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Upgrade Program Review

(Topic created on: 22-05-2019 11:09 AM)
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Notamech
Voyager
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Hi All,

 

Just thought id do a review for the samsung upgrade program as I couldnt find any reviews for it when I was planning to opt for it.

 

Overall: So far I am really happy with samsung, their communication regarding the order, delivery and the products I have received but that doesnt mean blind loyalty. Samsung will have to continue to deliver to this standard to retain my business. Another thing to note is Chinese competitors are just getting so much better by the day and i could easily switch if they offer something as compelling; a phone that does everything, in the years to come.

 

Background:  This was end of 2017/early2018, I had an LG phone and went back and forth between the V20 and G6. Overall i loved these phones, they were the only ones with the wide angle cam and quad DAC and i needed a phone that did good photos, music and they had to have an excellent screen as i watched a lot of Netflix/Youtube on my phone and do some photo editing etc. While the phones delivered in most areas, there were major quality issues with the screen. While colours were punchy and crisp there were blotches on the display (both phones) which could be seen on lighter colours. Frustrated i decided it was time to switch. The last samsung i owned and still do was the S2 and i thought maybe its time to try them out again but ***** their phones were expensive, was it worth spending £800 + on a phone that is going to be outdated in 2 years but then i seen this scheme on the Samsung site and they were offering the Note 8 at 0% interest, a downpayment of around £89 and around £32 every month. I am on a sim only contract and pay another £11 for the network so overall my monthly expenditure on the phone would be £43, much cheaper than getting the note 8 from a carrier and no network lock when traveling abroad or deciding to switch. And knowing myself, i would end up spending close to the same amount on phones over a two year period anyway given how I get bored with them pretty soon. So why buy a mid range phone for £400 when you can own the latest and greatest. Plus they would offer me the option to upgrage a year later. So I thought might as well go for it and evaluate a year down the line whether the upgrade is worth it. The note 8 arrived next day. Everything was perfect and like I wanted. The DAC on the note 8 was sufficient for my consumer grade earphones (uisii t8 dual driver), adaptive sound just made things so much better and the cameras were stellar! The screen again was awesome. The battery on the other hand started of as average and towards the end of my time with the phone was quite bad. I was charging my phone twice a day. So when the note 9 launched i decided to upgrade as this seemed like an iterative upgrade that fixed problems with the note 8.

 

How: I received a mail in October  inviting me to upgrade which stated that i was eligible for an 'early upgrade', which i found strange as i still had 3 months to go before I completed a year. When i tried to click on the link and upgrage, I was taken to the upgrage lounge where I was told that I couldnt upgrade until the end of December (when i complete paying 11 installments). Eventually in december I was able to upgrade. I was also given a £50 discount on the acutal price on the samsung site. However, if one did decide to purchase it at full price from the site (not via the upgrade scheme), there were freebies thrown in, so it works out to the same id say. 

 

The Process: In the upgrade lounge once you check out, you need to make the down payment and apply for a loan from close brothers retail finance again, exactly like you would when you purchase a phone new on finance. There is a form to fill out online to assess your eligibility etc. Once you are done and your order is confirmed, you get an email to notify you of their acceptance of the order. I also received a mail from them stating that i would get a 'return kit' in the mail and to use that to send back the old phone, not to use the return label that comes with the new phone. I placed my order on a saturday and spent the weekend wondering if they would ship over the weekend or if they would on Monday which meant i would have to wait till wednesday (given that tuesday was a public holiday) to have the phone in hand. Surprisingly they did ship it out on Sunday night. I received a mail from DPD at 8:30 in the morning on monday stating that my order would be with me between 10:20-11:20. Unfortunately i woke up at 10:21 and seen a message on my phone that they missed me and that i would have to re-schedule the delivery or pick it up from their depot. Man i was so upset that i missed the delivery by 1 minute! But anyway i couldnt wait and scheduled to go pick it up from their depot that same evening. Collected it, unboxed it, everything fine, everything working well so far.  Two days later i received a regular business letter sized envelope in the mail which had the instructions I needed to follow along with a Royal Mail 48h tracked return label and a plastic shipping bag. Apparently the handset is not shipped back to samsung but to a 3rd party company that buys used phones. One thing that was strange here is that Samsung on the instruction leaflet states that it is my responsibility to ensure that the mobile is safely shipped back to the address. But they are the ones providing the label and it is not a guranteed delivery service, and i am unaware if they have insurance on the 48h tracked service should the package get lost in the mail. The instructions also stated that i needed to remove my google and samsung accounts and reset my phone. It is important that you remove your account as apparently there are security features from google and samsung that prevent an unauthorised phone reset. No accessories are required to be shipped back, just the handset and they suggest doing it in the original box if possible. Fortunately I had the note 8 box with me still and shipped it back in that. Once they received the phone, i received a mail from close brothers retail the immediate next day stating that my previous loan account with them has been settled and thats it. Everything went quite smoothly and took less than two weeks for the whole to complete. I generally tend to keep my phones in good condition with cases and screen protectors, so my phone pretty much looked like the day i unboxed it so no issues or discrepencies on the condition of the phone.

