Buying a phone on plan.

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Buying a phone on plan.

Kol12

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#275755 7-Sep-2020 21:03

I'm looking at buying a phone on plan and Sparks deal looks good. Just wondering if anyone answer a couple of questions - can I trade in my old device and do Spark allow you to trade up to a newer device at any time during the contract?

Linux

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#2559947 7-Sep-2020 21:07

Do you mean interest free payments so you pay off the phone over 12, 24, 36 months?

You don't mention what plan or term you really need to provide more information

Kol12

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#2559951 7-Sep-2020 21:10

Linux:

Do you mean interest free payments so you pay off the phone over 12, 24, 36 months?

You don't mention what plan or term you really need to provide more information

Sorry yes I am looking at a Galaxy S10 on a 24 month plan with data. I see there is an open term option as well but I do not know what that is...

Linux

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#2559960 7-Sep-2020 21:39

Kol12:

Linux:

Do you mean interest free payments so you pay off the phone over 12, 24, 36 months?

You don't mention what plan or term you really need to provide more information

Sorry yes I am looking at a Galaxy S10 on a 24 month plan with data. I see there is an open term option as well but I do not know what that is...

Open term would mean you already have a handset and Spark is only providing the plan / connection to the network or you pay for the handset full retail price

Linux

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#2559962 7-Sep-2020 21:42

Trade in of handsets is covered on this page and it would also depend on what make / model of handset you wanted to trade in (You did not mention this)

https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/trade-in.html

michaelmurfy

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#2559988 7-Sep-2020 23:04

All providers allow you to pay off a phone over 12, 24 or 36 months "interest free" - the plan, itself, is open term but you need to fully pay off the phone if you leave (if there is any balance remaining).

This will mean lets say you charged $2000 to the plan. This will mean each payment is $83.33 on-top of your plan. After 12mo you'll have $1000 remaining so could either pay that (and then, the phone is yours) or continue on for another year and upgrade the following year once your previous phone is fully paid off.

You need to do your research before signing up for a plan and we're not the best ones to make this decision for you so look at all providers, pick a plan based of how much you'll use and go from there.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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Kol12

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#2559993 7-Sep-2020 23:25

@michaelmurfy Can you upgrade to another phone while you are still paying off the original phone? Say in year two of the plan I wanted upgrade could I do so?

@Linux handset I have to trade in is a very good condition S7 Edge.

New World

Shop on-line at New World now for your groceries (affiliate link).

michaelmurfy

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#2560001 8-Sep-2020 00:32

Yes, but you need to pay off the full cost of the other phone up-front when you do this - as per my example above if the phone cost $2000 and you wanted to upgrade at month 12 then you'll need to pay $1000. If you wanted to upgrade at Month 23 it'll cost you $83.33 etc - $2000 / 24 = $83.33/mo, $2000 / 36 = $55.55.

Also the S7 Edge is really worth nothing today so I'll be very surprised if you get any trade-in figure for it. You're better to just sell it on the likes of Trademe.

But look around at other providers also to find the best plan right for you as they all have interest free options that all work the same. If you're going on a 24mo or 36mo interest free term you're better to get a phone that'll last you at-least the term you plan to pay it off in (while taking in-account affordability).

Kol12

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#2560519 8-Sep-2020 21:12

michaelmurfy:

Yes, but you need to pay off the full cost of the other phone up-front when you do this - as per my example above if the phone cost $2000 and you wanted to upgrade at month 12 then you'll need to pay $1000. If you wanted to upgrade at Month 23 it'll cost you $83.33 etc - $2000 / 24 = $83.33/mo, $2000 / 36 = $55.55.

Also the S7 Edge is really worth nothing today so I'll be very surprised if you get any trade-in figure for it. You're better to just sell it on the likes of Trademe.

But look around at other providers also to find the best plan right for you as they all have interest free options that all work the same. If you're going on a 24mo or 36mo interest free term you're better to get a phone that'll last you at-least the term you plan to pay it off in (while taking in-account affordability).

This is helpful thanks. 🙂