Difference between in-store and online mobile phone contract deals!

moneymogul

Is it just me? I can see no advantage in buying a phone in a shop (especially Phones4u and Carphone Warehouse) if you are buying a contract, as the best deals with more minutes and texts are usually online direct from the network's website!? My O2 contract is MUCH better value than what people get in the shops - I get 400 mins and 1000 texts and unlimited O2-to-O2 calls all for £30, whereas if you buy from Carphone Warehouse, Phones4u or directly from a network's high street shop, it's just 400 mins, 500 texts and that's it.

Am I missing something? Is it just the cashback deals, etc that make Phones4u and Carphone Warehouse attractive or is it the ignorance of consumers as to what they could get if they went online.

Just curious

ssgtsnelly

If you buy it from a shop you get a personal service and not a machine, and imn sure ill be corrected if im wrong, i know 3 def do it and i believe O2 still do but if you order online and anything gos wrong you cant just go to a store and expect them to change the phone etc. you would be required to go back through the channel you got it from

Crazy_Jamie

ssgtsnelly wrote: »

If you buy it from a shop you get a personal service and not a machine, and imn sure ill be corrected if im wrong, i know 3 def do it and i believe O2 still do but if you order online and anything gos wrong you cant just go to a store and expect them to change the phone etc. you would be required to go back through the channel you got it from

That is true. Often the in store and online services are different companies.

As has been said, some people just prefer the personal touch.

moneymogul

Yeah, O2 Online and High Street do communicate but are run separately as far as I am aware. I suppose at least there is a market for both!

hens00

ssgtsnelly wrote: »

If you buy it from a shop you get a personal service and not a machine

I guess it depends if you like being pounced on by an extremely cheesy sales assistant the moment you walk through the shop door :rolleyes:

diamonds

o2 used to sort online problems at a o2 store