[Vodacom's] Big Bonus Voucher

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Fantastic1

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Vodacom Bonus Voucher

Well, Good News for All - Vodacom will be officially launching a Bonus Voucher
on Sunday. It is R 899.00 with R 900 airtime and Free Motorola C113.
The airtime will be provided in equal amounts over 12 months. R 75 pm.

Additional recharges will have the lower rate. The rate is going to be similar to Family Top Up rates.

This is a Vodacom SP Initiative. :)
 
well, smartcall smartup is a way better offer. R899 with a free C113/starter pack and they load R135 per month. for 24 months. So almost double the airtime for double the period.

Whats up with this bonus voiucher? whats so bonus about it? why not just buy a R1000 airtime voucher on day 1? so basically you save a whole R1 since 12x75=900 airtime for which you paid R899. Although, I got the smartcall package with the C113 and it is roughly worth R1.

The upside is that you can keep your number. My plan is to airtime transfer half the R135 monthly to my current number. Thats still R135x0.5=R68 airtime whereas it only costs R37 pm. Then use the leftover airtime for calls and maybe data.

You can keep your so-called "bonus" voucher thanks.
 
Fantastic1 said:
Well, Good News for All - Vodacom will be officially launching a Bonus Voucher
on Sunday. It is R 899.00 with R 900 airtime and Free Motorola C113.
The airtime will be provided in equal amounts over 12 months. R 75 pm.

Additional recharges will have the lower rate. The rate is going to be similar to Family Top Up rates.

This is a Vodacom SP Initiative. :)
Click to expand...
What's so special about this? Are the per minute rates any different?
 
The call rates will drop when you load the BONUS VOUCHER on your prepaid account.The calls will be charged in seconds but its much cheaper than the 4U call rates.You can get aC138 with this deal or you can get a discount on your purchase.This will be available for both NEW and OLD prepaid customers.........CAN'T TOUCH THIS.
 
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Fantastic1 said:
Well, Good News for All - Vodacom will be officially launching a Bonus Voucher
on Sunday. It is R 899.00 with R 900 airtime and Free Motorola C113.
The airtime will be provided in equal amounts over 12 months. R 75 pm.

Additional recharges will have the lower rate. The rate is going to be similar to Family Top Up rates.

This is a Vodacom SP Initiative. :)
Click to expand...
Tahir Ally said:
The call rates will drop when you load the BONUS VOUCHER on your prepaid account.The calls will be charged in seconds but its much cheaper than the 4U call rates.You can get aC138 with this deal or you can get a discount on your purchase.This will be available for both NEW and OLD prepaid customers.........CAN'T TOUCH THIS.
Click to expand...
I've read through what Fantastic1 posted a few times, and I must be doff bcos I still don't follow the logic in this from a consumer's point of view.

If I understand correctly, a consumer pays R899.00 up front to buy a voucher that when loaded, limits the consumer to R75.00 worth of calling time per month, with the possibility that the per second calling rate is lower by an unspecified amount compared to some other calling rates, is this correct?

Well here's my problem with the logic in this:
  1. consumers have to pay out R900 upfront
  2. consumers ONLY get R900/12 == R75 per month [which these days doesn't last more than a few days on pre-paid] after having to shell out R899 upfront in a lumpsum, with the vague possibility that calling rates might be lower...
As for the free Motorolla, well it sounds like a stock clearance gimick, but then I'm not familiar with any of the Motorolla phones.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying this is a bad deal [yet] - I'm just trying to understand the logic in this, even so consumers are free to chose and make their own decisions, so I'm sure it might be an attractive deal for some consumers.
 
Summary:

This product is essentially a prepaid offering, where prepaid customers would purchase and recharge with a special Big Bonus voucher, and will then receive a specific amount credited into their account every month for a period of time.

The customer will receive R900 worth of airtime in 12 equal monthly recharges of R75.00 each. The customer will be able to top-up their recurring monthly recharges as / when required.

Big Bonus voucher customers will benefit from a new reduced prepaid tariff.

A special Big Bonus redemption subsidy will be paid to the trade partner - which will be used to provide 'extra-value' to the customer, for example: Providing an entry level handset free of charge to the customer (advert displays a Motorola).

The Big Bonus voucher will retail to existing or new prepaid customers at R899 (incl.VAT).

I'm going to start a new Big Bonus FAQ Thread.
 
You'll see the complete details in the press on Sunday. This is the complete set of information I have:

BIG BONUS VOUCHER - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

1. WHAT IS A BIG BONUS VOUCHER?
It is a new prepaid voucher (physical & electronic) which can be purchased and recharged by prepaid customers. Once a prepaid customer has recharged with a Big Bonus voucher, they will receive R75.00 (incl.VAT) airtime credited into their prepaid account every 30 days for a period of 12 months (i.e. R75.00 x 12 = R900.00).

