With all the major telcos purchasing a phone plan + plus the phone has in almost every case become more expensive than purchasing the same plan without phone, and then purchasing that phone in retail (grey import or not).
I compel thee, fair maidens of OzBargain, to show me a telco phone plan that is a cheaper (give or take with contract flexibility), than buying a BYO plan and phone separate.
When I say grey imports I mean, the Kogans and reputable online retailers that offer a good warranty. Not suggesting we wade into the dark parts of the internet with google translate and find some mysterious bargain lol.
Yep, but again, grey-import Samsung is 1yr warranty provided from the store, local stock Samsung has 2yrs warranty, and claim that from Samsung or from the telco your contract is through.
Again, it's not apples for apples.
Well you obviously won't care, you feel free. I'm sure all those Note 7 buyers (recall), or LG G4 buyers (boot-loop) are kicking themselves for grey-importing lately.
But some people understand the advantages of local stock/warranty, others don't, that's fine, but don't classify it as a "rip-off" because you're comparing a $600 phone against a $1000 phone.
Recent deal saw the S7 Edge for $70pm with 8GB data.
Grey import is around $700, local around $1000. So phone cost is between ~$30pm to ~$42pm
How many BYO plans are there @ $40 or below offering 8GB data on Telstra 4G?
@Spackbace:
Not to rain on anyone's parade, but if security if one of the selling points of local-sourced phones… you guys know that you can get insurance on personal property/phones outside of contracts, right?
And it extends to your personal property, both locally bought or grey-imported (as long as you read the conditions).
Insurance =/ Warranty
I hope you realise that…
Boot-loop is a bit different to a smashed screen, unless you feel like rorting the system and purposely dropping your boot-looping phone, to claim insurance.
Not to mention the obvious excess involved as well
@Spackbace:
Yes, I know that.
However, if you had a Note 7 that was insured and it burst into flames… I don't think you will have a problem making an insurance claim on it. Even though it is a manufacturer's defect.
I just don't know if people praise local warranty unfairly these days… I guess it really depends on the product, its use, and the individual.
(On a related-unrelated note; this.)
@Spackbace: Aldi is 35 for 8GB, but still your point stands. Better warranty through Telstra for sure.
@Spackbace: my G4(grey import) was bootlooping about 10 months after i bought it from Kogan they replaced it under warranty and also covered shipping got it back in just over 7 days.
you need to look at the time value of money as well if you are doing a fair comparison. Perhaps the opportunity cost of investing the funds in something else can come into play too. Just my two cents, not that I ever take phones on a plan but that's just my preference rather than a financial rationale.
that's actually not what I was talking about. I was referring to the fact that present value of $40 per month paid for two years won't be the same as $40*24 because of inflation.
Net Present Value is what you're looking for I think :)
@nicbaz: yup, didn't use NPV because I thought 'time value of money' would be more relatable, might have been hindsight on my part ;)
https://wallethub.com/cell-phone-calculator/
Phone plans are definitely more expensive than they used to be but you can still find some decent deals, especially if you compare apples with apples.
That's a fair call although over 2 years it's not a huge amount in a low inflation environment. If inflation is 2%pa, the NPV of $40/month for 2 years is ~$940 vs $960 for a straight calculation.
Given mobile telecommunications is a technology, you would expect pre-paid phone plans to offer more data/value or be cheaper for the same inclusions as time passes, so if you wanted to model properly you would have tot take that into account.
Some great deals come out from time to time.
Nearly two months back, I picked up a S7 Edge from Woolies on a $56p/m plan (unlimited calls, sms, 3gb data).
Woolies use part of the Telstra network so to provide a fair comparison - Aldi (also a Telstra reseller) has a sim only plan for unlimited calls/sms and only 2gb for $25p/m. So subtract that and I got more data and a S7 Edge for $31p/m.
$31p/m * 24 (24 month contract) = $744 which is cheaper than outright locally purchased S7 Edges and even grey imports.
Woolworth prepaid 3gb unlimited $30=27(with that stupid rewards card) $56pm -$27pm =$29pmx24m = $696 for the S7 Edge.
