O2 Refresh iPhone

Major_Clanger_2

Having read the MSE guide to refurbished phones, in particular the part about O2 Refresh, I am quite tempted to treat myself to a new (well, new to me!) iphone. It seems that O2 grade their phones as 'Perfect', 'Almost Perfect' and 'Perfectly Fine'. Ideally I'd like a 'perfect' but the only grade available for the phone I want (iPhone 6s 128Gb) is Almost Perfect.

I just wondered if any forum members have used this service and what their experience was - how almost perfect is Almost Perfect?

Frozen_up_north

I am not with O2, but would be a little wary of the carrot they dangle... Remember you would lock yourself into a further 24 month contract when taking their refresh (as far as I can ascertain).

On the face of it, the refresh programme looks fine if you are happy to be stuck with O2 over a long period. They have interest free credit on new iPhones, not sure about refurbished ones. The iPhones are network locked to O2, but they do offer free unlocking.

Regarding the phone, do you really need 128 GB? That's an awful lot of data storage, and a lot to back up too. We have 64 GB iPhones and they are fine for our needs. 16 GB is too small, you can't even store many photos before it is nearly full, but 128 seems over the top. Also, a refurbish might not include a replacement battery and they get hammered... A battery replacement via Apple is approx £66, so factor that into the price of a refurbished phone.

The big downside to any contract that includes a phone is that if you become unhappy with the service, such as a mast change that reduces your coverage (yes it happens), or you see a better deal elsewhere or your circumstances change, then 24 months is a long time...

We always buy our phones outright (in the case of our iPhones, directly from Apple) and use SIM only contracts for maximum flexibility. If you are shopping around, beware that iPhones from Carphone Warehouse and Argos are not really SIM free, they lock to the network of the first SIM inserted...

20aday

The idea with o2 Refresh is that if you want to upgrade to the latest model you pay off the monthly handset cost and 'start again'.

According to o2 (https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/phones/apple/iphone-6-like-new/#contractType=paymonthly) Almost Perfect is:

Almost Perfect phones are nearly new, so are a little older but still in great shape.
They may have a bit of wear and tear, but we’ll make sure there are no scratches on the screen, no more than five blemishes and no chips bigger than 2mm. We install the latest operating system and you’ll get a 12 month warranty to put your mind at ease.

Major_Clanger_2

In terms of being tied to O2 - I was intending to use the process described here: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/buying-refurbished-phones and so wouldn't have a committment.

However, the battery issue is one for consideration. Perhaps I'll wait and see how the price of a new iPhone 6s drops when the new iPhone is available next month...

kah22

I'm thinking along the same lines Major Clan.

My thoughts would be: hold back until the new iPhone is released, I'd be hoping that should drop the price of a 6s. I'm debating between 'Perfect' and 'Almost Perfect.'

My thinking would be that if you put an Almost Perfect' in a protective case then any blemishes would not be seen and if any faults were to obvious you could always return within the timescale.

As regards to been unlocked I'm wondering if that's because they are completely wiped before resale.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought that the whole idea of going down this route was that you paid off the phone immediately, cancelled your airtime bundle and because your phone was unlocked that meant you could go to any supplier you wanted. Yes/No?.

I'd love to hear from someone who has went down this route

Kevin

20aday

If iPhone is unlocked and you've cancelled the airtime agreement/paid the handset agreement then you'd be free to use another network, yes.

Haven't tried it myself but it's something I might consider when my minimum term ends with Vodafone come November.

kah22

I mentioned unlocked phones in a previous post, however, doing some research on reconditioned, unlocked phones I came across a warning on the Argos Outlet store that the phone will lock to the first SIM card inserted!

Is this normal, Why?

Surely that defeats the purpose of buying an unlocked phone: is this the way all the big boys sell their reconditioned phones ❓

KingS6

It's their way with brand new Iphones too.

Anon

I have had a number of these - not for the contract, but for the phone. 02 Refresh is structured so that you effectively have two contracts, one for the handset (device), one for the airtime. A feature of the contract is you can upgrade at any point (including the day you get the phone ) by paying off the handset.

On O2 Refresh you can use this to your advantage (see lots of threads on HUKD) to get a very cheap phone if you can afford to pay it off straight away. Basically, check the prices and select the best tariff with the lowest handset price per month. Order the phone. When it arrives, insert the SIM and phone your landline (or activate 02 Priority app while you have the number live ) to make sure the phone has been on their network (needed to unlock for free). Go into your online account area and request the phone to be unlocked (free). Phone up customer services and ask to pay off the handset - they ask why and you can say what you want, perhaps you decided you can get more data cheaper elsewhere. They will take payment details and pay off the device. They will ask whether you want to keep the airtime running - say no and ask for it to be cancelled immediately. If done within the 14 day coooling off period you do not have to give 30 days notice (after that, you do). There you go - your unlock should come through by email with a few hours/days and you are now free of yout contract to 02. You will get a final bill from them within a few weeks that will refund whatever is remaining of your first months airtime (you then need to login and request it to be refunded).

I would keep your direct debit in force until you are clear as their billing system has been known to mess up and charge you the full airtime (24 months!) as a penalty charge - keep checking for the bill then contact them immediately if this happens. Even after this, it has been known (I have had it!) where they still take the payment and then you have to contact them to complain to refund it.

Risks? They do run credit checks so it will appear on your credit file, and there is a risk of them messing up the billing.

Benefit? Normally a cheap phone when it works - the last one I got from them was a iPhone 5S 16gb for £96 :cool:. This was Grade B (now Almost Perfect) but effectively brand new without a scratch, comes in plain packaging with the wire only and SIM key (no plug or headphones or original box). Normally come with Apple/manufacturer warranty but are covered by the 02 warranty for 12 months anyway.

HTH

fuzzgun19

I was looking into O2 refresh in the hope of getting a cheap-ish 6 or 6s.

I have a 6 at the moment using Giffgaff, but was thinking of getting another one, and giving my old one to my son (has a 5 with cracked screen).

I was wondering if it's worth waiting a bit to see if the prices drop with the 7 being released about now?

20aday

fuzzgun19 wrote: »

I was looking into O2 refresh in the hope of getting a cheap-ish 6 or 6s.

I have a 6 at the moment using Giffgaff, but was thinking of getting another one, and giving my old one to my son (has a 5 with cracked screen).

I was wondering if it's worth waiting a bit to see if the prices drop with the 7 being released about now?

Possibly but it's worth bearing in mind there'll be an increase in price on the 6s (even though it's a year old) as they've upped the memory from 16GB to 32GB this year instead of 16/64 like normal.