Gooku
Senior Member
Looks like positive user response & demand has encouraged iburst to add an "R456 Once Off Activation fee" Which I did not see last week !
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Activation Fee !
- Thread starter Gooku
- Start date
Yes, it is true, I have just looked, and gotten annoyed with iBurst.co.za (select packages, then I-Go Everywhere from the dropdown-listbox-with-only-1-thing-in-it).
This really is not going to grow WBS' iBurst customer base any faster, in fact it will slow down subscriptions
So be it upon your own heads W-BS-M 
One of the reasons I decided to go for iBurst was that the startup costs were lower than ADSL and MyWireless, it was suddenly affordable to get a broadband connection straight away.
This really is not going to grow WBS' iBurst customer base any faster, in fact it will slow down subscriptions
So be it upon your own heads W-BS-M One of the reasons I decided to go for iBurst was that the startup costs were lower than ADSL and MyWireless, it was suddenly affordable to get a broadband connection straight away.
Mercury
Well-Known Member
Charging What the Market Will Bear
This is all very well but WBS loses a competitive advantage. In fact seeing as the activation fee is more expensive than Telkom's installation fee, it is now a competitive disadvantage.
I see from the Hellkom Vent that a Chris has done a bit of parallel importing for a DIY price reduction. When the pricing pressure increases, expect a leak!
This is all very well but WBS loses a competitive advantage. In fact seeing as the activation fee is more expensive than Telkom's installation fee, it is now a competitive disadvantage.
I see from the Hellkom Vent that a Chris has done a bit of parallel importing for a DIY price reduction. When the pricing pressure increases, expect a leak!
rebel
Senior Member
Damn that activation fee! Why, Why, Why?
limnos
Expert Member
What crap is this Activation Fee?
Just called in to order iBurst.. Spoke to 'Tsepo', he tells me that I will have to pay for the activation fee of R456 - once off, pay R2800 for the UTD unit and that gives me my 7-day trial that I asked for! So for any reason if I want to get rid of iBurst, I do get my activation fee of R456 paid back to me, BUT i'm stuck with the UTD unit - they refuse to lend it to me for the 7days.
Just called in to order iBurst.. Spoke to 'Tsepo', he tells me that I will have to pay for the activation fee of R456 - once off, pay R2800 for the UTD unit and that gives me my 7-day trial that I asked for! So for any reason if I want to get rid of iBurst, I do get my activation fee of R456 paid back to me, BUT i'm stuck with the UTD unit - they refuse to lend it to me for the 7days.
stoke
Honorary Master
Collusion.
guest2013-1
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this is super stupid, however, Sentech did this off the bat, so who cares...
bb_matt
Executive Member
what a suprise 
Greed greed greed - that's what South Africa seems to be all about these days.
Greed greed greed - that's what South Africa seems to be all about these days.
guest2013-1
guest
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give us money first, then we'll give you the service
doesn't work like that, show me the service, then i'll pay
doesn't work like that, show me the service, then i'll pay
Some info required on www.iburst.co.za !
I would like an official answer from WBS as to why they have suddenly started charging an "activation fee".
A beeg reason I decided to get iBurst is bcos I could not afford the startup costs of either Sentech's MyWireless or Telkom's ADSL.
WBS' iBurst was affordable in all respects.
AFAIK there is very little "activation" involved in actual iBurst activation (much like downgrading from ADSL512 to HomeDSL384 - a couple of key-presses & Telkom charge R250).
I assume the activation fee is non-refundable? - even if contract cancelled within 7 days - clarification required from WBS. Where are the new Terms & Conditions for all new customers to see?
Correct me if I'm wrong here- I think WBS have introduced an activation fee of R456 to discourage customers from cancelling their contracts within the 7 day trial period (assuming the trial period is still available, again clarification required).
I would like an official answer from WBS as to why they have suddenly started charging an "activation fee".
A beeg reason I decided to get iBurst is bcos I could not afford the startup costs of either Sentech's MyWireless or Telkom's ADSL.
