Best (legit) places to buy a sim free phone

[jimbouk]

I've been looking at a Sony W995, or maybe a X10 mini pro when they come out, and am wondering whether I've missed any reputable online stores. So far I've got (in no particular order):
handtec (awaiting a return from them of a battery so we'll see how good they are with that first)
Play
eXpansys
Carphone Warehouse

Also considered Dabs and Ebuyer but they don't stock what I'm interested in. Any other gems I've missed. There's been a couple thrown up by Google product searches which have been outside the uk or otherwise disreputable, and Amazon traders don't exactly fill me with confidence for a £250 purchase like this.

Cheers!

[SiM]

ebay

[Bunjiweb]

I've always had great experiences with Expansys, I would highly advise giving them ago. Otherwise Play.com are usually good for anything i've bought off them in the past, but i've never bought electronics off them myself.

Ben

[oolon]

I bought my last phone from carphone warehouse they were very annoying. Gave me hassle about a contract would not except I did not want one. My phone had/has a problem, they took it back, never called me went back after 2 weeks, claimed they didn't call me because i left no number ... however that was because it was on the sheet inside the bag, and only "contract" customer details are on the outside! See above... Finally they never fixed the problem, Carphone Warehouse is on my list with Sony of companies never to buy a product from because of poor service.

[HSK]

Edit, you've got it*

http://www.handtec.co.uk/

[chrestomanci]

I have the Invisable Hand firefox plugin installed.

Just now I was browsing on eXpansys, and it gave me a little popoup to say that I could get the same phone for £50 less on Amazon.

[jimbouk]

Amazon would be on their if they sold it themselves, but it's all the traders with open box products being sold as new. Good to write Carphone Warehouse off the list as well, I've heard stories about poor service and issues with contracts through them so not overly surprised.

Have you had any experience with handtec HSK? If the return on my battery goes through they'll be in contention as their prices seem good.

Thanks for the advice on Expansys Bunjiweb, definite contenders then.

Clove are another one actually. Mostly smart phones and some phones are pretty expensive, but does anyone have experience buying from them?

[HSK]

Yes I have, they are pretty cool - first time I ordered a phone from them it didn't go smooth to start off, not their fault though (I had made an order for over £500 on my card, and the card people flagged it up for some reason).

Spoke to them over the phone also and they were generally helpful.

Delivery was good and tracked.

I also ordered a different case to go with the phone BUT the case that arrived was not the one I had actually ordered, it was just the same as a OEM case which was included with the phone! (I think they had been delivered wrong stuff from their suppliers) but they happily and quickly gave me a refund for that extra case, and just let me keep it.

And recently I bought another phone off them, that went completely smooth.

[SiM]

I have bought smartphones from ebay without any problem. There are usually loads that are under a week or two old and as long as you exercise the standard precautions you can save yourself a fair amount of dosh.

[jimbouk]

I have bought smartphones from ebay without any problem.

What are the implications for warranty claims etc for second hand goods? I've never really considered ebay for anything over the value of £50 as it is just a glorified car boot sale where you can't even see the item before hand...

[mrochester]

Www.mobilefun.co.uk
www.mphone.co.uk
www.clove.co.uk

[jimbouk]

Www.mobilefun.co.uk
www.mphone.co.uk

Just read some reviews, think I'll avoid.

www.clove.co.uk

An option yeah, not many reviews online so hard to judge. Think it will probably be eXpansys as handtec haven't exactly been speedy/good at communicating with my battery return...

[SiM]

What are the implications for warranty claims etc for second hand goods? I've never really considered ebay for anything over the value of £50 as it is just a glorified car boot sale where you can't even see the item before hand...

Not sure tbh, I wouldn't buy a old phone there. If you get it when it is a week or so old, you can say you were the first owner and there should be no warranty problems (you can say you got it as a gift, so no proof of purchase).

[Stringent]

+1 for Handtec. Used them twice so far now and no issues. Also used Amazon.

[ash_chelsea]

mphone.co.uk

Have been buying of them for over 10 years. Very good prices and they are in the centre of London.
Service is great.