Example: The prepaid customer recharges with a Big Bonus voucher on 1 January 2007. The customer will automatically be migrated to a reduced tariff plan, and will receive R75.00 on 1 January 2007.
Thereafter, the customer will receive R75.00 every 30 days from the date of his first recharge. Therefore, the customer will receive his / her next automatic recharge of R75.00 on 31 January 2007.


2. WHAT SPECIAL BENEFITS WILL BIG BONUS CUSTOMERS HAVE?
• They will have the convenience of automatically being recharged with R75.00 (incl.VAT) every month.
• They will benefit from a new reduced per second prepaid tariff.
• The trade partner may choose to provide the customer with a handset or a discount on the voucher.
• They will receive a 365-days airtime window.
• They may still take part in any other prepaid products / promotions, for example SMS & Data Bundles, Talking Points, Yebo Millionaires, etc.


3. HOW MUCH WILL BIG BONUS CUSTOMERS PAY FOR THEIR CALLS / SMS’S / MMS’S?

Cost per 60 seconds
Vodacom to Vodacom Voice / Video calls Peak R 1.99
Vodacom to Vodacom Voice / Video calls Off-Peak R 1.08
Vodacom to Vodacom Voice / Video calls Happy Hour R 1.49

Vodacom to other Cell Voice calls Peak R 2.75
Vodacom to other Cell Voice calls Off-Peak R 1.15
Vodacom to other Cell Video calls All Day R 2.75

Vodacom to Telkom Voice calls Peak R 2.70
Vodacom to Telkom Voice calls Off-Peak R 1.08

General Service Calls Peak R 2.70
General Service Calls Off-Peak R 1.08
Value Added Service Calls Peak R 2.75
Value Added Service Calls Off-Peak R 1.15

International Outgoing Calls Same as 4U Prepaid

Cost per message
MMS All Day R 0.80
SMS Peak R 0.80
SMS Off-Peak R 0.35
SMS International R 1.74

All calls will be charged on a per second basis from the first second.

4. MAY ALL VODACOM CUSTOMERS MAKE USE OF THE BIG BONUS VOUCHER?
No. Only prepaid customers (EXCLUDING Top-up customers, Community Services phones, and Prepaid Passport customers) may use a Big Bonus voucher.


5. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY AVAILABLE AIRTIME AND UNUSED BUNDLES WHEN RECHARGING WITH A BIG BONUS VOUCHER?
Any funds in your prepaid account, as well as available airtime window and SMS / data bundles, will remain unaffected when recharging with a Big Bonus voucher. Furthermore, calls made with the funds that you carried over will also be made on the reduced tariff rates once you recharge with a Big Bonus voucher!


6. HOW CAN BIG BONUS CUSTOMERS OBTAIN INFORMATION WITH REGARDS TO THEIR AUTOMATIC RECHARGES, 12-MONTH EXPIRY DATE, ETC.?
Big Bonus customers can obtain information regarding when their next automatic recharge is going to take place, when their bonus period expires and how many bonus recharges they have remaining by using the MyPhone USSD service – simply dial *111# free from their handset.


7. MAY BIG BONUS CUSTOMERS STILL RECHARGE WITH ADDITIONAL PREPAID VOUCHERS?
Yes! They can recharge (or top-up) with all existing prepaid vouchers, EXCEPT with an Incomer or Prepaid Passport voucher.

NOTE that a Big Bonus customer cannot recharge with ANOTHER Big Bonus voucher within 365 days period of recharging the initial / existing Big Bonus Voucher.


8. MAY BIG BONUS CUSTOMERS MIGRATE / SWITCH BETWEEN PREPAID TARIFF PLANS USING THE FREECHANGE IVR SERVICE?
No. They are already on the lowest prepaid tariff rate.


9. MAY BIG BONUS CUSTOMERS STILL RECHARGE WITH ADDITIONAL PREPAID VOUCHERS?
Yes! They can recharge (or top-up) with all existing prepaid vouchers, EXCEPT with an Incomer or Prepaid Passport voucher.


10. WHAT HAPPENS TO A BIG BONUS CUSTOMER AFTER THE 12 MONTH PERIOD?
At the end of the 12-month period, big bonus customers will automatically be migrated to the 4U prepaid tariff plan, where the normal Time-Window-Lock / airtime window rules will apply.

Big Bonus customers will also not forfeit unused airtime or bundles accumulated during their Big Bonus 12-month period when they are migrated to the 4U prepaid tariff plan.

Vodacom will remind Big Bonus customers 7 days prior to the end of their 12-month period, that they will be migrated to the 4U prepaid tariff plan automatically.


