Orange C500 upgrade costs

[Guest st3ph3n]

My brother's phone is due an upgrade as he's had it for a while now. He's not into gadgets or smartphones really, but he quite likes my phone and particularly the games.

So I thought I'd find out what they want for an upgrade for him. It said they wanted £0 for his upgrade fee, which I expected, but what I didn't expect was that they wanted for the upgrade. £129.99!

I got my C500 at launch weekend as an upgrade, and from what I remember it was only £89.99, and I know my brother is on a similar contract to mine. So why almost a year later is it so much more expensive?

[Guest JamieDow]

it's only £149.99 with up to £20 trade in on PAYG from Orange retailers so save the upgrade and just buy the phone IMHO.

[Guest Disco Stu]

For a contract upgrade, assumimg that your brother spends a decent amount each month and his renewal date is imminent, £129.99 is ridiculous.

This is particularly so given that we're awaiting the C500's successors pretty soon.

I would phone them again or try using the website process.

[Guest spacerace]

For a contract upgrade, assumimg that your brother spends a decent amount each month and his renewal date is imminent, £129.99 is ridiculous.

This is particularly so given that we're awaiting the C500's successors pretty soon.

I would phone them again or try using the website process.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

is he on a particularly low tariff ?

[Guest flyswat]

I am on the old Everyday 50 tariff (£15 a month) and £129 is what I was quoted for the C500. I wanted to upgrade to either a Treo 650 or a M2000 but at £349 and £379 respectively, not a chance.

Orange are only interested in attracting new customers, hence why I will be moving to 02 or T-mobile as they have much better deals on phones.

I got my price directly from the Orange website by signing in.

Edited May 29, 2005 by flyswat

[Guest Disco Stu]

The C500 is still the best mobile phone on the market, so may I refer you to the MoDaCo shop ?

http://www.smesolutions.co.uk/modaco/c500.htm

Gives you an idea of what you should be paying anyway. ;)

[Guest spacerace]

alternatively you could consider moving up a tariff and that should reduce the upgrade price of the phone. you need to remian on the new tariff for 6 months but after that you could reduce down again.

on a £30 tariff the phone should certainly be free (possibly even a £25 tariff)

the only warning is I'm not sure you can now go back to an Everyday 50 tariff if you leave it.

[Guest Professor Frink]

I have an E200 on a £15 YP120 and am due an upgrade. The web upgrade shows that I can have a C500 free and with zero upgrade fee. So I don't understand why £129 is being asked :?:

The problem for me is that I can't make my mind up about what to do. I don't use the phone a massive amount, but need it with me, so small is nice. An outlook syncable calendar and contacts are needed. Most of the smartphone stuff is now done on a Dell X50v PocketPC.

1. Keep the E200 & go payg.

2. Upgrade to the C500.

3. Cancel the contract & get a C500 payg.

4. Wait for the C550.

5. Get something else like a Razr V3.

Any helpful ideas?

[Guest Tunney]

I am on the old Everyday 50 tariff (£15 a month) and £129 is what I was quoted for the C500. I wanted to upgrade to either a Treo 650 or a M2000 but at £349 and £379 respectively, not a chance.

Orange are desperately trying to move people off the Everyday 50 tariff as it was designed to attract a lot of customers fast and doesn't make Orange any money (infact they usually make a loss on Everyday 50 customers).

Their usual tactic is to charge you a £50 upgrade fee if you upgrade before 18 months after you started the contract and to charge silly money for upgrade phones.

[Guest st3ph3n]

Well I had a quick check around last night out of interest as to what offers are on the go.

From what I remember Scancom had the C500 as an upgrade at only £29.99.

I think if he's going to upgrade he'll be best to visit the orange shop or speak to them over the phone as the orange website is a bit on the useless side.

Frink, if I were you I'd check the website again. I thought it was £0, but it's only once you press the upgrade button does it show that it's a £0 upgrade fee, but the phone itself is £129.99. At least that was what it was for my brothers phone.

RAZR is a lovely phone spoiled by a completely awful interface. It doesn't sync contacts with outlook very effectively too from what I remember when I was trying to set my dad's up.

[Guest LSmith4285]

This would be an acurate price for the c500 on Everyday 50.

As stated it was a loss leading tariff to attract customers.

You are getting an awesome deal on minutes so I don't think having to pay for the phone is unreasonable.

[Guest mcwarre]

Their usual tactic is to charge you a £50 upgrade fee if you upgrade before 18 months after you started the contract and to charge silly money for upgrade phones.

That's complete tosh............... :roll: :roll:

18 months is irrelevant (unless you signed a longer contract - which is a new idea with O); it is 12 months.

I am on E50 and am aware that my monthly spend (which is what they calculate upgrade prices on, NOT the type of contract you ar on) is normally low.

How to get cheap upgrades (it's not rocket science):

3 months before upgrade time I make sure that my average spend (over the last three months which is what they use) is >£30. This means that I get the same cheap deals as everyone else even though I am on a low tarrif and on E50.

Tip. DO NOT get rid of E50 - they can be sold on eBay for quite a bit of money (indeed, O have offered to credit me £100 if I change tarrif; not likely).

I would get your bro to increase his spend (data perhaps or O care?) for 3 months then decide. The 550 may even be out by then.....................

[Guest Xenzo1990]

Well, the orange upgrade system really is second to none ..... Its totally unfair, compared to what new customers get. Not how the wise man says on the advert.

My average spend per 3 months is £84. Where do you think I will stand when upgrading to c550?

Edited June 12, 2005 by Xenzo1990

[Guest mcwarre]

My average spend per 3 months is £84. Where do you think I will stand when upgrading to c550?

You should get it for the lowest advertised price; if not ask to be put through to disconnections (assuming outside 12 months although they can do it for you during 11 month at their discretion).

£84 per month???? Wow. If that is mainly calls I would switch to a different network/tarrif (such as 3) where you should get better value for money..................

[Guest Xenzo1990]

I said per 3 months ;)

[Guest mcwarre]

I said per 3 months ;)

D'oh!!! :oops: :oops: :oops:

If you know you are going to upgrade just increase a monthly spend so the rolling average (i.e. last 3 bills/3 is >£30). For the extra hassle of using a few quid it can save you lots. I had to spend an extra £20 in one month to make up my average; this reduced the C500 from £79.99 to £0 as an upgrade so effectively I saved £50!!!!