How do you get a cheaper handset?

theianfox

Mobile phone shops have different prices on the same handsets, new customer, upgrade, or SIM free.

Is there a way of getting the cheapest price on a handset?

I want to go with Giff Gaff but I need a new handset - mines old and getting tired. Currently on a SIM rental deal with Orange.

Can you, for example, sign up for an upgrade or new annual deal then cancel when you walk out of the shop?

Rusty!

Of course not, jeebus :wall:

You want a cheaper handset, look at second hand ones, or not very good ones.

Neil49

Yes and No!

With O2 Refresh it is possible to get a good price on certain handsets on a 24 month contract and then cancel the airtime part of the deal. You then have to pay for the (discounted) cost of the handset in full.

The savings are very handset dependent, probably based on whatever deal they negotiate for them from the manufacturer, but a couple of examples getting you the Sony Xperia Z or Nokia 925 for £360 (considerably less than sim only etc) are -

Airtime Plan - Unlimited talktime and texts + 1g/b data - £17 per month over 24 months

Handset plan - £0 upfront and £15 per month over 24 months

1. You setup the phone and activate the sim,

2. Request a phone unlocking code (not necessary for Giffgaff but do it anyway). You can do this online.

3. Within the 14 days (change-your-mind period) call o2 free on 202 from your phone and tell them you want to cancel your contract (just the airtime) immediately and you would like to keep phone & pay off the remainder phone plan - (£15x 24 months = £360).

They have various phones including some refubished Galaxy s4's etc (out of stock now). Useful savings are limited to certain phones but it's worth trying out.

theianfox

I wasn't think of spending that much. The Galaxy Ace 2 is £120 if part of an upgrade or £160 for Sim Free.

It's a big difference.

Oh and Rusty I've heard Martin Lewis on the radio talking about haggling suggesting that you use 14 day cancellation periods to get money off when you buy products.

opnion2013

second hand or a few functional handset

Orrin

theianfox wrote: »

I wasn't think of spending that much. The Galaxy Ace 2 is £120 if part of an upgrade or £160 for Sim Free.

It's a big difference.

Oh and Rusty I've heard Martin Lewis on the radio talking about haggling suggesting that you use 14 day cancellation periods to get money off when you buy products.

If you want the upgrade price on a PAYG handset check the CPW conditions here:

http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/pay-as-you-go/payg-upgrades

Usually you need to have had the SIM for 6 months and made a top-up in that time but check the exact conditions for your network. They should also price match upgrades between networks if you ask.

It's possible to borrow a SIM from a friend just to get the upgrade if you don't qualify yourself.

Depending on the saving it might even be worth buying a qualifying SIM on ebay.

Carphonewarehouse usually sell unlocked phones on PAYG so if there's no network branding you can get the exact same phone as the SIM free version.

The advice about using a cancellation period to secure a discount refers to taking out extended warranties on electrical goods and then cancelling them within the cooling off period.

It's possible you could try something similar with a mobile phone insurance policy for example, but I've not heard of anyone getting a discount that way.