[Vodacom's] Big Bonus Voucher

I think the consumers will see through this ruse. It's purely designed to lock someone in for 12 long months paying a particular rate for call charges (HIGH compared with Virgin) - [I assume the charges don't change throughout the year]. Vodacom knows full well that in 12 months the cost of calls will REDUCE, yet you will be stuck in a time-warp paying yesterday's prices.

If you have to take up two sides of a page in the Sunday Times selling it and more than a page of 17" computer screen explaining the small print - then it's too complicated. Why isn't the small print in the newspaper??? There was ample space.

Virgin is trying to simplify things - why doesn't Vodacom follow suit?

PS.They can throw that Motorola piece of cr*p cellphone in the harbour ;)
 
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This is not Prepaid. This is Postpaid making it a 12 month "contract".

Doesn't grab me at all.

This is just a easy way to make sure Prepaid customers don't leave the Vodacom network for the next 12 monts.
 
Lol - it's a 12 month contract, payable in advance... they're nuts.

Sjoe! Imagine the mindset... pay R900 and get your airtime one month at a time since we believe you cant manage your own money (at least not well enough to pay us regularly)
 
Not wanting to get into a debate on this, but I understood you get more minutes for your money by paying upfront. Kinda like a bulk discount.

Vodacom to Vodacom Voice / Video calls Peak Was: R 2.55, now: R 1.99
Vodacom to Vodacom Voice / Video calls Off-Peak Was R1.40, now: R 1.08
Vodacom to other Cell Voice calls Peak: Was R 2.85, now: R 2.75
Vodacom to other Cell Voice calls Off-Peak: Was R1.65, now R 1.15

Someone can do a proper 'basket-of-calls' calculation, but if you simply take VC to VC peak, you're getting R1153 worth of calls (plus a phone or other incentive) for R900.

If you take the incentive as a discount, this translates to a discount of around 42%.

Bulk discount is standard practice in many businesses, by paying upfront you get more of whatever you're buying. Gyms like Virgin Active or your DSTV subscription comes to mind.
 
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Skeptik said:
Virgin is trying to simplify things - why doesn't Vodacom follow suit?
Click to expand...

"What has every telecoms company in the past done? It's used confusion as its chief marketing tool." (Telecom New Zealand CEO)
 
vodacom3g said:
Someone can do a proper 'basket-of-calls' calculation, but if you simply take VC to VC peak, you're getting R1153 worth of calls (plus a phone or other incentive) for R900.

If you take the incentive as a discount, this translates to a discount of around 42%.
Click to expand...

I do begin to see a bit of value now that you spell it out. Rates to Telkom lines in peak time are the same ( Smartstep ). Very complicated to work out the most beneficial scheme though with all the different prices on the different prepaid Vodacom packages.

I reckon you'd sell more with a better handset and less call discount - people just see "the phone"!
 
Hi

I have just heard that clients can have the following :

Pay R 49 per month & get R 135 Airtime Value Month2Month - No Contracts
or Credit Checks or Bank Details
Pay R 999 upfront & get R 135 Airtime Montlhy for 24 Months - (R3240 Airtime Value)
A Free Phone will be provided with clients opting for the R 999 Upfront ..
I am not sure what phone it is.
 
Most people are too lazy to figure this all out - let's hope this flops as a result
 
Another question to ask Fantastic1 is if it is for VSP? In other words, can generic vodacom prepaid users simply just buy a voucher or do they need to "convert" to another service provider?

Whats there to figure out? Pay once upfront, get R135 airtime each month..and also get a better call rate on this R135.

I dont get the incentive on the R49 monthly one, may as well make all vouchers much cheaper then. If its not a contract (month-to-month) what in this deal is "locking" the subscriber in to the network? doesnt really make sense.

The "free" phone is probably a Motorola C113. I say it in " " because you truly get what you pay for..
 
To make matters more confusing, Pick'n Pay advertises the Big Bonus in the same Sunday Times at R595. The R899 is crossed out and it says "Now R595". I really don't understand how they can launch a promotion - "Stock available in store from Tuesday" and discount it on the Sunday before!! This is misleading advertising at its worse.
 
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Vodacom3G, Skeptic is right, this is something that should bother us. If this is the same promotion you spoke of, then what's up with the questionable advertising surrounding it?
 
