topic Re: Over the top pricing? in Other phones & Devices

Over the top pricing?

K-cc — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 16:26:14 GMT

Hi, just checking in with the community here.

I'm overdue an upgrade so popped into my local shop. I'm on a pixel 4a at the moment (I know, but I'm just not that bothered by an up to date phone), so was looking to stay with Google.

I've had this handset for a few years now and got on well with it. Main thing I wanted was a much bigger memory. Think I'm on about 120g at the moment. Was offered Pixel 8a with 256g of memory. Great. Price I was quoted was £42 per month over 3 years. Seemed fine, a little pricey since I'm not a big phone guy, but ok.

Told me they don't do sim only now, fair enough. Then I asked, how much of that monthly fee was the SIM cost. About £32 a month for the SIM.

I clarified this with the guy in store: so that's £32 pm for 3 years? He nodded. The math on that is £1,152 over 3 years ...for a SIM??

Total price over 3 years £1500.

Same phone next door in John Lewis is about £420.

Can you folks tell me if this all seems pretty standard and I'm just out of the loop? That's alot of money when you can buy the handset for a 1/3 the price.

Tempted to find another handset and put the current SIM I have in there instead.

Thanks alot!

Re: Over the top pricing?

bristolian — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 16:34:43 GMT

@K-cc wrote:

Told me they don't do sim only now, fair enough

This needs clarifying. EE certainly do sell SIM-only plans, but the retail shops don't sell SIM-free phones.

There may also be confusion with the current "FlexPay" plans that intentionally split the airtime element from the device repayments.

Buying SIM-free & choosing SIM-only has nearly always been cheaper if pure-cost is your motivation. I've got some doubts about the generic "BTU" software compared with EE's "EVR"-specific firmware, but those are technical than cost.

Re: Over the top pricing?

Chris_B — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 17:31:49 GMT

@K-cc The air time contract is for 24 months the device contract can be 24 or 36 months. That’s your choice. It’s a flex pay contract and the sales guy didn’t explain this very well at all, The prices you are posting are not worked out correctly.

Quick example £30 upfront means a monthly cost of £26.62 per month for a 36 month device contract. The air time contract is priced separately and is 24 months from £30 to £51 Have a look at THIS

And John Lewis are advertising this device at £709. So that’s a real bargain at £420. Provided it is a pixel 8 pro. I doubt it is and its probably the pixel 8.