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Cape Town - Your heart sinks as you watch your new smartphone falls to hard concrete.
It seems to happen in slow motion, and you hope against hope that it will be all right when you pick it up. But the familiar spider web display greets you.
This is the scenario that often haunts smartphone owners who are reduced to misery when their touch screen devices get hurt.
According to a US survey by Protect Your Bubble, most smartphone damage occurs in the driveway or garage and in the bathroom.
The survey found that men are generally more careless with the gadgets, while in terms of age group, 18 - 24 year olds are more likely to have their devices stolen.
Here are some tips to ensure your smartphone lives for (a little bit) longer:
Get a cover
Sure, they don't look sexy and if you're militant about having people see the brand, covers don't work too well. But a cover keeps your phone alive.
This iPhone 5c cover doubles as a stand. (Duncan Alfreds, Fin24)
Most major branded smartphones have covers specifically built for them and some covers even double as stands so that you can use your smartphone as a tiny TV.
This HTC One (M8) comes with a cover in the box. (Duncan Alfreds, Fin24)
For minimal protection, you can buy a screen protector which should prevent scratches on the display, but is unlikely to take the brunt of a fall.
Get Insurance
Most operators offer insurance with your new smartphone so that if any disaster happens, you’ll be covered when you walk out of the store.
This cover can be expensive and it's worth your while to investigate how much it will cost you to add your phone to your household content insurance.
This Motorola didn't survive a swim. (Duncan Alfreds, Fin24)
Some retailers offer varying insurance packages for your smartphone and though you may balk at the price, it's often far less than replacing your device, let alone if you've lost important data as well.
There is usually a small premium, but the cover is often comprehensive and includes protection even if your phone is stolen out of your car, for example.
Get tracking
Thieves have identified smartphones as easy targets to swipe. Many people walk in shopping malls or down the street, transfixed by their little screens and unaware of potential threats around them.
If you're walking among crowds and you hear your message tone, retreat to a secure area before checking your phone. It's easy for thieves to snatch your phone from you in a crowd and vanish before you even have time to react.
Because of the cost, a number of people continue using their smartphones even after damage. (Duncan Alfreds, Fin24)
Install a GPS-based tracking application on your phone. These usually run in stealth mode and in addition to the location of the device, some applications allow you to listen in using the microphone, take pictures with either the main or secondary camera, or even wipe all your data off the device.
However, even if you know the location of your phone, don't be a hero and rush in to rescue it. There may not be a happy-ever-after on the other side of that adventure.
Modern smartphones have a long way to go before they will ever be as robust as the legendary Nokia 3310, but for folks who work their devices hard (or who are extremely clumsy), they may consider the Caterpillar or Pro-Smart range of impact resistant phones.
These are built to withstand impact, though they may not be as well-specced as the latest models.
Do you have a smartphone horror story with a picture? Let us know.
- Follow Duncan on Twitter
