02 Retentions thread 2

FU510N

OTTO wrote: »

Quote" Yeah im contemplating asking for my PAC code tonight to take up Vodafones offer, if O2 call me and offer me something decent then woohoo, if not then ill take the contract with Vodafone thats almost as good with the phone i reeally want "

I've been following your posttings , but cant actually see that you have posted details of Vodafones offer to you.I was finding it very hard myself to grind out a good deal from O2, and I got fed up with them offering deals that were the same or worse than what I already have, that I requested my PAC.
I'm going to take up one of the other deals I have researched, but have not decided which one to go for yet.So please post details of your Vodafone deal, and let us know if you have any success with O2.

OTTO

Link

£35pm, 600 mins, Unlimited Texts, Unlimited Internet - FREE Samsung Omnia! Plus £90 Quidco cashback

Also, rumour has it they will give further discount over the phone, it appears to be true but i cant confirm until Monday night. Although you do lose out on the £90 Quidco cashback

jimgee wrote: »

Anyone like OTTO who is looking towards Vodafone for possible deals might like to know this.

Vodafone's commercial rules for new connections are as follows:

1) Vodafone direct sales (08000 686570) can offer half price line rental for 15 out of 18 months or 9 out of 12 months. You can renegotiate in months 10 or 16 anyway.

2) Whatever you spend in total line rental over 18 months is also what you can spend on a handset (up to £300+vat).

Remember:

1) Don't pay for Saturday delivery! Free delivery, one months mobile TV (£10 value pack) and three months insurance should all be given free if asked for.

2) If you want the internet or "stop the clock" (definitely worth having) then make sure they are not added after the discount is negotiated. Both normally cost £5 each so get them included so they are viewed as making a £40 tariff a £50 tariff THEN discounted rather than seen as a £10 addition to a £20 (after discount) tariff.

3) Don't expect to be readily offered all this without asking. It's worth saying that you know a friend got just such a deal etc.. Actually, to avoid the bartering preamble my sister just phoned up, said she was offered a particular deal and that she got cut off. Naughty but work a treat!

4) I reckon it's worth switching to Vodafone for the Nokia E66 alone.

Good luck anyone who jumps. Even if you don't it's always handy tell your preferred network what's available and invite them to beat it.

1) Really?

2) Good to know


1) Ill try to push for them

2) Also good to know

3) That is DEFINATELY worth a try!

4) Omnia for me


Cheers for the advice mate

jimgee

I'm not sure how much the Omnia will be but given that the HTC Touch Diamond is £304+vat (cost price) I'd be surprised if it wasn't at least £350. I hope I'm wrong but if this is the case it won't qualify for the half price line rental offer. I know their commercial rules just don't allow it. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a sliding scale for discounts - you just scarcely get one at all if you want an N95, 8800, HTC etc. since they are more than the magic £300+vat mark.

The best handsets you're likely to get will probably be the (gorgeous!) E66 or the (horrible!) N78. Which, if resold, would pay for most of an Omnia anyway I'd have thought. Incidentally I plan on selling my Vodafone E66 and buying a generic E66 just to lose the branded software - which Vodafone seem to think they know more about writing than Nokia. Like fiish, I don't really want to void the warranty either.

FU510N

jimgee wrote: »

I'm not sure how much the Omnia will be but given that the HTC Touch Diamond is £304+vat (cost price) I'd be surprised if it wasn't at least £350. I hope I'm wrong but if this is the case it won't qualify for the half price line rental offer. I know their commercial rules just don't allow it. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a sliding scale for discounts - you just scarcely get one at all if you want an N95, 8800, HTC etc. since they are more than the magic £300+vat mark.

The best handsets you're likely to get will probably be the (gorgeous!) E66 or the (horrible!) N78. Which, if resold, would pay for most of an Omnia anyway I'd have thought. Incidentally I plan on selling my Vodafone E66 and buying a generic E66 just to lose the branded software - which Vodafone seem to think they know more about writing than Nokia. Like fiish, I don't really want to void the warranty either.

Whats all this about branded software? I dont like the sound of it lol

fiish

Just means the standard software on the phone is modified to the operator's liking. Usually the startup screens are changed from the manufacturer's brand to the operator's brand, and one of the main screen softkeys will link to the operator's mobile Internet site, and some features the network considers undesireable might be removed (an example would be any VoIP calling capability). Some like Orange even add a layer of menus; this addition is the same for all phones and can look quite horrid on high-end phones whose screens deserve better. Usually, since operators are less specialized in software development, the code is less well written and will have more bugs and run more slowly than the default software.

Usually it's harmless, but in the case of smartphones where every bit of performance counts and the manufacturers continually update the firmware available, the operator branded firmware often lags behind - they have no incentive to provide additional value to the customer.

