Best place to buy an iPhone

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Best place to buy an iPhone

muddle

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#47780 12-Nov-2009 10:21

I saw the posts at http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=76&topicid=19456
but that topics locked... hence this new post on same subject.

With buyUSA.co.nz a iPhone 3Gs 16Gb can be had for about NZ$350 except for one little problem, and that is that I cannot find an American store to sell the device without a plan. Are these devices not available without a plan somewhere in US of A?

freitasm

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#272316 12-Nov-2009 10:24

What's wrong buying the iPhone directly from Apple NZ online?

NZCoderGuy

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#272349 12-Nov-2009 11:49

The $350 NZD price is because its on a plan! check the prices of ours on a plan - its not much different!

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marmel

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#272503 12-Nov-2009 20:05

Iphones are only sold on contract in the US. If you can get someone in the US to purchase one for you they would have to pay a further $175US to break the contract and then $30US or so to ship it over to you.

boby55

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#272505 12-Nov-2009 20:19

Why not buy from apple.co.nz they are unlocked and about the same price compared to else where.

I ordered a 32gb White 3GS this morning, and its estimated shipping arrival is Saturday Morning

corksta

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#272511 12-Nov-2009 21:02

Buy it from Apple. $30 less than Vodafone, free shipping, and you're not made to feel like a criminal buying it from them like you are with Vodafone.

johnr

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#272513 12-Nov-2009 21:17

corksta: Buy it from Apple. $30 less than Vodafone, free shipping, and you're not made to feel like a criminal buying it from them like you are with Vodafone.

If you knew the fraud that went on then you would understand

marmel

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#272515 12-Nov-2009 21:30

johnr:
corksta: Buy it from Apple. $30 less than Vodafone, free shipping, and you're not made to feel like a criminal buying it from them like you are with Vodafone.

If you knew the fraud that went on then you would understand

John are you talking about people committing credit card fraud or about people buying them and using them on XT or 2degree's?

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freitasm

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#272517 12-Nov-2009 21:32

This "story" of fraud Vodafone has been spreading is very strange. Interesting how Apple has no problems selling the iPhone with no contracts - while Vodafone demands a contract... It sounds more like trying to lock the client than worrying about someone buying here to sell in China (hey usually it goes from China to New Zealand not the other way around).

johnr

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#272518 12-Nov-2009 21:33

marmel:
johnr:
corksta: Buy it from Apple. $30 less than Vodafone, free shipping, and you're not made to feel like a criminal buying it from them like you are with Vodafone.

If you knew the fraud that went on then you would understand

John are you talking about people committing credit card fraud or about people buying them and using them on XT or 2degree's?

Credit card fraud with the iphone

Satch

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#272525 12-Nov-2009 21:53

johnr:
marmel:
johnr:
corksta: Buy it from Apple. $30 less than Vodafone, free shipping, and you're not made to feel like a criminal buying it from them like you are with Vodafone.

If you knew the fraud that went on then you would understand

John are you talking about people committing credit card fraud or about people buying them and using them on XT or 2degree's?

Credit card fraud with the iphone

The "credit card fraud" cry is totally irrelevant. Like frietasm said, Vodafone only seem interested in locking people into plans. Makes me wonder why VF even offered them outright.

I purchased an iPhone 3GS on day one outright to use with my existing VF sim card on my existing (work) VF plan and for the privilege I had to purchase via the VF website and pay extra for shipping. No idea why I couldn't go into a VF store with my VF sim card and buy a VF phone to use on the VF network.

Interesting business model for a company to make something very difficult to purchase. Why does VF really care if people purchase them to send to China or wherever? A sale is a sale isn't it? And to rebut any arguments that might come back, 1) if VF lose money selling iPhones that don't stay on the VF network then they priced them too low, or 2) if Apple don't like this practice then why let VF sell them outright in the first place, and unlocked? Besides, Apple sell them outright and unlocked themselves anyway, so 2 can't be the reason.

And finally, the whole puchases-only-allowed-via-VF-website-to-control-numbers-sold-to-each-customer thing is rubbish too. A Chinese colleague of mine purchased 3 (yes three) 3GS handsets via the VF website on day one using different names but the same credit card, and sent them all to China. Controls like this are fruitless.