Hi, On 8/10/2012 9:47 AM, Russell Coker wrote:
Except that mobile phones that are "free" on contracts cost more than phones from Kogan.
Yes, of course, but some plans do work out cheap IF the phone plan itself suits otherwise -- you can get a subsidized phone. If you over buy the phone plan, then yes, you are over buying the phone and the total minimum commitment is high. You can win out with a plan though. I've previously bought a $500 phone at $20 * 24 months payments with no extra charge. Then I had $20 credit on the network to use if I wanted, but the phone cost less this way (instead of initial outright purchase). But it all depends on the plan you can use and what suits you as to whether or not buying outright is the better option. I usually buy outright now due to tax reasons. I am entitled to buy as part of salary packaging, a phone in my name. The company re-imburses me the cost of the phone in lieu of salary and claims the phone expense. I can then claim the phone expense in my personal income tax return; but I must buy the phone in my own name. Talk to your accountant to see if it will work out for you.
It's not expensive for proper AU stock, that's the point. The non-AU stock is cheap for a reason and it doesn't always work out, but sure, sometimes it does work out.
So far the only phone that hasn't worked out for me and for all my relatives who get me to manage their phones is one that probably had no warranty to begin with and definitely had no warranty after I rooted it.
Blame the manufacturers whom price AU stock for the higher costs, or blame the AU consumer laws; it doesn't matter either way. If you want AU stock, you have to pay a price and most of that price is made up of costs from local suppliers (Bright Point are the only wholesaler whom can supply Samsung Galaxy S3 phones that are unbranded, unless you can get them from Samsung direct).
I don't think that rooting a phone should be grounds for dismissal of your warranty; although many people claim that to be the case.
Generally when you want any warranty support you need to demonstrate that it's not something you did.
I still don't subscribe to that theory; if the phone is faulty, it is faulty. Just about the only way you can damage it [by something you did] with root access is perhaps frying a radio by increasing it's power beyond the "normal" level or over clocking the device. Aside from that, I would expect a manufacturer warranty to be 100% okay even with a rooted phone. Technically if you use ANY charger not supplied by the manufacturer, your warranty might be void, but again I see that as an unfair copout which the manufacturers should not be able to get away with. Cheers A.