Carphone Warehouse & unlocked phones

Kaybenson

sallysaver wrote: »

Hi,
I have just spoken to 'Steven' at CW customer services. He has said that my Asda sim will work in any of their phones as they are all unlocked.!!!!! The only phone they sell locked is the iphone.
Hopefully, his info and that of my fellow MSE's is correct. Thanks to all - Sally

Statement of FACT!

sallysaver

midgetessa wrote: »

You do not need to buy a top-up at Carphone Warehouse when you buy a phone.

Just get them to put it through as an upgrade.

You don't even need to use your own number/network details....anyones will do.

Hi,

Called into CPW this afternoon regarding the Samsung C 3050. The phone would be £50 to buy on its own without -top-up, so clearly it would be better to buy it with the top-up. Phone would be unlocked. She further went on to say, pay with card and you only need to buy £10 top-up, pay with cash and you need to top-up with £20. So even if you throw the £10 top-up out of the window, it is cheaper at £29.90 (inc top-up) than £50 for the phone only. The world's gone mad!!!! Sally

gjchester

Carphone hold stocks of all networks phones in branch, anything wil network branding on the box or phone is likely to be locked.

For Contract phones if a phone is common across networks they probably have generic unlocked stock, so they can keep (say) 5 units in stock rather than 5 units of each networks.
For PAYG it's not as clear it depends on what the phone is and as has been stated where it came from.

For any phone that is exclusive to a network, be it the phone or "for example" a colour option then the phone will have come from a network, and will be pre packaged by the network. It's more likely to be locked than not but thats no guarantee either.

Finally for any given handset on any network it's also 50/50 if it will be locked. Historically Vodafone and 02 never locked contract phones, whereas TM and Orange did. PAYG used to be locked almost all the time but again depoends if you have network brancded stock or someone like CPW has only contract stock they are using up and you get generic stock.


The long and short is the only want to know if it's unlocked it to ask at the point of sale, You simply cannot tell any other way.

It's not hard to see that you could walk into branch 1 to buy a set phone and they have some of the network branded stock in and it's locked, go to branch two and they've run out of branded stock and they got generic stock in instead and you get a unlocked phone.

Kilty_2

I've bought a few "emergency" phones from CPW over the years (cheap bargain basement PAYG like you're looking at) and every single one was in a generic manufacturer branded box and unlocked :beer:

sallysaver

spondon30 wrote: »

Or you could buy it from Mobiles.co.uk (part of CPW). 5p cheaper, £1 more Quidco and states on website - Unlocked Handset will work on any network.

Hi,
I have just taken a look at the web site you mention. The phone (pink version) is showing as £14.90 (+ £10 top-up) on the Vodafone network. Now I know Asda's network rides along the Vodafone network, but the thing I am really asking is could you point me to the page which says the phone is unlocked as I am unable to find it. Sorry to be a nuisance! - Sally

spondon30

The £14.90 C3050 is a clearance phone and they dont usually state clearance phones as being unlocked but I suspect they usually are. If ASDA uses Vodafone then it wont be a problem anyway. Or you could buy the new version at £19.90 where it states its definately unlocked.

sallysaver

spondon30 wrote: »

The £14.90 C3050 is a clearance phone and they dont usually state clearance phones as being unlocked but I suspect they usually are. If ASDA uses Vodafone then it wont be a problem anyway. Or you could buy the new version at £19.90 where it states its definately unlocked.

Hi,
Thanks again. The C3050 (ordinary stock) is showing as out of stock, hence me searching a bit further and finding this one in pink @ £14.90. I too am sure I've read if Vodafone is the provider an Asda sim card will work. The difference between CPW and mobiles.co.uk would be £6 so I suppose worth having as every little helps!! Good job I'm not buying a ferrari! Thanks again - Sally

spondon30

Hi Sally
Looks like only the black clearance is out of stock at the moment. If you go for the pink clearance model be aware it will come in a plain box and some accessories may be missing. Only the phone, battery and manual are guaranteed to be in the box. Ive purchased a few clearance phones and have always been pleased with them. They have been as new and all have been unlocked but sometimes the headphones and/or usb cables are missing. Pity you have to pay the £10 credit online but I usually save them for holidays abroad where you get about 30 mins time to ring home if in europe.

sallysaver

spondon30 wrote: »

Hi Sally
Looks like only the black clearance is out of stock at the moment. If you go for the pink clearance model be aware it will come in a plain box and some accessories may be missing. Only the phone, battery and manual are guaranteed to be in the box. Ive purchased a few clearance phones and have always been pleased with them. They have been as new and all have been unlocked but sometimes the headphones and/or usb cables are missing. Pity you have to pay the £10 credit online but I usually save them for holidays abroad where you get about 30 mins time to ring home if in europe.

Hi, Thanks again. It was my intention to use the £10 top up whilst on holiday if need be. Could I reasonably expect the charger to be in the box please? Sally

spondon30

Had about six clearance phones so far and they have always contained a mains charger although according to the website they are not guaranteed. Samsung chargers are about £3 on ebay incuding postage but im sure you will get one with the phone.