Mobile phones from Onbuy/Idealo - from Asia 11 November 2021 at 11:44AM in Ebay, auctions, car boot sales, post & parcels 6 replies 85 views

MidyB

Hi,

I am considering buying a new Samsung mobile phone from Onbuy as it's a lot cheaper that getting it from the UK.
I would like to hear from people who have bought phone from Asia to see if there are any issues, not so much with the sale process but with the phone itself.
Stuff such as: what languages are loaded on the phone, do you get the security updates and all the updates meant for this side of the world, does Samsung pay work in the UK, plus any other issues or point to note.

Thanks so much in advance

soolin

Firstly is the cost saving by the time you pay import /Vat bills etc worth it? Remember as well that if the phone is faulty then you are subject to returning it at your own cost for a reapir or replacement. You will also need to check warranties etc

MidyB

Thank you for your message.
I think these most of these sellers have warehouses set up in the UK, so ultimately the phone will technically come from the UK.
I am more concerned about functionality as the region set onto the phone will most likely be HK or somewhere else in Asia.

Rantband

So do you know that the phone will be supplied from the UK ? and that returning it would NOT involve returning to Asia ?

jonesey1985

soolin said:

Firstly is the cost saving by the time you pay import /Vat bills etc worth it? Remember as well that if the phone is faulty then you are subject to returning it at your own cost for a reapir or replacement. You will also need to check warranties etc

Warranties will not be valid in the UK as these will be Asian phones.

They'll need to be returned to some subsidiary of "Samsung Asia" for warranty service.

MidyB

Thank you Rantband - I don't know that for sure but considering I am looking at a phone that cost around £700 and I would be paying £400  - I am prepared to take the risk.
I just wanted to know what I will be missing out on and like Jonesy1985 pointed out, I will have no warranty.
That said, I have never had to use it in the past so, fingers crossed...

forgotmyname

You want to risk £400 on a phone with no warranty?  The phone will not technically be from the UK because someone

imported it. It will be a grey import and Samsung will say the warranty is valid in that country.

Check reviews, more than one forum where buyers have found that the companies offered zero warranty on these items
and the original seller or onbuy offered no help.