Unlocking your phone? Careful when shopping around

I don't sell unlock codes for cellphones. However, I have ordered unlock codes periodically. Here's what I learned:

• iPhones are the most expensive devices to unlock
• Price is usually set according to the phone manufacturer, but sometimes dictated by carrier (such as Samsung Galaxy phones, more expensive to unlock on Bell network)
• It's worth shopping around, but only experiment with sites offering cheap prices if you're not in a hurry, because if they can't unlock your phone, you'll be waiting a couple weeks before you see your refund

In my experience, avoid TheUnlockTeam. They'll take your money, then they say they can't unlock your phone and refund the charge. They accept credit card only, no PayPal. Also avoid code-unlock-shop and its variants. They "calculate" your unlock code (sounds like a valet service), then don't get the code & promise a refund. Here's the catch...the older phones that they would be able to unlock are unlockable at a competitive price by the more expensive sites.

Many forum users recommend eBay. I have not yet purchased an unlock code from eBay, but when I shopped around, I couldn't find anything cheap on eBay.

Update: I recently purchased an unlock code off eBay, it was a front for a website. The website related to this was UnlockMeNow.ca, and it worked.

UnlockMeNow.ca is probably the cheapest on the market, except there's a catch. They leave it up to you to pick the database. That means if you're patient, you buy off the cheapest database your phone could fall under, and if it's not there, get your refund then try another database. My experience with this site was through eBay so the refund was very quick, meaning I didn't have to keep pulling full amounts out of pocket to try again, since the refund was sitting in PayPal.

I use CellUnlocker (PayPal accepted) and MobileXpressCanada (PayPal also accepted). CellUnlocker charges in USD but I use them when they charge under $20. MobileXpressCanada charges in CAD and charges sales tax (not so bad since sales tax in Alberta is only 5%). I am not affiliated with either site, just advocating not wasting time with sites who won't get unlock codes.