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Why are phones/plans so expensive in Ireland?

  • 08-03-2010 3:53pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,312 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    I've recently purchased a Nokia N900 from vodafone of bill pay. I went for the €45 per month plan which has 150 free minutes + 150 free texts and free vodafone to vodafone calls and texts. It also has a 2GB data plan included. The cost of the handset with the above plan was €329.

    i have since checked the vodafone UK website for corresponding deals and was shocked to say the least! For a £40 plan in the UK you get 1200 free minutes and unlimited free texts!!!! The phone itself is also free!!!!!!

    My question is, does anyone know why we are so ripped off in this regard in Ireland?


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 306 ✭✭nmesisca


    techdiver wrote: »
    Hi,

    I've recently purchased a Nokia N900 from vodafone of bill pay. I went for the €45 per month plan which has 150 free minutes + 150 free texts and free vodafone to vodafone calls and texts. It also has a 2GB data plan included. The cost of the handset with the above plan was €329.

    i have since checked the vodafone UK website for corresponding deals and was shocked to say the least! For a £40 plan in the UK you get 1200 free minutes and unlimited free texts!!!! The phone itself is also free!!!!!!

    My question is, does anyone know why we are so ripped off in this regard in Ireland?

    welcome to Ireland!

    /queue the 'higher costs' 'higher taxes' etc bandwagon /


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,312 ✭✭✭techdiver


    nmesisca wrote: »
    welcome to Ireland!

    /queue the 'higher costs' 'higher taxes' etc bandwagon /

    I'm sure there will be those arguments alright, but that doesn't explain the stark difference between the prices and benefits I listed in my initial post.

    I defy anyone to explain how high cost + tax etc can reconcile the difference between free and €329 euro for the handset. :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 306 ✭✭nmesisca


    techdiver wrote: »
    I'm sure there will be those arguments alright, but that doesn't explain the stark difference between the prices and benefits I listed in my initial post.

    I defy anyone to explain how high cost + tax etc can reconcile the difference between free and €329 euro for the handset. :D

    it doesnt. but that wont stop the arguments.
    people in ireland just... pay up.
    sure most complain in a shy and private way, but they still fork the money at the end.
    goes for phones and pretty much anything else overpriced.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,312 ✭✭✭techdiver


    nmesisca wrote: »
    it doesnt. but that wont stop the arguments.
    people in ireland just... pay up.
    sure most complain in a shy and private way, but they still fork the money at the end.
    goes for phones and pretty much anything else overpriced.

    True.

    I would be just interested to see if anyone who actually works for the phone companies and/or who knows the inner workings, defend or explain their pricing strategy considering the much better value available across the water. Is it as above that we are a shower of mugs (me included), who just fork out the money and as such will be treated with contempt by these companies?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,858 ✭✭✭paulm17781


    The argument "UK is a bigger market" will be put forth.

    What I've never understood is how come the deals in the North are the same as Britain but we don't get the same here. There is surely little or no reason for this other than "because we can."


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,829 ✭✭✭godskitchen


    It is as simple as this, Ireland puts up with it. The UK has 5 main mobile operators, soon to be 4 with the coming together of T-Mobile and Orange. Ireland has 4 main operators, so competition can not be the answer.

    Now I can see how a country the size of Ireland and its spread out population would add cost with masts but that is the only main difference in terms of infrastructure.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,976 ✭✭✭✭Mimikyu


    This post has been deleted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 454 ✭✭Italia


    That's why I voted with my feet and bought my phone in the UK. If I could buy food & toiletries there, just as easily, I would.

    I have a simple philosophy in life - shop around. If its too expensive locally, I buy elsewhere, where its not. Feelgood slogans like "buy local" mean absolutely nothing when I try and balance my accounts at month's end and my ever dwindling salary.

    Sooner or later the lightbulb will switch on.....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,236 ✭✭✭Idleater


    techdiver wrote: »
    Hi,

    I've recently purchased a Nokia N900 from vodafone of bill pay....



    My question is, does anyone know why we are so ripped off in this regard in Ireland?

    Wait a minute, you went into a shop, saw something for sale, paid for it, and then went onto the internet to complain about being ripped off?

    Could you not have done some research first to determine if what you were buying could be bought elsewhere for cheaper. At the very least this would have meant you would have made an informed decision that either you do pay the asking, or you don't.

    Prices are obviously so high here because shops know that people are willing to pay the prices. Just like you did.