Damn son, you did it! You beat the system! Which was due to Woolworth marking down briefly a usually $80 plan to $56.
Pardon my ignorance, but why are we subtracting amounts?
Because regardless of whether there is a phone involved, Alister would have paid X amount for a mobile service. That amount becomes a sunk cost and anything he pays over and above that amount is taken as the cost of the handset.
nah for some people one month salary finishes in one month, so there is no saving to buy $800 phone outright therefore they get ripped off by phone plan.
Everyone here forget about contract…
Contract = fixed = locked = jail = prison
Outright = freedom = priceless.
Telecom should pay us to lock in.
This freedom alone is enough reason.
Wee all talking about current plan,current prepaid price and rate.
How about next year maybe there is new post paid with very cheap price. Those people on the plan will be crying.
So true.
I'd never go on a plan ever again, buy the handset and then a prepaid sim, if service starts getting shitty, just port to another. Hell it's not like the days of old where you have to go to the shops to buy a recharge voucher if your phone runs out of credit, the app can auto do it.
I have actually never had to recharge early in this day and age.
Unless you're paying month by month on a prepaid plan, you're still 'locked' into a contract. Try telling a carrier that you want to leave before your 12 or 24 months without copping an ETF, BYO or not. Only difference in a phone plan is that the carrier is also be splitting the cost of the handset over 24 payments.
Uh, I think that's what he's getting at?
That prepaid or no lock-in contracts offer more flexibility, is self-explanatory but they're balanced by smaller quotas, it also doesn't address the OP's question whether plans with/out phone is 'worth it' or not. Also, equating a contract to jail or prison is a childish oversimplification. Unless you're working under the table for cash, contracts are a part of adult life, whether it's employment, a mortgage, credit card, etc.
Too true.
Also though, the cost of most people's bill = service fee + unincluded calls such as those over the cap and any 13 and 1300 calls.
Those calls are the worst, esp. given that
AFAIK, there are no mobile companies including 13 numbers in their contract costs. But if there were, it mighjt make the make the calculations described in these threads quite different.
Most plans now include unlimited calls, including 13 and 1800 numbers.
Most?
I doubt many prepaid (let alone most) in the $0-$40 bracket do. Not sure about post paid though
@zerovelocity: Yes, all but the very cheapest postpaid plans include unlimited calls, and most prepaid plans do too (e.g. Kogan's $16.90 plan, Coles' $20 plan).
Your comments about 13 numbers are out of date. I can't find a single provider that still charges extra for these numbers.
@atotheb: I stand corrected. Both Voda and Optus and Amaysim (and others?) have given up gibbling over 13 numbers. Thank you @atheb!
Though in looking I note that Telstra don't exactly offer local call rates on all their plans :-), and their pricing model is very different to their competitors too.
I do forgive you for not checking them though, apart from the normal reasons to avoid considering them, to find these charges you have to go to a 75 page Ts&Cs .pdf:
And it gets worse:
On fixed lines (at least in bundle plans), they still charge like a 'poor' multi-natioinstitution running low on blood: E.g. Where they include some calls for free
- Local calls to standard fixed lines
- National Calls to standard fixed lines
Standard calls do not include 13 numbers and are billed at well above local call rates
Is this new? I was under the impression that it's always been a rip off since 1999.
fair maidens of OzBargain
And what about the good sirs or former maidens?
It was only in the last 18-24 months that mobile phone prices began to skyrocket. Back then the added phone price was in line or even cheaper than retail. Today it doesn't seem like it is.
Hmm well remember you can take into consideration outright handsets can be used with a cheaper carrier like Amaysim or Aldi mobile. When Kogan Mobile first started in 2012 or 2013 I'm pretty sure its plans were about 25% of what you would pay on Telstra. I suspect that even today a Vaya plan is about 25% of Telstra's BYO offerings.
For example Telstra's 500mb plan is $35/month. For $33/month on Vaya you get 8GB and unlimited talk and messaging.
