Vodacom iPhone 4 Availability Fail

L

Lydon

Expert Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2007
Messages
2,099
Reaction score
8
Location
Cape Town
My question is: does anyone know of any Vodacom Shops in Cape Town that have the iPhone 4 in stock?

A little background...

Today, after much deliberation, I went to Canal Walk mall in Cape Town with the aim of signing up for Vodacom's R299/month iPhone 4 deal simply because it's so cheap. Said deal received a full-page advert in Vodacom's latest Mofaya Summer booklet and all deals in said booklet are supposed to be available until 6 December 2011.

Upon entering one of the two Vodacom Shops in Canal Walk, I was told that the iPhone 4 has been discontinued. Questioning the truth of this, I made my way to the other Vodacom Shop on the opposite side of the mall only to be told that the iPhone 4 is available, but on back-order. Confused and not knowing what to believe, I attempted to call an additional 3 branches when I got home - the V&A Waterfront, Bayside Mall and Tygervalley Shopping Centre. The only branch to answer after trying each branch time and again was Tygervalley, who also said that the iPhone 4 has been discontinued.

I know that Vodacom reserve the right to withdraw any deals advertised, but why is the phone still being advertised - including currently on Vodacom's own website - if it isn't available any more? If it's been withdrawn, then surely they should withdraw it? Similarly, if the iPhone 4S was announced in early October, why did Vodacom decide to advertise the deal as being available until 6 December, knowing full well that they would likely have to discontinue the iPhone 4 before it became available in South Africa? Fools!

This has been such a waste of time and a disappointing attempt at returning to being a Vodacom customer :sick: I'd take out a second MTN contract but their iPhone deals are significantly more expensive (but at least existent).
 
Last edited:
Well, as the story has been told to me, is, as follows, "All iPhone 4 sales have be discontinued, until the arrival of the iPhone 4S in South Africa." Rumour has it that this will occur on the 24 November 2011, which is Thursday. I expect that some sort of announcement will be made on the 24th November, with regard to the iPhone 4S, but cannot say, if this will just be to annouse the future release/availability date for the new iPhone, or be the actual release date.

I am hoping, it will be the release date, and have pre-ordered myself a iPhone 4S. Really hoping it will be Thursday ... :D
 
Lydon, you are spot on. They are idiots. I recently also tried to get one for the missus but every branch gives you a different story. Why they would advertise the iPhone 4 when they are discontinuing it and then some branches offer it, is retarded and speaks volumes for the poor miscommunication and unprofessionalism on Vodacom's part. MTN has the iPhone 4 for around R500 odd a month. It includes R300 airtime, 25 smses and 100 mb data. It's a good deal.
 
Agreed, no two branches will, give you the same answer, or the same answer a week later at the same branch. I want a 4S. Yesterday, I walked past a Vodashop, and it being quiet, I walked in and asked the consultant when they expected the 4S to be available. Replied the lady .... "They will only become available after the 200 iPhone 4's which are in the warehouse are sold", problem is most branches tell you, that sales of iPhone 4 have been discontinued, or that there are none available ... , so who do you believe, and who do you disbelieve ...
 
Lydon said:
My question is: does anyone know of any Vodacom Shops in Cape Town that have the iPhone 4 in stock?

A little background...

Today, after much deliberation, I went to Canal Walk mall in Cape Town with the aim of signing up for Vodacom's R299/month iPhone 4 deal simply because it's so cheap. Said deal received a full-page advert in Vodacom's latest Mofaya Summer booklet and all deals in said booklet are supposed to be available until 6 December 2011.

Upon entering one of the two Vodacom Shops in Canal Walk, I was told that the iPhone 4 has been discontinued. Questioning the truth of this, I made my way to the other Vodacom Shop on the opposite side of the mall only to be told that the iPhone 4 is available, but on back-order. Confused and not knowing what to believe, I attempted to call an additional 3 branches when I got home - the V&A Waterfront, Bayside Mall and Tygervalley Shopping Centre. The only branch to answer after trying each branch time and again was Tygervalley, who also said that the iPhone 4 has been discontinued.

I know that Vodacom reserve the right to withdraw any deals advertised, but why is the phone still being advertised - including currently on Vodacom's own website - if it isn't available any more? If it's been withdrawn, then surely they should withdraw it? Similarly, if the iPhone 4S was announced in early October, why did Vodacom decide to advertise the deal as being available until 6 December, knowing full well that they would likely have to discontinue the iPhone 4 before it became available in South Africa? Fools!

