Tag Archives | phones

So why did mobile prices suddenly increase?!

By Rami on August 19, 2014 in Lebanon

iphone5s

If you have been following smartphone prices in Lebanon over the past couple of weeks then you might have noticed the weird increase on all handsets.

For some unknown reason, prices have increased by around 10% in the latest price list published by Amhaz (Stars Communications) and are now similar to the prices during the period when the government cracked down on smugglers by requiring IMEI registration. The table below shows the difference between the prices on August 6th and 18th for some selected devices.

prices

I’m not sure whether this has anything to do to with the U.S. sanctions Amhaz was hit by a while ago or it is actually due to some extra control exercised by the Lebanese government on smugglers to make them pay the due taxes, but it’s definitely weird since nothing about this matter was mentioned in the media.

Beirut’s mobile phones guy

By Rami on March 27, 2013 in Lebanon

apple-iphone-5

I was recently on the hunt for a new mobile phone and decided to first go check Amhaz prices since they’re known to be among the lowest in the market. Their branch at Beirut Mall was selling the iPhone 5 for a reasonable price at $689 but I got so irritated when the sales guy tried to sell me the A1428 model which doesn’t support our 4G network instead of the A1429, claiming that a software update has resolved the issue and made the A1428 compatible with our network!

So I started searching for another place until @CAbN mentioned a guy called Mohamad selling mobile phone at a similar prices as Amhaz if not lower, and based on several people’s feedback, Mohamad was quite reliable. The guy turned out to have a profile on elmazad.com under the name of “mhdskr” where he maintains a pricelist of all the models he deals with, and the iPhone 5 A1429 was listed for $680 (sealed in its original box), so I immediately called him and agreed to meet up somewhere so I can pick up my phone as he doesn’t operate a shop.

Upon meeting Mohamad I found him to be quite nice and friendly, and never trying to bullshit you with stuff like “khod l A1428 w byimsheh 3a mas2ouliyteh”. He also offers to deliver you the phone wherever you are in Beirut, in addition to granting a 7 day trial period after which you get your money back if the phone turned to have any glitch. So I totally recommend that you contact him in case you’re looking to buy some new mobile.

You may check his pricelist here, and call him on 70 686406 to either agree on a place to meet or simply give him your address to get your phone delivered to you.

The independent state of Roumieh

By Rami on February 20, 2013 in Lebanon

Roumieh prison

This photo by Marwan Tahtah was taken in Roumieh prison and made it to the cove page of Al-khbar’s issue for today. If only these muscles were put to good use to stop the chaos in Roumieh!

Check this article on how the prison is currently more like a command centers for some criminals on the run due to the lack of control over the Islamist prisoners.

In My New World campaign is a copycat?

By Rami on June 26, 2012 in Lebanon

I was quite surprised to see the below video shared by @HalaMoubarak today for an ad made by Absolut Vodka back in 2007 and looking very similar to the ads currently running for touch’s new campaign “In My New World“.

To me, In My New World was basically among the two most interesting campaigns this year along with Lebanese Brew’s Try Something Brave, now let’s hope the latter doesn’t turn out to be yet another inspired campaign as well!

Stars Communications (Amhaz) – Mobile phones at cheaper prices

By Rami on March 21, 2012 in Lebanon

I bet at least half of those who will read this post already know about Stars Communications, so this goes to the other half. Stars Communications (aka Amhaz) is a cell phone shop in Dahyeh known for its very competitive prices, probably the cheapest you’ll ever find around Beirut!

Some people claim that Stars Communications are able to lower their prices that much because they don’t pay any custom fees for the mobiles they get since they’re backed up by some politician. But who cares anyway when we’re paying less? I already bought a couple of phones from there and never face a problem with them.

If you’re interested to check out the shop, they have two branches, one off Sayed Hadi Nasrallah street in Dahyeh (just go there and ask about “Amhaz”), while the other is at Beirut Mall in Tayouneh and is usually few dollars more expensive than the first branch.

Update:

Seems like there’s a third branch in Verdun under the name of LibanNet. And you may check their latest prices on this Facebook group.

Thank you Amer.

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Tag Archives | phones