Talk Me out of Switching to Optus (from Telstra)

Llou knee on 25/08/2018 - 15:33
Last edited 25/08/2018 - 17:58 by 1 other user

My contract with Telstra has ended and I'm looking to upgrade my phone to either the Galaxy S9 or S9+ on a new plan. If I were to get the S9+ on a plan with 10GB/month it would cost $109 with Telstra but only $74 with Optus.

Judging by the coverage map I should be ok around here with Optus (in Albury-Wodonga). I've been with Telstra for years now (pretty much since Orange shut up shop) but I'm not heading outof town as much as I once was and don't know if I need the extra coverage as much as I once did, as long as coverage is ok at home and work then I'm happy.

Butchange is scary, am I potentially making a mistake?

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Comments

  • loulou1 on 25/08/2018 - 15:37

    My brother in law was with Optus after reviewing their coverage online. He later found he was having difficulty in getting coverage in some of the areas, he complained and was able to cancel contract with no penalty

    • [Deactivated] on 26/08/2018 - 14:50

      presumably he had to return the phone?

  • poboy on 25/08/2018 - 15:38
    +1

    Optus is completely fine as long as you don't need to talk to them. Although coverage not as good in the alpine areas.

    • 87percent on 26/08/2018 - 09:53
      +1

      That's pretty much the issue with all providers though. Gas, electricity, isp's area all the same.

  • srsparky on 25/08/2018 - 16:07

    They support WiFi calling, so that might be an option for poor areas at home or work. I haven't used it, so don't have any experience though.

  • Godric on 25/08/2018 - 16:53
    +3

    Absolute useless customer support if you need to call them up

  • retiredfeline on 25/08/2018 - 16:59
    +3

    Butchange is scary

    For a moment I thought rear transplants were a thing. :)

    But seriously, they sometimes warrant their moniker Floptus, so do your due diligence.

    • payton on 25/08/2018 - 17:01

      hehe
      not unfathomable to have plastic surgeons offering breast and rear augmentation package
      the trunk must match the hood

      • retiredfeline on 25/08/2018 - 22:41

        Trunk and hood eh? Are you from NA?

        • payton on 25/08/2018 - 23:59

          boot and bonnet package it is

  • chumlee on 25/08/2018 - 17:08
    +4

    Do whatever you want

  • Ocker on 25/08/2018 - 17:10

    We were with Optus, and although within their coverage area has poor reception and constant drop-outs. They finally admitted our house was in a "black spot" area for reception and allowed us to cancel our contract.

    Moral of the story is that "coverage" is not all that it may claim to be.

    • Diji1 on 25/08/2018 - 19:40

      The legislation literally says they just have to make an effort, no service standards whatsoever, which is what happens when you have a revolving door policy between industry and government as happens under our neo-liberal regime.

  • mskeggs on 25/08/2018 - 17:34
    +4

    Spend $10 on a prepaid Optus sim and try it out.

    • bdl on 25/08/2018 - 18:17

      Or Amaysim, but yeah I agreed with @mskeggs - we don't know your particular coverage use-case

    • lou knee on 25/08/2018 - 20:24

      I'm thinking I might do that. Good idea.

  • markathome on 25/08/2018 - 18:00

    I was with Optus and really hated their coverage. Two locations: Applecross, WA and Docklands, VIC. Now with Vodafone and it seems better - have had no issues with Telstra either. All that said, I upvoted @chumlee's "do what you want" comment.

  • Wystri Warrick on 25/08/2018 - 18:11

    Go with an MVNO much cheaper op.
    Kogan often has 40% off if a full year is paid upfront.

  • oscargamer on 25/08/2018 - 19:13
    +1

    Aldi - they use the Telstra network. Much better than Optus for rural areas. I'm in deepest SW VIC.

    I just moved from Telstra to Aldi. Was worried beforehand. Absolutely no change to service quality whatsoever.

    • lou knee on 25/08/2018 - 20:23

      I've thought about that but then I would have to buy a new phone outright first and that actually works out more expensive, an XL plan (10GB data) is $840 over 24 months, plus the cheapest S9+ I can find is about $1000. The Optus plan is $1776 over 24 months and I don't have to worry about an up front cost. I guess it comes back to coverage vs cost. The Aldi option would be cheaper than Telstra though, that's true.

  • WreckTangle on 25/08/2018 - 19:46

    Coverage on that rail line to Melb seems better on Optus i’ve found

  • BobD on 26/08/2018 - 07:48

    I used to live in the Albury area and Optus coverage was always OK. Even out at places like Dederang, Rutherglen, Howlong, Corowa, and Yarrawonga. I now live on the Mornington Peninsula and I'm now using Aldi. The missus is still on Amaysim (Optus MVNO) but she has a locked non smart phone. It would cost more to get unlocked than I paid for it. For those wondering, I paid $15 each at Target for a bunch of them. Cheaper than new batteries.

  • BigBirdy on 26/08/2018 - 08:23
    +2

    Telstra has long been the Evil Empire, a place where arrogance, incompetence and excessive charges collude to drive customers away

  • terrys on 26/08/2018 - 08:44

    If I am talking to somebody, and after 2 minutes they start to sound as if they are talking underwater, they are invariably with an provider using the Optus network. They may have changed it in the last few weeks, but it has been a constant 'feature' for years.
    Then again, who uses phones for talking these days..

  • dammit on 26/08/2018 - 08:46

    Sure you might save a few bucks. But coverage really is no where near Telstra unfortunately.

  • Hithere on 26/08/2018 - 08:58
    +2

    Go to Aldi and buy a cheap phone from eBay if you have to have a new one.

    Near enough the same coverage as Telstra but a lot cheaper. Optus are hopeless, both in service and coverage.

    With the money you save you'll soon be able to afford to buy yourself a more expensive phone.

  • gooddealmate on 26/08/2018 - 11:10

    I'm just in the process of doing the opposite. Lucky if I have 1 bar in the house and get speeds of around 7Mbps.

    Telstra with their 4gx network has full signal and speeds at around 120Mbps.

    Worth paying the extra imo.

    • Kandrew on 26/08/2018 - 22:28

      And I live in town in Junee, NSW. I’m with ALDI mobile.

      I can see the Telstra tower from my house, but from the second bedroom and the garage, I cannot get any service. My mate on Optus (same phone) has no trouble in either location at my home.

      Having said all that, I don’t know where the Optus tower is around here.

  • MickeyRules on 26/08/2018 - 13:13

    I have been with Optus for over 20 years and never had a problem. Last week I signed up to a new plan as a needed a new phone and was able to get 3 more plans for $15 each a month with 3GB data each, now the whole family has 11GB to share, unlimited calls and texts and a total cost of $90 per month for the 4 of us. I have never been happier.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/08/2018 - 14:51

    I am in the same situation as OP. The S9 is so cheap with optus compared to telstra. I was with optus for years then switched over to telstra 2 years ago but for where I go I don't find telstra coverage to be much better.

  • Rel63 on 26/08/2018 - 22:57

    Try woolworths, they have both s9 & s9+. They use telstra network and are pretty good on price. Ive been with for 2 phones now.

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