Calmly and without saying a word, I meticulously began auditing document with a subtle yet very real sense of rage building from within. Concluding that statement was indeed accurate and determined to never let this happen again, I went down to local outlet and proceeded to inform representative that I would no longer be needing their services.

Smiling and remaining completely cool, guy told me what we have all heard at one time or another when dealing with our cell phone provider: “You realize that you are still under contract and that there will be a penalty for canceling service with us.”

Four hundred dollars later (200 hundred for bill and another 200 for canceling contract), I walked out of store and thought to myself I would never get another cell phones!

But, like it or not, I ultimately discovered that I simply could not do this. I had come to honestly need a cell phone, be it for my work or just in case of an emergency, I simply could not do without one.

Peggy Smedley is editor of Start Magazine and will also address PRONTO North America Users Conference on Thursday, May 5th. Smedley was recently profiled in Wall Street Journal and authored Mending Manufacturing, How America Can Manufacture its Survival. She is an award-winning journalist.

Tom Verzi, Director of Marketing for PRONTO North America, expressed his delight with both speakers, “We are thrilled to have both Peggy Smedley and TR Cutler address our first PRONTO North America Users Conference. Both are distinguished journalists in manufacturing sector and will provide great insight to our customers.”