Vodacom deceptive marketing: What is the real device cost?

[morkhans]

So I was poking around on the Vodacom site and discovered how they hide promo deals inside the device cost while listing them under the contract details.

Example of the base deal with device and contract costs spilt:


Here we have the same device and contract, but with an included 1GB of data


And here we have the actual cost of the included 1GB of data for R69*. If we want to be lenient we could take the once-off bundle cost which is R79


So for an extra R129 rand worth of device cost, you can get 1GB which you could top-up yourself for R79* included! I take issue with the fact that the extra bundle is listed under the contract portion, while in fact it is "hidden" in the device cost, not to mention the hugely inflated price.

As always "Buyer beware!"

Contract: http://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/shopping/devices/apple-deals/iphone-6-64gb/smart-s/82648
Data Prices: http://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/shopping/data/data-for-your-tablet-laptop-router-or-dongle

EDIT
* As has been pointed out to me subsequently, pure router/modem data contracts have a different price to bolt-on/once-off smartphone data. One has to wonder what makes this smartphone data so special that it costs double the price?
Smartphone Data Prices: http://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/shopping/data/data-for-your-smartphone

 

[Debeer165]

Well, it IS vodascum you are talking about. Honestly not surprised that the SP which prides itself on offering 200mb data contracts with huge OOB charges would hide higher prices sneakily.

 

[Rusty0]

So I was poking around on the Vodacom site and discovered how they hide promo deals inside the device cost while listing them under the contract details.

Example of the base deal with device and contract costs spilt:
View attachment 204218

Here we have the same device and contract, but with an included 1GB of data
View attachment 204220

And here we have the actual cost of the included 1GB of data for R69. If we want to be lenient we could take the once-off bundle cost which is R79
View attachment 204222

So for an extra R129 rand worth of device cost, you can get 1GB which you could top-up yourself for R79 included! I take issue with the fact that the extra bundle is listed under the contract portion, while in fact it is "hidden" in the device cost, not to mention the hugely inflated price.

As always "Buyer beware!"

Contract: http://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/shopping/devices/apple-deals/iphone-6-64gb/smart-s/82648
Data Prices: http://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/shopping/data/data-for-your-tablet-laptop-router-or-dongle

Joined since June 2007 and cant tell the deals yet?
Those are 2 separate deals,
One is for a handset and the other for data.

So if you want data on your iPhone, 1GB is R149 normally.
If you want a 3G data contract 1GB is R69.

 

[morkhans]

Joined since June 2007 and cant tell the deals yet?
Those are 2 separate deals,
One is for a handset and the other for data.

Indeed they are 2 separate each with exactly the same device, yet the device on deal B costs way more than deal A. The point, which you have appeared to miss, is that the difference in price of the contract is made up in the handset, but the handset is the same on both contracts.

So if you want data on your iPhone, 1GB is R149 normally.

Not sure where you pulled that amount from? Link?

If you want a 3G data contract 1GB is R69.

Which is why I mentioned the once-off bundle price of R79.

 

[Rusty0]

Indeed they are 2 separate each with exactly the same device, yet the device on deal B costs way more than deal A. The point, which you have appeared to miss, is that the difference in price of the contract is made up in the handset, but the handset is the same on both contracts.



Not sure where you pulled that amount from? Link?


Which is why I mentioned the once-off bundle price of R79.

The device with data include the price of data + device.
Option A No 1GB per month. (True device cost)
Option B 1GB extra + device cost. Billed as part of the deal.

Its the 1GB bolt on I load every month around the 20th of the month.

the R69 is the 24 month contract price per month, not the 1GB bolt on price.

 

[morkhans]

The device with data include the price of data + device.
Option A No 1GB per month. (True device cost)w
Option B 1GB extra + device cost. Billed as part of the deal.

If you want to hide the data cost in the device cost then the green text indicating an extra 1GB of data in the contract portion of the image needs to be displayed with the device portion.

In its current form the data is not part of the device. It is shown under the contract portion.

Its the 1GB bolt on I load every month around the 20th of the month.

the R69 is the 24 month contract price per month, not the 1GB bolt on price.

Please provide the link to this 1GB bolt on price you speak of.

 

[Rusty0]

If you want to hide the data cost in the device cost then the green text indicating an extra 1GB of data in the contract portion of the image needs to be displayed with the device portion.

In its current form the data is not part of the device. It is shown under the contract portion.



Please provide the link to this 1GB bolt on price you speak of.