11. HOW WILL BIG BONUS VOUCHER CUSTOMERS ACCUMULATE TALKING POINTS?
Big Bonus customers will receive 90 Talking Points upon recharge of the Big Bonus Voucher. The customer will not receive Talking Points on the automatic recharges of R75.00 every 30 days. They will also receive Talking Points for any additional / top-up recharges during this period.

NOTE that Big Bonus customers will NOT be able to redeem their Talking Points for discounted tariffs – since they are already benefiting from discounted tariffs.


12. WILL BIG BONUS CUSTOMERS BE ABLE TO “AIRTIME-TRANSFER” THEIR RECURRING RECHARGES?
No.


13. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A BIG BONUS CUSTOMER MIGRATES TO A TOP-UP / CONTRACT?
All normal / current business and product rules still apply to Big Bonus customers. In addition, Big Bonus customers will also forfeit any remaining (future) R75.00 per month recharges.

NOTE that you need to highlight / inform the Big Bonus customer when they request a conversion to Prepaid / Top-up of this!


14. ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL TRADE PARTNER INCENTIVES WITH REGARDS TO THE BIG BONUS VOUCHER?
Yes! The trade partner (who BOUGHT the Big Bonus voucher from Vodacom) will receive a once-off redemption bonus from Vodacom SP – upon recharge / redemption of the voucher by the customer.

This redemption bonus must be used by the trade partner to provide the Big Bonus customer with ‘something of value’. For example, a handset or a discount on the face value of the Big Bonus voucher.
 
Lol

Talk about confusing the situation!
Crikey - lets just throw another confusing spanner int he works while were at it!:mad:
 
The question was obviously poised - how to lock in prepaid subscribers to a 12 month period. Still - if it's good for your circumstances then why not. Personally I'm doing nothing until number portability is here.
 
Looks a bit of a crock to me. Pay R900 upfront for R900 worth of airtime with some measly discounts but be stuck for 12 months. Maybe get a sh1tty handset thrown in. Somehow does not grab me.
:eek:
 
FYI, v3g started this thread in response to [post=611023]this other thread...[/post]

Since it's not broadband [data] related, this thread is in this Cellular forum - I'm sure that some of the retailer service provider rep forumites will be happy to answer any further questions that forumites might have.
 
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I find this deal interesting because of the insights it gives us into Vodacom's expectations for the prepaid cellular industry for the coming year.

1. Like Bwana has said, the main thrust here for Vodacom is to "encourage" users to take up a 12 month 'contract' that's not really a contract. This fact possibly hints to an expectation that number portability will be implemented within the next few months. Additionally, I think it could also hint to an expectation from Vodacom that the prepaid take-up 'boom years' are coming to an end - i.e. the exponential rate by which prepaid has been taken-up in the past 4 or 5 years is about to slow down.

2. This figure of R75 airtime/month is no thumb-sucking figure. It seems to me that this figure was arrived at using Vodacom's prepaid ARPU (average revenue per user) - which was sitting at around R69 last time I checked. I think this reinforces the idea that prepaid take-up rate is going to slow down, and Vodacom is now focusing on grabbing anyone in the prepaid market that's left over AS WELL AS 'locking' in existing prepaid users by offering a deal which offers a little incentive (the free phone) to the mean average majority of users who spend R69 on airtime a month anyway.

3. I think this also tells us that the figure for the mean average prepaid ARPU is very similar to the mode average ARPU, otherwise Vodacom's marketing department and accounting department seriously need to speak more.

I think Vodacom is being bit too ambitious here - there needs to be more incentives for the consumer. The R900 upfront fee is going to be a bit of a problem for them, given that we are talking about the prepaid market here. This is a suitable deal for middle-class parents with young children, but that's about it IMHO.
 
Debbie2 said:
I think Vodacom is being bit too ambitious here - there needs to be more incentives for the consumer. The R900 upfront fee is going to be a bit of a problem for them, given that we are talking about the prepaid market here. This is a suitable deal for middle-class parents with young children, but that's about it IMHO.
Click to expand...

yeah - and these subscribers are a lil more savvy than to just fork out 900 bucks cash at this stage of the game imo.
 
Debbie2 said:
The R900 upfront fee is going to be a bit of a problem for them, given that we are talking about the prepaid market here. This is a suitable deal for middle-class parents with young children, but that's about it IMHO.
Click to expand...

Interesting commentary - thank you.

I would figure a lot of the prepaid market would battle to come up with the additional R825 ( over their monthly R75 ). Also the young children you refer to would have to be quite young! Being a parent of teenage daughter I know that teenage daughters can use a LOT of airtime! ;)

If they were offering say R1200 airtime for R900 at good rates I'd be quite keen. Forget the cr@p handset though - dump them in the Vaaldam if they are overstocked < kidding! >.
 
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