 

Will i upgrade again?  Pretty much depends on what the Note 10 brings to the table. I am not a fan of the leaked punch hole cameras of the s10, if the note 10 follows suit I might give it a miss.  I might just stick to the note 9 for the next 2 years and jump ship after that or see what else is in the market at that time. I could also potentially sell the phone on ebay a year later and pay off the loan but i doubt the phone will fetch half its price on ebay, with unofficial sealed boxes and sealed unwanted upgrades going for a similar price. 

33 REPLIES 33
APS1
First Poster
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I spoke to close bros and they implied shouldn't be a problem but they need Samsung to authorize. I have a few special events and would have liked to have tried the S10+ camera.  I have also spoken to carefone warehouse who do a similar option so may go with them.

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Eric1812
Explorer
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Hi Samsung Upgrade Programme is a stinker.
I've not yet received envelope or instructions to send my old phone back I'm scared I'm going to be saddled with paying 2 phones off
Never ever will I trust Samsung.....
Mature-Student
First Poster
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Very interesting reading. I have a very good condition s8 and am very tempted by the s10 upgrade program. 

If I've understood correctly, when you upgrade at the 12m stage the return of your old handset triggers repayment of the original loan. If so, does that mean I'm better off not using the trade-in scheme when joining the upgrade scheme since the outstanding loan in 12m time will be £360 if no trade in compared to about £250 with a trade in? Then I'm free to sell my s8 privately. Yes, the deposit and monthly payments will be higher but I can manage those.

Also, what if in 12m there is no equivalent phone to upgrade to e.g. development or component issues delaying launch?

Thanks

 

 

Eric1812
Explorer
Options

It's all choice to suit your pocket. All trading in a phone into the scheme at the start for day Galaxy S10 means Samsung enhances the value of your S8 by nearly £100 Buying websites currently on average only pay £150//£177 for S8 however Samsung give £250 on its upgrade trade in value.. You can't trade in a  secondary trade in phone phone not paid off.. You need to settle S8 finance. 12 months is Samsung benchmark they may delay a model say 15 months but the scheme will adjust itself accordingly and likewise the small print reads we reserve rights to withdraw the scheme at any time. The programme is great value 0% interest x sim free x when I upgraded my S9+ to S10+ my trade in was so good my payment dropped £2 a month. The admin of the program is problematic so beware many members had issues with Samsung honouring its free Air Pods promotion with the programme.. So you take your choices.. The phones are great. 

Knight150
Pioneer
Options

Disapointed with them, second year in a row they have sent the your window is open message early in error ,  this time right on the Note 10 release day (and one a few days before to say get ready.) 

 

You get all excited sign in to be told your not eligible yet. When you call support your promised a call back only to get a crappy email saying they are sorry they made a mistake, and I can have the pleasure of buying there product in 3 months.

 

Not good enough, and maybe I will look elsewhere.

 

Thanks for wasting my time Samsung.

 

 

k1eph
First Poster
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I have spoken to Samsung about the fact that essentially half the trade in value of an old phone when entering the upgrade programme is then lost when coming to renew after year 1 as the trade in value is deducted over the 24 month period.  This makes the advertised figure for trade in of an old phone false.  The full trade in value would only be applicable if the upgrade programme is not used therefore either you pay more than a new customer entering the programme or don't ever use the upgarde programme.  Samsung will only say that its a brand new contract so you loose half the value of the trade in of an old phone when using the programme.  Has anyone else noticed this?

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ALP-BACK
Student
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I have a similar issue, I can upgrade now I've had it for more than 12 months, I can pay offf the rest of the loan so I own the phone outright, then sign up again to the upgrade program with trading in the note 9 for the note 10+ cause it says you can get up to £400 off, and my phone is in immaculate condition. The terms and conditions say you can't upgrade if your phone is still in the upgrade program, but surely if you pay off the phone you can do what you want with the phone. Including doing the trade in for the 400 discount. Or am I thinking this in the wrong way? 

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Hasd
Journeyman
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I have made the same point.  Have you talked to anyone other than the Philippines support centre who is not really able to help.   I am conisderng legal action as my upgrade is over a year due now. 

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k1eph
First Poster
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No one seems to really be ble to help or understand the problem.  Thinking of buying out the contract now as if they ever get my due upgrade it will be more than a month from the new phone launch every year.  Thought the upgrade programme was really too good from the strat.  It's like they just put the offer out there with no decent planning!

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Hasd
Journeyman
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I took some legal advice and seems Samsung is in breach of thier contract. I have written to them about this breach. If they do not reply, I am considering stopping the direct debit which may force them to talk to me.