Can i buy unlocked phones from rogers?

**bubble.tea** · 01-30-2012, 12:19 PM

Best Buy Mobile in Ottawa sells unlocked BB's. Was tickled to see that.

Sure is a long way from buying unlocked phones in bulk from your neighbourhood FutureShop counterpart in Europe...but a start?

**kidcom** · 02-09-2012, 08:16 PM

I was under the impression that if you buy a phone at full price with no contract from Rogers, it was unlocked. Is this true or not????

**B407** · 02-09-2012, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by kidcom

I was under the impression that if you buy a phone at full price with no contract from Rogers, it was unlocked. Is this true or not????

Still locked but you have the option to pay to have the device unlocked if you register the IMEI to an account for at least 30 days.

**lmcjipo** · 02-09-2012, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by kidcom

I was under the impression that if you buy a phone at full price with no contract from Rogers, it was unlocked. Is this true or not????

It's not true with the only exception being those phones which are sold unlocked to begin with regardless of whether you paid full price or received a subsidy (like the Nexus-S, Galaxy Nexus, etc.)

You will have to satisfy Rogers' conditions for unlocking the phone if you paid full price for the phone if you want them to unlock it for you. Much better/cheaper in my opinion to go for a 3rd party unlock company (except for the iPhones).

**kidcom** · 02-10-2012, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by lmcjipo

It's not true with the only exception being those phones which are sold unlocked to begin with regardless of whether you paid full price or received a subsidy (like the Nexus-S, Galaxy Nexus, etc.)

You will have to satisfy Rogers' conditions for unlocking the phone if you paid full price for the phone if you want them to unlock it for you. Much better/cheaper in my opinion to go for a 3rd party unlock company (except for the iPhones).

With regards to locked phones from Rogers, I know that they charge a $50 fee to unlock it for you. However, I assumed that when you buy a new phone at full price that they would provide it to you unlocked, if so requested. Obviously their 'without contract' pricing is misleading to say the least. You can walk into any Apple store and buy an unlocked iPhone at full price. If you do the same at your local Rogers store, it looks like you have to pay the additional unlocking fee of $50.

**ceredon** · 02-10-2012, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by kidcom

With regards to locked phones from Rogers, I know that they charge a $50 fee to unlock it for you. However, I assumed that when you buy a new phone at full price that they would provide it to you unlocked, if so requested. Obviously their 'without contract' pricing is misleading to say the least. You can walk into any Apple store and buy an unlocked iPhone at full price. If you do the same at your local Rogers store, it looks like you have to pay the additional unlocking fee of $50.

Yep, even purchased contract free at full price, they are locked and you need to pay the unlocking fee. Sort of puts a lie whenever people defend locking by saying it is somehow related to your contract. It isn't. It has nothing to do with the contract. It is simply to prevent you from being free to use it with another carrier.

**andy_wang8844** · 02-10-2012, 02:31 PM

i ended up just buying a wind compatible phone i want off ebay

**Bad Liar** · 02-10-2012, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by bubble.tea

Best Buy Mobile in Ottawa sells unlocked BB's. Was tickled to see that.

Sure is a long way from buying unlocked phones in bulk from your neighbourhood FutureShop counterpart in Europe...but a start?

Really? I used to work at a Best Buy and they didn't at the time to my knowledge. Cool.

**lmcjipo** · 02-10-2012, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by Bad Liar

Really? I used to work at a Best Buy and they didn't at the time to my knowledge. Cool.

The ones in Montreal (Fairview & Marche Central) don't sell unlocked phones (at least not unlocked Blackberries). The only phones that I've seen them sell unlocked were the factory unlocked phones (Nexus-S and Galaxy Nexus).

**Sphanktinator** · 02-12-2012, 07:39 PM

Sim locking and device branding IMHO are still some of the dirtiest tactics used by carriers in the business. If they subsidized the phone then safe to assume they locked you into a term or some kind of arrangement that guarantees them you'll pay for the device over time, i.e. if you cancel the line and go to another carrier they get to charge you ECF.. Reminds me of the days when devices which came with bluetooth file transfer capabilities, then the carriers all started blocking the capability so that you had to buy ringtones etc or send MMS to your buddy sitting right next to you just so he can have a copy of the pic. Just goes to show that carrier will not show any moral standard in general, and that gov't must legislate appropriately to protect the consumer. Unfortunately in Canada (and US) consumer rights are 2nd to business success from the point-of-view of legislators.