Ok, all of you who signed up for one of these packages own up now! :D
 
.geek said:
Ok, all of you who signed up for one of these packages own up now! :D
Click to expand...
Is your hand raised? :)

I have no intention of getting locked in to vodacom or anyone at this stage of the game. MNP is supposedly arriving in Sept right? I expect the offers to be get a damn sight better than this.
 
Debbie2 said:
Vodacom3G, Skeptic is right, this is something that should bother us. If this is the same promotion you spoke of, then what's up with the questionable advertising surrounding it?
Click to expand...

I did not see the add but would assume it's the same promotion.

Remember it is R899 with an incentive, so I assume PnP is selling the voucher without a handset but with a discount.
 
Fantastic1 said:
Hi

I have just heard that clients can have the following :

Pay R 49 per month & get R 135 Airtime Value Month2Month - No Contracts
or Credit Checks or Bank Details
Pay R 999 upfront & get R 135 Airtime Montlhy for 24 Months - (R3240 Airtime Value)
A Free Phone will be provided with clients opting for the R 999 Upfront ..
I am not sure what phone it is.
Click to expand...

This is not the same deal (as the Vodacom Big Bonus) at all but rather an independant offer from a specific SP, not Vodacom at all.
 
vodacom3g said:
I did not see the add but would assume it's the same promotion.

Remember it is R899 with an incentive, so I assume PnP is selling the voucher without a handset but with a discount.
Click to expand...

Sunday Times (30/7/2006) Section 2, Page 19. Full page spread:
"Pick 'n Pay
we're on your side
presents
BIG BONUS VOUCHER
{Image representing the voucher with text as follows:-}
BIG BONUS voucher
It's like having a contract without a contract. R899 (figure has black line through it) NOW R595, R900 worth of airtime, you get R75 every 30 days for 1 year. 365 days Yebo Yes! Make prepaid calls at contract call rates FOR LIFE* {star normally means - look for the fine print - no fine print visible anywhere :eek: oops!)
Vodacom, SA's leading cellular networkl, make prepaid calls at top-up contract call rates, Stock available in store from Tuesday, 1 August, Vodacom South Africa's Leading (gets repetitive here)"


If there is no phone then that's even worse. If I read the Vodacom ad and then this one, I would go to Pick 'n Pay expecting EVERYTHING the R899 offer made - since that's the ARTICLE PROMISED, not a cut-down offer that's cheaper because they leave something out!:mad:

I suspect this is going to be a major FLOPPEROO :p
 
Well R595 is a lot better than R899 IMO. I got that phone and its really nothing wonderful.

Actually, the C113 can be obtained for all of R49 (in some cases R199 with a starter pack). Most people on prepaid have a phone anyway and it doesnt look like its purely targeted at new customers only per se.
 
So how exactly does this differ from a normal contract? Rather, why would someone, who can afford to pull out a year's worth of "monthly payments" in advance, take this over a normal contract?

Are people failing credit checks or is the admin with contracts scaring people of or something?

With any "pay for something in advance only to get the same amount back without earning interest spread out over an extended period" , you know what probably comes next? ..."Get your Voda Credit Card Now!" .

Taking a page from Discovery's book . You know the effect where you monthly pay an amount into a "savings account" which serves as your "pool" from which you can claim your medical expenses? Problem is the Medical Aid decides whether you can get your OWN money out of this account and when you can get it [and you do not even earn interest on the money]...what do you get ? ....Discovery Credit Card [so now they lend you your own money back and you pay 15+% interest to THEM ...].
 
why would someone get it:
1) the almost affordable cheaper call rates (still to be published) example: http://www.smartcall.co.za/SmartUP.shtml
2) the convenience of never having to recharge or find a voucher or find money for a voucher when there is no such thing nearby (I know I know there are convenient ways nowadays...)
3) a foreigner who is new in the country etc who cannot pass credit checks
4) prepaid benefits ie. no clip, anonymity of sorts (shortlived), ability to cap calls / recharge if required etc etc
5) same as family top up but more affordable ie. R75 pm compared to R135.

Id say number 1) is the key factor really. Having prepaid (paying once upfront) and getting contract-like call rates is rather nice.

I dont get why people are knocking this product (the pick n pay/smartcall model not the stupid R75x12 one). Its telecoms at a lower cost. Isnt that the overall objective?
 
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