Where to buy the HTC Desire

Aly

Hello,
First of all I know that there is a lot of topics concerning the HTC Desire in the section but I want to make this topic to get straight answers if possible.
I have read all the topics in this section about the Desire, and I have read some important detailed reviews over the net, I have a blackberry Curve and I have it since some time, I want a new phone I will stay away from Nokia and go for an Android phone, HTC was not an option at first but after looking and reading it became my best option, now I wont talk much I will get to the point.
I want to buy an HTC Desire but as you know the price is between 500-600 $ therefore it is a big amount of money and I dont want to end up with a "Chinese" or a fake phone.
According to htc.com if you press on the where-to-buy and choose Lebanon they will lead you to their only Official Lebanese reseller which is "Microage (Dowra)" I payed them a visit the guy showed me the HTC Desire and the HTC HD2 his prices were:
HTC Desire or HD2 with guarantee : 800$
HTC Desire or HD2 without Guarantee: 700$

the guy was trying to convince me to buy the HD2 because it has a bigger screen, I told him I want to stay away from Windows Mobile he said he can install Android 2.2 on the HD2 idk why was dying to sell it, he even told me he has the original handsets from the official manufacturer and all others have "Chinese" copies of the phone, and also at Microage they have 2 Big Warning boards on the building telling : "Attention Microage is the only authorized HTC dealer in lebanon and all others sell fake stuff .... ".

I checked with Amhaz he told me they sell it for 540$ with 1 year Software guarantee.
I checked with Class they dont have it they only have HD2 for 500$.
I checked with some others the price was between 550$ - 570$ with 1 year software Guarantee.

What do you people think about this ? if you were me would you go for the 700$-800$ one or the 550$ one ? I would like to hear from people who already have it and please mention where you bought it from and also anyone who has some knowledge about HTC products.
Thank you.

wollyka

He is ripping you off. Get it from someone else.
check the prices here: http://www.lebgeeks.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=7116&p=2
I will go for a 550$ one if i could test it first of course.
I have one since it was released but i bought it from Amazon.com

If you want a bigger screen wait for the Desire HD (will be released next week)

Aly

Thank you for your reply wollyka, I called Amhaz today they told me 515$ with no warranty, and I also saw in the wasseet a commercial about Desire by Microage (The official Lebanese reseller according to htc.com) I gave them a call too the guy told me that they have their devices sealed from the htc and all other devices in Lebanon are either Refurbished or Chinese copies of it which are know to malfunction, he really twisted my mind :P I have bought refurbished laptops in the past but i think a phone is more sensitive to buy and risky in such case :P
I mean 515$ (Amhaz) and 700$ (Microage) are both a good load of money but is it worth the 185$ difference and would save me some headache in the future ?

adoraad

hi guyz,
first of allHTC disere s price is 505$ (amhaz).
second of all i'm sure that his phones are not refurbished or chinese copies if so, all the phones on the shop are refurbished because more then 90% of cell shop buy their phones from amhaz!!
third of all ahmaz gives a software warranty!
thank u!

Aly

Software Warranty is not a big deal and I dont need it actually, what concerns me is the Device itself, I am interested in having a genuine phone that wont give me headache ;) last thing I need is a Chinese phone full of bugs I just need some more people opinions who bought from Amhaz (or any other) and feedbacks :D