Beware of Costco "unlocked" phones

[magimug]

In the process of moving 3 phones over from Virgin. 

2 of the 3 phones are Samsung models and were bought at Costco and were advertised as unlocked.

When I registered a sim here and attempted to insert it into one of the Costco phones I got a "Network locked SIM card inserted" and a window to input a SIM network unlock PIN.

Turns out those "unlocked" Costco phones Once you insert a SIM card for the first time, the phone LOCKS TO THAT CARRIER.

Solution: went on live chat on the Samsung Canada web site...explained my situation and will be receiving the unlock codes (for free) via email

Hope this helps someone

[kav2001c]

This thread is acting weird as lots of posts keep dissapearing

No idea why, but something is glitched in community it seems like

[pakmode]

Wouldn't Costco take these back as a refund anyways?

Lol - don't they refund everything. 

[kav2001c]

@computergeek541 but the price tag is correct. It IS unlocked & can be used with any Canadian carrier. There also is a HUGE warning that once SIM card of your choice is inserted it will lock itself & contact Samsung to unlock again

[TK]

@magimug

Hi,

The default Sim unlock Pin for Public Mobile is 1234

Please insert this Pin to unlock your Sim.

This Pin is different from unlock code.

[computergeek541]

 On the price tag, it says "unlocked".   If the phone locks itself after inserting a sim card, Costco should not be advertising it as unlocked. 

[Watoko]

It is still misleading to the average consumer, and is good to know! I wasn't aware of this before so thanks for sharing!

[kav2001c]

They clearly label the display, actual phone box, and product description as SIM lock

It is the first thing in web description as well @magimug

[magimug]

no paperwork...grabbed a cardboard with pic of product went up to checkout and walked out with boxed product and a receipt

(not to bash Costco....I did look over the info on the card but at the time but switching providers was a non issue...it was just a bit of a surpise that's all)

[magimug]

[clogan2]

To be fair, if you're talking about the Samsung Galaxy J1, they say that on the information sheet that you take to the checkout...