UK: How can Carphone Warehouse sell the M9 cheaper than direct from network?

[Alex_NJ]

I'm waiting to pre-order the M9 and comparing pre-order prices. (I hope this doesn't look spammy and get deleted by mods)

Carphone Warehouse upgrade EE offer with Free case.

EE's own upgrade offer

Am I missing something, how can Carphone Warehouse offer it so much cheaper?

The iPhone 6 is also significantly cheaper through Carphone Warehouse

 

[EarlyMon]

Welcome to the forums!

Don't worry, we get it's not spammy.

So - how many payments? What's the total cost?

 

[Alex_NJ]

Thanks!

Both will be 24 month contracts.

So direct from EE would be: £1267.75

From Carphone Warehouse it would be: £1007.76 (plus a free official Dot View case which I guess is worth £20)

 

[Hadron]

Because CPW are trying to attract business, while EE assume upgraders will upgrade directly with them?

There's another advantage to going with CPW: unless they've changed their policy recently they use unlocked, unbranded handsets, whereas if you upgrade through EE you'll get a locked handset with EE-modified software - which means you wait longer for updates because they have to wait for EE to finish fiddling with them rather than coming straight from HTC.

 

[Alex_NJ]

Wow, that is a point that I had completely overlooked.

Especially good if I want to buy a SIM for going abroad too.

Thanks!

 

[Slug]

how can Carphone Warehouse offer it so much cheaper?

A combination of brains and brawn.

They negotiate exclusive packages with the networks, and have huge purchasing muscle with the manufacturers.

unless they've changed their policy recently they use unlocked, unbranded handsets

Nope, still the same. Network-locked handsets tie you (and your stock) to that particular network.