Three

murratsm

Hi,
I am looking to upgrade my phone and have been with three for about 4 years. Contacted them today after using links on mse to compare the best deals that suited me. Was told that the deals offered via a third party which were cheaper than what they offered are not available through them and i would eventually end up paying more for them. In other words no third party can offer a deal on 3 if 3 themselves are not offering it and so this deal must have extra costs added that would kick in in a month or two.

Is this true?

corf999

3 have significantly reduced their number of resellers and I am not keen on the ones that are left like A1 comms (buymobiles.net) who have a 50 page thread here somewhere. I recommend you read that thread before purchasing from a1 comms.

Ultimately I dont believe it was true what you were told and I think buymobiles.net are a couple of quid cheaper per contract from three.

Frozen_up_north

Consider going SIM only and buying a SIM free phone outright... Although beware of some phones locking to the network of the first SIM used, Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4U supplied "SIM free" iPhones apparently network lock, not sure about other brands.

The phone + SIM upgrades are intended to hook users into an upgrade cycle where the network wins. Having a 30 day SIM only contract means if the network changes their sites and leave you with poor coverage (which is happening to a few users who post on here), or there is a better deal elsewhere, you can change without much delay or cost.

Several of us are enjoying using the old One Plan from 3 at £15 or £18 per month, this deal ceased a short while ago for new customers, but existing SIM only customers can continue using it without a price increase (so far, anyway).

visidigi

Three cancelled all third party commissions, including closing the tradedoubler affiliate accounts, which means the resellers that exist either have a direct relationship with three (unlikely) or the third party resellers aren't paying out the cashback etc they promise.

CPW dropped three completely instore, the logo boards now have their sticker over the original Three logo.

I'd go direct to three, but if you are an existing customer you should be getting offered really good retention deals as Three are renown for that.

d123

visidigi wrote: »

CPW dropped three completely instore, the logo boards now have their sticker over the original Three logo.

Actually it was the opposite way around, Three terminated CarPhoneWarehouse as an authorised reseller at the end of 2013.

ZhugeEX

d123 wrote: »

Actually it was the opposite way around, Three terminated CarPhoneWarehouse as an authorised reseller at the end of 2013.

Although we'll see the Three network back in carphone warehouse through an MVNO probably.

Guys_Dad

This is a golden opportunity to reassess all mobile companies and what they can offer. And the others have reseller and Topcash/Quidco offers as well.

TESCO, for example, can beat 3 easily - but you need to check coverage in actual tests for any network.

Take time and save money!

Buzby

Tesco beat Three? How do you work that one out? Tesco is a poorly MVNO riding on the coat-tails of O2. There is no network operator providing data cheaper than Three (I'm currently on 200m voice, unlimited texts, and 2Gb data - with 4G where available at £10pm).

First check the coverage suits, then check the prices.

d123

Guys_Dad wrote: »

TESCO, for example, can beat 3 easily - but you need to check coverage in actual tests for any network.

That is funny, you know though, when making jokes is writing it's best to use lots of :rotfl::D:p icons.

Someone might think you were seriously trying to say an O2 derivative MVNO like Tesco was comparable to Three for overall service quality and value :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

visidigi

Guys_Dad wrote: »

This is a golden opportunity to reassess all mobile companies and what they can offer. And the others have reseller and Topcash/Quidco offers as well.

TESCO, for example, can beat 3 easily - but you need to check coverage in actual tests for any network.

Take time and save money!

O2's internet sucks. An Tesco are below it in the food chain (obviously) - I can't actually imagine how bad Giff Gaffs internet is given they are the poorest sibling.

jnm21

d123 wrote: »

That is funny, you know though, when making jokes is writing it's best to use lots of :rotfl::D:p icons.

Someone might think you were seriously trying to say an O2 derivative MVNO like Tesco was comparable to Three for overall service quality and value :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

Made me laugh - both parts! (I hope the smileys mean you are joking to use three & service/quality in the same sentence!)

visidigi wrote: »

O2's internet sucks. An Tesco are below it in the food chain (obviously) - I can't actually imagine how bad Giff Gaffs internet is given they are the poorest sibling.

Agree, but at my in-laws (HU17, Beverley), 3 is unusable for data (has been for 6+ months probably a year), EE was down during our last visit & GG saved the day or rather weekend! Depends where in the country you are - roll on government proposal to share signals (doubt it will happen)!