Where is the catch?

MrsTinks

TangledMemories wrote: »

Hi...If this is the offer from Carphone Warehouse that's on TV alot...here's the catch:

You have to join up to AOL which is a minimum 24 month contract.

These are mobile phone deals - as far as I can see they are a seperate offer from the AOL one.

ericajones80

This is why I hate dealing in cell phones. Just make sure you read all of the fine print. My Blackberry cost me about $40 a month in things I didn't even know existed.

bandraoi

You don't have to change your number, you can usually port it using a PAC code. The catch is usually that the sum of the costs is approximately equal to the value. To compare prices you need to take three steps.

Price a normal phone - Work out how much you use your phone, how you use your phone and when you use your phone. Look around a bit and work out roughly what sort of deal you can get to match that - there are lots of half back offers out there etc., Work out how much it will cost you over the total contract period.

Price the laptop - work out what you need from a laptop, what spec you need and then price that up around a variety of sites.

Price the "deal" - see how much the deal will cost you over the full contract period.

Some of these deals I've seen are good. The CPW/AOL one, had a £20pcm for two years tie in, but the free laptop was worth a good portion of the £480, the total cost.

Other deals have a £35 pcm phone contract for two years, when the phone deal is only really worth £20pcm (and even that at half back) and the laptop is only worth about £300.

bandraoi

For instance - CPWH

O2 contract, £30pcm, 600mins, 500 texts, free Dell laptop with 1GB/80GB/Intel Celeron and 15.4 inch screen, 2 year tie in. - Total Cost £720.

A quick look on dabs.com says there are several similar laptops in the £300 - £350 range, and that will be lower if you go looking, use quidco etc.
Mobile Phone Checker says the same mobile deal , is worth in the £380 - £420 on a half back deal over two years, but if you did two deals back to back over 12 months each, you could do the same for £280 over two years.

The deal is worth roughly the sum of its parts, but if you shop around you can do better, and are the two parts really parts you want?

immoral_angeluk

Hey.. I got a contract with a free laptop through E2save which is run by the carphone warehouse. This is the deal I got.

Free Sony Ericcson K550i
Free Dell 1520 laptop
£32.50 cashback through quidco
Orange dolphin tariff £30 a month with unlimited texts and 500 inclusive minutes.
18 month contract.

I wanted a phone anyway as my pay as you go one was knackered, and was looking at upgrading the pc... YES it's an 18 month contract BUT it was the tariff I needed PLUS a free phone and laptop and cashback through quidco.

I am writing to you now from the free laptop... no complaints AT ALL.

kyh

See below posted twice by mistake

kyh

IA Thanks for that - I am paying over the odds at the moment for a blackberry as it means I can access the internet/emails when at work etc and is for me very useful BUT I do pay a lot and we need to save money .....SO....if I go for a similar deal to the one you have I will get
1.A more basic phone - not a problem as moving jobs - just need it to be able to get a signal overseas so can phone home.
2. A new contract - again not a problem - been with same provider for several years and probably due a change
3. A lower bill - nothing wrong there
4. a free laptop - as long as I am not tied to AOL for internet or anything the n it will be ok - need a new laptop as my screen has died a death.

So as long as i read the T&C and check there is nothing glaring I should be OK with this and save money!! thanks everyone