WBS' iBurst was affordable in all respects.
AFAIK there is very little "activation" involved in actual iBurst activation (much like downgrading from ADSL512 to HomeDSL384 - a couple of key-presses & Telkom charge R250).
I assume the activation fee is non-refundable? - even if contract cancelled within 7 days - clarification required from WBS. Where are the new Terms & Conditions for all new customers to see?
Correct me if I'm wrong here- I think WBS have introduced an activation fee of R456 to discourage customers from cancelling their contracts within the 7 day trial period (assuming the trial period is still available, again clarification required).
limnos
Expert Member
Hmm... Called in today and Activation went up to R499! 
Just check their website, it still says R456, tell them it is false advertising!limnos said:Hmm... Called in today and Activation went up to R499!
Strobemeister
Expert Member
Opportunism at its best.
Still waiting for an OFFICIAL EXPLANATION from WBS...
You just have to read my other posts on this thread to know how I feel about people being ripped off with this "Activation Fee", having said that, Daveogg does have a point.
I think many more potential iBurst customers would be prepared to swallow the R400 excl VAT, R456 incl VAT upfront fee, if WBS decided to conceptually change this "Activation Fee" to an Upfront Deposit of some sort, that counts towards your first month's subscription fee (R454|R599|R679|R699).
You just have to read my other posts on this thread to know how I feel about people being ripped off with this "Activation Fee", having said that, Daveogg does have a point.
I think many more potential iBurst customers would be prepared to swallow the R400 excl VAT, R456 incl VAT upfront fee, if WBS decided to conceptually change this "Activation Fee" to an Upfront Deposit of some sort, that counts towards your first month's subscription fee (R454|R599|R679|R699).
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Sspy
Active Member
iBurst actaully want to charge you R465 so that they can add you to their system. This really is shocking.
The apparent reason for adding this is because everyone else is doing it.
ie. ADSL, sentech have a activation fee so they thought they should introduce one as well to keep to the SA standards.
I promptly ask so next time I want to change an alias on my mailbox if they would charge me, the reply they would never do that, but what happens when other service providers do it? Guess they would have to start doing it to.
WBS please use your mind, if you actually offer someone something better to the public that they have to pay less for, you'll get more business
The apparent reason for adding this is because everyone else is doing it.
ie. ADSL, sentech have a activation fee so they thought they should introduce one as well to keep to the SA standards.
I promptly ask so next time I want to change an alias on my mailbox if they would charge me, the reply they would never do that, but what happens when other service providers do it? Guess they would have to start doing it to.
WBS please use your mind, if you actually offer someone something better to the public that they have to pay less for, you'll get more business
That's a damn good point, Sspy. One that has been reiterated many times on this particular forum, not to mention all the others around the world.
iburst, here's one for you. If you want to capture the market, then remove/halve the activation fee, and undercut your competition. You'll have applications by the truckload. Then all you have to do is provide a modicum of service [beating Telkom and Sentech's useless orcs by a long shot as you stand currently], and Bob's your uncle, Mom's the word, and let the party begin.
That said, I already know the answer to this rhetoric: Consider this a rant and ignore. Carry on trying to make a profit from 1500x600 [excl. cost of UT], instead of decreasing profit margin, thereby increasing customer base, resulting in an inevitable increase in overall profit.
Ouch. I sound like a bean counter.
iburst, here's one for you. If you want to capture the market, then remove/halve the activation fee, and undercut your competition. You'll have applications by the truckload. Then all you have to do is provide a modicum of service [beating Telkom and Sentech's useless orcs by a long shot as you stand currently], and Bob's your uncle, Mom's the word, and let the party begin.
That said, I already know the answer to this rhetoric: Consider this a rant and ignore. Carry on trying to make a profit from 1500x600 [excl. cost of UT], instead of decreasing profit margin, thereby increasing customer base, resulting in an inevitable increase in overall profit.
Ouch. I sound like a bean counter.