Buying an unlocked iPhone in Belgium

cojomo2 · 10-06-2009 11:21AM

For any1 that might know:

Is it very likely that the iphone 3gs will not sell out in a couple of days in Belgium, as phones there are not subsidised in any way, so no matter if you opt for bill pay or pre pay, you will be hit with a bill for 500+ for the phone? Will this step price slow sales down? Please say 'yes'! as ill be there 4 days after their launch date and want to pick one up

3DataModem · 10-06-2009 11:23AM

cojomo2 wrote: »

For any1 that might know:

Is it very likely that the iphone 3gs will not sell out in a couple of days in Belgium, as phones there are not subsidised in any way, so no matter if you opt for bill pay or pre pay, you will be hit with a bill for 500+ for the phone? Will this step price slow sales down? Please say 'yes'! as ill be there 4 days after their launch date and want to pick one up

Ring a shop and reserve it with your CC.

cojomo2 · 10-06-2009 11:28AM

3DataModem wrote: »

Ring a shop and reserve it with your CC.

Bloody hell,that was the fastest reply i have ever witnessed!

Do they speak english in the stores widely there? Would you say I can reserve before the 26th(their release date) or better to wait till the 26th? do u reckon they will be sold out by the 30th anyway?Thanks

Are you planning on upgrading yourself?

3DataModem · 10-06-2009 11:33AM

cojomo2 wrote: »

Do they speak english in the stores widely there?

In most places yes. Depends where you are going. Presumably Brussels, in which case almost definitely yes.

cojomo2 wrote: »

Would you say I can reserve before the 26th(their release date) or better to wait till the 26th?

Store policies will differ. I suggest trying to reserve in a general electronics store who are more likely to allow you reserve than a phone shop.

cojomo2 wrote: »

do u reckon they will be sold out by the 30th anyway?Thanks

No idea.

cojomo2 wrote: »

Are you planning on upgrading yourself?

No. Very happy with 3G. Processing power + compass would be very nice.

cojomo2 · 10-06-2009 11:44AM

Cheers 3data modem,

You are obviously experienced with this iphone belgium stuff. Yes Im going to Brussels, staying somewhere in the city.

Could you recommend a store that I could ring up and reserve by paying with credit card?Thanks

3DataModem · 10-06-2009 11:57AM

cojomo2 wrote: »

Cheers 3data modem,

You are obviously experienced with this iphone belgium stuff. Yes Im going to Brussels, staying somewhere in the city.

Could you recommend a store that I could ring up and reserve by paying with credit card?Thanks

I don't know anywhere that does it, but if I was going I'd call one of the Saturn stores (Media Markt Saturn).

cojomo2 · 10-06-2009 12:04PM

3DataModem wrote: »

I don't know anywhere that does it, but if I was going I'd call one of the Saturn stores (Media Markt Saturn).

yeah i looked up their belgian site, couldnt find contact details on it, also, wikipedia says they only have 2 stores in Belgium, dont think either are in Brussels..

3DataModem · 10-06-2009 12:06PM

cojomo2 wrote: »

yeah i looked up their belgian site, couldnt find contact details on it, also, wikipedia says they only have 2 stores in Belgium, dont think either are in Brussels..

Get the bus to Antwerp? 1 hour each way.

Soot-fan · 10-06-2009 12:09PM

unless you are traveling to Belguim why bother..... you can buy an unlocked 16G here for an extra 99€ + delievery and get it delivered to your door..... not travel costs.... no extra travel cost with Ryanair.... no onward travel costs with ryanair. no taking a day off work to get a cheaper flight..... the list could go on and on....

please correct me if i'm wrong

http://www.expansys.ie/pf.aspx?i=173895

mobius42 · 10-06-2009 12:13PM

Soot-fan wrote: »

unless you are traveling to Belguim why bother..... you can buy an unlocked 16G here for an extra 99€ + delievery and get it delivered to your door..... not travel costs.... no extra travel cost with Ryanair.... no onward travel costs with ryanair. no taking a day off work to get a cheaper flight..... the list could go on and on....

please correct me if i'm wrong

http://www.expansys.ie/pf.aspx?i=173895

That's the iPhone 3G, cojomo2 is looking for the 3GS.

Soot-fan · 10-06-2009 12:37PM

mobius42 wrote: »

That's the iPhone 3G, cojomo2 is looking for the 3GS.

True.... I'm sure expansys.ie will sell the new model as soon as they can.

Again, expansys will have a heavy mark up on the price but there is little or no hassle buying one.

It’s another option to consider.

Evergreen · 10-06-2009 12:42PM

Expansys is a great option, especially if you have a VAT number - they will ship it ex-VAT to you then so for example a 16G 3G delivered for EUR 718.09 suddenly becomes EUR 595 including delivery

I'm sure that they will have the 3GS in stock as soon as it is available, they are based in France right?

Tom Dunne · 10-06-2009 12:44PM

Evergreen wrote: »

I'm sure that they will have the 3GS in stock as soon as it is available, they are based in France right?

No, the UK.

VAT number, never thought of that.....Hmmmmmmmmm.

cojomo2 · 10-06-2009 12:59PM

am goin to be in brussels anyway on the 30th....

only there for 1 day so dont have the time for antwerp, if any1 knows a good place to get them in Brussels please let me know.

I read that Mobistar were refusing to sell the 3g(when it first became aailable) to foreigners or customers that were not using their network ...I wonder were apple stores doing the same?

cojomo2 · 10-06-2009 01:06PM

Tom Dunne wrote: »

No, the UK.

VAT number, never thought of that.....Hmmmmmmmmm.

