Is it just me or do pay phones seem to be disappearing?

Question

I forgot my cell phone at home one day when I was downtown & needed to make an urgent call,I walked for blocks in & out of malls & past many corners,then came upon a direct Taxi line & returned home quickly to make that call

Answer 1

It's not you- they are disappearing, because most people have cell phones. They are no longer cost effective for the people who own and maintain them.

Answer 2

No ... they are just in what people are supposed known locations. in New york they are where they have always been but there are a few less, they are still valuable advertising space. In a mall though you would have better luck finding a directory. The bathrooms and the exits are where most of the phones are and they are usually located in a group. But yeah there are probably a lot less working ones, but they should work... I have needed them in an emergency before.  

Answer 3

theres really no need for them anymore since about 85% of americans have a cell phone nowadays.

Answer 4

no, I never see them around any more.  

Answer 5

Pay phones started to disappear several years ago when the telephone companies indicated they were costing too much to maintain, plus everyone was switching to cell phones.  Also disappearing are roadside emergency phones that were all the rage about 15-20 years ago, the pre-cellphone era.

Answer 6

They seem to be a thing of the past.  10 years ago I had a hard time finding one...today if I forget my cell phone  I just do with out!

Answer 7

OMG! You're disappearing too!

I thought it was just me! As a matter of fact, I'm disappearing as I ty

Answer 8

Seems so.

Alot of old things are disappearing.

Answer 9

Yes, they are!!! The telephone companies do not want to pay for the maintenance it takes to keep a pay phone operating, which includes collecting the change, staffing operators, and making sure the equipment is working.

Answer 10

Yea it does seem like they are disappearing!

someone else might say the same thing too

Answer 11

This is true.  Payphones will be as extinct as black and white TV's are today.  If you really need a phone, just ask anyone, someone is bound to let you use their phone.  

Answer 12

I think they are. Where I live there used to be a whole lot more of them than they are now.

Answer 13

It's the same in Australia everyone is using mobiles now.

Answer 14

They ARE!!! it bugs me even though i don't use them. but why didn't you just ask to borrow someones....it might have worked. i would have done that.

Answer 15

they are no one seems to need them anymore due to the fact everyone has cell phones!!

Answer 16

yup, over here in England there's barely any left... Sad really.

Answer 17

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa i no its so weird last winter i was in mountain high n i wnt to a restraunt n askd 2 use ther pay fone they jst laughd at me n said we dnt hav pay fones i was like weird...................  

Answer 18

You are so right! I noticed that too, it's like they've all disappeared. They probably think that almost everyone is carrying a cell phone now so the Phone Companies were not making any money from having phone booths. Perhaps that's why there are so few of them? :)

Answer 19

You are so right! Whether you are going to restaurants, stores, even libraries, you will see empty cubicals where pay phones used to be.

Answer 20

yes they r

they r not worth the money

everyone has a cell fone and if u need to make a call and dont have one look for a decent looking stranger and ask them to u there fone

Answer 21

Nope, it's not just you. Pay phones are going the way of the dinosaur. This past Spring, I had a helluva time finding payphones when I was vacationing in L.A. and Phoenix.

I don't like that idea of no pay phones at all. Why do they presume everyone has a cell phone? What if we don't WANT a cell phone or there's an emergency?

Answer 22

You are right they are disappearing. I guess they figure out everyone will have cell phones on them. I know of one in my neighborhood and see kind of poor looking people using it all the time.  

Answer 23

yeah mostly no one needs pay phones anymore.

Answer 24

I notice that also.

Answer 25

Yes they are disappearing!! Don't forget your cell phone! Or go into a store and ask to use their phone or ask a random person. Usually they'll let you :)

Answer 26

You are so right. They are disappearing. People actually are breaking into the money boxes. They are too expensive to maintain. Try not to forget your c=pnone next time. HA HA

Answer 27

i dont think they are disappearing, I think that when i new store, etc. open up they probably pass on getting one because they assume that everyone owns a cell phone. which is stupid. but anything to cut back on costs

Answer 28

There are very few left. As the majority  own a cell phone.

I think they need to leave them, as like for you emergency's do happen.

And not everyone can afford a cell

edit:ok so you don't like the answers .

I am calling Clark Kent to come make you disappear, if he can find a phone booth to change in...ggrrrr