Jobs Arts Videos
DESIblitz.com DESIblitz.com
Shop Advertise Contact Us
DESIblitz
  • Arts & Culture
  • Brit-Asian
  • Fashion
  • Film & TV
  • Food
  • Health & Beauty
  • Music & Dance
  • Sport
  • Taboo
  • Trends
  • Home
  • Videos
  • Jobs
  • Arts
  • About DESIblitz
  • DESIblitz Team
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Arts
  • Culture
  • Books & Theatre
6 Affordable Clothing Brands for Desi Students in the UK - f

Zenab Shapuri talks Debut Book & Creative Passion

5 Books to Read before Travelling to India f

5 Books to Read before Travelling to India

5 Must Read Books about The Caste System f

5 Must Read Books about The Indian Caste System

'Indian Sex Life' explores the Control of Women f

‘Indian Sex Life’ explores the Control of Women

Indian Women beat Men with Sticks at Lathmar Holi f

Indian Women beat Men with Sticks at Lathmar Holi

more
arts and
culture
  • Life
  • Business & Employment
  • UK & World
Police Inquiry after Schoolboy dies Hitting Head in Playground f

Schoolboy’s Fatal Fall caused by ‘Oversized Trainers’

India overtakes Brazil as second-worst hit Covid country f

India overtakes Brazil as second-worst hit Covid country

Mukesh Ambani looks to India to revive Hamleys f

Mukesh Ambani looks to India to revive Hamleys

US Indian Man & Pregnant Wife found Dead at Apartment f

US Indian Man & Pregnant Wife found Dead at Apartment

US Woman aged 40 marries Pakistani TikToker aged 27 f

US Woman aged 40 marries Pakistani TikToker aged 27

more
brit
asian
  • Bollywood
  • Television
  • Film
DJ Snake sends Hearts to Huma Qureshi who Replies f

DJ Snake sends Hearts to Huma Qureshi who Replies

Kabir Bedi opens up on 'intense' relationship with Parveen Babi f

Kabir Bedi opens up on ‘intense’ relationship with Parveen Babi

Riz Ahmed talks diversity amid Sound of Metal Oscar nomination ft

Riz Ahmed talks Diversity amid ‘Sound of Metal’ Oscar nomination

Abhishek Bachchan wanted to Quit Bollywood after Flops f

Abhishek Bachchan wanted to Quit Bollywood after Flops

AR Rahman reveals why He Hates the term 'Bollywood' f

AR Rahman reveals why He Hates the term ‘Bollywood’

more
film & tv
  • Style & Glamour
  • Showcase
Krishna Shroff replies to Troll regarding Her Bikini Pics f

Krishna Shroff replies to Troll regarding Her Bikini Pics

Ranveer Singh rocks Face Covering & Goggles Combo f

Ranveer Singh rocks Post-Apocalyptic Look in Unique Outfit

Indian Mother and Daughter's homemade ethnic brand worth £100,000 f

Indian Mother & Daughter’s Ethnic wear Brand worth £100,000

Entrepreneur launches Indian Handcrafted Shoe Brand for Men f

Entrepreneur launches Indian Handcrafted Shoe Brand for Men

5 Stylish Summer Essentials for Desi Men - f

5 Stylish Summer Essentials for Desi Men

more
fashion
  • Food & Drink
  • Recipes
5 Places to go for Chai in London - f

5 Places to go for Chai in London

Why Maltodextrin in Food is Bad for You_ f

Why Maltodextrin in Food is Bad for You?

10 Keto and Low-Carb Roti & Flatbread Recipes f

10 Keto and Low-Carb Roti & Flatbread Recipes

US Indian Chef reveals Transition into Entrepreneur f

US Indian Chef explains Transition into Entrepreneur

7 Low-Carb Indian Food Recipes to Make f

7 Low-Carb Indian Food Recipes to Make

more
food
  • Health & Fitness
  • Beauty & Grooming
  • Relationships & Sex
Golden Rules of Sex according to Ayurveda ft

Golden Rules of Sex according to Ayurveda

Fitness Regimes endorsed by Akshay Kumar f

Fitness Regimes endorsed by Akshay Kumar

Will Indian Matrimonial Sites ban 'slim, tall and fair' f

Will Indian Matrimonial Sites ban ‘slim, tall and fair’

