Vodashop Stock

[Mike_Du_Preez]

Hi All.

My question is based more at "Vodacom 3G" and the other admin users...

I am based in Durban and on Monday I went to a Vodashop at Gateway. I picked up a "Vodashop Winter Sale booklet". I was paging through looking for a new phone that i would like to purchase for cash. It say "DEALS ARE VALID UNTIL 6 AUGUST 2006". So apon finding a phone I fancied i picked up the phone to place an order and let them know I would pick it up in 20 mins.

Then it starts. "Sorry we have no more stock of that phone and it's a discontinued range." Totalled suprized I said I would contact other Vodashops in Durban. After phoneing 3/4 other Vodashops in Durban I still have had no luck! I also phoned 4 VodaWorlds in JHB (they have a similar special in JHB) and they give me the same one liner aswell "Sorry we have no more stock of that phone and it's a discontinued range". I have been to other Mobile shops who all seem to have stock of that exact model but they charge about R950 more than the Vodashops.

So I have 3 questions....
1> Do Vodashops help each other out if one store is short of stock or is it each shop for itself? Is it possible for a Vodashop in Chatsworth or JHB to send my required phone to a Vodashop where I asked for it at?

2> Why are discontinued models featured in Vodashop's booklets if there is no stock?

3> "Vodacom 3G" would you advise I take this futher with upper managerment if a keep getting shunned with "Sorry we have no more stock of that phone and it's a discontinued range." They sound like robots trained message. Out of the hundreds Vodashops in RSA there isn't a few hundered of that model available?

Your advice is valued!

Kind Regards

Mike Du Preez (Durban)

 

[porn$tar]

I have the same problem, but with the PCI to PCMCIA adaptor. 3G has been available for months now but every Vodashop I go to tells me they'll only have stock by mid-August. I s'pose I could buy it somewhere else, but I want to make sure it's compatible with my 3G card (merlin U630)

 

[PJG777ZN]

I had the same problems with my data card swap and ended up going to PMB who did it in 10 mins Durban Vodashops SUCK

 

[74466]

YES YES YES, THIS IS A BIG THORN IN MY FLESH, HOW THE (i will refrain from using the words i really wanna use so bad) DOES VODA ADVERTISE PHONES, AND NOT HAVE STOCK, AND HOW THE (that word again) CAN THEY ADVERTISE PHONES THAT IS DISCONTINUED?

AND THEN YOU GET SOME F THE VODASHOP EMPLOYEES TRYING TO SELL A PIECE OF (another ugly word) TO U, IF THEY DONT HAVE WHAT U WANT IN STOCK, AND NOT TO MENTION THE EMPLOYEED GETTING CHEEKY WITH YOU IF IT SEEMS THAT YOU KNOW MORE THAN THEY DO!

I dont know, or understand how this "sales module" of them works.

 

[vodacom3g]

3> "Vodacom 3G" would you advise I take this futher with upper managerment if a keep getting shunned with "Sorry we have no more stock of that phone and it's a discontinued range." They sound like robots trained message. Out of the hundreds Vodashops in RSA there isn't a few hundered of that model available?

Mike, I was hoping someone from the retail channel would respond as they'll have a closer feel what the status is, but I suspect the phone got sold out quickly (you did mention it was a very good price) and it was probably the last stock. Sounds like a stock clearance effort by the retail channel.

As you know, the life-span of these handsets are counted in months (if not weeks) before they're replaced by newer versions.

I can take this up, but can bet this is what happened and also there'll be the standard disclaimer that the price is only valid while stock lasts.

So it sounds like a stock clearance effort and after the last stock was sold you'd not be able to get more as the unit is no longer available.

 

[74466]

We can (or i can) understand that, but it is still unfair as a customer goes into the shop, expecting the phone they saw on the leavlet, and then they walk out of the shop, (in the case of the uninformed) with a phone that is much worse than what they expected.

 

[kaspaas]

I remember reading an ASASA ruling that when you advertise, you had to have sufficient stock to meet a reasonable demand.

Obviously, I one advertised boldly "End of life clearance - Limited stock" nobody could complain. But usually these kind of remarks are hidden in fine print on a spot nobody cares to read.

 

[74466]

The samsung D600 for one, and when my GF told the employee at vodashop, that it is still being advertised, the gave us this cheeky smile and said we should take the samsung D820 (which is a not too good phone).

 

[JK8]

Hi All.

My question is based more at "Vodacom 3G" and the other admin users...

I am based in Durban and on Monday I went to a Vodashop at Gateway. I picked up a "Vodashop Winter Sale booklet". I was paging through looking for a new phone that i would like to purchase for cash. It say "DEALS ARE VALID UNTIL 6 AUGUST 2006". So apon finding a phone I fancied i picked up the phone to place an order and let them know I would pick it up in 20 mins.

Then it starts. "Sorry we have no more stock of that phone and it's a discontinued range." Totalled suprized I said I would contact other Vodashops in Durban. After phoneing 3/4 other Vodashops in Durban I still have had no luck! I also phoned 4 VodaWorlds in JHB (they have a similar special in JHB) and they give me the same one liner aswell "Sorry we have no more stock of that phone and it's a discontinued range". I have been to other Mobile shops who all seem to have stock of that exact model but they charge about R950 more than the Vodashops.

So I have 3 questions....
1> Do Vodashops help each other out if one store is short of stock or is it each shop for itself? Is it possible for a Vodashop in Chatsworth or JHB to send my required phone to a Vodashop where I asked for it at?

2> Why are discontinued models featured in Vodashop's booklets if there is no stock?

3> "Vodacom 3G" would you advise I take this futher with upper managerment if a keep getting shunned with "Sorry we have no more stock of that phone and it's a discontinued range." They sound like robots trained message. Out of the hundreds Vodashops in RSA there isn't a few hundered of that model available?

Your advice is valued!

Kind Regards

Mike Du Preez (Durban)

1-Vodashops are independent dealers, so if management allows it, yes they can transfer handsets from store to store.

2-It depends on when the booklet was published, and then whatever issues there are between SP and the manufacturers.
Certain handsets can be discontinued as of today without any time frames, and if there are stores with the phone in stock they can still sell it, but cant get more eg: the P910 and W900.

3-I doubt management will help, if the SP cant get stock what more can they do?
There are still clients wanting new P910s but noone can get them anymore, but there are some "farm dorpie" stores that might have one or two, otherwise discontinued means discontinued.

If you dont mind, what phone are you quering?