Vodafone Puts iPhone Pricing Online, Then Pulls It Down

10:16AM July 9, 2008 | Nick Broughall

voda pricing.jpg

Okay, this is bordering on consumer contempt. Vodafone stuck a heap of prices up on their website, then within five minutes pulled them down again.

Fortunately, some of you were quick enough to take screen grabs and details, which you can find below the fold:

$69 Vodafone Cap Contract for Apple® iPhone™ 3G (Coming Soon)
iPhone 8GB for $189 or iPhone 16GB for $309 includes $310 of talk, TXT & more plus 250MB data per month

$99 MyBusiness Cap for Apple® iPhone™ 3G (Coming Soon)
iPhone 8GB for $99 or iPhone 16GB for $219 includes $600 of talk, TXT & more plus 500MB data per month

$99 Vodafone Cap Contract for Apple® iPhone™ 3G
iPhone 8GB for $99 or iPhone 16GB for $219 includes $600 of talk, TXT & more plus 500MB data per month (Coming Soon)

$119 Vodafone Cap Contract for Apple® iPhone™ 3G
iPhone 8GB for $59 or iPhone 16GB for $179 includes $800 of talk, TXT & more plus 500MB data per month (Coming Soon)

$169 Vodafone Cap Contract for Apple® iPhone™ 3G
iPhone 8GB for FREE or iPhone 16GB for $89 includes $1200 of talk, TXT & more plus 1GB data per month (Coming Soon)

$69 MyBusiness Cap for Apple® iPhone™ 3G
iPhone 8GB for $189 or iPhone 16GB for $309 includes $310 of talk, TXT & more plus 250MB data per month (Coming Soon)

$119 MyBusiness Cap for Apple® iPhone™ 3G
iPhone 8GB for $59 or iPhone 16GB for $179 includes $800 of talk, TXT & more plus 500MB data per month (Coming Soon)

$169 MyBusiness Cap for Apple® iPhone™ 3G
iPhone 8GB for FREE or iPhone 16GB for $89 includes $1200 of talk, TXT & more plus 1GB data per month (Coming Soon)

So, what’s the deal Voda? Were these prices a mistake? Or did someone just press the post button a bit too soon?

And why oh why did we have to wait so long for prices that don’t match the offering from Optus? I think – if these prices are correct – that Voda have dropped the ball big time. Less data, with no free wifi, for more dollars… stupid Voda, stupid…

UPDATE: Reader Mark sent in these extra screengrabs, outlining some extra pricing. I don’t know about you guys, but God I hope these aren’t accurate…

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in - and Mark for the new screens!]

Comments

Trevor

July 9, 2008 at 4:59 PM

Well I doubt it is a Scam from Optus Michael B because a Vodafone Spokesperson confirmed on http://www.news.com.au that these will be the prices.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23992868-5016091,00.html

If they go back on this that’s deception and surly illegal. Don’t forget everyone a 250mb download limit won’t last a week even if you don’t download anything as the Iphone will always be on and doing things in the background. So be smart and go with someone else.

ricky dsa

July 9, 2008 at 4:59 PM

can 3 please bring out the iphone! with 2 gb of internet, unltd email and tv for $40 bucks you cant go wrong with their awesum hard 2 beat caps!!!
telstra, optus, vodafone= rip customers off coz its all abt profit and no customer satisfaction!

Danielle

July 9, 2008 at 5:10 PM

Replying to:
Richard Clement
Posted July 9, 2008 3:54 PM
Everyone phone up and ask what it would cost to bail out of contract – that should put the wind up them.

Richard – I’ve tried that, Vodafone seemed shocked and offended that I’d heard of the pricing being released this morning.

What they didn’t do was make any attempt to assure me that the informationI’d seen was incorrect……hmm speaks wonders

the other telco online team

July 9, 2008 at 5:15 PM

Oh man, I feel it for the Voda online team – it happens to the best of us.. someone did not get the right info/approval.

Greg Smith

July 9, 2008 at 6:44 PM

I wrote to Vodafone’s head of PR, without response, asking just exactly what their PR plan was (if they had one). As it turns out, they didn’t have a plan. They’ve lost me. What a bunch of Wallys.

Ben

July 9, 2008 at 7:33 PM

i’ve been a vodafone customer ever since one-tel went down and was going to be sticking with them for the iphone but not if these actually are the final deals, let’s hope they got pulled because they were horribly wrong and they are working on getting the real more reasonably priced deals out to us. Don’t disappoint me Vodafone

zarbs

July 9, 2008 at 8:40 PM

I pre-signed with VF as I have a current 3G W880i on a plan with over half the contract to go. I had asked VF what the cost would be to switch the contract to an iPhone and they said wait and see. When the Optus plans came out I sat up and took notice. I will certainly bite the bullet, pay out the existing contract, and head for Optus given the above. I have a good tax cheque coming so will buy outright and then pick an Optus plan that fits my needs. I would really prefer to be able to walk into the AppleStore in Sydney and buy it over the counter but that seems to be a long off option; if ever.

Barry Ryan

July 9, 2008 at 8:53 PM

I just wit till apple have to drop the price by $200.00 and buy from apple store online
An plug what ever sim i want in.

