Mobile Phone Ripoff

**pete** · 24/02/2005, 9:53 PM

Been looking at upgrading mobile & difference with the UK is amazing.

For 02 upgrade (same as new connection) irish prices
- phone A �240 online v �59 (�82) in the UK. 300% difference!
- phone B �99 online v free in the UK.

As far as I can tell i'm comparing like with like.

**Peadar** · 25/02/2005, 7:43 AM

Originally Posted by pete

Been looking at upgrading mobile & difference with the UK is amazing.

Call charges are more expensive over here.
You have to pay to check your voicemail.
There's a much bigger market and therefore greater competition.
Companies like Phones 4 U drive the prices down.

If you look at the actual retail price of any phone, you'll see that you're still getting a good deal from the phone company.
I paid �144 for a phone which included a Bluetooth headset worth �99.
The actual retail price of the phone is around �600

**dahamsta** · 25/02/2005, 10:10 AM

Actually we've been gouged here for years, the operators in Ireland have the highest profit margins in Europe and regularly boast about it.

adam

**Xlex** · 25/02/2005, 10:21 AM

One of the problems here with the telco market here is the wrangle the big operators have over the market. We should have mobile resellers in much the same way Smart Telecom et all have opened the irish market to lower land line calls.

The regulator has a serious battle on her hands to sort out the Irish market. All these operators are bidding to much for licences when in fact this capital could be put into infrastructure. Capital cost in setting up in ireland is too high, well that's one reason I would put to it.

Ceratinly in the fixed line business it is said that it is more expensive to run a leased line from Dublin to Cork then it is to run the same line from Dublin to Tokyo.

Consider Meteor...

**ColinR** · 25/02/2005, 10:25 AM

came across this thread on boards.ie which dispells the myth about mobile phones and 'rip-off ireland' :

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...1&page=1&pp=20

**Peadar** · 25/02/2005, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by dahamsta

the operators in Ireland have the highest profit margins in Europe and regularly boast about it.

Profit margins or profit?

We have the highest mobile phone usage in Europe.
We love to talk and text.
Mobile calls are more expensive in places like Germany, for example.
I have a UK mobile and an Irish one.
I can readily compare costs and it's far more expensive over here.

**Xlex** · 25/02/2005, 10:38 AM

Oops, capital costs in setting up in ireland are not too high... UK comparison is much more...

**pete** · 25/02/2005, 11:00 AM

Irish people spending twice as much on menothly bills as the germans which may explain the price differences of phones.

I just looked at 02.co.uk & for �20 a month getting 100 free mins & 25 texts as standard. Irish equivalent would be in free cash value which might be 20mins off-peak.

Vodafone Ireland make large margins in Ireland.

Most obvious feck up by regulator in Ireland was the selling 3G licences dirt cheap in the hope that the Operators would price reasonably here. I couldn't care less about 3G but even a basis galnce at IRE v UK Vodafone prices can see its twice the price in Ireland.

Size of market does not justify 100% price difference.

Anyone tried Meteor? No line rental & cheaper calls/texts...?

**dahamsta** · 25/02/2005, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Peadar

Profit margins or profit?

Both, in relation to other markets and scales. I wouldn't consider that thread on Boards as dispelling the myth, they don't account for scale, as Muck pointed out.

adam

**Peadar** · 25/02/2005, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by pete

I couldn't care less about 3G

3G is the dogs doodies!
Don't knock it until you've tried it.

I have it in Ireland and miss it when I'm over here.
We finally have decent phones to run on it too.
Symbian, I salute you.

**pete** · 25/02/2005, 11:32 AM

O2 Annual Report

Yearly spends per person.

UK - �404.
Germany - �370.
Ireland - �564. 40% more than UK, 52% more than germany.

**Peadar** · 25/02/2005, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by pete

Yearly spends per person.
Ireland - �564.

If the Blarney stone is responsible for making us talk so much, what can we blame for making us text?

**pete** · 25/02/2005, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Peadar

If the Blarney stone is responsible for making us talk so much, what can we blame for making us text?

We don't like to hear people. Just like giving opinions. How else to explain foot.ie

**GavinZac** · 25/02/2005, 12:09 PM

meteor is excellent value compared to the other two. convert some friends and you'll never pay for a text again. i spend �20 a month maximum, meteor give me another �5 as a bonus. my sim card was free with �120 credit.

**dahamsta** · 25/02/2005, 12:38 PM

Veering off topic a little: I'm looking to upgrade to a Sony Ericsson P910i, but none of the shops keep them in stock. I can understand this to a degree because they're an expensive handset and sales would be pretty sparse, but they refuse to get one in for a demo , and don't seem to understand that I'm not going to lash out �500+ for a phone without being able to grab a hold of one to try it out. It's all about the quick and easy sale with these guys, they prey on the clueless and won't spend a minute on first movers that drive their business. Bugs the crap out of me.

adam

**GavinZac** · 25/02/2005, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by dahamsta

Veering off topic a little: I'm looking to upgrade to a Sony Ericsson P910i

excellent 'phone. i'd suggest asking in the sony centre or, if it comes to it, taking a trip to dubland

**drinkfeckarse** · 25/02/2005, 2:22 PM

I've a great deal (or at least I'm more than happy with it) with Vodafone. I got a Nokia 6230 free with video messaging, camera etc...nice phone. I get 200 anytime any network minutes plus a free �25 data package which basically is free WAP and up to 250 text messages per month.

For a medium user like myself, that's perfect and all for �20 per month.

Never had a mobile back home before I moved away so can't really compare.

**monutdfc** · 25/02/2005, 2:35 PM

Originally Posted by drinkfeckarse

I've a great deal (or at least I'm more than happy with it) with Vodafone. I got a Nokia 6230 free with video messaging, camera etc...nice phone. I get 200 anytime any network minutes plus a free �25 data package which basically is free WAP and up to 250 text messages per month.

For a medium user like myself, that's perfect and all for �20 per month.

Never had a mobile back home before I moved away so can't really compare.

Quite simply that miles better than a �30 package with Vodafone here. (I assume you're at work on your computer in the UK). My �20 package is 10 peak minutes, 30 off-peak minutes and I pay for text messages and WAP; the �30 package gives more bundled minutes but that's all.

Whoever reckons we're not being ripped off compared to the UK is wrong.

**drinkfeckarse** · 25/02/2005, 2:52 PM

Originally Posted by monutdfc

Quite simply that miles better than a €30 package with Vodafone here. (I assume you're at work on your computer in the UK). My €20 package is 10 peak minutes, 30 off-peak minutes and I pay for text messages and WAP; the €30 package gives more bundled minutes but that's all.

Whoever reckons we're not being ripped off compared to the UK is wrong.

Judging by that, the UK is the better deal alright. The sister in law has the same phone etc except she's with Orange and she gets 300 mins and 500 texts for �30 a month. Fair enough that might be a promotional thing but it's still great value.