UK Mobile Phone Market...Please provide feedback...

kenix_2

Hi Guys and Gals...

I would appreciate very much if anyone of you could provide me feedback of UK mobile phone market.

I am online retailer for mobile phones and other electronics. I understand that UK phones usually come with 12 moths contract. I am wondering if there is a market for me selling mobile phones in UK, as i only sell phones.

Anyone from UK will consider just buying phone? Or you guys prefer to sign up contracts and get the phone with the contract?

How's mobile phones price in UK? Perhaps could just quote me few prices for the hottest phones now?

Thanks a great lot!

phil999_2

most people buy contracts as they get the phones for free. what i did is an exampe

SE W800i free

contract £30 for 12 months (including 200 any network minutes + 100 txt's)

- 9 months cashback
- £45 cashback from quidco (cashback site)

So the contract will have cost me a cost of £45

kenix_2

Hi Phil...

So almost no one will just purchase the phone alone? god...looks like it is difficult to sell phones in UK.

How about mobile phones accessories like faceplates, etc...? Are they cheap in UK?

pin

I suggest you get a copy of the trade rag. There is one for mobile phones. Can't remember what it is called at present. However someone like you in your line of work should be able to find out pretty easily.

kenix_2

gizmoleeds wrote:

Have a look on ebay for the kinds of prices sim-free phones sell for in the UK - have you considered selling via ebay? Where do you get the phones from?

Yeap...i did thought of selling via ebay. For UK market, is it possible to get good selling price if i offer nochex and moneybookers as payment method and don't offer paypal? Coz there are so many false chargebacks for paypal.

I get my mobile phones supply from Hong Kong...

redux

Most UK customers would want to buy from within the country, partly as contracts include a phone anyway and you are unlikely to be able to supply contracts, partly as they would have better warranty support and no issues about different specifications, accessories and so on.

seaniboy

yip compared to most of the world we are spoilt by our networks - they fight for us like cat and dog, why ? well the £ is a bloody strong currency and all our networks bar Vodafone are not UK owned, we prop up a few "mother" companies


Op Owner Country
Three, Hutchison Telecom, Hong Kong
T-mobile, Deutch Telecom, Germany
Orange, France Telecom, ( self-explanatory! lol )
02, Telefonica, Spain

pin

seaniboy wrote:

yip compared to most of the world we are spoilt by our networks - they fight for us like cat and dog, why ? well the £ is a bloody strong currency and all our networks bar Vodafone are not UK owned, we prop up a few "mother" companies


Op Owner Country
Three, Hutchison Telecom, Hong Kong
T-mobile, Deutch Telecom, Germany
Orange, France Telecom, ( self-explanatory! lol )
02, Telefonica, Spain

You forgot Virgin (which is kinda UK owned, but shares traded in the US through ownership via NTL).

kenix_2

Are there any UK buyers that are thinking of changing phones in between contracts? Is it expensive to buying just the phone alone without contract in UK?

If i sell phones that do come with 12 months warranty, it is just that buyers would have to send back to my company for warranty claim, does this work?

z4kir

If you are looking to sell on eBay take a look at the completed listings, very helpful for giving an indication on what price they will get when selling anything on eBay.

There is definitely a market out here.. but the main concern would be the warranty procedure.. I would rather take my phone to an authorised repair service rather than send it across the globe.

Road_Hog

kenix wrote: »

Are there any UK buyers that are thinking of changing phones in between contracts? Is it expensive to buying just the phone alone without contract in UK?

I think you have been misled by some of the replies. There is a huge market for phones without contract in the UK. They're non a PAYG (pay as you go) and are generally locked to a sevice provider who in turn subsidises the handset to the retailer.

This makes the handset cheaper in comparison to sim free mobiles. This creates the huge unlocking market in the UK for people who buy the phone and then decided they want to use it on another network. There are also a number of people who are on contract and want ot change their phone mid contract or there service provider just doesn't offer the model they want.

The UK is a competitive market with basic Nokias such as the 1100, 1110, 1112 selling for £20 to £25.