Vodacom FALSE advertising

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Stallon

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I recently chose my new phone/package from the vodacom deal booklet from my local vodacom shop.

To my utter disgust, the consultant tells me that vodacom made a mistake and the deal offered is incorrect. No appology, no advertisement of any sort to be found that this is an error.

I am talking about the Samsung Galaxy N8000 and the Samsung Galaxy S3, with the smart advanced package,

however the vodacom shops have told the mistake is it is on the smart standard, with less than half the advertised minutes,

absolutely shocking that they are just so casual and that the attitude is like oh well so what pick another one.
 
We can't seriously expect a company to honor every print error? And the sales people just work there unaware of your emotional connection with the advertised deal.

With that said let's remember this is Vodacom: bastards!
 
cpu. said:
We can't seriously expect a company to honor every print error? And the sales people just work there unaware of your emotional connection with the advertised deal.

With that said let's remember this is Vodacom: bastards!
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Actually, yes we can hold a company to honor EVERY print error. You obviously have no idea what process it goes through before it actually goes to print. Thus, the company is subject to false advertising if they don't honor the printed offer. Especially if it's still advertised within the shop.

If I were the OP I'd log a complaint with ASA and not take the deal at all. Remember to take evidence with you though.
 
AcidRaZor said:
Actually, yes we can hold a company to honor EVERY print error. You obviously have no idea what process it goes through before it actually goes to print. Thus, the company is subject to false advertising if they don't honor the printed offer. Especially if it's still advertised within the shop.

If I were the OP I'd log a complaint with ASA and not take the deal at all. Remember to take evidence with you though.
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The part I definitely see as wrong, is the "no apology". The print error in the booklet is covered by E&OE.

I do understand your point. Game advertise specials that are sometimes not in stock even though you're the first through the door on the first day of the special. This could be similar (edit: to Vodacom's ad).
 
cpu. said:
The part I definitely see as wrong, is the "no apology". The print error in the booklet is covered by E&OE.

I do understand your point. Game advertise specials that are sometimes not in stock even though you're the first through the door on the first day of the special. This could be similar (edit: to Vodacom's ad).
Click to expand...

actually, even if a company does have E&OE listed, if errors are repeated regularly, then the company can be held for false advertising.
 
cpu. said:
We can't seriously expect a company to honor every print error? And the sales people just work there unaware of your emotional connection with the advertised deal.

With that said let's remember this is Vodacom: bastards!
Click to expand...

Actually you can. In terms of the new CPA. The ADVERTISED price is the price no matter what and in order to correct it, the company has to change the advert. So unless Vodacom change the advert, they are forced in terms of legislation to honour that package.

Pity I'm not in SA as this could be something fantastic to take Vodacom to task for. The average joe on the street hands Vodacom their own ass on a silver platter and there is nothing they can do about it.
 
Just return it, and cite your right to return from the Consumer Protection Act.
I've done it before - no hassle!
 
just a clarification, i didnt actually take the crapier offered deal, but i do however want the deal that was advertised in their magazine, regardless if they say it was an error.

You can walk into the store and pick up this booklet and it is advertised in the book, no error crrection on the book, or advertised in store, like AcidRazor said, the deals/magazine goes through many sign offs and checks before it is printed.

I sent an email of complaint to Vodacom, received a reply already to say that my complaint has been escalated to the senior guy and i will get feedback within 2 days......i will let you know
 
Surprise, surprise, nothing from vodacom yet but an auto response to say i will be contacted in 2 days.....tomorrow is 4 days:(
 
I finally got a reply from vodacom,

"The Regional Office confirmed that the deal was an error and we are unable to accommodate you in this regard.
The brochure also has a disclaimer that notifies the reader that, without prejudice, that the content and/or validity of the subject data may change without notice i.e. E&OE (errors and omissions excepted)

I thought the new CPA would have made suppliers as big as this be more cautious.
 
All that this proves is that the CPA is a joke and a toothless piece of legislation.
 
but its such a joke, the cpa act says, if the store is still advertising it, which they are, i can walk into any of the vodacm shops and it is in there, no error correction in the magazine or in store.
 
Go and do your research properly, hit them with facts and don't give up on it until you get the deal. I once got a Vodacom exec to buy me a phone cash with their personal credit card after making enough noise....as long as it's not baseless.

Go and download the act, read it and get places to nail them. Also report it to the Consumer Protection Council... I know many people who got favorable results from this.

A part of me agrees that mistakes happen as everything is done by people. But no apology and a petulant attitude towards the situation warrants a fight. Even if it is only sales staff, they get paid to do a job and represent their company, people like this is why there is no more customer service in South Africa. If you can get someone fired, it is an added bonus! Useless Bunch!
 
werfie said:
I once got a Vodacom exec to buy me a phone cash with their personal credit card after making enough noise....
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I guess if you keep at it anything is possible. :D
 
I went into cellucity today and they have placed stickers over the advert, i also went to vodacom and they have reprinted the magazines. Does this mean it is over with or do i/can i still pursue this if i have the magazine with the incorrect advert in it.
 
Give it up for goodness sake. They made a mistake. Tuffies for you. Grow up and get over it.
 
The store is only liable if it can be shown that they purposefully mislead customers with the intention of misleading a customer (aka bait advertising). Errors in advertising do not need to be honored and advertising is not considered to be an offer to sale, the actual offer and contract occurs at the tillpoint so to speak, there is precedent for this and it is not the CPAs fault. While the CPA is there to protect consumers it is not there to nail every single mistake a company can make

Of course the company does have to rectify the error

If a price as displayed contains an inadvertent and obvious error, the supplier is not bound by it, after correcting the error in the displayed price, and taking reasonable steps to inform consumers to whom the erroneous price may have been displayed of the error and the correct price.
Click to expand...
 
lol i have had a similar problem. i have the deal booklet from 7 Oct - 6 Nov 2012. saw a great deal, so i called the store Friday to confirm. the lady says yes they have the deal obviously because its in the book, does a little giggle (silly me for phoning to confirm something obviously in the book) and she suggests i come in the store to upgrade my contract. i walk in the store and point to the deal and say...i want to upgrade to this!

"sorry sir, that phone is discontinued."

WTF? its in the LATEST deal book, and the i phoned to confirm

"nothing we can do about it, do you have the persons name whom you spoke to" ....

sigh what a fail at the store.

after much up and down to different stores and phone calls and twitter noise and such... i managed to find out that the deal is available. did the upgrade telephonically and they will soon courier the phone to me. lol incompetant people are among us
 
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