Buying phone from SP vs 3rd part like Carphone Warehouse

[Dr Murdoch]

Sorry if this has been done to death but....

I'm weeks away (9th March) from my contract finishing with Vodafone. Ive just called up to get my PAC code, just in case I decided to leave the network.

I was advised the following which I don't quite get....

Vodafone could after applying a supposedly 20% discount give me a contract for £38 per month, however I can get the same deal, same network via Carphone Warehouse for £32 per month, albeit with a £50 upfront cost. When I put this to the chap from Vodafone he said that the coverage wouldn't be as good and some other waffle (he had a strong accent so couldn't quite catch it all).

So, is the a difference between going direct with Vodafone (or other network providers) as opposed to using a 3rd party?

Oh, if I ask for my PAC before the 9th March I would need to pay £40 for the privilege..

[numtumfutunch]

Thats BS all round in my opinion

Phones from CW are unlocked by the way and so free of the network branding, bloat and crap you used to get installed
I say used to as I havent had one for years, however I remember all too well phones spending ages booting through all sorts of logos

And the PAC - what???

Its free to ask for and if you use it on the last day then you'll transfer seamlessly
I usually port a couple of days early "just in case" and obviously pay for those days if they are earlier than my 2y contract. It is possible, and this is being charitable, that what he means is that if you get the PAC and use it exactly a month early youre still liable for the final month. Out of interest is your contract £40/month?

Cheers

[badgerade]

Coverage will be the same, you'll be on the same network, so he's just trying to tick the 'retained a customer' box.

In terms of the PAC, you don't even need to call any more: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/...

[Dr Murdoch]

numtumfutunch said:

Thats BS all round in my opinion

Out of interest is your contract £40/month?

Cheers

Thanks

Its £60 p/m.

Seems like I can get the PAC code (thanks for the link Badgerade) in advance, and then use it on the 9th March.

It appears that if I went with Vodafone directly I would be paying £144 more over the length of contract than when compared with Carphone Warehouse (using Vodafone as a network provider).

[Dr Murdoch]

Dr Murdoch said:

Seems like I can get the PAC code (thanks for the link Badgerade) in advance, and then use it on the 9th March?

Is this correct? Ive seen a deal on Virgin, so was thinking of getting my PAC and then giving it to Virgin on the 9th March without incurring any penalties from Vodafone (my current provider)?.

[tonyb1968]

Your only difference will be the tarrif, what services you may get, the fact that you won't be able to contact Vodafone directly if you have an issue (you will have to go via carphone warehouse) and even though you are on Vodafone's network and it will say Vodafone on there as well, you are actually going to be with an MVNO.

[journeymanpro]

The above post is utter tosh in my experience. You will be Vodafone's customer and can ring them for any issue. You will also not be on an MVNO.

[anonymous-user]

Indeed (Tonyb is taking nonsense). A network is a network. Carphone warehouse is just a dealer (and financier!)

Buy your phone direct from the manufacturer, or one of the global importers (I've used eglobal twice) for a fraction of the price, then get a sim from whichever network you want to use.

There is no better value way. Anything you buy from a dealer will be paying them a cut.

Anything that is £xx a month for the phone and data/calls on contract is simply taking a monthly loan on the phone. No matter how they dress the package up - cheaper voice package or cheaper phone, you are subsidising one or the other.

You get the same network support, and you still get your phone's manufacturers guarantee, even when buying from global distributors.


Requesting a PAC code usually initiates the termination process on your old provider and initiates the new purchase. Your new provider will talk you through it. All you have to do is make sure you terminate before a monthly renewal, and are out of contract. A lot of providers want one "whole" month which ends up being two months somehow.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 14th February 06:59

[anonymous-user]

On both my last 2 purchases (one came from Israel ) I had full warranty (which I used one the first one.

Current is a Mi 9 (Xaiomi).
Last was a Lenovo . Used the warranty on that, ended up with an equivalent replacement, from Moto.

Entered IMEI on the local website and good to go .

[skinnyman]

RogerDodger said:

Indeed (Tonyb is taking nonsense). A network is a network. Carphone warehouse is just a dealer (and financier!)

Buy your phone direct from the manufacturer, or one of the global importers (I've used eglobal twice) for a fraction of the price, then get a sim from whichever network you want to use.

There is no better value way. Anything you buy from a dealer will be paying them a cut.

Anything that is £xx a month for the phone and data/calls on contract is simply taking a monthly loan on the phone. No matter how they dress the package up - cheaper voice package or cheaper phone, you are subsidising one or the other.

You get the same network support, and you still get your phone's manufacturers guarantee, even when buying from global distributors.


Requesting a PAC code usually initiates the termination process on your old provider and initiates the new purchase. Your new provider will talk you through it. All you have to do is make sure you terminate before a monthly renewal, and are out of contract. A lot of providers want one "whole" month which ends up being two months somehow.

