Prepaid experience

Since the roaming charges were going to be very expensive plus the twice billing for smses received, i decided i would bring the extra mobile phone and get a prepaid subscription once i reach SF. No one understood what i meant by prepaid. The majority of Americans who have a cell phone subscription is on postpaid or billing plan. Apparently prepaid is not that widely marketed or known. Edna took me to Clement to try and get the subscription. First shop we went had no clue what i was talking about. Then a friendly stranger suggested one of the general pharmacy stores. The cashier thought i was talking about the IDD call card. I said no, then walked again. Found one shop that sold some handphones and finally a young boy understood what i meant and gave specifics to where i could get a prepaid subscription. After walking down the block, we found it. it was a typical shop like you find in KL, selling phones and subscriptions. However, there is no advertised prepaid pack. We had to wait to be served. The lady immediately understood what i meant but instead of providing infor, asked which service i wld like to subscribe to. Helloo..how would i know how many there are? I didnt do any homework before i left. I told her i had the phone though and she asked to see it. Then she told me that for that model, i had to take T Mobile. And the costs $25 for the sim card and $25 for 130 minutes. Very expensive lah. It worked out to $0.19cts per minute, without taking into account the costs of the card. I topped up once, at the T Mobile shop. But what lousy service. The guy cldnt even advise me how much i should top up, just keep asking me how much i want to buy. Its like i was talking in another language. Give up. So i decided another $25 should last me. I have now left the card with balance air time with Melody. At least it will save the next person the costs of the card.