Vodafone NZ locking mobile handsets again from 1st June 2013

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Vodafone NZ locking mobile handsets again from 1st June 2013

freitasm

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#119586 6-Jun-2013 19:32

I found this page on Vodafone (and a reference to this by Manhinli as well):

Unlocking your Vodafone NZ Mobile:

If you want to use your locked Vodafone NZ mobile on another network in NZ or overseas (with another networks SIM) you will need to make sure it's unlocked. If you purchased your phone more than 9 months ago - there's no charge to unlock it, you just need to call us on 777 and we'll give you the code.

If you purchased your phone less than 9 months ago it's still just as easy, but there is a $30 fee to unlock it. Call us on 777 and we'll let you know what you'll need to do.

After contacting Vodafone a spokesperson commented:

"From 1 June Vodafone is locking three selected entry-level 3G prepay handsets, giving customers the option to buy their phone from us for less. Unlocked versions of these devices are also available – they will cost an additional $30. Handset locking applies only to Vodafone prepay customers provided with subsided handsets, and these handsets can be unlocked at any time subject to a $30 fee during the first nine months."

I can confirm @vodafonenz are locking low-end Prepay handsets. Cost/term is same as @skinnymobile. Nothing as overblown as it was in 2008.
— James Li (@manhinli) June 6, 2013

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#831842 6-Jun-2013 21:01

Skinny make it clear on both their advertising, website, and even on the box that "This handset only works with a skinny sim". They don't say handset locked as such, they use that language which is better for the consumer to understand.

I wonder if we'll see the same level of notice from vodafone.

Regardless, I think that handset locking is a pain and not a good thing to see from any company. No one likes hidden costs and restrictions.

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#831848 6-Jun-2013 21:03

Damnit Vodafone.

EDIT: this forum lacks unicode support.

SteveON

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#831851 6-Jun-2013 21:03

If they are selling the phones below cost, I don't see the issue.

freitasm

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#831852 6-Jun-2013 21:05

I have no issue, as Steve says. Want cheap? Here, take this. Wait nine months. Done.

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#831857 6-Jun-2013 21:15

Sounds fair enough for a cheap phone if its well advertised. Give me an option to lock the phone for 9 months when buying and get it cheaper and I'd do it.
but I fail to see with my very very brief look on site where they mention they what phones actually are sold locked ?

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#831873 6-Jun-2013 21:57

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#831890 6-Jun-2013 22:17

Ahh I see. Odd way to do it? Same phone under two different listings. From the home page that Nokia is one of the first phones shown, I didn't expect it to be listed again at the very end but locked. Thought it would be the one listing with three price points, plan, outright and locked?

But it is clear once you find them, so can't see how any issues should arise from locking them. Cheaper phones works for me haha

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code15

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#831903 6-Jun-2013 23:04

It draws in the more money conscious customers by giving them a $20 discount, then locks them in forever because they'll never want/be able to pay $30 upfront to unlock.

Vodafone are going to make money off this without the consumer getting any additional benefit, because in the long run, the user will not be able to switch in periods where other telcos are undercutting Vodafone.

I see a huge problem with this, I'd even go as far as saying its unethical.

AndrewMac

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#831919 7-Jun-2013 00:09

Of course it's done to make them money. Saying it's unethical is pretty extreme though. It's not a significant cost, and if it is, nine months isn't a significant amount of time

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#831944 7-Jun-2013 06:54

code15: It draws in the more money conscious customers by giving them a $20 discount, then locks them in forever because they'll never want/be able to pay $30 upfront to unlock.

Vodafone are going to make money off this without the consumer getting any additional benefit, because in the long run, the user will not be able to switch in periods where other telcos are undercutting Vodafone.

I see a huge problem with this, I'd even go as far as saying its unethical.

free advice.... don't buy it.

Both linked pages say "Vodafone network only" or the blurb about the locked phone, either way it is pretty clear.

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#831945 7-Jun-2013 07:13

unethical?? you have a choice and if you are making it on getting cheaper then you accept the conditions.
Unethical to me would be buying a cheap phone from one network knowing you will change as soon as you can to another to save money but then its subjective I guess.

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#831956 7-Jun-2013 07:43

Not only is this unethical, I'm fairly sure it's hurting rain forests, killing Dolphins and causing pollution.

There's no way consumers should have such a clearly labelled choice, especially when almost all of them change carriers on such a regular (I'd say bi-weekly) basis. People these days hang on to their handsets for years and years and years too, so this will be a massive ethical issue.

If only there was some competition in the mobile market place. Imagine if consumers had a choice!

Oh well, I'm going back to watching my Sky box. I can rest safe in the knowledge it's unlocked.

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#831958 7-Jun-2013 07:49

muppet: There's no way consumers should have such a clearly labelled choice

Clearly labelled? It's missing an apostrophe and is therefore exceedingly unclear!

Seriously though, I'm in two minds about this. On one hand it makes phones slightly cheaper but on the other hand it's a bit of a slippery slope; I don't want to see a future where all new phones are locked.

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#831960 7-Jun-2013 07:57

As long as they clearly indicate they're locked, I see now issue at all with this.

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freitasm

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#831973 7-Jun-2013 08:38

I can't see how this cold be "unethical" or "making money of"

The operator is offering a handset in the cheaper lineup for a discounted price. In exchange they ask the buyer to stay with them for a set period (nine months). If the buyer decides not to stay with them, a fee is payable to get the handset to work in other networks. After the agreed set period (nine months) no fee is payable to get the unlock code.

If the buyer doesn't want to be locked s/he can easily buy the unlocked version.

Nothing "unethical" there.

It seems for now this only applies to cheaper handsets. These aren't usually able to operate on Telecom's 3G band so it affects 2degrees more than Telecom

Unlocked handsets have to really be available to this to be "fair" and not a veiled lock-in.

also we have to consider the second hand market. How many people will offload these handsets on Trade Me without saying these are locked to a specific operator?

Usually when we see "handset works only on 2degrees" some automatically think "stolen" due to the operators not sharing their stolen/lost IMEI blocking lists. It will get more difficult to either sell those, or more people will be complaining after buying those.

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