Cashback Guide for Dummies

Froggitt

Another great post MJ - thanks.

If anyone's got the time or the inclination, maybe do something like kazza has on the ISA board - ie a continually updated list of the best deals on page one. eg I for one havent seen the 17 months free on an 18 month contract. You could also include the best network deals eg the BB 8520 Curve for £10 (or £12) a month for 24 months with 250tx/50min on Virgin.

mobilejunkie

Thanks. I am always aware of the best deals, which are usually hidden away - but since the very best don't last five minutes and I'm always keen to grab more I never broadcast them (I refer specifically to cashback deals which are free or very close to, as opposed to network deals or the best deal on a particular phone). There are plenty of ways to find them for the determined; would you really want to put them on here so they'd be gone before you could get one? I get deals for a few other people so I can't even just get one for moi and then tell everyone else (or my people could lose out!).

As with cashback deals themselves; those who can't get the information in the first place shouldn't contemplate them! In addition, what is a good deal to one person is not to another - and there are thousands to chose from.

There are, in fact, numerous deals on 17 months free/18 month contracts - from several of these dealers. Just don't expect the phones to be up to much (apart from one at present!). Also, deals (especially the really decent ones) come and go so fast you'd need to be at it full time!

One more thing; since far too many dive into cashback deals and end up in trouble it wouldn't necessarily be a good idea to put the carrot under everyone's nose. I have always maintained that the in(very)experienced should avoid these deals. Indeed, a while back the great man himself (not me!) recommended a cash-back deal with what was an unscrupulous dealer at the time and lots of pundits got into difficulty (some venting their anger at the great one - again, not me for a change!).

I hope my guide does something not so obvious; "shock" customers into serious thought and research prior to going ahead with a cashback deal or, alternatively, give them a wide bearth!

manutd99

thanks for the advise everyone from this thread especially mobilejunkie.

So mobilejukie. Which out of the following would you recomend the most?
mobiles.co.uk or buymobilesphones.

Inclined toward mobiles.co.uk as CPW as dealt with the E2SAVE before and all went ok. Had a few issues but who doesnt but was dealt with

But their customer service seems to be poor reading a few threads. Is it still the case?

manutd99

after writing above. Checked the deal/phone i wanted at mobile.co.uk - its out of stock

So only have buymobilesphones offer left. So wots ur opinion apart from above. Yours been successful if you have any? any issues?

mobilejunkie

There are offers and there are offers. Mine are successful. Sometimes there are "issues"; if you've covered yourself you can usually deal with them readily enough - but only if you have. As for Buymobilephones; my views are expressed in 247 and haven't changed. I prefer to take the people I look after to a larger dealer, though I use them myself.

rookieonmoney

Given these problems - i will read what has been said here in detail and if i find it daunting or if i have any doubts then i will go for low price with cashback thrown in so if anyhting goes wrong then suffering is minimised...thanks for all the help:A

manutd99

Exactly.

Found a deal for £15 per month with cashback. £15 still good enough so if cashback fails wont lose that much

stamu

I am about to buy the new Orange San Francisco and I was looking for a SIM only deal.

There are some £10 SIM only deals, but I believe it would be cheaper to get a free phone with cashback.
For example, to buy the free Nokia 1800 (400mins/ unl texts/ unl internet – £30 PCM) with cashback (21 months free) and use the SIM into the SF.
I usually change my mobile every 12 months, so I would get a new phone in a year time for around £100 and keep my Orange contract.

Over 24 months, the total would be around £279.
£89 (San Francisco), plus £100 (new phone) and £90 (Orange contract).


Compared to a SIM only deal:
£89 (San Francisco), plus £100 (new phone) and £240 (£10 a month for 24 months).

I am new into the cashback market and it sounds really good, so am I missing something?

Can you also confirm if the Orange SIM card would be a 3G SIM as the phone itself is not 3G?

Thanks

mobilejunkie

The idea in principle is ok - but you can do better. The sim will work in an unlocked phone; I think it would be 3G but you'd have to check. As for your missing something - have you read this thread from page one and researched the other threads relating to the dealer? See my PM.

stamu

Ok I will check if it is a 3G card.


I have read most of this thread and learned a lot from your advises. Will finish to read this weekend


Thanks