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kiwisteve
129 posts

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  #1433128 23-Nov-2015 10:28
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Yes it seems a very strange costing arrangement . I can confirm a call made from a 2 degrees phone to WM  is not classed as 2DG to 2DG free call    it   used 1 minute up listening to the WM voicemail message  .

I can't find any info on how  long the SIM / Number would remain active if not topped up . The others kill the SIM card if not recharged for 12 months  . Their APP is very basic too   Credit Balance and topup . No useage notification on where the $ has been going  ( data , text , voice etc )






eXDee
4032 posts

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  #1433130 23-Nov-2015 10:31
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richms: I dont know who their target was when coming up with those plans. Someone who wants to just have low casual rates and no decent chunks of data or mins is going to be a very light user, so not want to be topping up monthly or losing credit because they didnt top up.


Problem is, they probably evaluated that they would make stuff all revenue if they didn't force credit expiry. Low casual users that top up infrequently are of very little value.

To me this feels like a customer trap - people who think they will get a better deal will go with them - the medium to high data users will get stung, and the low users will see credit expiry. A lot of people won't do the math that it's probably poor value for them.

The only market that this seems to be suitable for is those with an unpredictable ratio of texts/calls with minimal data usage, and prepared to spend $10 a month for that.

rayonline
1734 posts

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  #1433192 23-Nov-2015 11:47
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Yes 31 day $10 expiry.  Not suitable for my dad either - a dumb-phone user.  Seems like a competitor vs Skinny in a narrow way.  Skinny pays $9 for 30mins and 100MB data and some text or something.  2D themselves have a $8 60mins plan and some text but no data.

Really low users are better on Skinny's $10 for the year.  

Maybe it is good for those who really need more than 60mins so now they can have up to 250mins and the odd up to 160ish MB of data.  If they talk more each min is only 4c.  But then again you have same network unlimited calling with the others ..... 



ajw

ajw
1932 posts

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  #1433193 23-Nov-2015 11:49
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rayonline: Yes 31 day $10 expiry.  Not suitable for my dad either - a dumb-phone user.  Seems like a competitor vs Skinny in a narrow way.  Skinny pays $9 for 30mins and 100MB data and some text or something.  2D themselves have a $8 60mins plan and some text but no data.

Really low users are better on Skinny's $10 for the year.  

Maybe it is good for those who really need more than 60mins so now they can have up to 250mins and the odd up to 160ish MB of data.  If they talk more each min is only 4c.  But then again you have same network unlimited calling with the others ..... 


The minimum spend on Skinny is $5 per year to keep the Sim card active.


rayonline
1734 posts

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  #1433198 23-Nov-2015 11:51
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Ok, but when you do a top up it is $10 minimum at least for the first month then. 

"Top Ups from $10. Use your credit how you want"

kiwisteve
129 posts

Master Geek


  #1433204 23-Nov-2015 12:00
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WM web online site top up has minimum amount of $10  

According to the Tech pages of newspaper the SIM can last up to 12 months with no topup before it is cancelled ,
so In theory $10 a year would keep it alive   but inward sms and calls only with no credit .



mattwnz
20141 posts

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  #1433466 23-Nov-2015 18:55
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sep11guy: Considering their branding / color, i would've imagined them to partner with Vodafone. Saves printing costs :P 

 

That is interesting about the colour, I was thinking the same thing, and thought that it would be connected to their network. I wonder if there are any trademark issues with that red being used, as many people seem to associate red with vodafone. eg. In a similar way to purple being associated with cadbury and other chocolate companies using purple n their branding.

 
 
 

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sdavisnz
1015 posts

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  #1433473 23-Nov-2015 19:04
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also quoted from the site

Data: Top up using a $20 denomination (or higher) and get 3c per MB for the following 31 days while you have credit.




Voice gives context

Publius
276 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #1433534 23-Nov-2015 20:48
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A couple of thoughts

 

  • 2deg started out doing the "our per unit rates are the cheapest" but quickly realised selling bundle packs keep the minimum spend higher!
  • The "requirement" to topup $10/mth to have outgoing txt/calls work is weird. I can see why they want it (keep minimum spend high) but its just adding complexity.
I agree with @richms, I give it 6 months and they'll be doing a $10/mth "bundle" of txt/calls.

On the other hand, maybe TWH have done their homework and there is a market for this, (certainly when 2D launched their per-unit rates were very sharp and did result in me saving money but the average joe doesn't like having to sit down with a calculator to figure it all out), but I suspect not.

FlatButt
41 posts

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  #1433614 23-Nov-2015 22:34
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tbh I suspect the deal with 2degrees limits what they can do to reduce the chances of 2D losing customers to WM.

This is going to flop hard - there cannot be any sort of market out there that wants to spend $10 a month and lose it if they don't use it. People rage enough as it is that Spark's prepaid packs don't have carryover like 2D and VF...

Kyanar
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  #1433927 24-Nov-2015 13:59
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mattwnz:
sep11guy: Considering their branding / color, i would've imagined them to partner with Vodafone. Saves printing costs :P 

That is interesting about the colour, I was thinking the same thing, and thought that it would be connected to their network. I wonder if there are any trademark issues with that red being used, as many people seem to associate red with vodafone. eg. In a similar way to purple being associated with cadbury and other chocolate companies using purple n their branding.


Vodafone hasn't trademarked red. Cadbury has trademarked purple. It's also a specific pantone colour, so slightly altering the shade or hue would defeat the trademark.

throbb
675 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #1433933 24-Nov-2015 14:10
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FlatButt: tbh I suspect the deal with 2degrees limits what they can do to reduce the chances of 2D losing customers to WM.

This is going to flop hard - there cannot be any sort of market out there that wants to spend $10 a month and lose it if they don't use it. People rage enough as it is that Spark's prepaid packs don't have carryover like 2D and VF...


Think you need to look at the $10 top up as a prepay pack and compare it to other $10ish pre pay packs out there. I'm pretty sure most of them offer no data and offer no carry over minutes.

kiwisteve
129 posts

Master Geek


  #1433949 24-Nov-2015 14:41
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What I find annoying is you can get a credit remaining but no track of use  eg to / from    calls sms data .   The first hour the credit went down before I even made any calls or text and on a Non Smart Phone ! 

LivingSkinny
513 posts

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  #1433950 24-Nov-2015 14:43
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throbb:
Think you need to look at the $10 top up as a prepay pack and compare it to other $10ish pre pay packs out there. I'm pretty sure most of them offer no data and offer no carry over minutes.



ajw

ajw
1932 posts

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  #1434014 24-Nov-2015 17:10
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Yabanize: The competition on their website is to win a phone and 12 x $10 credit

This either means: A: Their prices are dramatically cheaper than the others (I doubt 2degrees would let them be
B: You pay less and get less? Perhaps not paying for stuff you don't need


There is no answer to (A) Unless you have seen the wholesale agreement between the warehouse and 2 degrees.

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