For example Telstra's 500mb plan is $35/month. For $33/month on Vaya you get 8GB and unlimited talk and messaging.
Bad example, I'm currently on a Telstra Mx BYO plan - $40pm with 7GB data. Not to mention Telstra thanks, NBL TV, etc
Isn't this BYO plan a 12 month contract? Telstra offered me this on completion of my contract but I decided to go with ALDI because their plans aren't locked in
Is this still available? I'm only seeing 5 GB for $40 on https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/plans-and-rates/mx-…
@y:
This offer was sent to me in an email. Maybe jump on chat and see if you can get it? Also have a look at the Aldi Mobile $35 plan it's 1GB of data less but $5 a month cheaper. No Volte though but still Telstra's network
maybe because there isnt much profit in the handset itself and there isnt much choice of them.
an iphone is purchased by the carrier for approx 5-7% less than retail.
so for example on the optus $85 My Plan Plus + $28 MRO for the iPhone 7 Plus 256 = $113.00 PM = $2712 over 24M
if the iPhone costs $1491.58 = 7% less than retail, therefore you pay $1220.42 for the service over 24 months which is really $50.85 PM
if you go BYO the cost is $40 a month, so in reality the money made over 24 month is just $240 by Optus.
$240 profit on a handset is probably on par if not a lot more than what apple would be making. There's no doubt that people can opt to pay the extra $240 over 24 months if they want, but in the spirit of ozbargain. Y tho.
But it's worse for you if you are data hungry.
In 12 months data plans might be double the data for the same price, but you are locked into your plan.
Buying a phone outright means you can always plan hop to the best available deal at any given month. Therefore getting quite a bit more value out of the same dollar.
I haven't paid less than $70 for a phone plan in over 10 years.
I managed to get a GS7 on 56.50 pm with 7gb internet, free music streaming and EPL.
$1,356 over 24 months
7gb on Amaysim is $39.90 per 28 days or $518.7 per annum / $1037.4 over 24 months (26 periods)
8 gb Jenee is $35 pm or $420 per annum / $840 over 24 months
10 gb Optus is $36 pm or $432 per annum / $864 over 24 months
given i only use less than 5gb mobile data anyway it was cheaper for me to go on a plan.
It's more expensive as you're essentially paying interest to finance the phone.
Almost 2 years ago I signed up for an iPhone 6Plus 128Gb on a Vodafone 80 plan with another $13 per month for the phone.
Now that my 2 years is almost up an iPhone 7Plus 128Gb on the 80 plan will have me paying another $43 per month for the phone
The date allowance is the same, the local/nation calls, SMS/MMS is the same. What has changed is that I now get 300 minute of international calls to 30 countries only whereas on the previous plan it was 300 minutes to any country. I call mainly to Fiji and at roughly $0.30c per minutes the previous plan was worth it - alas, Fiji is not on the list of 30 countries on what is being offered now.
No - I have not signed up again partly because of that.
However, if they allowed me to keep to my existing plan with the extra $13 (and not $43) I would certainly do so.
Just putting it out there.
That sucks (the plan bit).
iPhone has increased in price quite a bit since the 6 Plus but it is still a bit more.
There are a few reasons why some may view a plan as preferable to buying a phone outright and using a carrier like you've suggested.
1) The distribution of the cost over a longer period. Not everyone can afford $600+ on a new phone outright, and as such prefer the costs to be spread out. The counterpoint may be that if that's the case, these people shouldn't be purchasing the latest and greatest phones, but people have the choice
2) Buying on credit is rarely cheaper buying things outright (Interest free credit cards aside). Similar to furniture or appliances, the stores that supply credit do so to make money.
3) People have an ingrained habit of spending for certain things in a particular manner, and don't want to change. 10, 5, heck even 3 years ago it was probably more worth it to get a phone on a plan if you wanted the latest and greatest. Consumers have gotten into a pattern of spending $x per month, and seeing the product improve justifies the increases.
4) Ignorance. Some people may not be aware of other methods of buying mobiles, or that other types of mobiles aside from Samsung, HTC, LG and Apple exist.
