You can only lease 16GB and 32GB iPhone 4S devices from o2

Quite a few people have been asking about my experience leasing an iPhone from o2 the other day (here’s my post about my intent to do so). Alas I didn’t manage to do so. Here’s the overview:

I sat down with Ronnie at the o2 store in Richmond-Upon-Thames on Tuesday afternoon.

When I arrived into the store a few moments beforehand and said I wanted to lease an iPhone 4S, his colleague recommended him.

“Ronnie knows all about leasing, you should be speaking to him,” said the sales assistant.

Ronnie arrived, shook my hand, introduced himself and we sat down and he logged into his sales terminal. Both of us were definitely ready to do business.

We went through the various identification points. Mother’s maiden name. Postcode. Digits from the PIN and so on.

“Yes, you’re definitely due an upgrade,” said Ronnie, glancing at his screen.

“Do you have iPhones in stock?” I asked.

He nodded, “Just the 64GB today.”

Brilliant.

“I’d like to lease that one,” I replied.

And then we hit a roadblock.

Ronnie explained that the leasing deal was only applicable to the 16GB and 32GB iPhones.

Uh oh.

“Well, I’d really like the 64GB version,” I explained, “I travel often so it’s useful to have that extra space for music, video and apps.”

Ronnie indicated I could get the 64GB version on contract (i.e. normally) no problem at all. I could walk out the shop with it 5 minutes later.

I went through the rigmarole of explaining Mobile Industry Review and that the reason I wanted to ‘lease’ was, a) because the concept fundamentally appeals and b) because I want to tell people I’m doing it — I want to experience it. This is what I do a lot at Mobile Industry Review. I stick my head in the fryer and see what happens so that I can write about it.

(Plus, I don’t want to look like an analyst — you know, one of those seriously knowledgeable chaps you see on panels at events who knows everything in theory but has only ever actually used a BlackBerry.)

Alas we reached an impasse, Ronnie and I.

I can only assume that the o2 marketing chaps couldn’t make the lease figures work for a 64GB.

I thanked Ronnie for his time and exited the shop.

Now I need to consider what to do with the £35 I’m paying o2 every month on-going. I’m way out of commitment on that line so I either need to close it or get another phone. I think, unfortunately, I’m angling for just closing it. I’m not sure if I actually need that line any more.

Anyway, thank you for your patience Ronnie!