    Money is exchanged for goods and services, if you don't want the service don't pay for it. If you do want the service then you have do determine if you are willing to pay the asking price. I'm fairly sure there are other cheaper options than €45pm. Unless of course this is exactly what you require...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,312 ✭✭✭techdiver


    nereid wrote: »
    Wait a minute, you went into a shop, saw something for sale, paid for it, and then went onto the internet to complain about being ripped off?

    Could you not have done some research first to determine if what you were buying could be bought elsewhere for cheaper. At the very least this would have meant you would have made an informed decision that either you do pay the asking, or you don't.

    Prices are obviously so high here because shops know that people are willing to pay the prices. Just like you did.

    Money is exchanged for goods and services, if you don't want the service don't pay for it. If you do want the service then you have do determine if you are willing to pay the asking price. I'm fairly sure there are other cheaper options than €45pm. Unless of course this is exactly what you require...

    If you completely read my post you will see that I was stating that the same phone on bill pay in the UK in less. There is no avenue to purchase the phone cheaper in Ireland or as a sim free pack from elsewhere. I was drawing a direct comparison between the cost of the same handset on relatively similar price plans between Ireland and the UK.

    I could not purchase the phone in the UK on the aforementioned plan as I would need to sign up to a bill pay contract in the UK which would be a non runner. Also I did plenty of research on the phone on all available networks. The cheapest price plan was €35 with vodafone which would give no free minutes and texts, so I decided to go for the €45 plan. O2, who I was with was charging me even more for the handset on an upgrade.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 938 ✭✭✭wildefalcon


    meteor billpay does 200 minutes and 200 texts for 20euro (18 months)

    Your choice.


    Markets work on supply and demand, and are efficient when there are a lot of compeditors, and customers that shop around.

    If people keep selecting the more expensive options, then the businesses will keep supplying them.

    Next time, shop around. If vodafone had no customers at their prices they'd do something about it.

    WildeFalcon


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 590 ✭✭✭blaz


    meteor billpay does 200 minutes and 200 texts for 20euro (18 months)

    The only issue being that Meteor's network is at best flaky. I was on Meteor for almost a year but then switched to Vodafone because I couldn't stand the dropped calls, slow or no data, being unreachable with phone showing full signal, etc.

    Yeah competition is great, but operators don't only compete on price. There is a reason why Meteor's prices are so much lower then the competitions and it is not that Meteor is so generous.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,625 ✭✭✭✭BaZmO*


    House prices used to be mental in Ireland. Some people even bought more than one house. People have stopped buying houses. Now house prices have fallen dramatically.

    People are still buying mobile phones. Some people are even buying more than one mobile phone........etc., etc. Doesn't take an economist to work out the rest! ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,312 ✭✭✭techdiver


    meteor billpay does 200 minutes and 200 texts for 20euro (18 months)

    Meteor do not stock the particular phone I wanted and as another poster said they have still gotten an inferior network.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,145 ✭✭✭dogbert27


    I was looking at the N97 mini before Christmas with Vodafone and it was coming in at €199. About a month ago it was coming in at €99. It's now showing at €79 euro on their website.

    I guess if you were to wait another 4-6 months you'd be paying €200-250 for an N900.

    I suppose it's up to the buyer in this country to decide when it's the right time to make a purchase (as somebody said, like buying a house) but that's on the handset only.

    I agree that the minutes/free texts price plans are crap when compared to other countries but I don't know how you can change that. Using the house comparison, complaining about the bad value in price plans is equivalent to complaining about having one of the highest electricity costs in Europe.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,030 ✭✭✭angel01


    Lack of decent competition mainly..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,236 ✭✭✭Idleater


    techdiver wrote: »
    If you completely read my post you will see that I was stating that the same phone on bill pay in the UK in less.
    I read your post and as has been pointed out to you using this as a direct comparison is useless, why not pick Belgium, Italy or some other EU state where sim free phones must be made available.
    techdiver wrote: »
    There is no avenue to purchase the phone cheaper in Ireland or as a sim free pack from elsewhere.
    There are plenty. What you are looking for someone to match a subsidised price on a non subsidised fully featured phone. See how that works out for you, here or abroad.
    techdiver wrote: »
    I was drawing a direct comparison between the cost of the same handset on relatively similar price plans between Ireland and the UK.
    This has been explained to you why you are comparing apples and oranges.
    techdiver wrote: »
    I could not purchase the phone in the UK on the aforementioned plan as I would need to sign up to a bill pay contract in the UK which would be a non runner. Also I did plenty of research on the phone on all available networks.
    This is the subsidised vs actual price argument again.
    techdiver wrote: »
    The cheapest price plan was €35 with vodafone which would give no free minutes and texts, so I decided to go for the €45 plan. O2, who I was with was charging me even more for the handset on an upgrade.
    Funny how, I can get the n900 on my current o2 plan and that is not €45, nor even €35 per month.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,219 ✭✭✭tipptom


