Mobile Phones That Cost Less than $70 Are Essentially Free, if You Consider All The New Signup Promotions

LNopeNotHannah on 26/10/2020 - 16:34

I've come to the conclusion that maybe some of the more affordable mobile phones there are free or a net gain, considering the discounts you get from signing up as a new account on some apps.

Every mobile app that has a promotion for new signups relies on you bringing over an unused mobile number.
Some of them probably see your device's MAC address or serial number, so changing telephone numbers without changing

Uber new join ride - $10, and another $10 referral bonus for my main Uber account that referred it.
Uber Eats - ditto, $10+$10.
Didi - same, $10+$10.
Doordash - same.
So that's $80 in savings. Maybe there are other services that offer this kind of thing.

Assume a $10 minimal cost of a first month prepaid mobile plan.

Basically, if you can find a low-end mobile phone in Auspost under $70 is free, or even a net gain.
It just needs to have an operating system capable of carrying the above apps, which I don't know if they are.
There are a few handsets at that price range, but I don't know if they're even useful.

Just thought I'd reach out and check if anyone does this and if it works.

Mobile

Comments

  • Drakesy on 26/10/2020 - 16:52
    +6

    Or you could go one further and for every $2 sim you make $68. Don't even need to purchase a phone. In my experience they don't track the mac address, just the phone number.

    But tbh, not really a revelation of sorts.

    • Gazpacho on 28/10/2020 - 09:58

      Which carriers allow you to activate a $2 SIM (over chat or calling them I presume? Website wouldn't work?) without adding the $10 charge?

  • dust on 26/10/2020 - 16:53
    +2

    Is there an OzBargain offseason? If so, that would be the time for a post such as this.

  • websterp on 26/10/2020 - 17:08

    When you continue to register multiple mobile numbers under your name in a short period of time (essentially as burners) you might get some unwanted attention from certain government bodies.

    • Presence on 26/10/2020 - 20:43

      But its not illegal right?

  • kawinuyo on 27/10/2020 - 01:59

    These promos also usually require you to have a different credit card number too….

  • crashloaded on 27/10/2020 - 14:18
    +1

    If the product is free, you're the product 😉

  • Gazpacho on 28/10/2020 - 09:55

    This is interesting - I've heard of people being able to activate the Telstra, Optus and Vodafone $2 SIMs without putting in the minimum $10 amount, is that still possible?

    Also, is there a 'best ultra cheap phone' consensus?

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