Why Salsbury Cell Phone Lockers Outperform Yondr Pouches in School Environments
September 18, 2025
Ever since it became the norm for children and teens to have cell phones, kids have been glued to their devices during school hours. It’s hard even to blame them when there are so many shiny distractions available on their phones, like texts, social media, games, and more. Some teachers try to simply instruct their students not to use their phones in class, but many students do so anyway.
While many solutions to this problem have been attempted, two of the most popular options that have emerged are Yondr pouches and Salsbury cell phone lockers. Here we will discuss the promise and pitfalls of pouches, and why lockers are ultimately the stronger investment for schools.
The Promise—and Pitfalls—of Yondr Pouches
When students arrive at the start of the school day, they place their cell phones in Yondr pouches, and teachers and/or administrators use a magnetic device to lock them. The students’ phones remain inaccessible until the pouches are unlocked at the end of the day.
At least, that’s what Yondr promises. In practice, there are many drawbacks to implementing the use of these pouches in schools.
- Cost challenges: Yondr pouches generally cost $25-$30 per student. So in a school of 800 students, the pouches would cost $20,000-$24,000. In 2025, Cincinnati Public Schools spent more than $500,000 on 16,000 Yondr pouches. That’s not to mention the cost of replacing lost pouches, which is substantial. These funds could be used for other improvements to the school, like supplies, lunches for kids from low-income families, and field trips.
- Effectiveness concerns: Since these pouches were introduced in schools, many students have figured out how to tamper with or break them. The kids slam their pouches on the floor, bathroom stalls, or any other hard surface in order to retrieve their phones. The sound carries into classrooms, distracting students. Some kids put burner phones in their pouches so they can keep their actual phones during the school day, or fill their pouches with other decoy content like calculators that imitate the bulk of a cell phone.
- Logistical headaches: Using Yondr pouches in your school means that you need teachers and/or administrators to lock and unlock the phones at the beginning and end of each day. This is not just a strain on funds and resources, but it creates a stressful situation when kids rush to regain access to their phones.
Why Salsbury Cell Phone Lockers Are the Better Alternative
Many students and teachers have become fed up with Yondr pouches. They are costly, easy to break into or tamper with (with students creating loud, distracting noises), and demand school employees’ time and energy to police their use. Fortunately, Salsbury Industries offers cell phone lockers that will keep students off their phones in class without Yondr pouches’ drawbacks.
Here are some of the ways Salsbury cell phone lockers are a better alternative to Yondr pouches:
- Security & Durability. Salsbury cell phone lockers are made of heavy duty aluminum with powder-coated finishes and are built for longevity. Students won’t be able to bang these lockers against the floor and bathroom stalls, creating a ruckus. Lock options include keyed, combination, or resettable locks, which make them far more tamper-resistant than Yondr pouches.
- Versatility & Capacity. Our cell phone lockers are suitable for various settings: middle schools, high schools, universities, and even gyms and clinics. They are available in surface-mounted, recessed-mounted, or free standing configurations. You can customize your lockers to suit your needs with customizable layouts, colors, and door sizes (which include larger “B” doors for tablets and laptops).
- Better Student Focus & Safety. The secure storage you get with Salsbury cell phone lockers deters distraction and theft, promoting focus without daily disruptions. It’s a relief to students that they are still able to use their cell phones in between classes and during emergencies. Cell phone lockers provide relief to many parents, too, who want a way to contact their kids while at school. A lot of students depend on being able to use their phones to coordinate rides from parents. In this way, cell phone lockers differ greatly from Yondr pouches, which render cell phones inaccessible usually throughout the entire day.
- Cost-Effectiveness. Individual cell phone lockers may have a higher initial cost, but their durability and lack of recurring replacement needs result in long-term savings. Kids place their cell phones in the lockers and retrieve them at the end of class, taking the burden off the school staff and reducing their workload. Yondr pouches, on the other hand, require frequent maintenance or replacements.
Real-World Concerns: Lockers vs Space & Congestion
One criticism of cell phone lockers is that they take up much more physical space than pouches and could lead to congestion at pick-up/drop-off zones. Strategically placing lockers in dedicated areas near classrooms and/or staggering collection times can help to manage flow effectively.
Despite taking up space, cell phone lockers are well worth it for the improved security and fewer distractions/disruptions they provide. Schools using Yondr pouches often become noisy and chaotic, while those using Salsbury cell phone lockers enjoy peace and quiet.
No matter what your unique needs are, Salsbury Industries carries cell phone lockers that will perfectly fit your requirements. Surface mounted units mount directly to a surface. Recessed mounted units fit into a rough opening and are secured with mounting hardware through the back or side panels. Our convenient free-standing cell phone locker enclosures are designed to accommodate Salsbury 19100 series recessed mounted cell phone locker units and can easily be situated wherever you would like. Custom cell phone lockers are available as well and come in a wide variety of colors and configurations.
Explore our full lineup of secure, customizable cell phone lockers here. Request a free quote or custom configuration tailored to your school’s layout and needs. Contact our team to discuss volume discounts and fast shipping.
There are many advantages to going with Salsbury cell phone lockers instead of Yondr pouches. Our cell phone lockers provide enhanced security, durability, long-term cost savings, flexibility, and improved classroom focus.
With Salsbury cell phone lockers, teachers won’t have to deal with the constant distraction of cell phones or students trying to break into pouches, and the school will be free of the cost of the pouches and their many necessary replacements. Staff won’t have to waste time locking and unlocking Yondr pouches since kids can use cell phone lockers themselves with their keys or combinations.
Overall, investing in Salsbury cell phone lockers is both a practical and strategic move for schools seeking effective cellphone device management.