brought a sim free unlocked phone but it has vodafone apps on it?

Do you have the link to the product? Which seller did you buy from through amazon?

Having a quick look at the reviews shows you're not the only one to get a branded phone

http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1NOV0X8VT04H2/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B009PIZCI8&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=#wasThisHelpful

The problem is that it's a third party selling it and not Amazon themselves.

I suggest getting a replacement or refund if they've sold you a Vodafone one.

It is possible that it may actually be unlocked. What some sellers do is buy in network lo phones (cheaper than unlocked) and unlock them themselves before selling them as an unlocked phone to make more money. This doesn't remove the apps pre-installed on the phone but it will now work with any sim card. My phone is like this. I got it second hand and there are a couple of O2 apps on it but I'm using a Virgin mobile sim without issue. So if the Vodafone apps don't bother you I'd try your Tesco sim in there first before you go through the hassle of trying to return it.

This.

It may still be unlocked by definition, having bloatware apps does not automatically mean that it is locked. I know for a fact that almost all expensive Vodafone contract phones actually come unlocked with contracts, but just have bloatware installed on them.

Just get rid of the apps if want to try rooting, or just ignore them and live with it.

Hi,

I brought a samsung galaxy s3 mini off amazon and it arrived today. It's a sim free phone.
I havent put a sim card into it yet as i'm still waiting for my sim to arrive in the post, but ive charged the phone turned it on etc to make sure it all seems ok, and alls good apart from ive noticed there are 5 vodafone apps preinstalled onto the phone, and a widget on one of the home screens. there was no mention of it being tied to any network when i brought it.
when i go onto settings and phone details it says the network is unknown
I'm not bothered about the apps being there, its just ive ordered a sim through tesco for a 12 month contract and need that to work in it.

is it normal to have preinstalled network apps on a sim free phone?

thanks

Sure, but the customer has received an item that does not match the description. Therefore the company is responsible for sorting that out.

It could be unlocked but it'll still be a vodafone phone and only get updates when vodafone allow them.

thanks guys, my tesco sim works in the phone i did contact the company before my sim arrived and they offered me to either return the product or to give me a partial refund as it wasn't as it was described, apparantly a warehouse mistake
but as my sim works ive decided to keep the phone and take the partial refund
thanks for your help