ChadMaestro

Archive for the ‘Opinion’ Category

So Vodafone announced yesterday at about 12pm that the usage of Best Mate is going to be changed, or rather cut down. From the first of July, 2010, the number of texts is going to go down from Unlimited to 1000, and the number of calling minutes is going to go from Unlimited to 1000. This basically equals about 16 hours of talking time, and for $6 that’s honestly not bad – IF it were to more than one mobile. Comparing this a feature of their Super Prepay plan, $2 for 2 hours – this basically entails $16 for 16 hours of talk time, which is obviously a lot more expensive, but I could call 3 or more numbers and use that $16, which is cheaper than getting Best Mate 3, which a person could use to make 16 x 3 hours of calling, but only 16 hours per person – which makes it a bit complicated as you would have to keep note of how much you are using per person per call.

That’s another issue, simplicity. At the end of the informational message the lovely lady says something along the lines of “get ready for a simpler Best Mate”. I would like to make it clear that there is nothing simpler about this for the end user, nor is there any benefit at all. The users are literally getting ripped off more and more. In fact, how does Best Mate 2 work? Do I get 2000 minutes to split between two numbers? Or do I get 1000 Minutes per number? Sure, I’m being a bit anal here, but this is the issue I have with bullshit fed, like “more simple” for the end user.

The funny thing is that we should be used to this sort of thing from Vodafone, now. They are truly masters of manipulation due to their monopoly over the Market. They have so many charges which other countries and even other services within New Zealand know are ridiculous, for example, changing a plan (as simple as changing from Best Mate 1 to Best Mate 2) costs $3. You are spending more money a month with their service, yet they’re charging you a fee to do so. Imagine going into a super-market and after your purchase you went back into the store and bought something else, and because of this the teller said to you that you have to pay a fee. Personally I would laugh and walk out. Another fee they charge is if you wish to speak to a customer service representative – you must pay $1 to do so.

This sounds like it’s something to expect from Vodafone, a high charge for their services, so why are they the leading industry in mobile services in NZ? They offer 1 or 2 services which appeal to the majority of the consumers, and because they offer an affordable service that gains their market, they find it necessary to charge ridiculous amounts on everything else. This service being the TXT2000 add-on for prepay mobiles, allowing you to send 2000 texts for $10 a month to any Vodafone mobile. Recently it was announced that you can get a service called TXT4000 for $14 a month. How does a company allow 4000 texts (or SMS messages) for $14/month and 1000 texts to a single other number for $6/month. It literally is nothing more than a rip-off of the end consumer.

There is one other factor that some of you may be thinking of: “But Chad, GST is going up to 15% soonish.” Fair call, however limiting the end user in their usage is a complete step backward in the industry. It would be much wiser for Vodafone to increase the charge of their service to make up the lost profit, rather than create limits to take us backward in the industry technology. Income tax is also being reduced, basically allowing the consumer to spend more money, and because GST is increasing companies will have to raise their prices to make up the money sent to ye ol’ John Key.

Creating limits is just not the answer – and is why Continents like Europe and America look at New Zealand and wonder how we’re classed as a first world country.