Edited by RogerDodger on Friday 14th February 06:59

This isn't strictly the case. CPW currently have the 5G Samsung S20 with 60GB of data on o2 for a total cost of £1100~.

If you can show me a way of getting the 5G phone, with 60GB of 5G data, and EU roaming, for less, please do.

In response to the OP, I've never ever found going direct to the carrier to be cheaper then going to CPW or say mobiles.co.uk (CPW owned). I've no idea why the networks even have shops, they're often £300-£400 more over the contract length than CPW, plus the phone from CPW will be unlocked from the start. To summarise, 99% of the time CPW will be cheaper.

[anonymous-user]

No one is suggesting buying the phone from the carrier. It will be locked for starters.

Buy the phone direct, unlocked.
Choose a tarrif that suits you.

I'm with 3 UK on a monthly sim only contract.

My phone cost me 220 (Mi 9)
My monthly fee for 3 UK? 6 quid (8gb and unlim calls and texts).

I'm not tied to a 2 year deal, and I spend a total of 182 a year based on a 2 year contract equivalent. If my phone lasts past 2 years it drops to 72 quid a year

I think a lot of people pay a lot more monthly than they need to. Mostly for headline grabbing data amounts, when, if they checked, they probably don't use a fraction of it. There are of course exceptions.

The Samsung S20 5g deal looks good indeed, if that is what you are after. It's hot off the press. You'll be able to buy it for a lot less in a couple of months from importers.

[anonymous-user]

Of course - but I was showing more the monthly package cost - i.e. once you've bought your phone at an off the shelf/unlocked price, what the actual phone data/voice package can look like. And the Mi9 is hardly budget. It was £400, now around £350. Widely regarded as having cameras in the top 3 best out there.

Personally, I see the phones that sail past £700 as being not premium, but more "gucci" if you see what I mean, but that's another discussion :-)

[tonyb1968]

RogerDodger said:

Indeed (Tonyb is taking nonsense). A network is a network. Carphone warehouse is just a dealer (and financier!)

Buy your phone direct from the manufacturer, or one of the global importers (I've used eglobal twice) for a fraction of the price, then get a sim from whichever network you want to use.

There is no better value way. Anything you buy from a dealer will be paying them a cut.

Anything that is £xx a month for the phone and data/calls on contract is simply taking a monthly loan on the phone. No matter how they dress the package up - cheaper voice package or cheaper phone, you are subsidising one or the other.

You get the same network support, and you still get your phone's manufacturers guarantee, even when buying from global distributors.


Requesting a PAC code usually initiates the termination process on your old provider and initiates the new purchase. Your new provider will talk you through it. All you have to do is make sure you terminate before a monthly renewal, and are out of contract. A lot of providers want one "whole" month which ends up being two months somehow.

Edited by RogerDodger on Friday 14th February 06:59

Sorry Roger, you are incorrect.

To start with, CPW is a service provider, not just a dealer, that means they provide a service, you have signed a contract with that PROVIDER (note the word in capitals, it says everything you need to know), and any issues you have are taken up with that PROVIDER.
You can still use the network apps but any other issues will need to be sorted via CPW customer services, you know, billing, contract etc, just because you are on a network does not mean that network looks after you directly, the service provider does that and guess who that is in this case?
Yep, Carphone warehouse.

[flight147z]

Dr Murdoch said:

Sorry if this has been done to death but....

I'm weeks away (9th March) from my contract finishing with Vodafone. Ive just called up to get my PAC code, just in case I decided to leave the network.

I was advised the following which I don't quite get....

Vodafone could after applying a supposedly 20% discount give me a contract for £38 per month, however I can get the same deal, same network via Carphone Warehouse for £32 per month, albeit with a £50 upfront cost. When I put this to the chap from Vodafone he said that the coverage wouldn't be as good and some other waffle (he had a strong accent so couldn't quite catch it all).

So, is the a difference between going direct with Vodafone (or other network providers) as opposed to using a 3rd party?

Oh, if I ask for my PAC before the 9th March I would need to pay £40 for the privilege..

It's almost always better to go through a third party rather than direct with the network, especially when you go with an online only third party

Check the deals on what you want on Money Supermarket and go with the cheapest on a network you like

[TPSA7514]

Complete misinformation from the guy 2 above

[tonyb1968]

TPSA7514 said:

Complete misinformation from the guy 2 above

Really?


Go walk into a Vodafone shop with a CPW contracted phone, they won't help you because you are not one of THEIR customers, its a 3rd party seller, a different contract provider, its like calling BT out to fix your Talk Talk line even though the line is LLU and you use to have BT, just because it may go through a network does not mean you are their customer.

If you want to be supported directly by VF then you have to get a contract WITH VF, not another provider.

[tonyb1968]

Dr Murdoch said:

Sorry if this has been done to death but....

