Spark downgrades $39.99 Mobile Plan

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Spark downgrades $39.99 Mobile Plan

techwizard

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#281350 12-Feb-2021 17:28

I've noticed Spark has changed their entry-level $39.99 Plan - downgraded!

Previously included:

Endless Data (3GB at Max Speed)

No Hotspot

Unlimited Talk and Text to NZ/OZ

Half Price Spotify Premium

NOW Included:

3GB Rollover data

300 NZ Minutes

Unlimited NZ Texts

Half Price Spotify Premium

I dont get why they have downgraded the plan. Thankfully existing $39 Endless Customers are not being downgraded but it is not a welcome to new customers who can do better with "the other guys"

Now Vodafone and even 2degress are gonna get more customers! Giving Data Caps and Minute Caps is unacceptable in 2021. Every single other provider gives you NZ and Aussie Calling capped or not.

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'That VDSL Cat'
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#2655373 12-Feb-2021 17:31

they bought back the old plan and dropped the unlimited one.

Quite honestly, if your offered a 59$ or a 39$ plan, which are both unlimited... which will you pick (ignoring throttling for the context of the question)

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michaelmurfy

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#2655375 12-Feb-2021 17:36

Data caps are fine. The fact Spark also only allow you to roll over 3.5gb still on their plans is rather annoying - and on their unlimited plans there is a block on tethering unless if you pay them extra.

I'm really happy with 2degrees - decent data caps, unlimited rollover (with no restriction on tethering - even with data clock enabled!), good coverage and better pricing than the other 2 providers.

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techwizard

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#2655399 12-Feb-2021 18:26

For 2021, data caps for $40/month are not acceptable. Vodafone, Skinny and 2Degress Pool Plans ALL offer Unlimited for $40.

Why downgrade a good $40 Endless Plan to the old one with more data, does not even have OZ Calling.

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techwizard

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#2655400 12-Feb-2021 18:28

hio77:

they bought back the old plan and dropped the unlimited one.

Quite honestly, if your offered a 59$ or a 39$ plan, which are both unlimited... which will you pick (ignoring throttling for the context of the question)

Being throttled to 3G speeds is fine, better than being cut off at 3 Gig. Most people go through 3 Gig quite quickly especially with 5G. EVERY other provider gives you NZ and Aussie Calling and Texting usually unlimited.

1.2Mbps is a bit slow, but is fine for "phone stuff" like SD video streaming, facebook, insta, etc.

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rendezvous

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#2655471 12-Feb-2021 20:56

Well that’s a disappointing backwards step. What year is it again?

techwizard

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#2655472 12-Feb-2021 20:58

Heck yeah. They are going back a generation in 2021. In gonna bring this to their attention

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DjShadow

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#2655475 12-Feb-2021 21:19

I wonder if they are trying to push the lower value (is it ARPU?) customers towards Skinny? I did notice when I last walked past the Spark store in Queensgate Mall they had a big stand for Skinny Mobile.

techwizard

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#2655476 12-Feb-2021 21:21

Maybe. Skinny has $36 unlimited and their market share is about 1% or 50000 mobile customers

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K8Toledo

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#2655479 12-Feb-2021 21:45

techwizard:

hio77:

they bought back the old plan and dropped the unlimited one.

Quite honestly, if your offered a 59$ or a 39$ plan, which are both unlimited... which will you pick (ignoring throttling for the context of the question)

Being throttled to 3G speeds is fine, better than being cut off at 3 Gig. Most people go through 3 Gig quite quickly especially with 5G. EVERY other provider gives you NZ and Aussie Calling and Texting usually unlimited.

1.2Mbps is a bit slow, but is fine for "phone stuff" like SD video streaming, facebook, insta, etc.

I sense confusion here....

Also - switching from Spark to VF would be a big mistake.

rendezvous

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#2655482 12-Feb-2021 22:06

Sparks reply to my tweet says it’s still available, but they’ve also introduced the capped one with rollover.

allan

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#2655532 12-Feb-2021 23:19

And frankly Sparks pre-paid plans provide better value for money than their on-account plans.

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old3eyes

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#2655537 13-Feb-2021 07:37

allan: And frankly Sparks pre-paid plans provide better value for money than their on-account plans.

I think all prepaid plans have better value than postpaid except you can't buy a new phone interest free and pay it off on prepay.

Regards,

Old3eyes

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#2655540 13-Feb-2021 07:54

Its Spotify premium that keeps me with Spark.

But $59 for 4Gb is rubbish and I was charged $81 for 137Mb usage in Jan!!!

The little things make the biggest difference.

techwizard

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#2655541 13-Feb-2021 08:12

Shindig:
Its Spotify premium that keeps me with Spark.

But $59 for 4Gb is rubbish and I was charged $81 for 137Mb usage in Jan!!!

In terms of prepaid Skinny and 2degress offer the best value I think

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techwizard

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#2655542 13-Feb-2021 08:13

techwizard:
Shindig:
Its Spotify premium that keeps me with Spark.

But $59 for 4Gb is rubbish and I was charged $81 for 137Mb usage in Jan!!!

In terms of prepaid Skinny and 2degress offer the best value I think

$81 for 137Mb! Switch to endless mobile.

Tech Wizard

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