Best place to buy unbranded phones

Seve OB · 07-11-2015 02:54PM #1

I'm just wondering if anyone has ever bought phones which are not locked down to a particular network. And I don't mean phones which have been jailbroken or unlocked or whatever the term is.

Where would be a good place to start looking?

bren2002 · 07-11-2015 02:57PM

Amazon. Direct from Google or Apple via their websites. Even carphone warehouse.

Seve OB · 07-11-2015 03:25PM

wont be an iphone
android most likely. just hat having vodafone or three etc sticking there stuff all over the phone
what about expansys, are they ok?

ChopShop · 09-11-2015 12:57PM

Shop around. If you find a vendor you're not sure about, check back here.

Expansys and CW can both be pricey (?)

coylemj · 09-11-2015 07:07PM

OP, your terminology is wrong. What you're talking about is buying a 'sim-free' phone. A lot of the network shops sell them though clearly they'd prefer you to buy one on a contract. If you study the models on offer in the Vodafone/3/Meteor shops and the indies like CW, some of them will be priced with no contract. I buy sim-free about every other year, usually from Amazon but you could also check www.expansys.ie who have a large range on offer.

Any phone that you buy sim-free from a UK seller will work no problem in Ireland.

Seve OB · 12-11-2015 02:49PM

coylemj wrote: »

OP, your terminology is wrong. What you're talking about is buying a 'sim-free' phone. A lot of the network shops sell them though clearly they'd prefer you to buy one on a contract. If you study the models on offer in the Vodafone/3/Meteor shops and the indies like CW, some of them will be priced with no contract. I buy sim-free about every other year, usually from Amazon but you could also check www.expansys.ie who have a large range on offer.

Any phone that you buy sim-free from a UK seller will work no problem in Ireland.

cheers. "Sim free" it is so

If you buy sim free from Vodafone/Three etc. though would I be wrong in presuming it probably comes with all their crap on it? I want a factory handset which allows me to put on what I want, and not filled with a load of crap Apps, I can't delete and taking up space.

ED E · 12-11-2015 06:00PM

Seve OB wrote: »

cheers. "Sim free" it is so

If you buy sim free from Vodafone/Three etc. though would I be wrong in presuming it probably comes with all their crap on it? I want a factory handset which allows me to put on what I want, and not filled with a load of crap Apps, I can't delete and taking up space.

All their stock will be sim locked and usually customized firmware.

Amazon.de is your best bet 9 times in 10.

Seve OB · 12-11-2015 06:41PM

ED E wrote: »

All their stock will be sim locked and usually customized firmware.

that's what I thought.

ED E wrote: »

Amazon.de is your best bet 9 times in 10.

why .de ??

I'm about to pull the trigger tomorrow on a few phones from www.fonez.ie
so would appreciate if anyone has ever done any dealings with them to see if they are ok. coming from Galway.

blinkey 101 · 13-11-2015 04:50PM

I know for a fact vodafone comes with the usual crap bloat .

I'm in the market for a new phone and was looking at m9 in cpw to buy out right it's got vodafone splash screen and about 4/5 vodafone apps . plus you must spend at least â‚¬120 on credit before they unlock the phone .

IMO buying a phone out right should be sim free and brand free ! .

13-11-2015 05:08PM

blinkey 101 wrote: »

I know for a fact vodafone comes with the usual crap bloat .

I'm in the market for a new phone and was looking at m9 in cpw to buy out right it's got vodafone splash screen and about 4/5 vodafone apps . plus you must spend at least â‚¬120 on credit before they unlock the phone .

IMO buying a phone out right should be sim free and brand free ! .

And this is why I buy from Google Directly...

NATLOR · 13-11-2015 05:16PM

Just to point out that buying a network locked phone is usually a good bit cheaper than sim free and there are many sellers of unlock codes on E Bay as cheap as a couple of euro depending on the phone type

normakelle · 13-11-2015 05:45PM

If I buy a samsung galaxy core prime from carphone warehouse will it be locked to the network? I want it for my nephew who is on the tesco mobile network and tesco do not stock it.

blinkey 101 · 13-11-2015 05:45PM

I'm buying a HTC m9 from fonez.ie 579 no brand crap and sim free . 629 in meteor and cpw.

Seve OB · 13-11-2015 05:51PM

NATLOR wrote: »

Just to point out that buying a network locked phone is usually a good bit cheaper than sim free and there are many sellers of unlock codes on E Bay as cheap as a couple of euro depending on the phone type

yes, but the point is you are stuck with the network user interface with all their crap startup screens and apps.

if I buy a htc/Samsung/whatever, sim free, i don't expect the network to be able to control the apps etc on my phone

Seve OB · 13-11-2015 05:54PM

blinkey 101 wrote: »

I'm buying a HTC m9 from fonez.ie 579 no brand crap and sim free . 629 in meteor and cpw.

ok, so I also ordered from them today. An M9 & An S6 Edge. Neither for me. I'm waiting till the M10 comes out!

I actually got a call from Fonez this afternoon after I ordered saying they didn't have the colour in stock and something about a few covers I ordered. As non of them are for me, I kinda said whatever! I'll get them on Monday and will update.

