Buying Phone in Store on The Spot

mu11yy on 19/10/2023 - 23:07

Hi all,

Am in the market to purchase a new flagship phone soon, and am wondering if it's possible to walk into a telco store (think Optus/Telstra in a shopping centre) and buy a phone on the spot?

This would be considerably easier for me as I work right near a Westfield, so if I could just pop in one day on lunch and pick one up, it'd be golden.

Sorry if this comes across as a dumb question as this is my first time being a young adult and all, having to purchase my own phone (without parents money aha).

Mobile Mobile Phone

Comments

  • elgrande on 19/10/2023 - 23:25
    +14

    Can you walk into a store and buy something?

    Back in my day you could.

    • mu11yy on 20/10/2023 - 00:04
      +1

      lol, it sounds so silly now that I asked

  • silverrat23 on 19/10/2023 - 23:32

    Yes.

  • localhost on 19/10/2023 - 23:38
    +5

    Only one condition - store must be open. Otherwise you might have problems.

    • CyberMurning on 19/10/2023 - 23:44

      And if the store has stock the phone that op wants

      • AndyC1 on 19/10/2023 - 23:54

        And they have the flagship phone configured for what OP wants.

  • USER DC on 20/10/2023 - 00:16
    +1

    The only such telco phone buying that OZb approves is JB hifi telstra deals. (only if the GC amount is good).

    Otherwise buying phones from telco is never ever the best way to buy the device (for highest bang for buck, unless ofcourse you need the latest stuff that you cannot find cheaper at like amazon, eBay, marketplace etc.)

    • mu11yy on 20/10/2023 - 00:18

      Yep. I'm upgrading from a iPhone 12 which has a cooked battery, so would rather get something that'll last as long as possible.

      • USER DC on 20/10/2023 - 00:22

        You can get a item from amazon, eBay, marketplace in new sealed condition too (warranty in Amazon, ebay too hopefully depending on seller), but they gonna be a lot lot cheaper than telcos

      • lachhelix on 20/10/2023 - 00:54
        +9

        To be fair, Apple only charge $149 for a brand new battery - if that's the only issue, you're better off just doing that than spending $1k+ on a new one

        • RockyRaccoon on 20/10/2023 - 08:32

          While I agree 100% - obviously as I frequent Ozbargain. You missed the OP's line

          being a young adult and all

          We can all understand (having done that ourselves).

          • lachhelix on 20/10/2023 - 08:53

            @RockyRaccoon: Ahhh yes! The clout factor! How could I forget 😂

          • brandt on 20/10/2023 - 09:25

            @RockyRaccoon: iPhone is just the new Moto Razr v3 and there was nothing wrong with the battery on my Nokia 3310

      • LanceVance on 20/10/2023 - 10:19

        Get the battery replaced in your iPhone, you'll save a lot of money and an iPhone 12 is still a great device today.

  • Mechz on 20/10/2023 - 00:26
    +7

    You can't just waltz into a Telstra store and buy something. You need to have an appointment. This is not a wind up. 100% serious.

    So, better off at JB who can possibly price match if you find it cheaper somewhere else.

    • stuffandthat on 20/10/2023 - 10:06

      This making an appointment to give a shop your money is crazy. I work in sales and if I told my customers to make an appointment to buy my products I'd be looking for a new job!

      • mu11yy on 20/10/2023 - 16:18

        Went into an Optus today, and they didn't ask for an appointment. Shame they didn't have what I wanted in stock :(

  • original15 on 20/10/2023 - 09:23

    Can check jb hifi stock online
    My local didn’t believe me that they had iPhone 15 pro max in stock

  • KaTst3R on 20/10/2023 - 09:28

    There isnt a supply issue these days, so phones should be available in store.

  • Bignudge on 20/10/2023 - 09:54

    I would recommend you buy it from Amazon instead. Much better aftersales support and warranty. I find that they're even willing to refund your money after the warranty period.

    • mu11yy on 20/10/2023 - 10:05

      My only caveat with doing this is that I cannot go on a monthly payment plan.

      • Mechz on 20/10/2023 - 11:46

        They accept zip or some other type of BNPL provider.

        • mu11yy on 20/10/2023 - 16:15

          Yeah I looked at that. Not likely haha. My non existent credit history isn't gonna help with getting enough BNPL for a $2000+ phone

  • JimmyF on 20/10/2023 - 11:25

    and am wondering if it's possible to walk into a telco store (think Optus/Telstra in a shopping centre) and buy a phone on the spot?

    LOL That is why they have ummmm stores.

    Of course you can walk in and buy on the spot assuming you have the ID etc that is required.

    • hasher22 on 20/10/2023 - 11:52

      Buying a phone outright with a telco store wasn't a thing, it started happening around 2015 when I worked for Optus retail. Thing is, there was no incentives to buy from a telco directly but a chance for sales rep to upsell a sim-only plan or prepaid with the phone.

      I told many customers to buy directly from the brand itself if they're looking for a deal as we didn't/couldn't price match.

