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The Google Nexus 4 is a barnstorming bargain of a smart phone, costing a wallet-pleasing £239 from the Google Play store. LG — the manufacturer behind the Nexus 4 — may not be too pleased with Google’s super-low price, however, seemingly having raised prices for some retailers.
Carphone Warehouse’s Spanish arm has posted a notice on its Facebook page informing shoppers that it won’t be selling the quad-core beauty, having discovered “the recommended retail price by LG of €599” is more than Google’s suggested retail price, The Next Web reports.
€599 (about £479) is way higher than Google’s price — almost exactly double. Meanwhile der Standard claims (translate link) LG is selling the Nexus 4 in Austria with a €549 price tag for the £279 16GB option, with the 8GB version not offered.
Would-be customers are taking to LG’s Facebook page to vent their frustration at the European prices, which includes countries where Google isn’t offering the Nexus 4 yet, restricting shoppers to paying LG’s higher-price option.
“You guys are the WORST company ever if you would sell this for €600 in non-Google Play countries!” one frustrated fan writes. “If you did then your phone is not worthy to carry the Nexus brand.”
Another comments, “LG you make me sick! Here in Italy, never again buy your own phone!!!!”
Carphone Warehouse is selling the Nexus 4 on contract in the UK, with prices offering a free phone from £31 per month. There’s no SIM-free option yet, though the phone itself is so cheap you’d be much better off buying the phone direct from Google and getting a separate SIM-only deal. Read the maths breakdown here.
Google’s staggeringly low price for the Nexus 4 was a big part of us awarding it four and a half stars plus an Editors’ Choice award in our glowing review. The gorgeous device offers performance that trounces the Samsung Galaxy S3, at half the price.
Google makes other surprisingly cheap devices too, selling the powerful Nexus 7 tablet (which is made by Asus) for £160 — a price so low Google doesn’t make any money from flogging it.
Should LG be able to charge more for the Nexus 4? Or should Google’s price be the limit? Tell me in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
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