06/08/2026
Why are brand-new iPhones and Samsung phones sold in Nigeria often cheaper than buying directly from Apple or Samsung store or website in the US or UK?
A friend recently asked me to help him order the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 directly from Samsung website in the US instead of buying from retailers in Lagos. When I checked the prices, I was surprised.
The 256GB model on Samsung's US website is listed at $2,099(about ₦2.92 million, depending on the exchange rate). Yet, the same phone is selling in Nigeria for around ₦2.35 million, a difference of almost ₦600,000.
The 1TB model costs about ₦3.75 million when bought directly from Samsung, but sellers in Lagos are offering it for around ₦2.95 million, a difference of roughly ₦800,000.
It makes me wonder where these sellers are getting their brand-new phones from? Are they sourced through different channels? Or are there market-specific versions sold at lower prices?
The same thing seems to apply to the so-called UK-used laptops and phones. If you check the prices of refurbished devices on eBay or Amazon, auctions or facebook market place from direct users, they are often much higher than what you find in Computer Village.
This reminds me of a post I made about five years ago that in many cases, phones and laptops appear to be cheaper in Nigeria than buying them directly from the UK or the US. It's like traveling to China to buy stuffs and price you see the items are far more than what they are selling in Ikeja😊
What do you think explains this price difference?
This is how we discuss case studies in MBA School Class. Discuss with points and facts😊 only, not assumptions. If you have none, read from others and learn.
©️ JOHN OKECHUKWU
