General Discussion

Is this website a joke?  A Sony Ericsson W980 for only $200, thats around $400 cheaper then every other site i could find.  They also have the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X for only $400,  thats around $300 cheaper then any other website.  Yes i know, neither of these phones are out yet.

http://www.gadgetbasestore.com/store.php/gadgetbase/store.php?seller=gadgetbase

Website just feels like a scam or the prices are mislabled.

I got a Sony Ericsson W580i last month and I love it. Even though that's a good deal, that website seems shady. I mean look at that banner.

Looks pretty fishy to me bro. It seems like it lacks a lot of info. I say you contact support and ask questions.

Its a whole-seller.  Usually prices are marked up because they go through middle-men.  Manufactured by Sony-->Gross 2k+units bought by localized whole-seller-->Mass 200 units sold to local seller.

The reason for the pricing has to do with how it changes hands.  First there is the Sony cut, probably around $180/unit.  Then there is the Whole Seller cut $200/unit, $20 profit.  Then the local seller cut $600/unit, $400 profit.  The reason it usually gets marked up alot by the local seller is because they pose the most risk.  A whole seller usually sells all its units to local shops, but not everyone buys them from local sellers, alot of inventory will probably get sent back for a small refund in parts to another recycling company.

The reason for this middleman is simply due to complexity of such a network.  You have Sony making millions of units.  Do they want to individually sell these in packs less then 1000?  Thats alot of little shipments to send out.  So they sell to a whole saler who manages a region and is more easier to sell in smaller quantities.  It also saves sony money from having to setup many localized whole sale locations like this as well as delivery drivers.  They would also be limited to Sony products unlike a seperate partner company.

Bought me a new phone for €25 (that's about 3 US deficits) a month ago.

So far I haven't had the urge to do anything else but texting and phoning. Am I weird?

No, cause the cell companies would be more then happy to slam you with a $400 bill for using the "extra" features on your new phone.

Under about use it says its GeoTrust secure.  But it is prestomart and after only looking on google for 10 mins i see that name is connected with alot of scams. 

Put it this way bro. If it looks like a scam and you are a frequent looker/shopper in online stores. Then it's possible you don't buy it then. If they have support, I say you call. If they don't then I would avoid the place.

I went to the website and within 2 seconds concluded it's a scam or a thieve's den.  They carry 4 items, put no work into their website at all, and do't even bother using dummy-proof emerchant software.  No phone numbers, no info about the company or history at all, and only takes checks and money orders?  Either they're looking to rip you off or are selling stolen goods.

http://www.dhgate.com/

Looks very dodgy. "Add to shopping cart" buttons stolen from amazon etc

And they have the "Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1", a phone that isn't out yet, and not coming out for another 6 months or more....