ED E · 14-11-2015 12:14PM

Seve OB wrote: »

why .de ??

Germans don't do network locking for the most part, its a 90% sim free market. The ones that arent will say. Euro prices, same phones, sim free, same great customer service and now in english. No brainer for me.

Seve OB · 16-11-2015 01:10PM

Seve OB wrote: »

ok, so I also ordered from them today. An M9 & An S6 Edge. Neither for me. I'm waiting till the M10 comes out!

I actually got a call from Fonez this afternoon after I ordered saying they didn't have the colour in stock and something about a few covers I ordered. As non of them are for me, I kinda said whatever! I'll get them on Monday and will update.

OK so, quick service from Fonez.ie. Received the 2 phones this morning. As I said already neither of them are for me so I won't be opening them up. What I noticed though, is there is a European to UK plug adapter in the package and a sticker on the Galaxy S6 saying European SIM only, so maybe not actually meant for the Irish Market. The seal is also broken on the HTC1 M9 box, took a look inside and looks new, phone wrapped in plastic and has an Irish plug.

I ordered 5 iPhone covers. 2 came as ordered which were €19 each, 1 which was €15 was substituted with another similar cover but also valued at €15. The final 2 were bought at €19 and were substituted for cheaper €15 covers. Charge hasn't hit the credit card et, so I'm not sure if the final bill will be adjusted. It's only €8... but it's my €8

ED E · 16-11-2015 07:41PM

EU markings is correct. We use different LTE bands than the US/Japan so the EU(International Version) is what you want.

blinkey 101 · 16-11-2015 08:23PM

I'm not suspicious by nature but for the price of the phones I would be wondering why the seals are broke on both boxes .

Seve OB · 16-11-2015 09:15PM

blinkey 101 wrote: »

I'm not suspicious by nature but for the price of the phones I would be wondering why the seals are broke on both boxes .

seal only broken on the HTC

I sent them an email regarding the covers and they are refunding the difference in price

blinkey 101 · 16-11-2015 09:23PM

Lol that doesn't make me feel good as I ordered the HTC. if I even suspect any tampering with the phone it will be going straight back !

Seals are there for a reason .

As far as I know when buying any product you should refuse it if seals are tapered with .

Seve OB · 17-11-2015 01:20AM

blinkey 101 wrote: »

Lol that doesn't make me feel good as I ordered the HTC. if I even suspect any tampering with the phone it will be going straight back !

Seals are there for a reason .

As far as I know when buying any product you should refuse it if seals are tapered with .

let me know how your phone arrives
i would be of the same opinion as you, but as i say.. not for me!

blinkey 101 · 17-11-2015 11:29AM

OK just got my m9 came with box seals broke .

Opened the box and knew right off the bat the phone was second hand .
I started up the phone and low a behold it was in Chinese Wtf ?

The box was filthy and there's two dirty scratches on the back of the phone I am fuming here .

Been on the phone to them and they said there will be a full investigation .

Funny thing yesterday I got a call saying they only had gunmetal left I wanted gold and silver so I said OK I'll get my money back .

Then I got a call back again saying oh ermm we made a mistake we have one gold and silver left .

Now I'm starting to put the pieces together they tried to fob me off with a second hand phone .

I paid good money in good faith for that phone and this is how I was treated .

They said they are sorry & will send postage to collect phone and refund my money .

Seve OB · 17-11-2015 11:41AM

Just took another look at the one I got. It appears to be new.

I am expecting another delivery of phones from Vodafone (hopefully today). When I get them, I can give the 2 phones out that I got from Fonez and update then. (Can't be dealing with the "if he got his, where is mine" brigade)

blinkey 101 · 17-11-2015 11:51AM

Well if I was you I'd look closely at the m9 as you said the seals were broke and that's never a good sign ..

well I can tell you after that I will never buy from them again very shady thing to try pull .tottaly blackening their name .

blinkey 101 · 17-11-2015 12:07PM

It gets better they gave me Free tempered screen protector as a good will gesture you couldn't make it up the package it came in was empty !!! If I don't laugh I'll cry .

Seve OB · 17-11-2015 12:25PM

blinkey 101 wrote: »

It gets better they gave me Free tempered screen protector as a good will gesture you couldn't make it up the package it came in was empty !!! If I don't laugh I'll cry .

I laughed @ that :rolleyes:

blinkey 101 · 17-11-2015 01:10PM

Lol you couldn't make it up if I could post the pictures on here I would .

as a matter of interest what colour m9 did you buy ?

Seve OB · 17-11-2015 01:25PM

blinkey 101 wrote: »

Lol you couldn't make it up if I could post the pictures on here I would .

as a matter of interest what colour m9 did you buy ?

I didn't specify colour
It grey

blinkey 101 · 19-11-2015 01:09PM

OK so update on my m9 there was a major mix up and I was sent a used phone but I have to say they sorted it in a flash .so to be fair to fonez.ie they were more than helpful and would definitely buy from them again ðŸ˜€ .

Seve OB · 19-11-2015 01:15PM

I did spot on their website them selling used phones alright

I've had no complaints from the 2 lads anyway

Best place to buy unbranded phones

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