Cost of locked handsets creeping up..

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old3eyes

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#196834 14-Jun-2016 18:50

I seem to remember a post about this a couple of years ago but can't easily find it.

I've noticed when locked cell phones first reared their ugly heads in NZ the carriers said that they would only on the cheap ones. $100 or under. This time last year the most expensive one I saw was about $150.

Tonite I was looking at the Warehouse junk mail and see this has now gone up to $499 for a Huawei P8 on 2Degrees, 229 for a Samsung J2 on Spark, What this time next year $700 for a locked phone?? We seem to be following the Australian carriers of locking every device known to man..

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Old3eyes

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#1571871 14-Jun-2016 18:58

Since they have capped the unlock price at $30 I dont really see the point of locking on the better handsets. It made sense to get something somewhat smart into the hands of someone that was really cheap, but a tiny saving on the more expensive phones... why bother?

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#1571891 14-Jun-2016 19:13

Are these handsets locked or simply stated as "Huawei P8 2degrees"?

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old3eyes

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#1572099 15-Jun-2016 08:50

freitasm:

Are these handsets locked or simply stated as "Huawei P8 2degrees"?

It said it was locked to the 2Degrees network. When I get home tonite I'll find the flyer , scan it and post the pix..

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Hiamie

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#1572115 15-Jun-2016 09:24

old3eyes: What this time next year $700 for a locked phone?? We seem to be following the Australian carriers of locking every device known to man..

I guess the upshot of this will be increased sales of unlocked, cheaper, parallel imported phones.

And perhaps more people changing provider as they will no longer feel any loyalty to their existing provider?

freitasm

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#1572118 15-Jun-2016 09:29

I'd like to see that Warehouse flyer, please.

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jonathan18

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#1572125 15-Jun-2016 09:34

freitasm:

I'd like to see that Warehouse flyer, please.

Yeah, I noticed the same thing when I read the flyer a couple of days ago.

Clearly states it as "locked" - see here.

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#1572134 15-Jun-2016 09:38

old3eyes:

freitasm:

Are these handsets locked or simply stated as "Huawei P8 2degrees"?

It said it was locked to the 2Degrees network. When I get home tonite I'll find the flyer , scan it and post the pix..

Im 99% sure my Lumia 640XL had a sticker on the box stating it was locked to 2Degrees when I purchased it, yet 2D dont seem to know anything about it and appear to be unable to check on their system if it is. (And I know, throw another SIM in and see, but just waiting on to see if work will be funding my phone, if so, dont care which provider Im on)

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old3eyes

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#1572204 15-Jun-2016 10:37

here's a copy from the flyer PDF

P 8 Locked

Regards,

Old3eyes

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#1572217 15-Jun-2016 10:49

Wow. Interesting. I have asked 2degrees about this.

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trig42

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#1572281 15-Jun-2016 12:07

If it is only $30 to unlock, and the deal is good (is $499/$529 good for a P8?), then buying it and unlocking would be a wise move wouldn't it?

jonathan18

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#1572291 15-Jun-2016 12:15

trig42:

If it is only $30 to unlock, and the deal is good (is $499/$529 good for a P8?), then buying it and unlocking would be a wise move wouldn't it?

http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=3079057

$549 at JB seems about the best NZ-sourced product (as opposed to from a parallel imported place like Mobile Station etc), so it's a little cheaper.

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old3eyes

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#1572292 15-Jun-2016 12:16

trig42:

If it is only $30 to unlock, and the deal is good (is $499/$529 good for a P8?), then buying it and unlocking would be a wise move wouldn't it?

Maybe. Pricespy shows them unlocked for $475 up..

http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=3079057

Regards,

Old3eyes

dickytim

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#1572296 15-Jun-2016 12:20

P8 from Noel Leeming is $699 so $499 + $30 is still a bargain.

Put simply if the provider locks phones in order to offer a discount what is the problem? If Vodafone offered a cheaper iPhone and it was locked I'd be in like Flynn.

All said and done it will be interesting to see if this becomes a trend, as everywhere else buyer beware.

old3eyes

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#1572303 15-Jun-2016 12:26

dickytim:

P8 from Noel Leeming is $699 so $499 + $30 is still a bargain.

Put simply if the provider locks phones in order to offer a discount what is the problem? If Vodafone offered a cheaper iPhone and it was locked I'd be in like Flynn.

All said and done it will be interesting to see if this becomes a trend, as everywhere else buyer beware.

I'm sure that if your iPhone was locked and only cost $35 less that unlocked you would not buy it.. Noel Leeming is at the top end of the price scale..

Regards,

Old3eyes

dickytim

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#1572328 15-Jun-2016 12:48

old3eyes:

dickytim:

P8 from Noel Leeming is $699 so $499 + $30 is still a bargain.

Put simply if the provider locks phones in order to offer a discount what is the problem? If Vodafone offered a cheaper iPhone and it was locked I'd be in like Flynn.

All said and done it will be interesting to see if this becomes a trend, as everywhere else buyer beware.

I'm sure that if your iPhone was locked and only cost $35 less that unlocked you would not buy it.. Noel Leeming is at the top end of the price scale..

Correct, but $200 cheaper and $200 to unlock sure!

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