(It will take a very attractive proposition to drag me away from my current strategy of buy outright, use on BYO sim, replace with outright)
You're absolutely right. I know a few people who opted to sign up to plan, just because they needed a phone quick and could not front the cash to buy one outright.
But sure, there is obviously a market for phone+plan but rarely is it cheaper and shouldn't be thought of as being such.
For many people looking wealthy is more important than actual wealth due to our experience in society being determined, to some degree, by the status symbols one displays.
So they remain wealthy looking poor people.
It's frighteningly common. I've met so many girls buying luxury wallets and handbags and new cars on finance. They want to look good whilst they continue life as an indentured servant to their job. I mean if you're going to Bond University you need to look the part (that's their line of thinking)right.
It's like they have no concept on the value of money.
"I mean if you're going to Bond University you need to look the part (that's their line of thinking)right."
Sigh…
The stigma of Bond University as a "Rich person's University" never gets old.
In reality, majority of students at Bond University are on a scholarship, down to earth and are not superficial.
There are individuals at Bond University who fit the profile, but those individuals are rare and do exist at other Universities*.
Note: When asking retorical questions, end the sentence with a question mark.
My apologies. I didn't take internet forum grammar as an elective. I do consider my online posting to be analogous to a Posca scrawl on a toilet door. I will yield and apply your pedagogical grammar advice thusly.
I shall digress however my learned friend. My comment was in reference to the people I worked and interned with that chose to go to Bond to do the absolute same thing they were pursuing at a 'lesser university', and incur absolutely massive FEE HELP debt - yes they had FEE-HELP . These individuals lamented the Bond stereotype. They were forthcoming in divulging all of this to me.
PS: "There are individuals at Bond University who are fit the profile, but those individuals are rare and do exist at other Universities*. - Beautiful prose right there you literary marvel you!
PPS: If a majority of students were on scholarship, the university would not be making any money. That's some reality!
"Beautiful prose right there you literary marvel you!"
Amended the grammatical mistake before you replied.
Nevertheless, I'm a technical marvel and not a literary marvel.
"If a majority of students were on scholarship, the university would not be making any money. That's some reality!"
Are you implying, scholarships that don't cost the University money are non-existent?
Regardless, Bond University's student demographic is highly comprised of international students.
International students can receive large study grants from their governments, as they are studying at a University in another country.
These grants are from poor countries that cannot afford to maintain high quality universities. Because of this, the students are grateful for the opportunity to study and tend not to be superficial.
I'm just going to double down and say that yes the majority of Bond are all poor international students with Einstein intellects getting subsidised by their bad with money countries!
Bond University's student demographic, reported by the Australian Education Network is as followed:
3,695 domestic students.
2,367 international students.
"subsidised by their bad with money countries!"
What?
Majority of Bond students either receive scholarships, goverment grants or are from countries with high university student fees.
"poor international students with Einstein intellects"
Resorting to a strawman argument.
Do you have the ability to present a logically structured argument, or are you consistent on stating outlandish claims without facts?
Australian universities privite or public are subject to strict guidelines for what constitutes a course*.
While, Bond University's standards are not on par with the group of 8. They do ensure fair standards for admission and course requirements.
*Set by the governing body of that field.
Example:
Bond University's Bachelor of Actuary Science, is recognised by the Auatralian Institute of Acturaries.
Currently, only seven Australian universities teach a recognised actuary degree.
Because to have a qualified actuary course, the Univerity needs to ensure that the course meets the highest of standards.
Negative comments on Bond University, personally have no impact because:
I'm not taking you seriously, as you're either a high school student, a lawyer, or my best guess an arts student.
I studied at the University of Newcastle. Therefore, attack Bond University to your heart's desires.
There you have it, 2367 is not the majority. I did my PLT at bond and didn't have to pay for it lol.
"There you have it, 2367 is not the majority."
That is Correct, the majority of Bond Students are not international students. However, that claim was never made and so I fail to see your point.
"I did my PLT at bond and didn't have to pay for it lol."