GARY G

July 9, 2008 at 10:53 PM

iphone is not the only phone vodafone sell….why would they care what you think about the pricing. and just relax, it is a god damn phone you are talking about..

crin

July 9, 2008 at 10:59 PM

Up our way there is no 3G coverage. Why pay data charges?

adam

July 9, 2008 at 11:31 PM

well if telstra will offer 3g/next g coverage everywhere i go (98ish %)i will go to them anyone outside a major city need not worry about data if they go with optus or voda cause it would take too long to download any thing…

Mia

July 10, 2008 at 12:08 AM

I got really screwed over by Optus a couple of years ago so I switched to Voda and my bills went down by 70%.

I really hope Voda releases some good pricing because it’s either them or Telstra (and I ALMOST dislike telstra as much as optus)!

Don Young

July 10, 2008 at 1:21 AM

This launch has to be the worst international marketing blunder ever!

Graeme

July 10, 2008 at 1:35 AM

I spoke to Optus Sales wed afternoon and was told that I can buy an extra ‘Bolt On’ 3Gb of download for $39 on top of preferred plan or 5Gb extra download for $50/month. They said it wasn’t final but to check back thursday afternoon. $49 plan plus $39 or $50 plus $2 or $12 for phone still works out to $90 or about $111 depending on wether you get 8Gb or 16Gb phone!

Tristan

July 10, 2008 at 3:36 AM

Has anyone that signed up for “Pre-registration” on the Vodafone website actually been contacted by Voda?

I’ve been signed up for 2 weeks and not heard a peep by phone or email.

I think if I end up swapping my “classic” iPhone for the new 3G model, I’ll go with Optus. Best deals so far.

Vodafone just lost YET ANOTHER customer. Especially after the $2000 bill i got from my first month using my iPhone. Seems the iPhone was pinging Voda’s net servers every 10 seconds to keep the connection alive and Voda charge 15cents every time it does this.

Vodafone = fail!

Matt

July 10, 2008 at 6:58 AM

You think those are bad, check out the NZ Vodafone deals. http://www.vodafone.co.nz/iphone/plans.jsp

Mick

July 10, 2008 at 7:50 AM

I wouldn’t hold your breath for Telstra’s pricing. They are the markup specialists.
Apple can keep their hyped up toy – I’m waiting for the HTC Touch.

Jono

July 10, 2008 at 9:23 AM

I signed up almost as soon as I was able to, and have only gotten one email from them, on the 20th of June:

The new iPhone 3G – it’s all happening.

Hi Jonathon,

Here at Vodafone, we’re eagerly counting down the days until the launch of the new iPhone 3G – and we bet you are too! We are keen to make sure that we can give you the very best deals on your new iPhone 3G and we are putting the finishing touches to these offers.

So, what next?

Since you have taken the time to pre-register, you are now at the front of the line. We will be rolling out these exciting offers very soon, so make sure to keep an eye on your inbox to stay ahead of the game.

Stocks will be limited so you will need to be quick.

Regards

The Vodafone Direct Deals Team

Please do not reply to this email as it is only intended to inform you.

andy

July 10, 2008 at 10:39 AM

I will not be screwed by another greedy Australian Telco again.

Shove you’re bloody iPhone 3g where the sun don’t shine!!!!

Tony

July 10, 2008 at 11:14 AM

I too got the Vodafone email on the 20th June, and that was the first and last thing I heard about it. I signed up as soon as it was available online to do so… I just got off the phone with them now. It will NOT be available on pre-paid at the launch, although I was told that it will be “soon”. I think that they’ve lost me as a customer as well. These plans are a joke. I can only hope this was a marketing ploy and that they have adjusted their pricing. At this stage, Optus is looking good.

Garth Stone

July 10, 2008 at 11:30 AM

Prices are back up – http://store.vodafone.com.au/iphone/

adiav

July 10, 2008 at 11:40 AM

I just wrote a big response and the page ate it. The salient points:

Not sure about $29 on a contract, but $29 on prepaid allows for no data whatsoever with Vodafone. I don’t mean you’ll use it up immediately, I mean it’s not available at all. Zip, zilch, nada, none.

I haven’t received a response after pre-registering either, and when I asked about this I was told by a sales rep that pre-registering just allowed Vodafone to gauge how many handsets they’d need to send to each store – that’s all. Lovely.

I’ve been a Vodafone customer for 10 years now, and whilst I won’t be leaving immediately, I certainly won’t be buying an iPhone from them in the near future. I’ll just stick with my dinky little Nokia until a better pricing plan for the iPhone catches my eye.

craig durkee

July 10, 2008 at 1:42 PM

there is a link to a voda petition here http://www.petitiononline.com/vodaau/petition.html have a look

Con

July 10, 2008 at 3:18 PM

You can get a USB dongle for mobile internet at $15 a month for 1Gb. That would be enough for the average user. Why not just add that to the cost of any pre existing voice plan…

I would sign up in a second!

dan

July 10, 2008 at 3:58 PM

Dont know what the big fuss is all about they arent that much more expensive than Optus.
If every looked at the plans mor carefully you would notice that even on Optus’ $79 cap you still have to make repayments each month on top of the Plan.
If you people dont like it so much shut up and dont go with Voda

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