Nokia, apparently, keeps a database of all its handsets and the firmware installed on them - every time you update your firmware with their software this database is updated. So if you modify the phone to be flashed with unbranded firmware this will appear on their database and they will deny ALL warranty service if you send your phone in for repair and these modifications show up against your handset.

toady2k1

FU5ION, it looks like im in an identical boat to you.

As i cant get the omnia through o2 upgrades, it looks like im going to go elsewhere.
What was said about vodafone is very interesting, is it definate that il have no chance of getting the discount line rental for the omnia?

mobiles.co.uk etc offer some sort half price rental, but no unlimited browsing, and nowhere near as many months as that apparent vodafone.

not too happy on starting an 18month contract, but thats a bullet im going to have to bite?

FU510N

fiish wrote: »

Just means the standard software on the phone is modified to the operator's liking. Usually the startup screens are changed from the manufacturer's brand to the operator's brand, and one of the main screen softkeys will link to the operator's mobile Internet site, and some features the network considers undesireable might be removed (an example would be any VoIP calling capability). Some like Orange even add a layer of menus; this addition is the same for all phones and can look quite horrid on high-end phones whose screens deserve better. Usually, since operators are less specialized in software development, the code is less well written and will have more bugs and run more slowly than the default software.

Usually it's harmless, but in the case of smartphones where every bit of performance counts and the manufacturers continually update the firmware available, the operator branded firmware often lags behind - they have no incentive to provide additional value to the customer.

Nokia, apparently, keeps a database of all its handsets and the firmware installed on them - every time you update your firmware with their software this database is updated. So if you modify the phone to be flashed with unbranded firmware this will appear on their database and they will deny ALL warranty service if you send your phone in for repair and these modifications show up against your handset.

So theres not really a way round branded software then?

Would the Omnia handset on Vodafone be branded?

toady2k1 wrote: »

FU5ION, it looks like im in an identical boat to you.

As i cant get the omnia through o2 upgrades, it looks like im going to go elsewhere.
What was said about vodafone is very interesting, is it definate that il have no chance of getting the discount line rental for the omnia?

mobiles.co.uk etc offer some sort half price rental, but no unlimited browsing, and nowhere near as many months as that apparent vodafone.

not too happy on starting an 18month contract, but thats a bullet im going to have to bite?

Yeah O2 dont even have a release date yet, otherwise id never have even looked at Vodafone. I called Vodafone the other day and got the lady i spoke to about the Omnia to call me back this Monday when its released to push through the deal we agreed on - £20pm, 600 mins, unlimited texts + Omnia - OR - £25pm, 600 mins, unlimited texts, unlimited web + Omnia. Im not sure if she will actually call me back, let alone push this deal through! But ill wait and see

I didnt want an 18month contract either but thats the way it is now, a guy at The Carphone Warehouse told me networks are trying to push everyone onto 24 months contracts now aswell!

jimgee

FU510N wrote: »

So theres not really a way round branded software then?

Would the Omnia handset on Vodafone be branded?

You can debrand it but, as has been mentioned, you will invalidate the warranty. The only option for me is to sell my VF upgrade and buy a generic version. I'll probably lose a few quid but I think it's worth it.

FU510N wrote: »

I called Vodafone the other day and got the lady i spoke to about the Omnia to call me back this Monday when its released to push through the deal we agreed on - £20pm, 600 mins, unlimited texts + Omnia - OR - £25pm, 600 mins, unlimited texts, unlimited web + Omnia. Im not sure if she will actually call me back, let alone push this deal through! But ill wait and see

I'm very surprised she was going through deals before it's been released! As far as I know prices haven't even been set yet. Fingers crossed she calls back.

FU510N wrote: »

I didnt want an 18month contract either but thats the way it is now, a guy at The Carphone Warehouse told me networks are trying to push everyone onto 24 months contracts now aswell!

The 50% discount I mentioned does also apply to Vodafone's 12 month tariffs but they are slighty dearer in the first place and you won't find them advertised in their brochures. Personally I would still rather have a 12 month contract irrespective - it's a free new phone every 9 months...

Paulalfc

Hi

Has anyone had or got a good retentions deal lately from O2 retentions?. I have tried twice so far to get a deal only to be fobbed off with storiesof none in stock or only available on £75 or above tariffs.

Other networks aredoing the phone for free from £35 tariffs upwards, i don't really want to leave O2 though as im quite happy with them.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks Paulalfc

harveybobbles

I've heard that they are "out of stock" unless you get the £75 tariffs...

eljmayes

I have no idea why they have done this- as it surely can't be be pricier for them than the Iphone to buy in surely:eek:.