    its not a matter of shopping around as meteor is indeed flakey or signal is non existant as i found out after been assured it would be ok in my area,our demand far outstrips the uk per capita and they know they just have to add the paddy tax as the bonus,can put up with price of phone but its the massive differential in minutes and free calls packages that really confirms the paddy tax,just today i was on to tesco about their ads for triple credit in uk while we are still on double,she didnt know,fair play to curreys at least,bought a 6 cu litres freezer for 170 delivered,the same as uk.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,312 ✭✭✭techdiver


    nereid wrote: »
    There are plenty. What you are looking for someone to match a subsidised price on a non subsidised fully featured phone. See how that works out for you, here or abroad.

    No I'm not.
    Vodafone Ireland subsidised price €329.
    Vodafone UK subsidised price Free!
    This has been explained to you why you are comparing apples and oranges.

    I don't agree. Just because accept that there is no comparison between a Vodafone offering in the UK and here doesn't mean I have to.
    This is the subsidised vs actual price argument again.

    No it's not. Once again refer to my reply above regarding my comparison is between 2 subsidised offerings.
    Funny how, I can get the n900 on my current o2 plan and that is not €45, nor even €35 per month.[/

    The N900 is more expensive to purchase on O2. I could have spent €389 on it with my existing plan on O2, but that comes with no data plan and the data add on is €6.17 per month for a miserable 250MB of data.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,288 ✭✭✭100gSoma


    This post has been deleted.

    I think thats pretty much it. The same reason my Car insurance is 1k herei n Ireland and about 300euro in the UK. Bigger population equals bigger competition. Ireland is a closed shop really. In fact I'm surprised we even get the "deals" we do get.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,625 ✭✭✭✭BaZmO*


    100gSoma wrote: »
    I think thats pretty much it. The same reason my Car insurance is 1k herei n Ireland and about 300euro in the UK. Bigger population equals bigger competition. Ireland is a closed shop really. In fact I'm surprised we even get the "deals" we do get.

    Then how come stuff in cheaper in Northern Ireland?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,976 ✭✭✭✭Mimikyu


    This post has been deleted.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10 IKnowYou


    In my opinion:
    1. People that do not want to work (note: I don't say can't work) on social welfare could easily afford 45/month plans + 329 for the phone.

    2. Most people don't realise n900 can be bought for about 400 euros sim free and assume Vodafone Ireland had already subsidised a substantial amount.

    3. Vodafone Ireland has 2 shops, less than 500m apart in my street. Must've had a fun time ripping off customers.

    4. Irish Mobile operators offer pathetic mobile phones in general. When a good phone comes along demand will be very high, thus they capitalise on that.

    This post should be transfered to Rip-Off Ireland. Unless I'm getting social welfare, I'm out of this country as soon as possible :p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,312 ✭✭✭techdiver


    IKnowYou wrote: »
    2. Most people don't realise n900 can be bought for about 400 euros sim free and assume Vodafone Ireland had already subsidised a substantial amount.

    The only place i could find such a price was on eBay. I did not find any official distribution point for the handset at that price.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,224 ✭✭✭Walkman


    BaZmO* wrote: »
    Then how come stuff in cheaper in Northern Ireland?
    Maybe the fact that Northern Ireland is part of the UK has something to do with it???


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,976 ✭✭✭✭Mimikyu


    This post has been deleted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,992 ✭✭✭✭partyatmygaff


    IKnowYou wrote: »
    In my opinion:
    1. People that do not want to work (note: I don't say can't work) on social welfare could easily afford 45/month plans + 329 for the phone.
    No they cannot.

