Virgin Mobile iPhone 0% APR 'deal'

chasb

Virgin Media are currently offering the iPhone 64GB and iPhone 6 Plus 64GB with no upfront cost and 0% APR. The deal on their website shows the phone cost and also the monthly tariff i.e. separated out.

The total cost (phone only) for the 6 Plus is £816.

Apple, Tesco, John Lewis, Argos, EE (PAYG) all offer the phone for £619. So Virgin are adding a whopping £197 (or 32%) onto the base price before offering the interest free credit.

Is this really interest free credit or are you paying for the credit to start off with?

I went into a Virgin Store to see if I could haggle the price down to a price match and also get the interest free credit. The salesman told me that this was the price they sold them for, and if I wanted to buy it cheaper then I would need to go to one of the other shops, but I would have to pay the full amount upfront, and the reason Virgin charged more was because the payments were over 24 months. I questioned this and said that this seemed to be a charge for credit, and the salesmen went into the same loop...less at other stores because you paid the full amount up front. :wall:

They also told me it was more expensive because Virgin was a trusted brand with great customer service...and Apple sold them to Virgin for more than they sell to everyone else!

Weirdly the iPhone 5s is slightly cheaper than Apple's price (£408 compared to £416)!!! :rotfl:

grumbler

chasb wrote: »

Is this really interest free credit or are you paying for the credit to start off with?

As they don't sell iPhones sim-free or on PAYG you have not reasons for claiming that it's the case.

... The salesman told me that ... the reason Virgin charged more was because the payments were over 24 months. I questioned this and said that this seemed to be a charge for credit, and the salesmen went into the same loop...less at other stores because you paid the full amount up front. :wall:

You expect far too much of intelligence and competence from an ordinary salesman.

With Apple Finance it will cost you £29.72x24=£713 (cheaper for 6/12/18 months). And you'll get 24-months' warranty instead of pathetic 12 months when buying from other companies except JL.

20aday

If you didn't go with Apple Finance I echo Grumbler's comments above and I'd opt for John Lewis.

If you had a 0% credit card with lengthy promotional purchase rate you could buy it for the same price as you would from Apple Direct AND you'd get the 24 month warranty too.