What is "in-store activation"?

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BarnettE

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Almost every cell phone ad says *Subject to in-store activation, but nowhere can I find an explanation of what this is.

What is it that they do to the phone before you can have it?

Why are they so determined to do this in the store?
 
BarnettE said:
Almost every cell phone ad says *Subject to in-store activation, but nowhere can I find an explanation of what this is.

What is it that they do to the phone before you can have it?

Why are they so determined to do this in the store?
Click to expand...

It means they RICA the SIM in store and load airtime onto it and put the sim in the phone.
 
BarnettE said:
Almost every cell phone ad says *Subject to in-store activation, but nowhere can I find an explanation of what this is.

What is it that they do to the phone before you can have it?

Why are they so determined to do this in the store?
Click to expand...

Its really that simple.

Your SIM you get with the contract/prepaid SIM you get with the device must be activated in the store, whether it is your Nokia 6303 Classic in the OK Furniture Store or your Galaxy S6 Edge at Vodacom World...
 
Check this came pamphlet, page 5

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/b1aca72f#/b1aca72f/6

See the cellphones there? See the branding at each deal? The probably get some kind of incentive from VC and Cell C. They have to activate it in store so the network can see. Network hopes you then use their SIM and they get money from you.

Orange store obviously doesn't have that so that doesn't;t happen if you buy online from there.
 
For as long as that particular (in store activated) sim card is active, the selling dealer is compensated for it.
 
supersunbird said:
The why I answered.

No they don't. You don't have to use it. You get a SIM anyway and can discard it if you don't want it.
Click to expand...

Rather have the sim card cancelled by the service provider and ask for and retain proof thereof. Keep in mind that you are the RICA'd owner and therefore responsible for that card.
 
Duwwel said:
Rather have the sim card cancelled by the service provider and ask for and retain proof thereof. Keep in mind that you are the RICA'd owner and therefore responsible for that card.
Click to expand...

Just throw it in a drawer and forget about it, the provider will cancel it on their own soon enough and recycle the number.
 
BarnettE said:
OK, but why?

Do they lock the phone to a particular network? Do you have to use the new sim? What if you already have a sim?
Click to expand...

no. phone does not get locked. the reason we do this on vodacom os that with prepaid phone specials thw phones gets sold at cost or below. for our stores to claim the subsidy back from vodacom so that we dont run a loss we have to claim on the cell number that was activated with that phone. no cell number...no claim and a loss occurs.

once the cell number is active it is up to u if u want to ise it or not.
 
Ockie said:
no. phone does not get locked. the reason we do this on vodacom os that with prepaid phone specials thw phones gets sold at cost or below. for our stores to claim the subsidy back from vodacom so that we dont run a loss we have to claim on the cell number that was activated with that phone. no cell number...no claim and a loss occurs.

once the cell number is active it is up to u if u want to ise it or not.
Click to expand...

Could just have said "Basically what SSB said" :p
 
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