8ta double airtime deal question

[AnibugZA]

Hi guys

I recently (over a week ago) got myself an 8ta pre-paid SIM from the Telkom/8ta store in Centurion Mall. RICA'd it and everything, and bought R149 airtime in store for it.
The lady at the shop then offered to help me to convert the airtime to a 2GB+1GB data bundle. I saw a poster on the counter for their double airtime promotion, where if you load up with R50 they give you another R50 airtime free that is valid for a week.

When I asked her how much free airtime I would get for loading up R149 she said that I don't qualify for the deal because I was planning to spend the airtime on a data bundle. I thought it seemed weird, because what I decide to do with airtime I paid for seems irrelevant to the promotion, but I let the matter go.

Yesterday I spoke to a friend who says he does exactly that. Buys airtime, gets the free airtime, and then uses the original paid-for airtime to buy a data bundle. Gets to use the free airtime for the next week no problem. He buys and converts his airtime online though. It even says on the 8ta website that you are allowed to "use your FREE airtime for SMS'es, MMSes, calls or data."

So now I want to know - was I supposed to get the free airtime or is the deal only valid for airtime purchased not-in-store?

I opened the SIM pack today and put it in a phone to start using it. I didn't get the SMS telling me what the number is so I have no idea how I am going to recharge it without the number. I was able to do a balance check though, and confirmed that I have R0 and 2GB of data + 1GB of nightsurfer, expiring on 1 April. Weird validity period, that.

Thanks!

 

[MongooseMan]

You don't qualify for 8ta More (the "double your airtime" deal) if you're on a non-roaming SIM (one that qualifies for the 2+1Gb bundle).

So, no, you didn't get screwed out of airtime

Regarding your number, go to onnet.8ta.com (on your phone, with wifi turned off), your number will show up there (you can also recharge and get bundles there).

 

[AnibugZA]

So confusing. Have been doing more reading and chatting to various people. It seems that when the lady in store "helped me" to buy the 2+1 thing, my SIM got changed over to a different "plan" that is not a normal prepaid SIM but some form of Data SIM plan. And that she was actually being nice by converting my airtime to a 2+1 for me - I hear that from the website I can't buy a 2+1 on my own.

I think I understand the difference between the data bundles and the promo bundles now.
8ta is pretty straightforward and simple. If I was this confused by them, imagine how deurmekaar I would be if I was a Vodacom customer?

 

[MongooseMan]

Yeah, it can be somewhat confusing.

Essentially, there are 2 types of sims: Those which can use both the 8ta and MTN network (A), and those which can only use the 8ta network (B).
(A) - The prepaid (A) sims qualify for the "double airtime" special and normal data bundles.
(B) - The (B) sims don't get the "double airtime" special, but do qualify for the cheaper data bundles (such as the 2+1). You can buy this bundle using either USSD or onnet.8ta.com.

 

[cavedog]

8ta more is prepaid offering designed more for people using the sim in a smart phone where you will use it for calls,sms and some on device data usage.

The 2+1Gb data deal for R149 is cheap cause 8ta locks that sim to 8ta towers only. Doing so they don't expect people to use it for calls and sms so it doesn't carry the promo's that the normal prepaid sim carries.

 

[sajunky]

I think I understand the difference between the data bundles and the promo bundles now.
8ta is pretty straightforward and simple. If I was this confused by them, imagine how deurmekaar I would be if I was a Vodacom customer?

Listen, everything you was told is true.
But, you haven't been told how to overcome it, not yet!

1. Get normal (roaming) SIM for calls and minimal phone browsing.
2. Load airtime to this SIM. You will use your Double airtime bonus on this SIM.
3. Transfer your loaded airtime immediately to the SIM which is provisioned for 8ta network only (non-roaming SIM). It takes 3 days for transfering R149, due to the R50 limit per day.
4. Convert transfered amount to GoBig special.

Now you get both, double airtime bonus and cheap data.

 

[RichardG]

4. Convert transfered amount to GoBig special.
Now you get both, double airtime bonus and cheap data.

How many weeks did this take you ?

I remember last year around march if not mistaken select few customers would benefit;recharge with X value of airtime. example if you loaded R900 airtime on that day you would receive R900 airtime absolutely for free and could convert that airtime given for "Go big deal 60 + 60" wish they could bring that back so all the first0time subscribers could benefit from such an amazing promotion. Saved R900 thank you 8ta.

 

[sajunky]

How many weeks did this take you ?

I am confused, I don't know how to answer this question.

I remember last year around march if not mistaken select few customers would benefit;recharge with X value of airtime. example if you loaded R900 airtime on that day you would receive R900 airtime absolutely for free and could convert that airtime given for "Go big deal 60 + 60" wish they could bring that back so all the first0time subscribers could benefit from such an amazing promotion. Saved R900 thank you 8ta.

I think someone got fired for this... they won't bring it back.
BTW, I did benefit from this. I invested a hudge amount in 8ta airtime. Still use it for converting it to GoBig 2+1 every two months. Does it answer your question?

 

[Terencek]

Listen, everything you was told is true.
But, you haven't been told how to overcome it, not yet!

1. Get normal (roaming) SIM for calls and minimal phone browsing.
2. Load airtime to this SIM. You will use your Double airtime bonus on this SIM.
3. Transfer your loaded airtime immediately to the SIM which is provisioned for 8ta network only (non-roaming SIM). It takes 3 days for transfering R149, due to the R50 limit per day.
4. Convert transfered amount to GoBig special.

Now you get both, double airtime bonus and cheap data.

All correct and works a treat, except for one correction: the airtime transfer limit is not R50 a day, but R2,000 per month. I have actually transferred several hundred rands a day. In fact I did this over a couple of months to build up to the R1,800 once-off data deal, while enjoying the free airtime (valid for a week from loading) on the SIM from which I was transferring it.

