooove the Uniden! It’s a little more expensive, but worth every penny.