Is that confirmation of you receiving a scholarship from Bond University? Irregardless, both my sisters studied their degrees at Bond, both received a scholarship and both are not superficial. However, two people are hardly a fair representation of Bond University.
So you are a lawyer? Explains the inability to present a logically structured argument with evidence.
Please you're only a lawyer and a tr… are you Gerald?
So calling someone a bad person, results in the comment being removed? Live and learn.
Regardless, the apology still stands as per my previous comment.
And the fact, that if you are going to mock a university make sure you use question marks appropriately.
if you can't afford to buy the phone outright, you can't afford that phone.
Hi, 5 years ago called and said hi, how about those mobile plans, they're a ripoff.
Too true. I finally cut the Telstra/Samsung contract chain this week. Onto a BYO plan with an Oppo outright. I can't believe the difference in my monthly plan. Well worth the short term pain of a $260 exit fee.
Imho we can't compare contract and non as the contract will lock you to pay xxx for yyy period, but non contract no one know what new prices will be exist tomorrow next week or next month.
So you are comparing fix and variable basically. And the variable in this case will always go down. So, without further ado, non contract will always better.
True.
But i hate dealing with telecoms in general.
If i need to switch to chase the best deals and every time i risk not having service whilst porting.
I value my time…
The current price of a comparable phone to mine aust stock etc.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/269383
as long as a comparable deal (7gb, unlimited calls) doesn't drop below $25 in the next 24 months i'm still happy.
my bank account is also happier as i don't need to fork out the cash straight way.
I agree non-contract is better if you go for a more budget phone.
I had a nexus 5 on the old woolthworths optus mobile $26 for 5 gb plan for about 2 years.
"I value my time…" but you dont value your freedom….
so can we say someone is happy to stay in prison forever as long they get free meal (not wasting time working and looking for food)?
freedom in this sense cannot be comparable to a 'prison'.
In the end you're freedom is still dependent on the service of the three main telcos.
with the time i save from not having to deal with telcos and worrying about porting issues i am able to focus on other things. that can also include 'working and looking for food'
question is how much have time have is spent searching for telco bargains, waiting for porting and $ value over 12 / 24 months in this 'freedom'.
Its a rip off that they have manipulated people into believing a mobile is a fashion accessory and necessary 24/7.
Our family have 3 mobile phones, I have a Nexus 4, wife has a hand me down (from daughter) iPhone 4 and daughter has a iPhone 6.
We then have Internode phone plans of 2 by $10 Month and one $20 for the daughter because of the increased data allowance.
We havent allowed ourselfs to get silly and walk down the road talking to someone or suddenly stretching for the phone because a text has come through
Mobiles rule some peoples lives
some people don't like embracing change and technology either.
When the release of a new iPhone STOPS being the lead news item on Channel 7, 9 or 10 (including the obligatory footage of "fans" queuing for days outside an Apple Store), only then will things change.
It's getting close: this year Apple Sydney had to tell its line-up that they had no Jet Black or Plus models for sale.
The people who had camped there promptly dumped their camping gear in the bins and left.
and, if you cant afford $800 for a phone upfront (which is not necessary to have, to be able to life and work - its a PHONE not food or water), then:
maybe you should start saving more, not getting around it by getting a plan because you can afford it every month for 24 months.
come on! twenty four months!
trust me its all for your own benefit when you gets old.
Yeah no kidding!
I was staggered when Google announced their new phone the other day and it starts at $1000. $1000! When did people decide get duped into believing that a thing they use to communicate with people watch videos of cats and argue with strangers is worth more than 2 months worth of food!
Get a good $200-300 phone and keep it for 4 years at least. Of course if a good phone is your idea of a luxury because that's where you spend your time alot and you enjoy it go for it. Also if you earn enough to be able to drop money like that power to you. I'd prefer to spend the extra money on my computer/monitor where I spend my play time.
The recent Virgin iPhone 7 deal is cheaper than buying outright.
It's $74/mo for the 128GB iPhone 7 with 3GB data, the usual unlimited calls, and uncapped streaming (Spotify, etc.)