I'm weeks away (9th March) from my contract finishing with Vodafone. Ive just called up to get my PAC code, just in case I decided to leave the network.

I was advised the following which I don't quite get....

Vodafone could after applying a supposedly 20% discount give me a contract for £38 per month, however I can get the same deal, same network via Carphone Warehouse for £32 per month, albeit with a £50 upfront cost. When I put this to the chap from Vodafone he said that the coverage wouldn't be as good and some other waffle (he had a strong accent so couldn't quite catch it all).

So, is the a difference between going direct with Vodafone (or other network providers) as opposed to using a 3rd party?

Oh, if I ask for my PAC before the 9th March I would need to pay £40 for the privilege..

This kicks into effect today.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/...

[anonymous-user]

tonyb1968 said:

TPSA7514 said:

Complete misinformation from the guy 2 above

Really?


Go walk into a Vodafone shop with a CPW contracted phone, they won't help you because you are not one of THEIR customers, its a 3rd party seller, a different contract provider, its like calling BT out to fix your Talk Talk line even though the line is LLU and you use to have BT, just because it may go through a network does not mean you are their customer.

If you want to be supported directly by VF then you have to get a contract WITH VF, not another provider.

Yes, but no one is saying this!

I would not buy a phone from CPW and then go into a Voda shop and ask for help.

Don't understand where the confusion is coming from?

[anonymous-user]

tonyb1968 said:

Sorry Roger, you are incorrect.

To start with, CPW is a service provider, not just a dealer, that means they provide a service, you have signed a contract with that PROVIDER (note the word in capitals, it says everything you need to know), and any issues you have are taken up with that PROVIDER.
You can still use the network apps but any other issues will need to be sorted via CPW customer services, you know, billing, contract etc, just because you are on a network does not mean that network looks after you directly, the service provider does that and guess who that is in this case?
Yep, Carphone warehouse.

What are you on about? I've not suggested any of the above. Let me clarify:

Vodafone, Three, O2 - they are network providers (I won't calitalise it). They are the people who have networks, that they provide. The main people - The ones at the top. They are known in the industry as "the networks"

CPW - they are a phone dealer (a reseller) that hook you up with phones, on networks, as per above - the network providers. You can get all pedantic and call them providers, sure, they provide a service, but I'm seperating Network providers (O2) and phone dealers (CPW).

Then there are phone manufacturers and resellers. i.e. Samsung, Moto, Lenovo, Apple. Resellers - like eGlobal.

So, as previously, what I'm saying is, just to be absolutely clea:

- Buy your phone from a manufacturer or reseller. (not O2, not CPW, but Moto, or Apple, or eGlobal, or Ebay). Sim free, unlocked.
- connect to a network (provider) directly - i.e. Voda, O2, Three, EE
- Skip the middle man - CPW etc, unless they offer a deal you can't get elsewhere, or you need your phone paid for on monthlies.

You now have an unlocked phone you can use with anyone
A sim only deal with a network provider
No 2 year tie in with CPW etc

You now get your phone support from , say, Moto and your network support from, lets say, Three UK

Its not complicated, and not once have I suggested hooking up to Voda direct then walking into CPW for help, or, vice versa. That would be stupid.

And the point was, after ignoring all this confusion, that going direct gets you great deals and flexibility. You can get the phone much cheaper, and you can pick the contract that suits your calls and data requirement with any network provider you choose, and change as you wish.

For example, buying your phone from the likes of eGlobal, often gets an £1100 phone for £700. You then Choose a phone data/call package from any one of the networks that suits Your calling habits, not the package that is thrust at you to buy the phone from the likes of CPW etc. (i.e. you might think a 60Gb package is super duper, but in reality, you never use more than 30gb a month, so you are paying over the odds, just because you got led down a path that seemed great value on the face of it) - see? This is where it makes it hard to compare deals when you show a £1100 phone, with a £50 a month data/call package and then show the total as being around £1100. You think you are getting the data for free, or the phone with a big discount, but if you bought the phone yourself for £700, you probably then would not choose a £50 a month call/data plan. You'd choose one that actually suited yoru needs. In my case, £6 a month. I'm not daft, I know lots of you would not find 8Gb a month enough, but you can get shed loads more for under £15 a month - with no 2 year commitment.

Clearly there are times that dealers like CPW (or Vodafone, for example - as you can buy your phone from Voda is you wish) can offer an unbeatable offer when phones are launched because - a) they have huge buying power b) they want to get you on their network for long term retention. But, generally, people are paying more for their phone and data/voice package buy buying their phone from the people who provide their calls contract - because, the premium is hidden in either a lower phone cost and an inflated calls package, or, vice versa. Plus - you are having to be tied to a 24 month contract as you are paying off your phone cost on finance.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 15th February 06:40

[anonymous-user]

TPSA7514 said:

Complete misinformation from the guy 2 above

Indeed