Sony Xperia Z3/Z5 compact - some prices too good to be true?

Lmathematicalcoffee on 06/12/2015 - 23:42

TL;DR: Has anyone heard of "Sunglass eSensation" for buying a Z3 compact off before? Is it worth getting a Z5 compact instead (~$630)? Wait for (boxing day|some sort of deal|…) ?

I'm thinking of replacing my beloved current phone (Motorola Razr XT905) with something that'll last much longer (this one only lasted 1, 1.5 years before it started to get real slow and crash a lot. It'll just make it to 2 years, come boxing day) and is ideally the same size or smaller (I don't like big phones!). This essentially leaves the Sony Z3/Z5 compacts. They're 5mm bigger in each dimension than my current which is a shame, but the smallest I can find that are flagship/good specs. I was hoping for the phone to last at least 2 years, ideally 3 (…4? in my wildest dreams).

My initial preference is for Z3 compact (I'm a student!), second-hand. These seem to go for ~$350-400 on gumtree/eBay (if the screen has no cracks). I was hoping for about $350 as my budget, possible stretch to $400. However when I was looking around, I found

These prices seem to be quite good! My question is: are they too good to be true?

The Z5 is much more expensive than my initial price range, but given that it seems to be quite cheap for its price and is newer than the Z3, perhaps I'll get an extra year out of it, so I might stretch and pay for it.
The Z3 seems great (I'm very tempted to buy), but I've never heard of "Sunglass eSensation" before.

So, can anyone offer any advice here? In particular,

  • has anyone heard of / ordered from Sunglass eSensation before, or is it just too risky?
  • worth paying the extra for the Z5 compact? Would hope to get 1-2 years more over the Z3 compact for an extra $200. Unrealistic?
  • is it worth waiting for boxing day or something (I am not sure if there are typical times that prices drop)? I can stretch out to early next year before replacing the phone, I just thought Christmas might be the time when all the deals are. There's rumours of a Z6 compact and Z6 mini (sounds perfect for me, 4" screen) - if Sony announce this officially do prices of the older models typically come down?

cheers!

Mobile

Comments

  • evol on 07/12/2015 - 00:16
    +1

    Website looks dodgy and nothing much on Google about it. If it's too good to be true, it probably is. Wouldnotbuy/10

  • Ughhh on 07/12/2015 - 02:40
    +1

    A store called sunglass selling phones?? Not dodgy at all

  • Belistic on 07/12/2015 - 05:31

    You'll need to check 2nd hand z3 compacts. They had issues with the screen cracking by itself. I bought mine on release, and last month the screen decided to pop out, so I've had to glue it back in numerous times….

  • CaptainHardcore on 07/12/2015 - 06:44
    +1

    Please refer to: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2467587

    • GordonR on 08/12/2015 - 23:27

      Brilliant… The House Of Memory website is identical to the Sungalss eSensation one, but there is a different fake NZ address on each site.

      So every sign is scam, except you would think PayPal would rapidly stop accepting payments after the first few refund claims?

  • Japius on 07/12/2015 - 07:40

    I've used eGlobal before and they were as good as any other grey importer cant really complain but they werent exceptional either, average posting times etc.

    The last few phones I have bought have been through qd_au on ebay, and I have had a great experience with them. They have the Z5 Compact for $639 delivered which is a little higher but the one I would go for personally.

    As for the sunglass place? I'd steer clear of it.

    I think the Z5 gives enough of an improvement over the Z3 to justify it, but as always if you can wait I am sure prices will drop. The Z3 had a lot of complaints about the glass back cracking for people, theres a few threads on whirlpool if you want feedback from other users.

  • mathematicalcoffee on 07/12/2015 - 10:29

    Thanks all! I did think that sunglasses place selling a phone was too good to be true, but I was hoping anyway :[
    I'll continuing umming and ahhing over Z3c v Z5c and keeping an eye on prices. I'm still determining the amount extra I'll pay for a potentially longer-lasting phone, given that I'm a student :P
    I've been reading about the glass crack problems with the Z3 compacts but I don't mind taking that risk if the phone is much cheaper, and uncracked when I buy it.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/12/2015 - 10:37
    +1

    If you can wait until the next ebay 15% or 20% off all shops then that's the time you should buy. Other than that I think performance wise you won't see a huge difference between the two, camera might be slightly better on the Z5, that's about all i can think of.

  • djones145 on 07/12/2015 - 11:59

    sounds legit, buy all there stock and sell on ebay
    instant profit

    INSTANT!

    • [Deactivated] on 07/12/2015 - 12:48

      Ebay fees + paypal fees have already eaten the profits away and you'll be losing money….

      • djones145 on 07/12/2015 - 12:53

        sell on the back of a van then!
        no feeeeeeeeeeeees

  • bargainsville on 07/12/2015 - 15:12

    You could always get a z1 compact used/new, if its cheaper. I don't think there's that much difference between z1c and z3c, especially if the cracking screen problem with z3c is a worry, not sure if the z1c has same problem though…

  • Recessiontime on 09/12/2015 - 00:30

    I got the z3c and the glass cracking is a worry but I only plan to use this phone until the next amazing smart phone drops. I paid 330 on eBay for a used z3c and I think it's a reasonably priced. It was either that or spend 550 on the LG G4 H815, and I'd rather have a smaller phone that fits in my pants.

  • Australia 1 on 14/02/2016 - 21:19

    WARNING This site is a scam. I ordered something 2 months ago and am yet to see anything they continue to give me excuse after excuse even blamed the bank, I've had ANZ Bank review the payment and they have advised that I've been scammed and that the payment went through successfully.

  • theHMASfriendship on 15/02/2016 - 08:49

    edit: whoops, assisted in thread necromancy

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