12 and 18 month contracts

[Alanaponep]

Originally Posted by logic_guy

No., I bet they can make, manufacture and ship a phone for less then £10 a handset. Its greed. Plus all this phone recycling and allot of components are recycled too, so less expenses for the manufacture.

The recycled phones are usually shipped to third world countries rather than broke for parts. It would take way too long and be less cost effective to do that than to build a new one.

Originally Posted by logic_guy

I see it that you want to be on there network, so you obey their rules?

Not at all. I don't want to be on anyone's network but as with the internet your worse off without one these days.

[VTHall]

I went into phones4u the other day, i asked to have a look at a range of phones that didnt include the new iphone 4 and the latest blackberry (torch) and stated 18month contract MAX

So what do they do? Bring out an iphone 4, a blackberry torch and one of these technical business phones all for 24 months!
Wankers! I just said thanks mate, and walked out.

[Matt67]

I work in a phone shop so i'l give you my opnion

The reason 18 month contracts are becoming rare, is basically down to networks needing to recover the cost of phone.

For example. Iphone 4 when bought from apple with store discount comes to around 580 for the phone if you were to buy it PAYG.

On anything other than tesco this will be a 24 month contract starting at around £30.

30(monthly payment) x24 (Months in contract) = 720

720(Total contract sum)-579(cost of phone)= 141

Out of that 140, subtract commision from seller.Leaving say 100 to network.

Lets see how that works on the 18month.

30x18=540

540-579= -39

Thats before commision and before they have supplied you with whatever tariff.


End of the day, if people want the "best" phones be prepared to pay for them. Specially iphones because apple and the networks know people will pay whatever to have one.

12 month contract on iphone do exist, but guess what you still pay for the phone... exactly enough to substitute the cost of the phone.

Tesco - 12 month contract, £20 a month, 250 mins, ultd texts and 1gb mobile internet. £330 for the 32gb of the top of my head.

20x12 = 240

240(contract sum)+330(customers contribution to phone) = 570

By far the best deal on the market for that phone, but people still complain about the cost of the phone... don't expect an iphone on a 12 month deal with small cost. Having the latest gadgets cost the networks as much as the customer.