When did the iPhone 4 get so expensive?

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Lizard1977

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#83693 20-May-2011 14:58

I checked the price of the 32gb iPhone 4 from Vodafone and was surprised to see it costs $1129 on a $40 per month 24 month plan. When I bought my 32g iPhone 4 last September, it was just $799 on the same plan. Anyone know why it's jumped up $329? Mine wasn't on special when I bought it (it had only been out for a few weeks at the time).

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#471608 20-May-2011 15:09

Comcom decision making them put prices up perhaps?

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

reven

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#471610 20-May-2011 15:15

it was cheap just before (and up to 2 days after) the white iphone 4 came out. a 16gb iphone cost $199 on the $81 a month plan. my original iphone 3g on the same plan (well $1 cheaper plan) cost me $699 IIRC

Loismustdye

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#471699 20-May-2011 18:52

I saw this today when I was looking at various options for when my XT contract ends next month. I was considering that $40.85 a month option and the fairly reasonable discount on the iphone handset, now that the discount has gone from close to $500 to only about $200, it now no longer seems an option. (I have an iphone4, but was gonna give that to my partner and I'd take the new one on the contract). I'm now going to keep my 4 and stick with XT or migrate to 2D prepay.

Although to be fair on vodafone, the discount is now more inline with discounts XT offers on handsets (ie. not much) for plans of a similar value.

Ham

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#471728 20-May-2011 20:25

lol $200 for a 2 year commitment. I think I'd rather buy a handset from my supplier of choice and go with the best value service provider (probably $200 cheaper over 2 years) Thanks for making my decision easy Vodafone.

Wade

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#471732 20-May-2011 20:32

Ham: lol $200 for a 2 year commitment. I think I'd rather buy a handset from my supplier of choice and go with the best value service provider (probably $200 cheaper over 2 years) Thanks for making my decision easy Vodafone.

The trouble is that the smart 1 plan with double minutes and 3gb data is not a bad offering (arguablyit offers far better value than 2D and comparable value to XT's offering), you have to lock into a 24mth term regardless of whether you buy a discounted handset or not. You could do with XT but available handsets are less exciting and not always useable on the other networks should you decide to jump ship

Ham

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#471738 20-May-2011 20:45

Yeah you're right about VF's value at the moment.. The 3GB offer has been going for 2 years now! how much longer though? I would be pretty gutted if I signed up to what looks to be a pretty good value plan, then had it all taken away.

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Loismustdye

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#471763 20-May-2011 21:54

Ham: Yeah you're right about VF's value at the moment.. The 3GB offer has been going for 2 years now! how much longer though? I would be pretty gutted if I signed up to what looks to be a pretty good value plan, then had it all taken away.

+1

The 3 gb is attractive, but with no specified end date or hint as to if it's permanent there's no way I could commit to a 2 year plan. He'll, if the plan stayed what it was with the 3 gb as a permanent feature (optimistic I know) I.m fairly sure vf would have numerous resigns lol.

Wade

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#471765 20-May-2011 22:02

+2

If VF would offer a no term dbl mins smart 1 option without handset discount or even commit to dbl mins/3gb for the length of the plan i would port over ASAP. I would struggle to use 3gb/mth but would find a way :P

jonherries

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#471781 20-May-2011 22:34

Hmmm, few thoughts:

- thought the mobile market was hotting up with 2d, this will stop people joining VF (can get android/windows phone/nokia on xt)
- sales of iphones are going to go down massively (now way more expensive than android)
- wonder if the discount was a part of a deal apple signed with Vodafone for the exclusive carrier rights in NZ and this has now run out?
- weird that vf will only let you do the smart plans on a contract...I think I will be leaving once my contract ends and taking my iphone to xt.

Jon

alasta

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#471841 21-May-2011 09:16

jonherries: - wonder if the discount was a part of a deal apple signed with Vodafone for the exclusive carrier rights in NZ and this has now run out?

That's what I'm hoping. It must now be three years since Vodafone started selling the iPhone 3G.

It seems crazy to me that you can't buy a contract-free iPhone from any mainstream NZ retailer.

oxnsox

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#472195 22-May-2011 11:17

Iphones never had much money in them for resellers, that is an apple thing. Resellers only made money from getting the connection as well (this is why when Noel Leemings and others started selling them they'd only sell onto resigned or new connections).

So on one hand it's good to see that the product is now priced more evenly against other handsets (in terms of subsidies), so that the market isn't as skewed. But on the otherhand I'm looking at plans options right now and like the Smart Plan offerings, but don't want any subsidy... yet I'd still be locked into a break fee even if I don't take it. ???

Was told at the VF corporate store the 3gig was 'up for review in October', and that 'most people use about 250meg a month', which seems to make sense with the offerings all round.

But I'd say jonherries may have a point, and maybe the ComCom ruling has to factor in there somewhere too now......

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1eStar

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#472434 22-May-2011 16:26

It isn't hard to buy an iPhone contract free from Apple online. And they are better at honouring the warranty within the AppleCare regime than they are through a local retailer. Just my observations after buying two through Apple directly.

NonprayingMantis

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#472466 22-May-2011 17:00

Wade: You could do with XT but available handsets are less exciting and not always useable on the other networks should you decide to jump ship

actually it's almost the exact opposite.

XT handsets are always useable on Voda or 2Degrees (sometimes not with nationwide 3G, but definitely at least GSM) whereas Voda and 2D handsets probably won't work on XT (except the iphone)

dclegg

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#472494 22-May-2011 17:31

alasta: It seems crazy to me that you can't buy a contract-free iPhone from any mainstream NZ retailer.?

My wife purchased my iPhone 4 contract free from Noel Leeming back in February.

Ham

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#472515 22-May-2011 17:56

NonprayingMantis:
Wade: You could do with XT but available handsets are less exciting and not always useable on the other networks should you decide to jump ship

actually it's almost the exact opposite.

XT handsets are always useable on Voda or 2Degrees (sometimes not with nationwide 3G, but definitely at least GSM) whereas Voda and 2D handsets probably won't work on XT (except the iphone)

A decent phone these days should be quad band 3G.

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