Skinny Direct Launch

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Skinny Direct Launch

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196 posts

Master Geek

#1622814 5-Sep-2016 08:54

timmmay: Competition is good, even if it's with yourself.

Some years ago I looked at the fine print on some washing powders. Nearly every brand was made by Johnson & Johnson or Lever Rexona.

People can change brands and feel good about it while spark laughs all the way to the bank. Think of it as virtualized competition haha.

RmACK

196 posts

Master Geek

#1622816 5-Sep-2016 08:59

trig42:
I take it the data is not carry-over?

Well spotted. I'd been taking that for granted.

sbiddle

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#1622817 5-Sep-2016 09:04

timmmay:

sbiddle:

From a marketing point of view I really struggle to understand what's going on at ventures. Yet another brand to undercut Skinny and further undercut Spark. Really?

I thought Spark Ventures was pretty much independent of the parent company.

Skinny's a quality, budget brand. If Spark didn't have the brand many like myself would've moved to 2degrees, as Spark packages no longer suited me. The new pay monthly plans do seem to compete more directly and will probably take customers from Spark. Competition is good, even if it's with yourself.

But this isn't Skinny - it's Skinny Direct. It's yet another new brand offering.

old3eyes

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#1622819 5-Sep-2016 09:06

Thanx but I'm quite happy with my $16 combo that gives me roll over data and minutes plus NZ and AU calling.

Regards,

Old3eyes

trig42

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#1622879 5-Sep-2016 09:17

old3eyes:

Thanx but I'm quite happy with my $16 combo that gives me roll over data and minutes plus NZ and AU calling.

Me too. Although, I'd like more than the 500MB (currently 1GB, which is OK, but soon to end I believe) as my wife likes to watch stupid videos on Facebook when we are travelling...

LivingSkinny

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Skinny

#1622881 5-Sep-2016 09:20

old3eyes:

Thanx but I'm quite happy with my $16 combo that gives me roll over data and minutes plus NZ and AU calling.

We're happy that you are happy

PhantomNVD

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#1622887 5-Sep-2016 09:31

timmmay:

sbiddle:

From a marketing point of view I really struggle to understand what's going on at ventures. Yet another brand to undercut Skinny and further undercut Spark. Really?

I thought Spark Ventures was pretty much independent of the parent company.

Skinny's a quality, budget brand. If Spark didn't have the brand many like myself would've moved to 2degrees, as Spark packages no longer suited me. The new pay monthly plans do seem to compete more directly and will probably take customers from Spark. Competition is good, even if it's with yourself.

Personally I see this as aimed squarely at 2D's lower pay monthly packages... Skinny has always been Spark's offshoot to target the [bulk] lowest spending clients that would otherwise look to 2D and VF, without damaging the Spark 'premium' brand.

Even here we get people thinking the two are different companies, so the 'Brand Awareness' is still highly separated, and by calling it SkinnyDirect, they are still working the "Skinny" brand 'directly'. most people wouldn't see them as separate companies, so this new offshoot can leverage the Skinny brand to set itself up as a "postpay" alternative and on-sell the Spark network spare capacity cheaply.

I'm still wondering if Spark customers get priority on the network of their cheap Skinny siblings, like 2D customers get when roaming on VF...?

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sep11guy

660 posts

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#1622936 5-Sep-2016 10:58

We're happy that you are happy

Really happy with your new product / brand offering.

But : wish you has Aus calling incl ( like most plans these days ) & a good roaming pricing structure ( something like VF $5 roaming )

CapBBeard

211 posts

Master Geek

#1622950 5-Sep-2016 11:05

This looks quite interesting to me as an existing Skinny customer but I feel very unsure about making the jump.

I have these sorts of thoughts going through my head right now:

Will roaming rates / packages keep in step with each other between Skinny proper / Direct (or at least remain competitive)
Are both apps of consistent quality? Will one fall to the wayside eventually?
Are all those 'little things' present that regular Skinny has? (Self-service SIM blocking etc)

I've been really happy with Skinny after making the jump not long ago, but honestly this kind of split feels a bit ugly.