This has been such a waste of time and a disappointing attempt at returning to being a Vodacom customer :sick: I'd take out a second MTN contract but their iPhone deals are significantly more expensive (but at least existent).
Click to expand...

Can you not order it online?
 
So just for some clarity, Vodacom has discontinued the iPhone 4 16GB but there is still 32GB available from the VC warehouse...

Also the launch date is not happening this week and has apparently been moved to Mid-December....
 
mercurial said:
Lydon, you are spot on. They are idiots. I recently also tried to get one for the missus but every branch gives you a different story. Why they would advertise the iPhone 4 when they are discontinuing it and then some branches offer it, is retarded and speaks volumes for the poor miscommunication and unprofessionalism on Vodacom's part. MTN has the iPhone 4 for around R500 odd a month. It includes R300 airtime, 25 smses and 100 mb data. It's a good deal.
Click to expand...

Said MTN deal is indeed a good one, but the reason that I wanted the Vodacom deal is purely because of the R299/month price.

I already have a Blackberry on contract with MTN, which I am sick of, so this would be a second contract. I can't justify spending an additional R500/month on top of my existing contract, but R299/month is still a reasonable price to pay for my unwillingness to wait for my upgrade near the end of next year.


Nicci said:
Can you not order it online?
Click to expand...

I've looked around, but it doesn't seem so. Vodacom do have an iPhone 4 deal listed on their website, but said deal is over R1000/month.

That's largely why I am annoyed. If they truly have discontinued sales of the iPhone 4, it should no longer by listed on their website as part of any available deal.


Acydebyte said:
So just for some clarity, Vodacom has discontinued the iPhone 4 16GB but there is still 32GB available from the VC warehouse...

Also the launch date is not happening this week and has apparently been moved to Mid-December....
Click to expand...

Depending on the additional cost per month, I'd consider going for the 32GB model, but so far I've yet to come across a Vodacom Shop that has either model of the iPhone 4 in stock.

I struggle to believe that Vodacom don't have a single iPhone 4 available anywhere in Cape Town, yet at the same time it doesn't make sense that they would stop selling phones they've got sitting around if there is clearly demand for them.
 
In the end, there is a total lack of clear communication between Vodacom and it's outlets. And that from a communications company?

The moving of the launch date is not entirely unexpected, but a official statement would also be appreciated, if only to reduce the ongoing speculation, which is rife.

The longer the current situation continues, the more attractive a Galaxy S2 from another provider becomes. What a bummer ... :(
 
Last edited:
Nickd said:
Please let me know how you did this as I would dearly like to do the same :)
Click to expand...

At my prefered Vodashop, there is a consultant who knows her onions, and is prepared to do a bit more than most to get you to put you signature on paper, guess she earns commision. She has put my name on her reminder list, and when she calls, I'll go collect ...
 
elf_lord_ZC5 said:
At my prefered Vodashop, there is a consultant who knows her onions, and is prepared to do a bit more than most to get you to put you signature on paper, guess she earns commision. She has put my name on her reminder list, and when she calls, I'll go collect ...
Click to expand...
Sounds great, mind PM'ing me the detail? :)
 
so it would seem, well we can always hope for tomorrow!
 
It seems the 14th December is now the due date ... , another 3 weeks :(

Played with a Galaxy S2 yesterday at Cell-C, was impressed ...
 
Weird that iphone 4 contracts have increased . I got mind about 6 months ago on the mtn top up 100
Only R309 a month with R100 airtime and 150mb data and some sms's as well
 
Tried calling so many Vodacom stores today and no one has and they are not getting any stock. What does the CPA say about false advertising?
 
Any of you considered the Moto RAZR????


HEY....who threw that pap tomato???? tsk Damn crazy Apple fan boyz! :mad:

Guys....the Iphone 4 16Gig, both colours and the Iphone 4 32 Gig black is no more. The Iphone 4 32gig white is still available...but EXTREMELY limited quantity..so if you want it you better tell your closest Vodacom dealer to order it ASAP cause that will run out during the course of next week I am sure.

Iphone 4S you ask? I have not had any news on it. I just checked on the system and it is not yet available to order either.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X