Yeah I have a VAT no. but I wonder how it would be seen when an audit takes place? Ofcourse you can say is a business phone but might they refuse it as a business expense on grounds that its an unnecessary expense to the business?..given the fact much cheaper phones are available??

How long after the release of iphone 3g did it become available sim free on expansys?

Soot-fan · 10-06-2009 01:15PM

I never considered the VAT number either.

In that case, you can get an 8g 3G for 502€ plus delivery unlocked.
380€ from o2 locked.

RAWLiNGS · 10-06-2009 02:07PM

just came across this page http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937 , in certain countries like Slovakia and a lot more, iphone is not locked to the carrier, in Hungary its locked to T-mobile but they will unlock it -officially by t-mobile- for 30 euro, it think its the same in France.. i know somebody who lives in slovakia so ill talk to him... see if he can confirm it...

culabula · 10-06-2009 06:58PM

cojomo2 wrote: »

booked mine...departing June 30th, returning July 1st.

Ryanair. Total cost including cc charges, fees, etc etc 12(twelve) euro.

Surely it's much more expensive in Belgium than in Italy?

cojomo2 · 10-06-2009 08:38PM

culabula wrote: »

Surely it's much more expensive in Belgium than in Italy?

well going by the iphone 3g, its only about 50 quid or less more expensive. I did plan on getting it in italy, but flights are over 200 quid around the time of its release..ill be it brussels 4 days after its release there, and hope that wont be too late...

culabula · 10-06-2009 08:42PM

cojomo2 wrote: »

well going by the iphone 3g, its only about 50 quid or less more expensive. I did plan on getting it in italy, but flights are over 200 quid around the time of its release..ill be it brussels 4 days after its release there, and hope that wont be too late...

I thought that it was up in the 600s in Belgium. It certainly was in France, where it may also be bought SIM-free.

I can't see sales being as crazy as the original 3G version. The differences aren't massive, the phone is expensive and installing 3.0 on your existing phone gives you many of the advantages of the 3Gs.

Why in the name of Allah did you sell your existing one that you went to such trouble to get?

cojomo2 · 10-06-2009 08:53PM

culabula wrote: »

I thought that it was up in the 600s in Belgium. It certainly was in France, where it may also be bought SIM-free.

I can't see sales being as crazy as the original 3G version. The differences aren't massive, the phone is expensive and installing 3.0 on your existing phone gives you many of the advantages of the 3Gs.

Why in the name of Allah did you sell your existing one that you went to such trouble to get?

Because i got an excellent price for it.:D

according to the apple website, iphone in France is sim locked? What makes u think it isnt?

culabula · 10-06-2009 09:06PM

cojomo2 wrote: »

Because i got an excellent price for it.:D

according to the apple website, iphone in France is sim locked? What makes u think it isnt?

It may be bought SIM-free from the official two carriers.

culabula · 10-06-2009 09:08PM

cojomo2 wrote: »

Because i got an excellent price for it.:D

according to the apple website, iphone in France is sim locked? What makes u think it isnt?

Look here for example, but make sure you're sitting down first.

http://estore.orange.fr/stores/prospects/ma_selection.jhtml?pTerminalProdIdWithoutNextState=prod4570002

cojomo2 · 10-06-2009 09:12PM

culabula wrote: »

Look here for example, but make sure you're sitting down first.

http://estore.orange.fr/stores/prospects/ma_selection.jhtml?pTerminalProdIdWithoutNextState=prod4570002

Look at the link below which confirms it is not sim free

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937

culabula · 10-06-2009 09:21PM

cojomo2 wrote: »

Look at the link below which confirms it is not sim free

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937

Do you really think they are offering phones in the 600s and 700s LOCKED to Orange (or the others)?

The Apple link is simply for the situation where a contract and subsidised price is offered by those operators. The price at the very bottom of Orange's tariffs is the price sim-Free (Apple iPhone xxxxx SEUL).

cojomo2 · 10-06-2009 09:30PM

culabula wrote: »

Do you really think they are offering phones in the 600s and 700s LOCKED to Orange (or the others)?

The Apple link is simply for the situation where a contract and subsidised price is offered by those operators. The price at the very bottom of Orange's tariffs is the price sim-Free (Apple iPhone xxxxx SEUL).

are u 100% sure? I maqy go to france instead if u are...

culabula · 10-06-2009 09:35PM

cojomo2 wrote: »

are u 100% sure? I maqy go to france instead if u are...

Am positive but which part of the horrific price are you missing?????

Nor can I confirm that the 3Gs will be available from Day 1 SIM-free, though I suspect it will be -but at the premium as you can see.

Gekko · 11-06-2009 02:17AM

there still might be a delay in the networks releasing the contract handset and the pay as you go one. Have you guys considered that?

cojomo2 · 11-06-2009 10:32AM

Gekko wrote: »

there still might be a delay in the networks releasing the contract handset and the pay as you go one. Have you guys considered that?

Well in Belgium, there is no such thing as a contract handset. The contract is independent of the handset.No handsets are sold subsidised ..all are sim free

Evergreen · 11-06-2009 12:20PM

Evergreen wrote: »

Expansys is a great option, especially if you have a VAT number - they will ship it ex-VAT to you then so for example a 16G 3G delivered for EUR 718.09 suddenly becomes EUR 595 including delivery

Just been checking out Expansys again this morning and they have increased the price over night from EUR 718 to EUR 783 inlcuding VAT and delivery :mad:

What gives? Has there been a hugh demand overnight for the 3G 16GB, or are Expansys just getting greedy?

Buying an unlocked iPhone in Belgium

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