I guess the concern is, Direct feels like it might be a little more niche. Will it still receive the same level of care / attention as the main brand? Will I end up wanting to hop back and forwards as you compete with yourselves?

Don't get me wrong, it looks like it could be really great. Skinny seem to be pushing out some really awesome stuff lately; this one just feels a bit weird.

NonprayingMantis

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#1622963 5-Sep-2016 11:45

sbiddle:

From a marketing point of view I really struggle to understand what's going on at ventures. Yet another brand to undercut Skinny and further undercut Spark. Really?

Skinny isn't part of spark ventures, and hasn't been for about 18 months.

http://www.sparknz.co.nz/news/leadership-changes/

"Jolie Hodson, Chief Financial Officer, will take on some operational business activities in conjunction with her existing CFO accountabilities, with the now more mature Skinny and Big Pipe businesses ready to move outside Spark Ventures and report directly into her with effect from 1 February 2015."

shk292

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#1622968 5-Sep-2016 12:05

dickytim:

What are the rates for overseas calls?

How would they work?

Skype-out? Only a few cents per minute

DarkShadow

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#1622973 5-Sep-2016 12:24

sbiddle:

From a marketing point of view I really struggle to understand what's going on at ventures. Yet another brand to undercut Skinny and further undercut Spark. Really?

In the Spark 2016 annual report, it mentioned that Spark Ventures will move Skinny, Bigpipe, Lightbox and
Morepork across to Spark Home, Mobile & Business in FY17 (p.43). It also mentioned multi-brand strategy quite a few times in the report, this is probably part of it.

michaelmurfy

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#1622978 5-Sep-2016 12:33

Oh crap - a warning.

I just topped up my Skinny account - moved to Skinny Direct without thinking of the full implications of me just topping up, should have waited another month.

I was too quick on the trigger to "just move this over! I want 6gb data" and now just lost out of the $46 credit on my Skinny account. Really hoping i can get this back. Please @livingskinny I've sent you a support email otherwise that really sucks :(

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sep11guy

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#1622986 5-Sep-2016 12:37

michaelmurfy:

Oh crap - a warning.

I just topped up my Skinny account - moved to Skinny Direct without thinking of the full implications of me just topping up, should have waited another month.

I was too quick on the trigger to "just move this over! I want 6gb data" and now just lost out of the $46 credit on my Skinny account. Really hoping i can get this back. Please @livingskinny I've sent you a support email otherwise that really sucks :(

if both companies are same, surely credit would be transferred over.

michaelmurfy

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#1622991 5-Sep-2016 12:48

sep11guy:

michaelmurfy:

Oh crap - a warning.

I just topped up my Skinny account - moved to Skinny Direct without thinking of the full implications of me just topping up, should have waited another month.

I was too quick on the trigger to "just move this over! I want 6gb data" and now just lost out of the $46 credit on my Skinny account. Really hoping i can get this back. Please @livingskinny I've sent you a support email otherwise that really sucks :(

if both companies are same, surely credit would be transferred over.

Nope:

I’m already with Skinny Mobile. How do I switch to Skinny Direct?
You can sign up with Skinny Direct by downloading the Skinny Direct App or by going to www.skinnydirect.co.nz. During the sign up process you’ll need to:

Choose to keep your current number and select Skinny from the list of providers
Read and accept the Switching Terms and Conditions
We’ll text you a verification code. Please enter it when asked.
Keep in mind that once you’ve switched to Skinny Direct you’ll have lost any remaining minutes, text, data or credit on your Skinny Mobile account. We don’t transfer them over as you can’t use them on Skinny Direct.

Once you’ve completed the sign up process we’ll automatically convert your Skinny Mobile SIM into Skinny Direct. This should typically take less than a minute after sign up. That’s it, you’re now a Skinny Direct customer.

I really hope they can give a credit since I technically have not moved away from them and just topped up my Skinny account recently. Like this really sucks otherwise.

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