GT6Steve Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 Amigos, How does it work to buy an IPhone in UK? I'm thinking of getting my wife a 7S for Christmas. My provider, Virgin USA, has used and new phones for sale at a slight discount. What's the easy way to get one in UK? I believe her provider is EE? I expect stocks to dwindle soon as Christmas approaches and I don't expect 10 sales to increase the supply. Any thoughts or opinions? I'll be in town at the end of October so I plan to hit the local mall on a day she works. Thanx, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 In town, as in UKtown, Steve? DEpends which town but hook-up with some Sidewayers? I bought a new phone last year, staying with my provider (vodafone), went to a Vodafone shop, and it was a five minute job to transfer my chip and all my contacts to the new phone, at no cost. It may be as easy if you wnat to change provider, I don't know. BUT, I think there might be difficulties if you took the new phone home to Vegas. I bought mine specifically to go to Rio - when I got there, no Vodafone network, nada! I bought a cheap burner phone, which did me while I was there. JOhn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6Steve Posted October 5, 2017 Author Share Posted October 5, 2017 (edited) Yeah, there's very mixed opinions on USA spec and UK spec phones being interchangeable. They're much cheaper in US but they don't work with a few providers. All very techie and complex if you're over forty I guess... I'll be in Hemel Hempstead for a few days. Edited October 5, 2017 by GT6Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtuckunder Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 Hi Steve You can either buy phones that are locked to a specific cellular supplier (or their international partners when roaming), if you put in a sim from a different cellular supplier it will be blocked. Or you can buy an open phone that will accept sim's from any cellular operator. You can also buy S/H phones that have been unlocked/jail broken from their original supplier. I use an open phone, so can buy and use a sim from any operator if I wish. When I go to the States I usually pick up a cheap PAYG sim, as my phone has dual sim slots so can decide if I want to use the operator Vodaphone has as a partner in the US or the US sim. If you can pick up an open/unlocked 7s in the States then your wife ought to be able to just pop in the sim from her UK provider and go, at worst if its a different size sim, they will normally supply a new one, and the good providers will also do a data transfer service. If your buying one from Virgin USA just check it isn't locked to their network (if they do that in the States) Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6Steve Posted October 5, 2017 Author Share Posted October 5, 2017 Thanx for that. I think w'll try swapping SIM's and see what results we get. I'll have time before Christmas t find a 7S for her. (Maybe I can get her 6S then HeHeHe...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtuckunder Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 On a very quick look, unlocked S/H iphone 7's on ebay here, cheapest £400 most £600-900 As opposed to new & on a 24 month contract from Vodaphone including data and calls Get 10GB of free data 16GB + extra 10GB of 4G data Unlimited minutes Unlimited texts Take your home plan abroad 3-month free trial of Secure Net, then £1 a month thereafter £48 a month £10 upfront So sometimes its a weigh up if its cheaper, to buy a phone outright, then buy a sim only data/call/text monthly plan from a provider, or to just take the bundle including everything from the provider. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6Steve Posted October 5, 2017 Author Share Posted October 5, 2017 That's about the same here in Dollars. She get's her phone from her provider now so maybe I'll ask a few subtle questions while I'm there....I know there are EE shops everywhere ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 What dates Steve? Would be good to meet up at last. HH should be inside 2.5 hours by road from here...... I don't usually work Thursday/Friday and could even bring a Triumph if weather not too foul! Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6Steve Posted October 5, 2017 Author Share Posted October 5, 2017 I'll be there Friday Evening, October 26 and fly out Tuesday Afternoon, October 31. I'm not sure what she has planned for the weekend but I know I'm free Monday morning. It's a long way to drive and there is that working for a living bit but otherwise I'd be tickled to meet ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 Ok, Monday is a bit trickier - I'll see what I can do! Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6Steve Posted October 6, 2017 Author Share Posted October 6, 2017 It's certainly not my last trip. Don't stress... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6Steve Posted October 6, 2017 Author Share Posted October 6, 2017 Apparently I can't direct message you anymore. Contact me , maybe we can meet in Bath or somesuch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 The forum does have a PM system, but for some reason "GT6 Steve cannot receive messages" - which is one for Craig I reckon..... I sent you a mail using your AOL address if that is still live? Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6Steve Posted October 6, 2017 Author Share Posted October 6, 2017 got it and replied. There's always glitches in any system, particularly when new. If it's any clue it says my Inbox is full and stays that way after deleting some messages. Had no idea I had 231 inbox messages. Must've never been emptied LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtuckunder Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 1 hour ago, GT6Steve said: Apparently I can't direct message you anymore. Contact me , maybe we can meet in Bath or somesuch? If your heading that way at all, let me know Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteClan Posted October 6, 2017 Share Posted October 6, 2017 Pity you're not here the week before. Historic Sports Car Club finals meeting at Silverstone and that's only a short trip from Hemel. Pete Richards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socalspitfireguru Posted October 7, 2017 Share Posted October 7, 2017 Unlocked IPhones can be purchased direct from Apple stores in the UK. Nearest one to Hemel Hempstead is in Watford - https://opening-hours.today/en/view/openinghours/apple-store/intu-watford-shopping-centre/watford/55a3cdec1e782#lat=51.753241&lng=-0.44863199999997505&p=hemel-hempstead I just drop a local PAYG sim into my unlocked iPhone, works a treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprint95m Posted October 8, 2017 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Another option is to buy an unlocked iPhone from Argos. I don't think I have ever been to Hemel Hempstead although I think I may have passed through /close by on a train, anyhow a Google search shows two Argos stores in HH: https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=hp&q=Is+there+an+Argos+in+Hemel+Hempstead%3F&oq=Is+there+an+Argos+in+Hemel+Hempstead%3F&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i160k1.2409.19192.0.19620.37.37.0.0.0.0.211.3371.33j3j1.37.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.36.3278...0j46j0i131k1j0i46k1j0i3k1j33i22i29i30k1j33i21k1.0.fe0ehoHv1Sg Ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6Steve Posted October 8, 2017 Author Share Posted October 8, 2017 I've been in the Apsley Argos many times but never thought of a phone. I'll have a look. I prefer unlocked myself as I'm always a rebel without a clue... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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