In my own case I found that I could not use the 'free' (i.e. bonus) airtime on the originating SIM for data, despite this being promised in the small print (albeit at full OOB price) --I could only use it for calls (at a VERY expensive rate!) or SMSes.

 

[Terencek]

Listen, everything you was told is true.
But, you haven't been told how to overcome it, not yet!

1. Get normal (roaming) SIM for calls and minimal phone browsing.
2. Load airtime to this SIM. You will use your Double airtime bonus on this SIM.
3. Transfer your loaded airtime immediately to the SIM which is provisioned for 8ta network only (non-roaming SIM). It takes 3 days for transfering R149, due to the R50 limit per day.
4. Convert transfered amount to GoBig special.

Now you get both, double airtime bonus and cheap data.

All correct and works a treat, except for one correction: the airtime transfer limit is not R50 a day, but R2,000 per month. I have actually transferred several hundred rands a day. In fact I did this over a couple of months to build up to the R1,800 once-off data deal, while enjoying the free airtime (valid for a week from loading) on the SIM from which I was transferring it.

In my own case I found that I could not use the 'free' (i.e. bonus) airtime on the originating SIM for data, despite this being promised in the small print (albeit at full OOB price) --I could only use it for calls (at a VERY expensive rate!) or SMSes.

 

[Telkom]

Listen, everything you was told is true.
But, you haven't been told how to overcome it, not yet!

1. Get normal (roaming) SIM for calls and minimal phone browsing.
2. Load airtime to this SIM. You will use your Double airtime bonus on this SIM.
3. Transfer your loaded airtime immediately to the SIM which is provisioned for 8ta network only (non-roaming SIM). It takes 3 days for transfering R149, due to the R50 limit per day.
4. Convert transfered amount to GoBig special.

Now you get both, double airtime bonus and cheap data.

Hi sajunky

Thank you for highlighting this for us.

8ta Social Media Team

 

[Terencek]

Apologies, a 'leaving this page' quirk in Firefox produced a double posting.

 

[AnibugZA]

Listen, everything you was told is true.
But, you haven't been told how to overcome it, not yet!

1. Get normal (roaming) SIM for calls and minimal phone browsing.
2. Load airtime to this SIM. You will use your Double airtime bonus on this SIM.
3. Transfer your loaded airtime immediately to the SIM which is provisioned for 8ta network only (non-roaming SIM). It takes 3 days for transfering R149, due to the R50 limit per day.
4. Convert transfered amount to GoBig special.

Now you get both, double airtime bonus and cheap data.

Uhh, I don't particularly see it as a problem to overcome, thanks.
I was just trying to understand why I didn't qualify for the double airtime. Now I understand perfectly.

8ta has been nothing but awesome to me since I ported to them a year ago. They gave me several months' worth of free BIS and have saved me copious amounts of money on my phone bill. I'm looking forward to actually paying them for once.

 

[sajunky]

Hi sajunky

Thank you for highlighting this for us.

8ta Social Media Team

You are welcome.

 

[Djinnes]

Hello, the "go big" promotion is ending soon, what will be the difference if i buy a normal 8ta sim and spend R200 on 1gb. Will i get another R200 that i can spend on another 1gb.
Also with a normal sim will i get the same speeds?

 

[nicroets]

No. You will get a R200 Recharge Bonus that can only be used towards calls (at R2.50 per minute) or SMSs at 50c per SMS. And the Recharge Bonus expires in one week. You will also get R200 of normal airtime in your "Top Up Wallet" that you can buy 1GB with.

If you are used to the i5promo, you will be very disappointed to start paying R200/GB.

 

[Terencek]

Unfortunately 8ta's initially attractive offer of 'free' airtime to match what you buy, is no longer attractive in terms of other prepaid deals in the market now.

As nicroets points out above, your free airtime will get you calls at R2.50 a minute. But unless I am mistaken, the latest Vodacom prepaid package ('Daily Free Calls' or somesuch), for instance, caps calls at R1.20 a minute. So calls are actually more expensive overall on 8ta even allowing for the free airtime -- and this while the free 8ta airtime only lasts for a week.

Initially I was able to use the free 8ta airtime for data (albeit at R2/MB I think), but that eventually seems to have been blocked. The only good deal now with this free airtime is the 50c SMS, which does at least match a few of the tariff packages on the market.

 

[cavedog]

Unfortunately 8ta's initially attractive offer of 'free' airtime to match what you buy, is no longer attractive in terms of other prepaid deals in the market now.

As nicroets points out above, your free airtime will get you calls at R2.50 a minute. But unless I am mistaken, the latest Vodacom prepaid package ('Daily Free Calls' or somesuch), for instance, caps calls at R1.20 a minute. So calls are actually more expensive overall on 8ta even allowing for the free airtime -- and this while the free 8ta airtime only lasts for a week.

Initially I was able to use the free 8ta airtime for data (albeit at R2/MB I think), but that eventually seems to have been blocked. The only good deal now with this free airtime is the 50c SMS, which does at least match a few of the tariff packages on the market.

Totally agree with you on this one. Its simply not good enough anymore. You get more value from Cellc prepaid and from vodacom's power hour and free4sho promo's than 8ta's promo. Call charges is WAY to expensive and although you use the free airtime once that is finished your normal airtime gets finished so fast its not even real.

 

[Telkom]

Hi all

Please have a look at our new 8ta more prepaid
http://www.8ta.com/plans/prepaid-voice/

Thank you
8ta

 

[siyya]

Why 8ta did not just give pleople 95c without this double airtime stuff? Why must you complicate things?

Eish, 8ta you are boring.