Buy a genuine device

While we all like a bargain and having the internet at our fingertips makes it easy to find some incredible ‘deals’, it’s important to make sure you are purchasing a genuine device that meets Australian standards and will work safely and reliably on Australia’s mobile networks.

You may want to consider the following tips before you purchase a device.

New devices:

• It’s important to buy your mobile phone, tablet or other device and accessories from a reputable retailer or service provider. That way, if there are any problems or issues you can return to the store to contact your service provider’s customer service to resolve your problem.
• While it can be tempting to buy a mobile device or accessories from an overseas website, you risk buying a non-genuine device that will not be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
• Mobile devices from overseas may not be approved or optimised for use on Australia’s mobile networks and you may find that your phone does not work properly or cannot be connected to a network.
• Australia has standards for mobile devices to ensure they are safe to use and mobile devices approved for use in Australia must have the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM). See below.

 

You can read more about Australian standards for mobile devices and the compliance ticks here.

• Some phones, devices, chargers and batteries that can be purchased from overseas are counterfeit and can pose very real safety risks e.g. cause fires or have unsafe levels of radiation. This is because these phones are made cheaply often using sub-standard components and dangerous materials such as lead and mercury. Please always use a genuine, recommended charger with your device.
• You can visit the www.spotafakephone.com website for more information about how to avoid counterfeit devices.

Second-hand devices:

•  If you decide to buy a second-hand mobile phone please make sure you buy it from a trustworthy individual or a reputable retailer. Otherwise, you risk buying a phone that may have been stolen and it may be blocked which will mean you won’t be able to use it on an Australian mobile network.
• You can check here to see if the phone’s IMEI number has been blocked (noting that a phone can still be blocked at a later date if it is reported lost or stolen by the original customer). It is important to weigh up the risk of purchasing a stolen device against how much money you are saving by buying it second-hand.

Useful information:

The Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM)