UK CarphoneWarehouse better than direct from carrier?

[emembee]

Does anyone in UK have experience of CPW using them instead of going direct to the carrier, in my case O2?

The prices are significantly cheaper on contract, and I don't understand how it works.

Do I cancel my current agreement with O2 or does it stay with them but is managed by CPW?

Many thanks.

 

[RebornProphet]

They don't manage your contract no, you remain with O2. No matter what happens O2 will get your money every month. Places like Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4U operate on a different subsidy level than direct carrier stores and also work on higher commission sales for their staff. Think of them as your "broker" who puts you on the O2 network but provide you with the handset.

These places can often undercut the carrier stores due to different overhead costs, subsidy prices paid per handset, etc. Also, O2 have zero loyalty banks now, they don't care that you can get a cheaper deal, on their network elsewhere, they won't match it.

They believe if you go with a Carphone Warehouse deal they still get your £37 or £42 per month for two years.

My advice is to go where you get the best upgrade deal. Your number won't change, it'll be recognised by O2 as an upgrade on your tariff that you were eligible for.

 

[jr866gooner]

I personally thought they were poor...
Upgraded to a galaxy s2 2 years ago and the device developed a fault and I noticed this just 2 days after having the phone 30 days and they refused to swap.

I am sure apple would have been a little more lenient!

Disliked cpw ever since. My wife however got a good deal on her phone so that worked out ok for her!

 

[emembee]

They don't manage your contract no, you remain with O2. No matter what happens O2 will get your money every month. Places like Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4U operate on a different subsidy level than direct carrier stores and also work on higher commission sales for their staff. Think of them as your "broker" who puts you on the O2 network but provide you with the handset.

Thanks for your help! The monthly deal looks the same but the handset is over 100 cheaper so I guess the difference is that I pay CpW for the handset but continue to pay O2 or is there a contract I now have with CpW and not O2? guess I need to visit a store but have heard less than complimentary things about them, and as O2 shop is just a few minutes from them, it all seems a bit weird

in some ways I would prefer to pay outright for the phone from apple and then find a sim only deal.

 

[RebornProphet]

Thanks for your help! The monthly deal looks the same but the handset is over 100 cheaper so I guess the difference is that I pay CpW for the handset but continue to pay O2 or is there a contract I now have with CpW and not O2? guess I need to visit a store but have heard less than complimentary things about them, and as O2 shop is just a few minutes from them, it all seems a bit weird

in some ways I would prefer to pay outright for the phone from apple and then find a sim only deal.

You are with O2.

I got my 4s almost two years ago from the Tesco mobile department in my local Tesco Extra store.

At the time O2 wanted £99 for the phone up front to go on the £37pm contract.

Tesco gave me the 4s for free and put me on the same £37pm O2 Unlimited tariff.

My direct debit is with O2 but I got the phone and deal via Tesco.