Buying 2 New Phones, Where Am I Likely to Get a Good Discount?

Ltomsgreenmind on 09/06/2020 - 11:41

This is probably a bit of a vague question, but here is the context:

My wife and I both need upgrades, my Pixel 2xl has a cracked screen and her Samsung 7 Edge battery is not even lasting half a day. Definitely time for something new!

I have my Pixel 2XL on a contract with Telstra via JB Hifi where I got the phone for free on a 24 month contract. Pretty happy with the deal and it has served me well. However deals like this seem to be pretty scarce at the moment. My wife bought her Samsung outright from FB Marketplace a few years back and was just on Coles mobile sim only.

I think we'd be looking at getting mid-upper range phones (not this year's flagships unless there is a good deal) and if we get a phone tied to a contract, I wouldn't want anything longer than 24 months (even though 36 months seems to be what is pushed the most at the moment!).

So what I was wondering is if I am likely to get a deal somewhere if I am purchasing two phones? Am I more likely to get to a deal going directly to a network store? My local shopping centre has Optus, Vodafone and Telstra all within sight of each other. Do react to playing them off against each other?

Or should I go through an electronics store like JB Hifi?

I'm a pom and I've lived here for 3 years now, but my experiences of getting deals are more in the UK market, where price is more competitive and there is more competition for customers to choose from. Not really sure what my best option is here in Aus?

Any advice or tactics would be helpful!

Mobile

Comments

  • MynyMouqe on 09/06/2020 - 12:06

    First work out what network you want - do you need the better regional coverage Telstra or Telstra MVNOs have etc. Then look at what you need data wise - you may be fine on something like a Belong $10 prepaid sim.

    Next - do you have cash up your sleeve? The phones are never free, they're bundled into the price. What phones do you want - you'll tend to do better buying them outright, Samsung have some good deals on the EPP stores at the minute.

    • tomsgreenmind on 09/06/2020 - 12:24

      Thanks for the reply.

      For network, I'm not really limited as signal coverage is pretty good for all networks in Brisbane (that I have experienced anyway).

      Data - no more than 10GBs

      Have cash to buy and really I'll just go the route where I can get the best deal. I don't mind signing up for 24 months as that's usually how long a phone lasts me, but I'm also open to buying outright.

      • serpserpserp on 09/06/2020 - 12:40
        +1

        I don't mind signing up for 24 months as that's usually how long a phone lasts me

        Golly that is a short period of time. You need to take better care.

        • tomsgreenmind on 09/06/2020 - 14:21

          Maybe I've just had bad luck, but by that point battery life is starting to degrade and latest software updates aren't optimised for old hardware. I don't think 2 years to replace a phone is excessive.

          • plapic on 09/06/2020 - 17:20
            +1

            @tomsgreenmind: I agree. 2 year cycle has been the case for me and plans came with the phone for "nothing".
            Subsided plans are now extremely rare. The best one recently which I missed was Samsung Galaxy S10 128gb $149 Upfront with 12 Month $65/m Telstra Plan

          • serpserpserp on 09/06/2020 - 18:57

            @tomsgreenmind:

            but by that point battery life is starting to degrade and latest software updates aren't optimised for old hardware.

            Pixel phones usually last me 3 years. I mean at the 18 month mark I want another phone because the one I have will be almost 2 iterations out of date. But the battery will usually last through a third year (although my Pixel Two is starting to die in the battery a bit. However performance wise and features wise it isn't really that far behind and all the core software updates it still benefits from.

      • MynyMouqe on 09/06/2020 - 13:43
        +2

        If you've got the cash upfront you'll likely do better buying outright - you'll have to have a fairly pricey plan to get a half decent phone built in to it. Another option may be something like the JBHIFI sign up deal - sign up to $65 plan and get ~$400-600 gift card towards phone.

  • Gunther on 09/06/2020 - 15:34

    "I have my Pixel 2XL on a contract with Telstra via JB Hifi where I got the phone for free on a 24 month contract."

    Lol nothing was free if you were under a 24 month contract…

  • HeWhoKnows on 10/06/2020 - 22:16
    -1

    Nowhere
    2 phones is just 1 plus 1.

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