It is quite interesting that WP doesn't seem to have made any impact in the US (outside the WP community of course). I am very frustrated with my shopping experience. For some time, I am in the market for a new Windows phone. My criteria are quite simple: I want an unlocked and unbranded device, looking at the 1520 or maybe the 1020. I sure could have bought one off-contract from AT&T but since I am switching SIM cards very often due abroad travel, this wouldn't really be an option.
Back in time, Expansys USA used to be my go-to place for buying unlocked phones. This changed when Windows Phone 7 hit the market. Since then, those guys over there were either permanently out of stock, never got any devices in first place, had very high price tags or, simply put, tried to push me to Android devices during phone calls or chat sessions. As of now, the few "In Stock" WP8 devices at Expansys are either the low-end devices or - this is currently an exception - the 1020 in yellow. If it weren't for the color, I may have bought it but, ... no, I don't think I can pull off yellow.
I sure shopped on Amazon for international devices as well as NewEgg. The problem with those 2 are: You never know what you get! Read the comments and it becomes apparent that it is more or less a dice game. A number of people in the comments section write that they ordered the unlocked international version, yet, they received an unlocked AT&T variant. I am not willing to risk it and then have to deal with returns, especially where most international phones aren't fullfilled by Amazon.
Yesterday, I finally decided to stop by at Best Buy, hoping that I could look at some display devices and maybe consider another Windows Phone make and model. To my surprise, there wasn't any single WP on display! I asked the guy in the phone section but he said that those aren't selling, so, they aren't carrying any. This was a slight shock for me since, in my (maybe distorted) reality, I try to buy a phone that fits my needs, yet, I can't find it anywhere risk- and worry-free.
So, in short, the situation for Windows Phone hasn't changed! It is hard to get a device and don't even bother to ask in stores! The funny side is that I have gotten people some WP devices and all are happy. Without me, they still would be on their flip phones, iDevices or low-end Android. None of them regretted the switch, yet, without me, they never would have gotten the chance to try out Windows Phone.
I am still on my Ativ S. It isn't a bad device, I just wanted to get something new. What are your shopping experiences? Where do you guys buy your grey market phones?
Back in time, Expansys USA used to be my go-to place for buying unlocked phones. This changed when Windows Phone 7 hit the market. Since then, those guys over there were either permanently out of stock, never got any devices in first place, had very high price tags or, simply put, tried to push me to Android devices during phone calls or chat sessions. As of now, the few "In Stock" WP8 devices at Expansys are either the low-end devices or - this is currently an exception - the 1020 in yellow. If it weren't for the color, I may have bought it but, ... no, I don't think I can pull off yellow.
I sure shopped on Amazon for international devices as well as NewEgg. The problem with those 2 are: You never know what you get! Read the comments and it becomes apparent that it is more or less a dice game. A number of people in the comments section write that they ordered the unlocked international version, yet, they received an unlocked AT&T variant. I am not willing to risk it and then have to deal with returns, especially where most international phones aren't fullfilled by Amazon.
Yesterday, I finally decided to stop by at Best Buy, hoping that I could look at some display devices and maybe consider another Windows Phone make and model. To my surprise, there wasn't any single WP on display! I asked the guy in the phone section but he said that those aren't selling, so, they aren't carrying any. This was a slight shock for me since, in my (maybe distorted) reality, I try to buy a phone that fits my needs, yet, I can't find it anywhere risk- and worry-free.
So, in short, the situation for Windows Phone hasn't changed! It is hard to get a device and don't even bother to ask in stores! The funny side is that I have gotten people some WP devices and all are happy. Without me, they still would be on their flip phones, iDevices or low-end Android. None of them regretted the switch, yet, without me, they never would have gotten the chance to try out Windows Phone.
I am still on my Ativ S. It isn't a bad device, I just wanted to get something new. What are your shopping experiences? Where do you guys buy your grey market phones?