Mobiles.co.uk Questions

GeorgeLowe123

Hi, so I've discovered the deals on this site which work out a lot cheaper than anything direct from network providers, when the cashback is factored in. This is the deal I'm looking at, the 24.75 a month iPhone 5 on vodafone (I can't post links apparently, but you'll be able to find it easily if you search mobiles.co.uk).

I've read up about the cashback situation and appreciate the potential pitfalls in that regard, but understand that as long as you are scrupulous, then it shouldn't be too hard to actually claim the money back, so I'm fine with that.

However, I have a few questions, I'd appreciate any advice on.

I've never bought a phone or phone contract from anywhere other than the vodafone/O2/Three/T-Mobile etc. store, so am unsure how it works when you buy a contract phone off a third party website like mobiles.co.uk. With the above purchase, will I still have the same vodafone contract/network coverage/customer support exactly the same as if I bought it from the vodafone store? Will the phone come with all the vodafone documentation and guides on how to get my current number across etc? Effectively, in short, am I getting the standard vodafone iPhone 5 as I would if I went into the vodafone store and bought it from there?

Also, when I called to cancel my contract from 3, the guy (and I know they'll do anything to keep you on their network and its probably BS...) said that the iPhone 5 was released in 3 batches and that the first batch was sent to third party websites etc. which would then provide feedback and then the next, somehow better, batches would be sent to the major networks. Is there any truth to this? Or am I getting, as I hope and expect, the exact same specification and standard of iPhone 5 from mobiles.co.uk as I would from a major network's store?

If there is anything else one should know before buying from this kind of website, I'd appreciate a heads up, as someone who has never done so before.

Maybe I'm being overly cautious as I'm locking myself into a 24 month contract, but cheers in advance.

Orrin

Your airtime contract is with the network and you should get the same service (or lack of it) from them as if you'd bought the phone direct. Your contract of sale is with the retailer though so you would deal with them for returns or any problems under the Sale of Goods Act (although with the iPhone you may be better going to Apple, but that's another issue).

grumbler

GeorgeLowe123 wrote: »

...I've read up about the cashback situation and appreciate the potential pitfalls in that regard, but understand that as long as you are scrupulous, then it shouldn't be too hard to actually claim the money back, so I'm fine with that.

Sometimes you need more than just being scrupulous.

Also, when I called to cancel my contract from 3, the guy (and I know they'll do anything to keep you on their network and its probably BS...) said that the iPhone 5 was released in 3 batches and that the first batch was sent to third party websites etc. which would then provide feedback and then the next, somehow better, batches would be sent to the major networks. Is there any truth to this?

I don't know, but the guys from '3' are notorious for telling lies and fairy tales.

GeorgeLowe123

Orrin wrote: »

Your airtime contract is with the network and you should get the same service (or lack of it) from them as if you'd bought the phone direct. Your contract of sale is with the retailer though so you would deal with them for returns or any problems under the Sale of Goods Act (although with the iPhone you may be better going to Apple, but that's another issue).

Ok thanks, thats useful.

Could anyone clarify, perhaps from experience, my other questions? Like will I get the vodafone documentation in the box sent to me etc?

I'd just like to be clear on whether the experience I have with my iPhone 5 from mobiles.co.uk will be as good as one from one of the networks' stores? (And I'm fine with their maybe being issues with claiming cashback, as long as it is doable, I'd just like to know that there aren't any other issues with these kinds of sites, as, as I say, I've always gone to one of the big network's stores before...)

Cheers

Frozen_up_north

Note, the iPhone 5 won't work on Vodafone's 4G network. So if you want to use it for 4G you will be out of luck unless you are offered an upgrade to a newer model when they roll out 4G. Maybe 4G isn't important to you...

The iPhone 5 will give 4G on Three and EE, however Vodafone and O2 recently bought additional frequency bands for their 4G and the current iPhone 5 doesn't include them.