Why your Vagina is Darker than the Rest of You f

Why your Vagina is Darker than the Rest of You

Milind Soman does 'Light Exercises' with Mudgar f

Milind Soman does ‘Light Exercises’ with Mudgar

more
health &
beauty
  • Music
  • Dance
Sona Mohapatra brands Anu Malik a 'serial sexual predator' f

Sona Mohapatra brands Anu Malik a ‘serial sexual predator’

25 Best Bollywood Songs of Kishore Kumar - F

25 Best Bollywood Songs of Kishore Kumar

US Indian Hip-Hop artist NIVO releases 'Bad One' Music Video f

US Indian Hip-Hop artist NIVO releases ‘Bad One’ Music Video

Musicians Gundecha Brothers accused of Sexual Assault f

Musicians Gundecha Brothers accused of Sexual Assault

Pakistan's legendary Singer Shaukat Ali passes away f

Pakistan’s legendary Singer Shaukat Ali passes away

more
music &
dance
  • South Asian
  • UK & World
Rohit Sharma reveals plans to stay in 'peak' Physical Condition f

Rohit Sharma reveals plans to stay in ‘peak’ Physical Condition

Amir Khan responds to Conor Benn's Callout f

Amir Khan responds to Conor Benn’s Callout

Sadiq Khan vows to Lead Campaign to bring IPL to London f

Sadiq Khan vows to Lead Campaign to bring IPL to London

11 Best Indian Female Basketball Players - f

11 Famous Indian Female Basketball Players

Brothers to be 1st South Asians to Officiate same EFL Match f

Brothers to be 1st South Asians to Officiate same EFL Match

more
sports
  • Sexual
  • Cultural

5 Massive Drug Busts Happened in India

The Rise of Alcohol Abuse in India ft

The Rise of Alcohol Abuse in India

Should South Asian Women know How to Cook_ f

Should South Asian Women know How to Cook?

Do South Asian Families affect the Mental Health of Youth f

Do South Asian Families affect the Mental Health of Youth?

Centre opposes recognition of same-sex marriage f

Centre opposes recognition of Same-Sex Marriage

more
taboo
  • Technology & Gaming
  • Lifestyle
7 Best Educational Apps for Kids f

7 Best Educational Apps for Kids

British Miners Graphics Card website is a Scam f

British Miners RTX Graphics Card website is a Scam?

7 Best Language Learning Apps to Try f

7 Best Language Learning Apps to Try

Ranveer Singh named Ambassador for Fantasy Sports Game f

Ranveer Singh named Ambassador for Fantasy Sports Game

7 Best Keto Diet Apps to help you Lose Weight f

7 Best Keto Diet Apps to help you Lose Weight

more
trends
  • Home
  • Videos
  • Jobs
  • Arts
  • About DESIblitz
  • DESIblitz Team
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
Close

Filter your search

Search

More Results
Close

Trends > Technology & Gaming


How to Buy Cheap Phones on the Grey Market

The grey market has opened up a lot of options for consumers looking for affordable tech, but it is not without risks. DESIblitz looks at the pros and cons.

grey market

By

Share
Tweet
Pin
Email
WhatsApp
248 Shares

You may stumble upon deals that seem too good to be true

Technology is undergoing a cultural revolution, with many gadget fanatics moving away from state of the art, high end technology in favour of cheaper, highly competitive alternatives available on the ‘grey market’.

There are concerns, however, over the reliability of grey market websites where buyers can find high quality products at surprisingly cheap prices.

Questions over the validity of the products are not unfounded, as many user experiences have detailed the discovery of highly convincing fakes being sold as the real deal.

But users could be missing out on authentic products at significantly reduced prices. Thankfully, DESIblitz is here to guide you through the pros and cons of buying on the Grey Market.

What is the Grey Market?

Despite its etymological similarity to the Black Market, the famous off-the-grid anything goes bazaar where people can buy drugs, weapons and other illicit materials, the Grey Market is not illegal.

Rather, the Grey Market is an online channel that lets unauthorised distributors buy and sell goods that are not normally made available in the UK.

