Cheapest Mobile deals for all models

triffid68

Hi all.
My first post on here. What I think is very odd is why on earth people use places like The Link and the Carphonewarehouse to name but two. I have been checking for nigh on 3 years now and the deals are always better through dealing direct with Vodafone, T-Mobile ect. For example I would have to pay at least £100 - £150 more for the same deal on a W900i that I have just negotiated than by not dealing direct.

Surely people should realise that the mobile companies like Vodafone, T-mobile et al, don't mind how they sell their mobiles as they will be getting extra advertising through middlemen like The Link and Carphonewarehouse. But I for one don't want to pay anything extra on top of the monthly fee, that effectively becomes the aforementioned companies 'commission'. If anyone doesn't agree I would be happy to elaborate more!.

Rob

gk172

I dont agree sorry, my 2 vodafone contracts were up and when i spoke to the network i was offered the n70 for £100 when on looking at the high street shops i could have got it free and some even with free line rental, i ended up going via phones 4u for one of the replacements as vodafone didnt stock the 6111 in pink and 02 online for the other 6270. It seems to be hit or miss regarding where's the best deal and when as sometime networks are best for renewal deals and sometime they offer nothing.

triffid68

In reply:
To get a free phone:
Nokia N70 - Phones4u = £35* 18 month - Flext35 (T-mobile) Total cost = £630
T-Mobile = £26.25*18 month - Flext35 (as above) T.C = £472.50
Vodafone = £30 *18 month - Anytime 200 = £540

Nokia 6111 - Phones4u = £40 *12month - 2G Anytime 350 = £480
T-mobile = £26.25*12month - 500 mins / 200 txt = £315!!

I cannot for the life of me find a better deal by not going direct.

All I'm saying is that if look at any deal that you get from Phones4u, Carphonewarehouse or The Link online the deals are not as good. I'm surprised that you found it cheaper instore. If you look at any of todays popular phones you'll see that middlemen like The Link and the Carphonewarehouse and Phones4u you'll pay extra and It'd be great if I was proved wrong!!

ka7e

Most people who are seriously interested in money-saving would agree - straightforward instore deals may be more expensive than buying direct. But when you consider the cashback deals offered by HighSt/online dealers they don't look so bad.

eg Carphone Warehouse offer the Nokia 6111 on T-mobile Relax35 with 12 months half-price rental = £210. That's £105 cheaper (annual cost) than T-mobile direct.

triffid68

Ok but you have to look at how long you are tied in e.g 12 or 18 months and if its a like for like deal. Maybe shops have 'loss-leaders' like this so that there is interest in the store (a bit like a supermarket doing offers but having generally higher prices). Maybe the store is after publicity by advertising a cashback deal - they know that most people will be enticed to look at other more popular phones at a premium price.

I started this thread because I spent a long time looking at all the online retailers for their prices for a Sony W900i, a Nokia N70 or a Sony W810i. In all of my cases I noticed that the direct sellers had money-off offers (e.g T-mobile) and you always (in my experience) have to pay less upfront to acquire the phone!.

gk172

triffid68 wrote:

In reply:
To get a free phone:
Nokia N70 - Phones4u = £35* 18 month - Flext35 (T-mobile) Total cost = £630
T-Mobile = £26.25*18 month - Flext35 (as above) T.C = £472.50
Vodafone = £30 *18 month - Anytime 200 = £540

Nokia 6111 - Phones4u = £40 *12month - 2G Anytime 350 = £480
T-mobile = £26.25*12month - 500 mins / 200 txt = £315!!

I cannot for the life of me find a better deal by not going direct.

All I'm saying is that if look at any deal that you get from Phones4u, Carphonewarehouse or The Link online the deals are not as good. I'm surprised that you found it cheaper instore. If you look at any of todays popular phones you'll see that middlemen like The Link and the Carphonewarehouse and Phones4u you'll pay extra and It'd be great if I was proved wrong!!

At the time vodafone wanted £100 plus 18x£30 = £640 and i could have got it free on a 12x£30=£360 but i opted for the 6270 12x£30 = £360.

Phones 4u and the Pink 6111 was got for £16x12 = £192 no cashback :j

wlfc1

Nokia 6111 - Phones4u = £40 *12month - 2G Anytime 350 = £480
T-mobile = £26.25*12month - 500 mins / 200 txt = £315!!


why not go to the onestop phone shop, same phone, same tarrif = £17.50pm or £210 pa

seanparkin

It really really does depend on individual circumstances, and individual personalities. There is no right or wrong, black or white. Everyone is a different shade.

In general, it is usually best to go direct to the operators when you are after a newly released (ie. expensive) phone, on a relatively low user tariff.

Likewise, it is usually best to go to a third party retailer, firstly if you don't mind cashback, and secondly if you're not after the latest handset (or are after a higher user tariff).

EG, if you go direct to o2, you can get the v3x for free on a £19 a month tariff. (eg new handset, low user tariff) Thats near on impossible to beat from a third party retailer BECAUSE there is practically no margin for o2 on that. Any third party would have to add their margin into that which would bump the cost above what o2 can offer.

But, if you wanted say, a V3 on o2 200, you can get it for a fraction of the price after cashback from a third party because there is a big profit margin in that handset that they can take their comission out of, and hand the rest back as cashback.

normal

wlfc1 wrote:

Nokia 6111 - Phones4u = £40 *12month - 2G Anytime 350 = £480
T-mobile = £26.25*12month - 500 mins / 200 txt = £315!!


why not go to the onestop phone shop, same phone, same tarrif = £17.50pm or £210 pa

NOOOOOOO! :eek:

Never ever go there! Promise me! They are THE worst online retailer in the world. I don't care if they're owned by CPW, they are truely appalling.

As to the rest of the arguement. No rule applies at all. You just have to shop around for the best deal. The networks sometimes offer the best deal online, sometimes in their shops, but then the high st or online dealers sometimes offer the best deals.
The only true point is if you can't be bothered with cash backs then 9 times out of 10 you're better off with the networks. Saying that, you can still get an ipod, PSP or Xbox 360 from a dealer without having to claim anything.
The one criminal thing to do is to stay with the same network all the time without at least haggling at the end of each contract for a better deal. Me? I change networks all the time as it's normally the best deal for me.
My conclusion?

gk172

normal wrote:

As to the rest of the arguement. No rule applies at all. You just have to shop around for the best deal. The networks sometimes offer the best deal online, sometimes in their shops, but then the high st or online dealers sometimes offer the best deals.
The only true point is if you can't be bothered with cash backs then 9 times out of 10 you're better off with the networks. Saying that, you can still get an ipod, PSP or Xbox 360 from a dealer without having to claim anything.
The one criminal thing to do is to stay with the same network all the time without at least haggling at the end of each contract for a better deal. Me? I change networks all the time as it's normally the best deal for me.
My conclusion?

I totally agree with you no rule applies, pick you phone and decide how many mins and look and look even wait a few weeks if necessary, i waited a few months to go my 6111 (pink) as i wanted it unlocked to use it on 02 and i refused to fork out the £30 a month and claim cashback so i waited and kept in touch with staff in P4U and got the call it was available and on the 02 25 mins tariff £16 a month which i couldnt find online anywhere but yet my other 6270 was network direct. So do your homework and search.

I know of some people who like to stay with the network and keep there number (porting too difficult) and take whatever free phone the network offer, whereas i text everyone every year or 2 with my number or call them as i go with the best deal that suits me and my pocket.