Mobile contract renewal - High Street or direct from mobile supplier

nickmatthews

My contract is up - time to negotiate a new one!!

I've always got my phone direct from T-Mobile and got some decent deals but now I'm thinking of going through a phone shop (ie:Carphone Warehouse).

Having trawled millions of sites I'm now confused more than ever as to who offers the best deals!! I'm sure they make the sites like that on purpose.

If I go through T-Mobile I seem to get the usual - ie: free phone with mins, texts, internet etc

If I go through a shop I seem to get - free phone, mins, texts, internet plus a PS3 or laptop or TV etc!!!

This can't be right!!! Prices seem similar - yes, some talk about 'cash redemption' (can someone explain that too!!).

On the face of it it appears to go through a shop & get a free gift but as nothing is 'free' can someone tell me some of the catches associated with buying a mobile phone & contract on the high street rather than direct from a tariff supplier???

Cheers

rhodod

dont they normally phone you with their offers?

When my ontract was up i had a few phone calls with theri best deals.

mobilejunkie

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/558661

Maelstrom_2

nickmatthews wrote: »

My contract is up - time to negotiate a new one!!

I've always got my phone direct from T-Mobile and got some decent deals but now I'm thinking of going through a phone shop (ie:Carphone Warehouse).

Having trawled millions of sites I'm now confused more than ever as to who offers the best deals!! I'm sure they make the sites like that on purpose.

If I go through T-Mobile I seem to get the usual - ie: free phone with mins, texts, internet etc

If I go through a shop I seem to get - free phone, mins, texts, internet plus a PS3 or laptop or TV etc!!!

This can't be right!!! Prices seem similar - yes, some talk about 'cash redemption' (can someone explain that too!!).

On the face of it it appears to go through a shop & get a free gift but as nothing is 'free' can someone tell me some of the catches associated with buying a mobile phone & contract on the high street rather than direct from a tariff supplier???

Cheers

Just popped into the Carphone Warehouse to look at these deals.

The trick is to see what the phones normally retail WITHOUT the gifts.
You'll find the phones offering £25/month plus TV/PS3 etc will actually be around £8.50/month without the gifts.
Likewise those on £30/mth + gift are £10/m without.

Seeing you have to sign a 24 month contract you're effectively paying between £396-£480 over that time for gifts that you can buy today for £250.

In a nutshell, these phones are rubbish and you'll be left holding a dinosaur in the eve of 2012.

Guys_Dad

nickmatthews wrote: »

My contract is up - time to negotiate a new one!!

On the face of it it appears to go through a shop & get a free gift but as nothing is 'free' can someone tell me some of the catches associated with buying a mobile phone & contract on the high street rather than direct from a tariff supplier???

Cheers

Remember that there is a difference between buying from a shop and buying on-line. And that is the minute you walk out the shop, you have no right to change your mind. With on-line, you have the benefit of Distance Selling Regulations, but do read a few threads on here about when these don't apply in the first 7 days.

There are some people who swear by cashbacks and are prepared to take on the companies that try to renege. Others just give up and whine. You know what you are like, so that's up to you. In addition, there is also Quidco to save even more.

However, you get nothing for nothing usually and the big "con" with mobile contracts is that you are tied to an air-time contract even though, part way through, your mobile gives up the ghost. Or the "free" lap top. Equally, if the signal is poo in your house - and you will know if you re-sign with your existing supplier - that's no reason to cancel. Nor if you move, nor if you lose your job.

Always compare your needs - not desires - on a sim-only deal and then add on what extra you are paying over the length of the contract for the handset with the freebies you are getting. Also get the best offer from your current network and, depending upon your spend, they may be very generous (mine was and I didn't spend a fortune)

Only you know whether you think you are getting a good deal or not if you choose to pay more than the sim-only price for the same minutes/texts/data.