Vodacom deceptive marketing: What is the real device cost?

[Ockie]

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

Yip, but that could just be so that the deal description does not end up taking up the entire page. I will agree that perhaps they can make it a bit more clear regarding the data, but to call it deceptive in my view is also not correct. It would be perfectly reasonable I would say to assume that a client has got the capability to subtract, get the balance and see that the price is obviously more expensive for the deal with the data and therefore the data is not for free.

 

[morkhans]

There is no R79 once off bundle....

There is but it only applies to data contract/top-up users who want extra data on top of their monthly allowance (just realised that now).

So essentially Vodacom is happy to sign you up for a modem/router deal at R69pm for 24 months (R1656 for the period), but charge you R129 (in the hidden device cost) for the same 1GB over 24 months when you take out a R199pm voice contract (R4776 for the period). Or even better if you didn't get it on the deal and you decide to bolt it on afterwards: R149.

Their accountants must be laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[morkhans]

Yip, but that could just be so that the deal description does not end up taking up the entire page. I will agree that perhaps they can make it a bit more clear regarding the data, but to call it deceptive in my view is also not correct. It would be perfectly reasonable I would say to assume that a client has got the capability to subtract, get the balance and see that the price is obviously more expensive for the deal with the data and therefore the data is not for free.

It's deceptive. Why must the customer keep track of ever changing device costs because Vodacom can't move it a line down into the monthly contract cost?

 

[Ockie]

It's deceptive. Why must the customer keep track of ever changing device costs because Vodacom can't move it a line down into the monthly contract cost?

Keep track of device costs? Minus the two, get the amount and bob's your uncle. Now you just have to decide if you want the deal with or without the extra data.

 

[morkhans]

Keep track of device costs? Minus the two, get the amount and bob's your uncle. Now you just have to decide if you want the deal with or without the extra data.

Again, why inconvenience the customer with this? Why wouldn't you want to make it as easy as possible for them to see what the costs are made up of?

 

[Ockie]

Again, why inconvenience the customer with this? Why wouldn't you want to make it as easy as possible for them to see what the costs are made up of?

Mmmm, the consultant can work out the math problem for the client also to prevent the inconvenience.

hehe

Seriously though, I do get what you are saying Morkhans, I just do not think in my personal opinion that it qualifies as some deceptive scheme. Maybe if the deal had a little * next to it and at the bottom of the page it sayd CLIP will now be R50.00 per month and your itemzied billing will now be R80.00 per month and both are mandatory, to hide the cost of the extra data or device or whatever then I would agree with you, but not here.

 

[supersunbird]

Bottom line, is Data a device or not? Can I keep it after the contract has expired and use prepaid on it liek it could with a read deal device? No, thus not a device.

 

[Ockie]

Bottom line, is Data a device or not? Can I keep it after the contract has expired and use prepaid on it liek it could with a read deal device? No, thus not a device.

Ok, I think you guys are over thinking this waaaay to much.

Annnnyyyywhhhhhooooo.

Have a great easter and be safe on the roads.

 

[morkhans]

Mmmm, the consultant can work out the math problem for the client also to prevent the inconvenience.

When I initially looked at these deals I only looked at one device, so I assumed (my bad) that something like a device cost would be static across deals. All I had to do was compare the contract portion and features of each of them, so I didn't pay much attention to device costs till I looked closer at the totals of each deal.