Buying direct or via a reseller?

[Lucio]

I'm looking at getting a smartphone, but one thing that confuses me is the sheer number of ways you can buy them, especially as many sites offer products that you can't find on the networks own website.

Is there any disadvantage to buying through a reseller, such as different customer service, or are the deals pretty much what they say they are (ignoring the ones offering rebate schemes).


Main reason I'm asking is it seems there's a better range of handsets in my price range on the reseller sites (I'm looking at T-mobiles tarrifs between £10 and £20, since they include 1GB data in that amount), and I'm not adverse paying out an upfront cost for the handset.

[Funkstar]

A disadvantage, for me at least, is there is no way I would get the deal I have by going to a reseller, I only got it from the guy I spoke to in retentions.

An advantage to getting a phone from a reseller is you are more likely to get an unbranded and unlocked handset. In the case of Android handsets, this means you will get the manufacturer updates far quicker as they don't need to go through the networks for their branding or aproval. The Desire is a good example of this.

The only reseller I've ever used was CarphoneWarehouse, and that was years ago on Cellnet.

[Spud1]

No real advantage or disadvantage really - just go for the best deal that you can find. this can include the rebate offers too, although they are rarely the best £ for £ and you do have to be careful to read the smallprint.

Personally I have bought direct from the network the past 3 times, purely as they offered me the best deal.

[muppet_hat]

Just be aware of warranties and don't just randomly buy off random online websites. If you're going T-Mobile it'll be fine...

[Lucio]

Ok, this is what I was looking at and wondering why on earth it's so much cheaper

http://www.buymobilephones.net/mobil...7?adnetwork=af


Basically the handset's over £100 cheaper than getting the same package direct from T-mobile's website and I wondered where the catch is.

[Lucio]

Well I gave up with these reseller sites, found 3 offering a refurbished HTC Desire for only £25 a month and free handset. Pretty nifty deal providing the handset works fine

[Blaineoliver]

www.buymobilephones.net

plenty of £25 a month desire contracts, make sure you select desire (black) so cheap.