Phone shops in the States

[TheBlueRaja]

My bro is going to the States for a couple of weeks at christmas and i wanted to use that oppertunity to save some cash by buying cheap in the states.

I wanted an Motorolla V3 Razr phone, but its way too expensive out of contract over here at about 500 notes, however in the states i've heard they are only about $500 - so i was thinking of buying two...

One for me and one for Ebay - which would mean that i could bag a 500 nicker phone at about 150 quid given that the price of the V3 in the states is about 300 quid our money and i could sell the other one on ebay for about 450 quid.

But - does anyone know the names of any mobile phone outlets on the high street in the states where i could buy one - hopefully so i could check on the web and see how much they sell them for.

And does anyone know - excluding the fact that the charger would be a yankee plug - any reason why this plan is flawed - it must be because im not that lucky...

[paulyoung666]

customs and excise for a start plus the fact that the usa use a different gsm freq from us 1900 if i remember correctly ( be nice when i get corrected ppl , i am feeling a bit fragile at the mo ) , this may or may not have a bearing on using it in this country

[TheBlueRaja]

Hmm, customs do not usually take notice if your buying stuff whilst on holiday or as Gifts - plus the phone is Quad band so it will work over here i think.

[punky]

They don't really have any neutral phone shops, they are all sponsored. So I am guessing the phones would have to be unlocked.

They are everywhere though, Your best bet for unsponsored wireless are the big electrical chains, like Circuit City, Radioshack, etc. The big wireless companies (AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Verizon Wireless etc.) have all their own stores. Don't go to Nextel, they do different phones. Everyone else has stalls everywhere though, like in gas stations, Walmarts, and in malls.

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by theblueraja

Hmm, customs do not usually take notice if your buying stuff whilst on holiday or as Gifts - plus the phone is Quad band so it will work over here i think.

quad band , thought it was tri band , fair play you will probably get away with it if you lose all the packaging manuals etc , but not for certain , i suppose you could always try and mail all the paperwork to the uk while you are over there though

[TheBlueRaja]

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

quad band , thought it was tri band , fair play you will probably get away with it if you lose all the packaging manuals etc , but not for certain , i suppose you could always try and mail all the paperwork to the uk while you are over there though

Nah - they can just say they bought the phone over here - and put it in its box to protect it Well, you never know....

Punky Ta.. I will look into them.

Thanks.

[punky]

I have never tried it, but you could probably whip up a quick invoice for the two phones in Word or a DTP program for the two phones. They'd probably never phone up and check, just glance at it and let it go.

Use at your own risk of course, but should work if you get pulled.

[Graham M]

Just a thought but I don't think they have pay as you go in the U.S. so you would have to get contract/sim free phones, could be expensive?

[TheBlueRaja]

These are contact / sim free phones and you think $500 isnt expensive?

BTW - does anyone know any other shops in the US (Florida?) that sells these phones, punky's links dont have them on their web sites.

[Graham M]

That seems reasonable for Sim free, for Contract I'd say it were a bit stingy

[TheBlueRaja]

I dont want a contract - simply unlocked - sim free phones im after.

[punky]

Originally Posted by Zeph

Just a thought but I don't think they have pay as you go in the U.S. so you would have to get contract/sim free phones, could be expensive?

You do get it. Virgin Mobile pioneered it. It is called "PrePaid" though.

BTW - does anyone know any other shops in the US (Florida?) that sells these phones, punky's links dont have them on their web sites.

www.radioshack.com (Just checked, do have a variety of plans)
www.circuitcity.com
www.attwireless.com *
www.verizonwireless.com *
www.cingularwireless.com *
www.sprintpcs.com *

The websites with a * are wireless service providers. If you search on them, they should include the stalls they sponser in gas stations, etc. I think you'll be limited to the phone though, as certain providers only do certain phones. What about direct from Motorola? I just checked Amazon and it is discontinued. If I can help you with anything more specific, let me know.

Oh yeah, about the charger, you should be fine. Normally they make all adaptors 110~240v so all you need is a £3 converter plug and you should be fine.

[TheBlueRaja]

Originally Posted by punky

You do get it. Virgin Mobile pioneered it. It is called "PrePaid" though.
www.radioshack.com (Just checked, do have a variety of plans)
www.circuitcity.com
www.attwireless.com *
www.verizonwireless.com *
www.cingularwireless.com *
www.sprintpcs.com *

The websites with a * are wireless service providers. If you search on them, they should include the stalls they sponser in gas stations, etc. I think you'll be limited to the phone though, as certain providers only do certain phones. What about direct from Motorola? I just checked Amazon and it is discontinued. If I can help you with anything more specific, let me know.

Oh yeah, about the charger, you should be fine. Normally they make all adaptors 110~240v so all you need is a £3 converter plug and you should be fine.

Thanks Punky,
But as i said in my first post i want a specific phone - the motorola V3 Razr - and i cant find it on ANY of those sites (not helped by the fact that most ask for a Zip code and i dont know any).

Punky do you know if a guy of the street could walk into a shop like they do over here, buy two of these phones and swan off? And do they have a similar setup to what they have over here - or is it limited offerings and stalls like you suggest?

[daxx]

zip codes

see your pm

just use one to find your info

[homealone]

Originally Posted by theblueraja

Thanks Punky,
But as i said in my first post i want a specific phone - the motorola V3 Razr - and i cant find it on ANY of those sites (not helped by the fact that most ask for a Zip code and i dont know any).

Punky do you know if a guy of the street could walk into a shop like they do over here, buy two of these phones and swan off? And do they have a similar setup to what they have over here - or is it limited offerings and stalls like you suggest?

you can - I bought a set of headphones in Seattle, earlier this year, Radioshack asked for my zip code, when I said I was from the UK they just buzzed the sale through the till - visa processed the sale with no problem......

on the other hand, I ordered some bits for my father in law, who is a radio ham, over 't internet & got charged duty - go figure