iPhone 3gs - Buy on $40 plan, disconnect straight away

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Raile

46 posts

Geek

#37256 9-Jul-2009 15:02

Hi there,

Iv been reading the about this strategy in the Vodafone Apple iPhone 3GS Plan Pricing discussion forum.

So the plan is.. (all prices calculated for the 32GB model)
$899 - Buy an iPhone 3gs from a vodafone retailer on the iPhone $40 plan (works out best - full plan and pricing details).
$350 - Disconnect within the first month (Dissconnection fees are covered in the pricing plan link under "Ending your contract early").
$40 - First month of contract charges.

Total: $1289
Cost of buying outright online: $1379

So you save $90. And you get your 3gs on the spot on friday. Plus the first month of data, minutes etc.

There was some discussion about other additional charges. I visited the Grey st Tauranga branch today, and discussed this with the team there (i believe on of them was the store manager). They informed me that there were no additional charges, just the $350. However they said the $350 might have GST added to it. This was also discussed in the other forum, and i dont think vodafone can legally do that. But i guess you would have to convince the vodafone outlet that this is the case : / Even with GST, it's still cheaper (by $46).

The manager was suprised, but couldnt see any flaws in this plan. However she did mention that would have to sign an apple agreement (apparently a 36 page document!?), and there might be something in there that forbids this kind of activity. I dont think this will be an issue though.

Alot of people seem to be upset that they will have to order online. I cant understand why those people dont just buy on a plan, then disconnect. Cheaper, no waiting, no postage fees, no problems! Am i missing something here or what?

Unless i recieve some ground breaking information, i will be doing this tomorrow. Then i will put my XT network sim card in the 3gs. Change one or two settings, and good to go!

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#233071 9-Jul-2009 15:05

Raile: However she did mention that would have to sign an apple agreement (apparently a 36 page document!?), and there might be something in there that forbids this kind of activity. I dont think this will be an issue though.

Do you have to sign a 36 page agreement to buy a phone?

Raile

46 posts

Geek

#233073 9-Jul-2009 15:08

freitasm:
Raile: However she did mention that would have to sign an apple agreement (apparently a 36 page document!?), and there might be something in there that forbids this kind of activity. I dont think this will be an issue though.

Do you have to sign a 36 page agreement to buy a phone?

I believe so. When she mentioned it i assumed it was standard practice for an iphone. Iv never purchased one before.

rossmnz

507 posts

Ultimate Geek

#233077 9-Jul-2009 15:11

lol another vodafone fail.

Jesus they are being overly precious about the iphone.

The force is strong with this one!

oldmaknz

536 posts

Ultimate Geek

#233079 9-Jul-2009 15:12

LOL @ 36 pages.

Genius walk around. I'll probably just buy directly outright though..

kinetic

91 posts

Master Geek

#233081 9-Jul-2009 15:14

Interesting idea... but why bother.

looking at plans available TODAY, Vodafone are offering 1000 PXT's and 3GB of data for the first three months for all iPhone plan customers (existing and new) they are testing out large data caps with a view to permanently increasing them for iPhone users.

If you go on an iPhone $80 plan, you get the 16GB iPhone 3Gs for $599 and you can spend the rest of your $500 you were going to spend on the phone, on extras, like a charger or hands free kit.

but for me it's the 3GB of data... I'm going to tether that to my Macbook Pro and use it!

bcourtney

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#233082 9-Jul-2009 15:14

rossmnz: lol another vodafone fail.

Jesus they are being overly precious about the iphone.

Nothing to do with Vodafone, it's an Apple thing. I had to sign a very basic one-pager last year to say I'd read the Apple Terms and Conditions so assume this is what the OP is talking about.

It's not really a major, but Apple will be Apple....

kinetic

91 posts

Master Geek

#233084 9-Jul-2009 15:19

Raile:
freitasm:
Raile: However she did mention that would have to sign an apple agreement (apparently a 36 page document!?), and there might be something in there that forbids this kind of activity. I dont think this will be an issue though.

Do you have to sign a 36 page agreement to buy a phone?

I believe so. When she mentioned it i assumed it was standard practice for an iphone. Iv never purchased one before.

NO you don't, what a load of rubbish.

its the exact same process and paperwork as purchasing a standard cellphone (and for 80% of people they can approve you over the phone while you wait) except they have added the "vodafone account customers only" requirement for purchasing the iPhone 3Gs

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freitasm

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#233086 9-Jul-2009 15:27

I have just been told this is not the case - there isn't any 36 page contract to sign.

Of course if this is the case I will hunt my contact down...

Raile

46 posts

Geek

#233089 9-Jul-2009 15:31

Ok well thats what i was told anyway. Maybe the store manager was just trying to scare me out of the early disconnection. I guess theres not really any accountability when theyre just telling you info over the counter.

oldmaknz

536 posts

Ultimate Geek

#233091 9-Jul-2009 15:33

MagnumMac Dunedin just rung me and said no outright purchases. This seems a viable option now.

dacraka

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#233096 9-Jul-2009 15:39

I like the 3GB's + 1000 pxts offer so I think I will follow through with that plan for those three months then decide what to do at the end of those three months instead of disconnecting straight away.

But I see that you need to give one calandar months notice then they will disconnect you one calandar month after you give them the notice it says in the Terms and Conditions PDF.

What does it mean one calandar month anyway? If you give them the notice on say the 20th of a month, does one calandar month after that mean the 30/31st of the same month or the 20th of the next month?

V

73 posts

Master Geek

#233098 9-Jul-2009 15:45

As said before in the other topic.
I asked Vodafone on Twitter if there was a subsidy penalty for breaking a contract within the first 3 months and they said yes. But didn't say where it was specified. Who knows, they could have said to draw us away from this possibility.

Raile

46 posts

Geek

#233100 9-Jul-2009 15:45

dacraka: I like the 3GB's + 1000 pxts offer so I think I will follow through with that plan for those three months then decide what to do at the end of those three months instead of disconnecting straight away.

But I see that you need to give one calandar months notice then they will disconnect you one calandar month after you give them the notice it says in the Terms and Conditions PDF.

What does it mean one calandar month anyway? If you give them the notice on say the 20th of a month, does one calandar month after that mean the 30/31st of the same month or the 20th of the next month?

Yeah waiting and using the data and plan perks is another option. One calander month means to the same date next month (the 20th of the next month for your example). Hmm if thats the case i may end up incuring 2 months charges. Will still be worth it though.

CJPhoto

73 posts

Master Geek

#233112 9-Jul-2009 16:36

If you want to be really tricky, go onto a iPhone 60 plan to get a bigger subsidy, down grade that to iPhone 40 (for free), use the 3Gb data for the first three months then terminate (or wait till 6 months are up to get the cheaper termination fee).

Dezroy

34 posts

Geek

#233118 9-Jul-2009 17:03

CJPhoto: If you want to be really tricky, go onto a iPhone 60 plan to get a bigger subsidy, down grade that to iPhone 40 (for free), use the 3Gb data for the first three months then terminate (or wait till 6 months are up to get the cheaper termination fee).

Do you speak the truth?

I might see if I can do this.

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