New casual plan vs data bundle

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dauckland

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#24710 31-Jul-2008 17:47

Hi there.

This is a quick request to any Vodafone representative here.

Please explain why:
New casual data plan:

average daily usage = 8.5MB
daily cost = $1
monthly cost = $30
monthly download = 255MB
commitment = NONE

Cheapest data bundle plan:

average daily usage = 8.5MB
monthly usage = 255MB
Monthly cost = $30 (base rental) + (55MB * $0.5) = $57.5
Monthly cost (with insurance) = $40
commitment = 24 months

How can you justify this?
I thought having contract handcuffs meant getting a better service, not getting shafted!!
Is it only me who thinks this is really bad??????

Thanks

JoeBloggs

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#153085 31-Jul-2008 18:18

Wait, so you're complaining that you're getting a BETTER deal now!? I just need to make sure I'm reading this right because I've never heard of someone complaining for getting a better deal

Let's be realistic here, VF shouldn't have to destroy all its previous price structure simply because something new with slightly better value for some customers arrives. That's just silly. Plans evolve all the time, just use it and say "thanks".

timestyles

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#153095 31-Jul-2008 18:52

I think the OP person was complaining that if they are on a contract (24 month), people on prepay are getting the equivalent for less, with no commitment. It does seem a reasonable thing to complain about, IMHO.

cokemaster

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#153096 31-Jul-2008 18:52

I think he has a point - in the past most discounts or pricing plans seem to benefit prepaid users, rather than the On Account customers. These customers tend to commit to contracts and have a higher average spend than their prepaid brothers.

However, not sure if this applies in this case... as On Account customers are able to take advantage of the new plan.

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SNicolle

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#153097 31-Jul-2008 19:02

I think you have missed the dynamic,

A casual user can use 1mb per day and 8.5mb per month on average

A contract user can use up to their limit at any given time within their monthly billing period.

Contract pays a premium for flexibility

VFNZPaulBrislen

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#153098 31-Jul-2008 19:04

That's a fine comparison of 8MB but when you're wanting 6GB the casual rate will be a tad expensive, whereas the 3G Broadband Pro plan will only cost you $80-90/month.

It's horses for courses. If you're only using data on a casual basis, use the casual data rate. If you want to regularly use data in larger quantities, go on a plan.

Simple, really.

Cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

johnr

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#153099 31-Jul-2008 19:05

The new default data pricing is for prepay and on account. The $10 per meg has gone bye bye.

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dauckland

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#153120 31-Jul-2008 20:33

My point is:

How can a company advertise a good service if a contract with a long term commitment give you less than a casual plan??

I am on casual plan but would like to think that if I find myself using more than just 8.5MB a day I could go onto a bundle plan for similar money and have more data included.
With Vodafone that's not the case!!

And Paul, I wasn't quoting any broadband bundles, only phone internet pachages.
Plus if you use 6MB you still pay the same as on a 200B plan but don't have to sign up to 24 months!!

I thought that by trying to tie people in with a longer term contract vodafone would give people a bit more, rather than less!!

D

sbiddle

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#153124 31-Jul-2008 20:47

dauckland: My point is:

How can a company advertise a good service if a contract with a long term commitment give you less than a casual plan??

I am on casual plan but would like to think that if I find myself using more than just 8.5MB a day I could go onto a bundle plan for similar money and have more data included.

IMHO Vodafone really need to be dropping the 200MB plan down to ~$19.95 per month on a no term contract. The reality is that a 10MB per day limit is a restriction and the overcharge rates are prohibitive. While the $1 plan is great it's a big jump to $40 per month just to get 200MB of data.

cranz

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#153135 31-Jul-2008 22:43

Agreed with sbiddle.

What value is VF giving customers that committed to them for 24months of data compared to a customer that has not committed to them - zilch.

Doesn't VF constantly tell us that by going on a term plan we get better "value"? Sure doesn't look like it Paul

From what you've posted above, are you effectively saying that there is no point to the 200MB data plan now?

edit: I'm pushing the line on purpose here

JoeBloggs

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#153152 31-Jul-2008 23:30

I'm no fan of Vodafone's current dealings but I'm missing the overall logic here.

If a customer uses under exactly 10MB every single day of the month, then the casual plan is better value. However (and this applies to most data users), most people don't use exactly 10MB or under per day. They use 1MB on Monday, none on Tuesday, 30MB on Wednesday, none of Thursday, 4MB on Friday, 50MB on Saturday (they got carried away on Youtube) and none on Sunday (stuck in bed with a giant hangover). This would cost $64 for just one week. Everyones usage is different but if you're honest, the term data plans are still more attractive in terms of price, data amount and flexibility.

We're all geeks here so maybe, just maybe, we use our mobile data a little differently (read more efficiently) than the general public. I suppose I'm a little annoyed with the criticisms, we all wanted a better casual rate plan and then when they released it we used it as an attack on something else. This doesn't encourage further discounts or better deals now does it? If you want to attack the term data plans (that IMHO are overpriced), do so on their own merits.

BBJones

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#153472 1-Aug-2008 23:09

To me it seems like everyone is on another planet.

Vodafone and Telecom are big fat Telco's when have you ever seen them change all their plans all at once!? I imagine it would be pretty career limiting if they did and got the numbers slightly wrong!

You get a subsidy if you commit to a contract and carry the risk of how much (not if) the price will drop while you are on that term. If you understand that you will have much less stress in your life "when" it happens. I personally operate on the principal of I was happy with the price when I purchased it so I won't look at it again until I can do something about it.

Of course I do get really really "upset" when the rate changes within a week or two of signing up. Some orgainsations handle this with a low cost upgrade for people who have recently licensed, A certain CD authoring software company with a 4 letter name beginning with "N" tell you to stick it where the sun doesn't shine (18hours after I upgraded they launched the next version and wanted the full upgrade price again, even after a complaint to their customer team), that's another story, but I won't be purchasing any product from them ever again and I have a lot of spending power and influence for that sort of product (it has cost them 1000's of licenses so far).

If you purchase a new car, fridge, computer and two months later they lower the price on the new model do you think they are ripping you off, or accept that companies do stuff like that because they have shareholders and aren't charities!

Food for thought anyway, or possibly just starting up a good debate :)

BB