Alongside products that are exclusive to China and Asia, you can also find international products on the Grey Market at a heavily discounted rate.

While these products aren’t intended to be sold in the UK, it is not illegal to do so.

grey market

Is it a Good Idea to Buy on the Grey Market?

There are a number of questions that often crop up when talking about the Grey Market. Is this legal? Are these real products? Will my parcel make it through customs? What happens if I get ripped off?

Related Reads

  • "Don't Buy Cheap!" ~ Cyrus Todiwala tells Asian Restaurants
  • 5 Best Android Phones to Buy in 2018
  • The Best Mobile Phones to Buy in Pakistan

These are valid concerns, especially with regards to the wild west that is online marketplaces, but thankfully these are questions that can be easily answered.

The issue of legality boils down to your country’s own import customs laws, but for the most part there are no legal issues when importing tech via the Grey Market.

For most Grey Market retailers, like Coolicool and Geekbuying, the products on offer are legally sound, but its always worth checking your country’s import laws first.

Benefits of Buying on the Grey Market

grey market

There are two major benefits to purchasing tech this way: Price and availability.

No one could argue that getting a Smartphone or Tablet for cheaper is a bad thing, and often these products can be bought at a significant discount.

The reason for this comes down to the intended region of sale. Products sold in the US and UK appear at different prices even when you factor in exchange rates because these countries have different sales tax laws.

Tech based products in the UK are subject to a Value Added Tax at 20% of the product’s total value. India, on the other hand, has VAT that varies from region to region, anywhere from 5%-15%.

However it is important to take into account the variance in customs charges.

Customs charges depend on a number of mitigating factors, but you’ll find that a number of distributor websites, Coolicool in particular, have warehouses in EU countries, reducing the costs of customs charges.

If your distributor of choice lies outside of the EU zone expect to pay some form of import VAT on top of the cost of the goods.

Availability is another benefit, where people can gain access to products that aren’t available through domestic retail channels.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive smartphone with competitive specs, often your best option is to buy through grey market websites who have access to devices from Chinese and South Asian manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi and Umi.

What to Look Out for if you Buy from the Grey Market

Knock-off products are a problem for online customers. Some retailers, like Coolicool, assure that all their products are 100% authentic, but often the fakes can trick even the keenest observer.

Often you won’t be able to tell if the product is a fake until you receive it, and with the refund policy of Grey Market retailers being virtually non-existent, this could end up being an expensive mistake.

There are a number of things you should look out for when purchasing from unofficial retailers.

grey market

Price is a big one. While the main benefit of buying online is the ability to get items at a reduced price, you may stumble upon deals that seem too good to be true. Make sure you compare the pricing consensus when looking at certain deals.

The Samsung Galaxy S7, for example, usually retails for £600-£700, although you will at some point down the line find it for cheaper.

If you find a retailer charging £200-£300 for one, chances are that it is a knock off with a significantly reduced build quality.

Another handy trick is to check the listed specifications by the retailer with the manufacturers listed specs. Any discrepancies could indicate that the retailer is lying about the product in question.

Safe and Responsible Online Shopping

Ultimately grey market websites are as reliable as mainstream sites like Amazon. If you are vigilant and do some reading beforehand, you will likely be able to get an incredible deal on high level tech.

Products are generally packaged well, and while some customers will have to contend with import duties, most sites offer free shipping.

However, if you are looking for good deals and less risk, many manufacturers sell directly from their website. Chinese smartphone company Oneplus, for example, offer high end smartphones with a custom Android OS for £200-£300.

So long as you do some research, the grey market can be an invaluable tool for inexpensive tech purchases. If in doubt though, consult an expert. It doesn’t hurt to get a second pair of eyes before making a big purchase.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Email
WhatsApp
248 Shares
Share
Tweet
Pin
Email
WhatsApp
248 Shares
Thomas Ife
Thomas Ife
Tom is a political science graduate and an avid gamer. He has a great love of science fiction and chocolate, but only the latter has made him gain weight. He has no life motto, instead just a series of grunts.

