Bottom Line, Best place to buy SIM FREE phones?

quintron · 09-11-2006 02:05PM #1

I am interested in purchasing a new unbranded sim free phone. Thus far I have bought second hand sim free, and network locked new phones and I want to get a new sim free option this time..

I am aware of expansys etc but would really like to hear of other online places as well as feedback from people who have purchased sim free phones from the likes of Pixmania, Expansys etc.

Where is the best place, in your collective op¡nions, to purchase online?

I´m sure there are many online stores I don´t know about and would be suitably wary of ones I am not familiar with unless I heard otherwise.
So please post here your sim free buying experiences, and recommend or disuade me.

I read a thread here about someone who wanted to purchase a phone in Japan but found out it would not work in Ireland; phones are cheaper there but not an option then I take it?
The US seems very far behind in mobile tech with networks there seriously crippling their handsets (3 springs to mind).
I´m in Spain at the moment and there are definitely no deals to be had either sim free or prepay, so I guess a decent and reputable european online reseller is the best bet.

Let me know how you have gotton on in the past, your buying experiences with links etc.

Any advice appreciated.
Cheers, Q.

PS; I´m mainly interested in S60 Nokias, waiting patiently for the N95 but would settle for an N73 or N80 until then :-)

APM · 09-11-2006 02:22PM

ebay sellers with good feedback are a good way to go. Can often save up to €50 for a brand new unlocked phone as opposed to online prices

skearon · 09-11-2006 02:37PM

quintron wrote:

I am interested in purchasing a new unbranded sim free phone. Thus far I have bought second hand sim free, and network locked new phones and I want to get a new sim free option this time..

I am aware of expansys etc but would really like to hear of other online places as well as feedback from people who have purchased sim free phones from the likes of Pixmania, Expansys etc.

Where is the best place, in your collective op¡nions, to purchase online?

I´m sure there are many online stores I don´t know about and would be suitably wary of ones I am not familiar with unless I heard otherwise.
So please post here your sim free buying experiences, and recommend or disuade me.

I read a thread here about someone who wanted to purchase a phone in Japan but found out it would not work in Ireland; phones are cheaper there but not an option then I take it?
The US seems very far behind in mobile tech with networks there seriously crippling their handsets (3 springs to mind).
I´m in Spain at the moment and there are definitely no deals to be had either sim free or prepay, so I guess a decent and reputable european online reseller is the best bet.

Let me know how you have gotton on in the past, your buying experiences with links etc.

Any advice appreciated.
Cheers, Q.

PS; I´m mainly interested in S60 Nokias, waiting patiently for the N95 but would settle for an N73 or N80 until then :-)

You could save money (particularly if you are entitled to an upgrade) by going for a branded and locked Vodafone or O2 phone, if you are on bill pay you normally get an unlock code within a day or so, after that just have the phone reflashed with generic firmware.

Only problem could be the phone you want not being available on these networks!

BuffyBot · 09-11-2006 04:02PM

I've used expansys twice, and had absolutely no issues. Would recommend them.

Umiq88 · 09-11-2006 07:11PM

expansys are really great apart from there prices i've just bought a SE w850i for €311 off ebay on expansys its listed for €424

Expansys is handy from the fact they you buy the phone they send it out no risk no messing about more or less hassle free ebay is cheap

Amazon can have good deals as well but can get out with alo of places not shipping outside UK. Theres also adverts.ie (boards.ie sales website) which can be good for bargains cant think of anymore at the mo

Cr8or · 20-11-2006 03:17PM

I have had problems with Expansys in the past, if an item is out of stock you can have long delays.

Slice · 20-11-2006 04:52PM

Pop over to a CPW, Link Store or Phones4U in NI if you're close to the border. I've found that CPW sim-free prices in the North compare very favourably against CPW sim-free prices in the Republic - another sad example of how we're being ripped off down here I guess (I don't know how well CPW NI prices compare to online prices though).

BreadBoard · 20-11-2006 05:07PM

www.onedaymobile.ie are the nest I've seen for price on sim free phone.

Pansy Potter · 20-11-2006 05:12PM

I've seen good reports on Boards about:

www.onedaymobile.ie

Pansy Potter · 20-11-2006 05:20PM

BreadBoard wrote:

www.onedaymobile.ie are the nest I've seen for price on sim free phone.

See the difference a fast connection makes.
My reply took 5 minutes longer to get there!

BreadBoard · 20-11-2006 05:29PM

Pansy Potter wrote:

See the difference a fast connection makes.
My reply took 5 minutes longer to get there!

Use www.pie.boards.ie that might speed things up a little for ya,

what_car · 20-11-2006 09:12PM

psittacosis wrote:

expansys are really great apart from there prices i've just bought a SE w850i for €311 off ebay on expansys its listed for €424

Expansys is handy from the fact they you buy the phone they send it out no risk no messing about more or less hassle free ebay is cheap

Amazon can have good deals as well but can get out with alo of places not shipping outside UK. Theres also adverts.ie (boards.ie sales website) which can be good for bargains cant think of anymore at the mo

i have bought a few fones from expansys... when you enter your vat number it takes the vat off straight away! niceone. and fast delivery. so if you know someone with a vat num then ur laughing.

Ruu_Old · 20-11-2006 10:53PM

Pixmania maybe, I hear their after sales support is a load of tosh though.

I have dealt with expansys before and find them very good.

Bottom Line, Best place to buy SIM FREE phones?

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