I think it forms part of the deal, the 1Gb bolt on is seen as separate to the subscription cost.
the Device and 1GB bundle are only for 24 months where as the contract can run month to month...

http://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/shopping/data/data-for-your-smartphone
For Bolt on data prices

 

[Rusty0]

I dont think you will get this deal on Smart S after the 7th from what the lady at the store told me on Monday.

 

[morkhans]

I think it forms part of the deal, the 1Gb bolt on is seen as separate to the subscription cost.
the Device and 1GB bundle are only for 24 months where as the contract can run month to month...

Ok, we'll just have to agree to disagree on that one. I think it's deceptive in its current form.

http://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/shopping/data/data-for-your-smartphone
For Bolt on data prices

What's the difference between 1GB of router/modem data and 1GB of smartphone data? (besides the price).

 

[Rusty0]

Ok, we'll just have to agree to disagree on that one. I think it's deceptive in its current form.


What's the difference between 1GB of router/modem data and 1GB of smartphone data? (besides the price).

I think the bolt on can be cancelled at any time.
The other is a 24 month contract.

 

[Ancalagon]

It's is pretty simple

Smart S
Device cost R370 per month for iPhone 6 64GB

Smart S with 1GB Data
Device cost R499 per month for iPhone 6 64GB

That's kind of all you need to see. The 1GB data is not free. It shouldn't be part of the device cost, the monthly subscription should be R328, not R199. Then it would not be misleading.

 

[Rusty0]

It's is pretty simple

Smart S
Device cost R370 per month for iPhone 6 64GB

Smart S with 1GB Data
Device cost R499 per month for iPhone 6 64GB

That's kind of all you need to see. The 1GB data is not free. It shouldn't be part of the device cost, the monthly subscription should be R328, not R199. Then it would not be misleading.

No, as I said before, both the device cost and 1GB data have an expiry date, its only valid for 24 month.
The subscription can run over 24 months.

The idiots guide to this deal would be

Device cost - X
1GB x 24 - X
Subscription - X
Total - XXX

 

[supersunbird]

It's is pretty simple

Smart S
Device cost R370 per month for iPhone 6 64GB

Smart S with 1GB Data
Device cost R499 per month for iPhone 6 64GB

That's kind of all you need to see. The 1GB data is not free. It shouldn't be part of the device cost, the monthly subscription should be R328, not R199. Then it would not be misleading.

I concur, misleading advertising...

 

[supersunbird]

No, as I said before, both the device cost and 1GB data have an expiry date, its only valid for 24 month.
The subscription can run over 24 months.

The idiots guide to this deal would be

Device cost - X
1GB x 24 - X
Subscription - X
Total - XXX

Then add it as a third seperate item. If they cancel early and they want you to pay the device cost, will you have to pay for the 1GB as well?

 

[Ancalagon]

No, as I said before, both the device cost and 1GB data have an expiry date, its only valid for 24 month.
The subscription can run over 24 months.

The idiots guide to this deal would be

Device cost - X
1GB x 24 - X
Subscription - X
Total - XXX

Uh its a 24 month contract? So of course it does.

Then break it down as follows:
Device cost R370
Subscription R199
Extra 1GB bolt on R129

Then it isn't confusing. Then you know what you are paying.

 

[morkhans]

I think the bolt on can be cancelled at any time.
The other is a 24 month contract.

Let's compare month-to-month options then: What is the difference between 1GB of router/modem once-off bundle (R79) and 1GB of smartphone data (R149)?

 

[Rusty0]

Then add it as a third seperate item. If they cancel early and they want you to pay the device cost, will you have to pay for the 1GB as well?

Yes, you would have to pay for the 1GB as well as its part of the deal.

Uh its a 24 month contract? So of course it does.

Then break it down as follows:
Device cost R370
Subscription R199
Extra 1GB bolt on R129

Then it isn't confusing. Then you know what you are paying.

No, only the device and 1GB is guaranteed fro 24 months. The contract can run over 30 months if you wish.

Yes but some 1GB are not R129/month, it can be less dependent on the deal.

 

[Rusty0]

Let's compare month-to-month options then: What is the difference between 1GB of router/modem once-off bundle (R79) and 1GB of smartphone data (R149)?

There is no R79 once off bundle....

 

[Ockie]

mmmmm is it deceptive though? The customer can clearly see the monthly cost is higher on the deal that includes the 1gig data. We are all capable of subtraction surely? Not saying they are right, but for me it is not exactly a hidden cost either?

 

[supersunbird]

mmmmm is it deceptive though? The customer can clearly see the monthly cost is higher on the deal that includes the 1gig data. We are all capable of subtraction surely? Not saying they are right, but for me it is not exactly a hidden cost either?

But they call it "the device cost" while it clearly isn't, it's "the device plus data" cost...