      • JimmyF on 20/10/2023 - 11:57
        +1

        Buying a phone outright with a telco store wasn't a thing, it started happening around 2015 when I worked for Optus retail

        LOL it was happening way before then! I remember buying a Nokia 'outright' way back in the day. Sure some brands, cough cough Apple used to lock you into a plan only.

        BTW 2015 was 8 years……. Heaps of time for the OP to catch up on the world.

        • hasher22 on 20/10/2023 - 12:00

          I am talking about flagship smart phones

          Whether it's 8 years ago or 5 years or 2 years ago, people still don't know you can buy flagship phones outright from a telco and today, people still see telcos to get a phone with a plan. Telcos won't advertise they sell it outright cause there's no profit to be made.

          • JimmyF on 20/10/2023 - 12:06

            @hasher22:

            I am talking about flagship smart phones

            Nokia was a flagship back then ;)

            people still don't know you can buy flagship phones outright from a telco and today,

            People do know, we get many deals here for outright phones posted to buy from telcos.

            Telcos won't advertise they sell it outright cause there's no profit to be made.

            Yeah wrong again, As you used Optus as example, here is the outright price for the S23

            https://www.optus.com.au/mobile/phones/samsung/galaxy-s23-ul…

            Anyhow, go here https://www.optus.com.au/mobile/phones and change payment terms to outright, look at all the phones they are advertising outright including Apple devices.

            • hasher22 on 20/10/2023 - 19:25

              @JimmyF:

              Nokia was a flagship back then ;)

              People do know, we get many deals here for outright phones posted to buy from telcos.

              Why you being a little snarky smart aleck for?

              Not everyone is on Ozbargain to find outright deals from telcos.

              Yeah wrong again, As you used Optus as example, here is the outright price for the S23

              That's not advertising, that's giving a consumer an option to buy outright given the consumer is just online shopping as per normal. That's like me going to McDonalds and seeing that I can add an extra patty to a burger, but Mcdonalds don't release ads on TV, radio, billboards etc, to say consumers can add an extra patty on their burgers.

              • JimmyF on 20/10/2023 - 20:07

                @hasher22:

                Why you being a little snarky smart aleck for?

                LOL says the person who is snarky over being called out and keeps changing the story….. Oh nokia isn't a flagship phone, yeah it was at the time.

                Not everyone is on Ozbargain to find outright deals from telcos.

                LOL The OP posted on Ozbargain, they read the deals! Surely they have seen them from time to time.

                That's not advertising

                LOL ok sure its not… But they clearly have it listed on the website and instore. So……. its not like they are hiding it. So your claim telcos won't advertise they sell it outright cause there's no profit to be made isn't really that correct now.

        • mu11yy on 20/10/2023 - 16:17

          Mate I was busy playing with LEGO in 2015. I've never once had to think about this sorta subject matter before.

          • JimmyF on 20/10/2023 - 16:45
            -1

            @mu11yy: You had 8 years to think about this then!

  • FoxJump on 20/10/2023 - 12:31

    see my post here:
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/805759#comment-14446503

    you might be able to score a discount if they bundle extended warranty at a discounted price; then return the extended warranty within the cooling off period

  • Nillionaire on 20/10/2023 - 17:02
    -2

    You're getting outdated information here from millennials and older people, at least in the case of Telstra. If you walk in, you'll need to make an appointment and they'll call you when someone is ready to see you. Yes, even for simple outright purchases.

    • JimmyF on 20/10/2023 - 20:10

      Thats Telstra, they like to be painful at every turn, the other telcos are way more friendly.

      • Nillionaire on 21/10/2023 - 20:32

        Yes but my point is Gen Z has grown up with this being the case at Telstra so we know, but some older people that haven't been there recently still assume it's like before.

  • jackary on 21/10/2023 - 07:15
    -2

    You do not need the latest and greatest iPhone and you are an idiot if you go through with this.

    • Nillionaire on 21/10/2023 - 20:30

      You do not need to upgrade every year but the most logical thing to do is upgrade to the latest and greatest as that will allow it to last the longest. It doesn't have to be an iPhone though, other flagships are fine too.

      • jackary on 23/10/2023 - 02:41

        OP has an iPhone 12 with a dud battery. The most logical thing to do is get the battery replaced and keep it until it no longer gets software updates and becomes obsolete. The iPhone 12 is still very much current.

        Making a couple of assumptions here, but I’m assuming OP wants the new iPhone 15. Let’s for arguments sake, assume OP wants the cheapest, base model iPhone 15. OP has also said he has gone to Optus, so let’s also assume OP will go for the cheapest plan at $49/m. On a 24 month contract, the phone is $62.43/month, plus the plan. We’re at $111.43/month. MINIMUM.

        The fact that we are even recommending a $1500+ phone ON A PHONE PLAN to what appears to be an 18-19 year old kid is completely ridiculous. Downvote me to hell, I don’t give a shit. This is completely moronic, and if it were my kid I’d be saying the exact same thing.

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