    2. Most people don't realise n900 can be bought for about 400 euros sim free and assume Vodafone Ireland had already subsidised a substantial amount.
    I haven't seen it for anything less than 540 euro sim free.
    3. Vodafone Ireland has 2 shops, less than 500m apart in my street. Must've had a fun time ripping off customers.
    Everyone has to have a hobby I guess :pac:
    4. Irish Mobile operators offer pathetic mobile phones in general. When a good phone comes along demand will be very high, thus they capitalise on that.
    They offer fairly poor phones most of the time at expensive tariffs. Anything high end costs almost as much as it does sim free and not only that but price plans start at €40 for an 18 month contract.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,288 ✭✭✭100gSoma


    BaZmO* wrote: »
    Then how come stuff in cheaper in Northern Ireland?

    It's part of the UK. The little bit of water between it and the mainland UK doesn't change the fact its part of a market economy/country with 62million people in it. Everything is cheaper. The networks in the UK don't have separate pricing and wenbsites in NI than mainland UK.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,773 ✭✭✭✭Skerries




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,992 ✭✭✭✭partyatmygaff




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 88 ✭✭jojo86


    IKnowYou wrote: »
    In my opinion:
    1. People that do not want to work (note: I don't say can't work) on social welfare could easily afford 45/month plans + 329 for the phone.

    Firstly, I need to address this foolish comment. People that do not want to work? Excuse me??!! I am dying to work, I am constantly putting out CVs, I try my hardest there just happens to be a lack of work so do not dare use that kind of language when referring to those of us unlucky enough to be stuck on the social welfare. Yeah, some people love being on social welfare but I can guarantee that 99% hate it, hate themselves everyday because of it. Next You dont say can't work. Well guess what as I assume you are referring to jobseekers welfare then just so you know only people who Can or are eligible to work can receive it. And finally, you try live on a social welfare payment for a week; pay every bill you have, pay for petrol to go get the money/sign on/look for a job,pay tax,pay insurance,pay NCT, pay rent, pay for food etc etc then see how easily you can afford a 45 p/m plan.

    Next, regarding phone bills in Ireland. They are a joke with O2 the ultimate jokers. Im with O2, they have robbed me. Now the phone I want is exclusive to them. Meteor and other networks offer waaay better price plans. The data with O2 is a joke. So i contacted them, asked how come other networks offer similar deals at better prices, threatened to leave them-Guess what they don't care. They still get their exclusives (HTC Sensation XE is what I want;its available on all networks in UK only O2 here? I blame the other networks for not fighting for it). See I do stand up to companies, I do tell them what I think etc....not many do though, that's part of the problem. Now Im just hoping I can get the XE with O2 in Carphone Warehouse so I can at least trade in my old phone...Yes Irish companies are robbers....thats all there is to say really.
    But quick question could I buy a Bill phone and have a contract with a UK company here?If I did it all online?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,992 ✭✭✭✭partyatmygaff


    Did you really need to reply to a two year old thread? :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 88 ✭✭jojo86


    Did you really need to reply to a two year old thread? :confused:

    I'm so sorry. I didn't actually pass any heed of the date straight away but happened up this via Google as it concerns an issue I currently have. I clearly had as much reason to reply to this thread as you had to comment on what I did. Did you really need to find this post and then post something pointless under it??!! Well nicer people may come across this and wish to take up the issue again or maybe they would redirect me to a newer post...
    Not you though-you are the boards police,sarcastic and confused. Well go you! You rock!!!...........


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,992 ✭✭✭✭partyatmygaff


    I didn't go looking for this thread, I got an email notification saying something had been posted to it.

    There's no need to reply to old posts, it'd make more sense to start a new thread with whatever question you had instead of reviving dead threads.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 88 ✭✭jojo86


    Well I get notifications the whole time about new posts. I either ignore or go onto the forum if it's something I can help with. I always attempt to offer help to people regardless of when the forum was started. Why you couldn't just say that the thread was old and may be think of starting a new one? Why the need to be a bit ignorant about it? Or ignore it. Why not just ignore??!!!!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,992 ✭✭✭✭partyatmygaff


    I came on to the thread for that very reason. I was bewildered to see you replying to a comment made about social welfare two years ago hence my comment.

    In any case, as for your question I'd have to say that you're suggesting isn't possible. For one, regardless of whether you sign up online or in-store you'll still need a valid UK address and proof of residency and secondly, unless you live in the UK there's absolutely no point in getting a UK contract and line as you won't have any service here in Ireland.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19,777 ✭✭✭✭The Corinthian


    Raising a zombie thread - Silly.

    Having a conversation on the merits thereof - idiotic.

    Closed.


This discussion has been closed.
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