View Full Version : Where to get sim free phones?
matiano
20-05-2003, 3:48 PM
I have a t68i on contract with oange. However I recently had a bit of an incident resulting in my phone sitting in a glass of water. Needless to say, its buggered.
The sim card on the other hand is fine (although all my numbers were on my phone DOH!) so I was looking to get just a phone. I know this is an expensive way of doing things but I dont want to set up another contract.
Alternatively my contract runs out in August so I get an upgrade, so if I could get something to tide me over till then cheap that would be great.
Ideally I would like a Panasonic GD87 (this is what I am looking at for my upgrade) and that will cost me about £150 in August. DOes anyone know a good place to get deals on phones preferabbly sim free. I have looked in all my local shops and the GD87 is a minimum of £300 which is more than I am gonna pay.
any tips whould be great.
cheers
hornydragon
20-05-2003, 4:03 PM
Car Phone warehouse have an outlet at McArthur Glenn Bridgeend that sells repackaged phones quite reasonably.
Also Ebay and classifieds here. Choices "the video rental people" sometimes have cheap phone deals as do the websites of O2 etc
The link recently had a PAYG for £49.99 that you could sell when you upgrade. PS some O2 phones are unlocked so Orange sim will work
Personally I'd get an Orange PAYG and wait for upgrade time... Orange have very good after-sales when it comes to phone warranty etc. it's worth the wait. If you can't wait check out Expansys (http://www.expansys.co.uk/) and Komplett (http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/kl.asp?AvdID=1&CatID=46#C46) also look at https://communication-market.siemens.de/mymarket/default.asp?pkCoID=32&REF=teaser_buyonline_general for SIM free Siemens mobiles. ;)
matiano
21-05-2003, 2:42 PM
Cheers for the help guys I think I will go for a PAYG and just put my current sim card in it. I'll have a good look at those sites later before I rush out and buy a PAYG though. Hadn't even heard of any of the sites!
Big Adam
21-05-2003, 2:50 PM
Take a look in Virgin before you do anything.
They were waaaaaay cheaper for my Samsung A800 than any other sim-free retailer (online or otherwise)
Big A
Claim on your insurance. The phone can be repaired (maybe) even though it's water damaged, ask some of the phone specialists ( i don't mean the high street shops, look to the more specialist guys).
matiano
22-05-2003, 8:58 PM
unfortunately I only have orange care which covers if the phone malfunctions basically, tempting as it is to claim this has what has happened it is far too obvious the phone has been filled with water!
I may look into the specialists not sure if I have any round here, I would be surprised if its repairable though.
WOuld a Virgin phone work with an Orange sim card?
MarkE19
22-05-2003, 10:33 PM
Carphone Warehouse sell all their PAYG phones unlocked.
Might be easier to sell once you upgrade.
Mark.
Originally posted by matiano
unfortunately I only have orange care which covers if the phone malfunctions basically, tempting as it is to claim this has what has happened it is far too obvious the phone has been filled with water!
I may look into the specialists not sure if I have any round here, I would be surprised if its repairable though.
WOuld a Virgin phone work with an Orange sim card?
Orange care IS an insurance policy... accidental damage is covered: http://www.orange.co.uk/services/orange_care_tcs.html
Phone them on 150 ASAP ! ;)
Originally posted by MarkE19
Carphone Warehouse sell all their PAYG phones unlocked.
Are you sure about that ?
PAYG handsets are normally sent to retailers in sealed cartons which have service provider locks already set. Are CPWH breaking security seals and tampering with the handsets pre-sale or is this a service they are offering post sale ?
MarkE19
23-05-2003, 3:16 PM
I bought my dad a PAYG phone from CPWH a couple of months ago and the salesman said that all these phones were not from the phone company, but direct from the maker.
The Nokia phone I got him was in a Nokia box, not an Orange etc box. The phone was not unlocked, but never locked to Orange in the first place.
Mark.
matiano
02-06-2003, 7:22 PM
Just got off the phone with Orange and they said they can replace the handset! Cheers chaps :clap:
It was a very pleasant surprise as when I went to see the bloke in the shop he didnt think they would ;)
Blokes in shops... is there anything they do know? :laugh: :p
Told you it was an insurance policy ;)
Glad you're getting it replaced :)