Buying Iphone from UK apple store

Dublinproud

Hey guys,

I'm considering buying an iphone from the UK apple store.It says they are sim free.

The 16GB version is £500, thing that worries me is they are changing hands for £750 plus on ebay.Is sim free different to unlocked?

I'll be going on the Meteor network and i just need to be pointed in the right direction.

vinnycoyne

No, SIM free and unlocked are the same thing.

wez99950

sim free means that it is unlocked meaning that the phone can be used on any carrier and won't be 'locked' to a specific carrier.
reason people are buying it at an elated price is due to their scarcity even in countries where it is available and people from countries where it is yet to be released (e.g. Ireland) are willing to spend the money. rather wish i sold mine rather than returning it!

Gumbo

OP, i would be more worried about stock. when does it say it will ship the phone if you order?

BBMcQ

wez99950 wrote: »

sim free means that it is unlocked meaning that the phone can be used on any carrier and won't be 'locked' to a specific carrier.
reason people are buying it at an elated price is due to their scarcity even in countries where it is available and people from countries where it is yet to be released (e.g. Ireland) are willing to spend the money. rather wish i sold mine rather than returning it!

Why'd you return it? Out of curiosity?

guil

sure ya cant buy from the uk store in ireland

Creamy Goodness

you can if you meet two conditions.

1. ship to a uk address.
2. pay with a uk credit card.

wez99950

stuartmchugh wrote: »

Why'd you return it? Out of curiosity?

i was unfortunate,i had very bad reception issues. i did loose signal which did lead to dropped calls. i could have got over that by trying to hold it differently (the 'jobs' solution )but what was very bad was when i was txting (i am a big texter) i would lose signal by the end and so would have to wait until signal picked up to send it.
i decided to return it and wait out for the white one and hope that these issues will be resolved.

ironclaw

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

you can if you meet two conditions.

1. ship to a uk address.
2. pay with a uk credit card.

I don't think you need a UK credit card. Apple work on the system that the country shop only ships to that country. i.e. The UK Apple Store only serves the UK.

I have a feeling some friends bought stuff for people in the UK using Irish credit cards. Gifts etc.

Jofspring

ironclaw wrote: »

I don't think you need a UK credit card. Apple work on the system that the country shop only ships to that country. i.e. The UK Apple Store only serves the UK.

I have a feeling some friends bought stuff for people in the UK using Irish credit cards. Gifts etc.

Ya don't think UK credit card is needed. Apple even suggest that you shouldn't forget you can also pick up an iphone 4 for friends and family. Basically i took from that if you know someone with a UK address get it sent to them and get them to send it on.

Below the iphone 4 it says dispatched 3 weeks. It has said that since day one so its hard to know exactly how long you could be waiting. Once the hype dies down and most the people that really wanted the phone straight have got it then it should be easy to get it from apple UK.

igor420

Does anyone know what the stock levels are like in the Belfast apple store?

Has anyone gone up to buy one?

Jofspring

igor420 wrote: »

Does anyone know what the stock levels are like in the Belfast apple store?

Has anyone gone up to buy one?

Post here about it. Post number 661.

igor420

Jofspring wrote: »

Post here about it. Post number 661.

Thanks

dougs09

You can use an Irish card in Belfast, thats no prob.