128GB iPhone 7 retails for A$ 1229, split over 24 payments, that's $51/mo, subtracting that from the total cost, the plan will be $23.
Currently, the closest comparable BYO plan on the same carrier (Virgin) is $30 for half the data (1.5GB) and international credit ($50 vs $100). Optus is the same (and same network, so call it a wash). Telstra is $35/mo for 500MB. Vodafone is $35/mo for 1.5GB. Those are the big 4 carriers, and none of them are cheaper outright. There are other seasonal phone contract deals like the recent Optus S7 which are also cheaper overall. They do exist.
the argument is that you're locked into $23 per month for the life of the plan and you cannot switch.
$23 might look good now but the 'variable will always go down' - who knows if it will go down and provide better value than what you have though.
Yes, but unless you're on a prepaid plan, you're going to be locked into something, whether it's for 12 or 24 months. Leaving a BYO plan before the length of your contract will cop an ETF. It's still hedging, regardless of whether a phone is involved in the contract or not, unless you limit yourself to specific no lock-in or prepaid contracts, which generally balance that with less generous quotas.
there are month to month providers out there that you don't cop an ETF from.
yes it is still hedging. but i'm with you on this one as per my comments above on my recently purchased s7 on plan.
@dasher86: Agreed. Edited before saw reply. My point is, despite all the bruhaha about 'ripoff' phone plans, they can actually be cheaper if you do the maths and tailor it to your personal usage.
I'm similar. Signed up to an iPhone 7 32gb on the Optus $85 plan. 8gb data, unlimited calls and text. 10% off for student discount brings it to $76.50 a month. The iPhone retails for $1079 so at RRP that's ~ $31.50 a month. The Amaysim plan is $39.90 for 7gb data and is every 28 days not monthly. So really to be ahead you'd have to get the iPhone for about $850. I really don't think phone plans are that bad value anymore if you shop carefully.
Yup I got a similar Virgin deal 2 years ago with the 6 plus.
Ended up cheaper than buying outright and going on a BYO month-to-month.
Plus I get the added bonus of spreading the cost of the phone over 24 months.
Contract is ending in a month's time and I'm going prepaid until next year's iPhone because I'm not interested in the 7.
Going on a plan still has its merits if you don't need to change to the latest/greatest every year.
Boost. Which is Telstra, btw.
No contract. Unlimited calls/texts/int'l calls (10 countries). 9GB data across 28 days. $45.
I've been with them for a fair while now.
Cheers
Unless you really want a phone on release day ,within 3-4 months you can usually save 20 -40% with sales
On android flagships at least
I agree completely, I have no idea why people get plans unless you can't afford the phone outright.
I did the maths with the s7 edge that I bought my parent and it came out at like 200 dollars cheaper and a the prepaid plan was better. Plus you're not locked into a long ass plan (and I have commitment issues).
I can afford it, but I never feel good about dropping $1200 for a phone when it comes out.
My S7 Edge was ~$1200 when it first came out. Optus gives a $20 off discount, so there's that. I don't mind spending $1500 over 2 years.
True, besides you can always haggle when you are getting a plan.
I got 20$ off per month on my voda plan, thats 480$ in the OP calculation of which is cheaper.
How hard is it tp Transfer an Operating system from a normal drive to SSD without media? I would love to take the plunge on this but the thought of it being wasted due to my non tech status is restraining me.
Just go watch a youtube video about cloning a HDD or creating an image of a HDD. There are so many tutorials out there.
Tenforums.com is good for windows 10 tutorials.
It's pretty easy with software that does all the grunt work for you.
Thanks for the reply! Particularly given I seem to have posted on the wrong topic :P
Acronis make a program that does this. I think it's called TruImage? You're meant to buy it but you get a 30 day free trial. You'll need either a spare sata port if it's desktop or a usb enclosure if laptop. Then all you need to do is get total used space on the mechanical drive down to less than that of the ssd.
Good luck. I envy you. My first boot on my first SSD was one of the happiest days of my life.
Well, that's going to affect your calculations. Be fair and compare like for like. Don't try to use a grey-import Samsung in your figures.