Images courtesy of business TM, TheNextWeb, PC Advisor

E3 Gaming Expo 2016 lacks Diversity
FIFA 17 vs Pro Evolution Soccer 2017

Related Reads

  • Related Reads

    • "Don't Buy Cheap!" ~ Cyrus Todiwala tells Asian Restaurants
      "Don't Buy Cheap!" ~ Cyrus Todiwala tells Asian Restaurants
    • 5 Best Android Phones to Buy in 2018
      5 Best Android Phones to Buy in 2018
    • The Best Mobile Phones to Buy in Pakistan
      The Best Mobile Phones to Buy in Pakistan
    • YouTuber Zaid Ali's wife called "Ugly" and "Cheap Black Monkey"
      YouTuber Zaid Ali's wife called "Ugly" and "Cheap Black Monkey"
    • Is Grey Ombre Hair the Hottest New Trend?
      Is Grey Ombre Hair the Hottest New Trend?
    • Will British Asians watch Fifty Shades of Grey?
      Will British Asians watch Fifty Shades of Grey?

What's New

  • 7 Best Educational Apps for Kids f

    7 Best Educational Apps for Kids

  • British Miners Graphics Card website is a Scam f

    British Miners RTX Graphics Card website is a Scam?

  • 7 Best Language Learning Apps to Try f

    7 Best Language Learning Apps to Try

  • Ranveer Singh named Ambassador for Fantasy Sports Game f

    Ranveer Singh named Ambassador for Fantasy Sports Game

  • 7 Best Keto Diet Apps to help you Lose Weight f

    7 Best Keto Diet Apps to help you Lose Weight

MORE

Popular

  • British Miners Graphics Card website is a Scam f
    Trends

    British Miners RTX Graphics Card website is a Scam?

  • Hareem Shah files Attempted Murder Case against Friend_ f
    Trends

    Hareem Shah files Attempted Murder Case against Friend?

  • Indian YouTube Channels you might Not of Heard of f (2)
    Trends

    Indian YouTube Channels you Might Not Know

  • 7 Best Keto Diet Apps to help you Lose Weight f
    Trends

    7 Best Keto Diet Apps to help you Lose Weight

  • 7 Best Language Learning Apps to Try f
    Trends

    7 Best Language Learning Apps to Try

  • Best Indian Rugs to Have in the Home f
    Trends

    Best Indian Rugs to Have in the Home

  • Ranveer Singh named Ambassador for Fantasy Sports Game f
    Trends

    Ranveer Singh named Ambassador for Fantasy Sports Game

  • 'Work from home jobs' searches in India increase by 140% f
    Trends

    'Work from Home Jobs' searches in India increase by 140%

  • 7 Best Educational Apps for Kids f
    Trends

    7 Best Educational Apps for Kids

  • WhatsApp's Disappearing Messages Feature goes Live in India f
    Trends

    Centre urges Delhi HC against WhatsApp's Privacy Policy

  • DESIblitz.com winner of Asian Media Award 2013, 2015 & 2017
  • Trending

  • "Quoted"

    • Verna Mahira Khan
      "Main Sirf Tumhari Biwi Nahin Hoon, Tumse Alag Ek Poori Insaan Hoon"

      Mahira Khan’s Verna is a ‘Bol’ on Power & Honour

  • Polls

    Can you speak your Desi mother-tongue?

    View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...
    • Polls Archive
  • Top Middle Bottom
    What's New Popular Trending
    Close
    Scroll To

    RECENTLY

    • 7 Best Educational Apps for Kids
    • Rohit Sharma reveals plans to stay in ‘peak’ Physical Condition
    • Schoolboy’s Fatal Fall caused by ‘Oversized Trainers’
    • India overtakes Brazil as second-worst hit Covid country
    • DJ Snake sends Hearts to Huma Qureshi who Replies

    Socialise with us

    FOR OUR LATEST NEWS, GOSSIP & GUPSHUP

    About Us

    • Contact Us
    • DESIblitz Shop
    • Advertise with Us
    • About DESIblitz
    • DESIblitz Team
    • Terms of Service
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2008-2021 DESIblitz. DESIblitz is a ® registered trade mark | Email:info@desiblitz.com DMCA.com Protection Status

    en English
    bn Bengalien Englishgu Gujaratihi Hindiit Italianmr Marathipa Punjabisw Swahilita Tamilur Urdu