Orange Store: Can these guys be trusted?

[rph72]

I ordered the following phone: Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) (16GB, Black) (Origin: EU).

Didn't take much notice of the bolded part as I've ordered 2 Samsung Tablets (with German firmware) from them before without any issues.

Received the order today with the following sticker on the sealed box: “EUROPEAN SIM CARD ONLY”

Translated the German text via Google & got the following:



I'm not sure what is going to happen now. Waiting for them to reply to my email.

How the heck can they sell EU phones in the ZA store?

 

[Stokstert]

I ordered the following phone: Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) (16GB, Black) (Origin: EU).

Didn't take much notice of the bolded part as I've ordered 2 Samsung Tablets (with German firmware) from them before without any issues.

Received the order today with the following sticker on the sealed box: “EUROPEAN SIM CARD ONLY”

Translated the German text via Google & got the following:

View attachment 376696

I'm not sure what is going to happen now. Waiting for them to reply to my email.

How the heck can they sell EU phones in the ZA store?

Don't worry about that remark about the sim card, my sim worked immediately after insertion. The EU just indicates which frequencies are used on these phones. Go to the GSM Arena website www.gsmarena.com and look at the phone reviews and you will find which version of phone uses which frequencies.
The EU version of the Samsung A3 (2016) for example has, amongst other frequencies, the Telkom 2300MHz LTE frequency while some of our local A3's don't have it.

 

[rph72]

Don't worry about that remark about the sim card, my sim worked immediately after insertion. The EU just indicates which frequencies are used on these phones. Go to the GSM Arena website www.gsmarena.com and look at the phone reviews and you will find which version of phone uses which frequencies.
The EU version of the Samsung A3 (2016) for example has, amongst other frequencies, the Telkom 2300MHz LTE frequency while some of our local A3's don't have it.

Thanks. I will however wait for their official response before cracking open the box.

 

[mister]

All of the phones I've bought from them have been EU region. I just had to send one back for repairs, and I must say I was very impressed at the speed this time - I don't think it was even two weeks and I had the phone back.

 

[rph72]

Was a bit worried for a while, received the following reply from Orange:

Thank you for contacting us.
The bands used in South Africa are the same as these in Europe.
You will be able to use your phone, without any problem.
If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

[rph72]

SIM card now working, although not immediately. Had to reboot the phone a couple of times.