Includes $30 Credit.
Includes a single SIM in all sizes.
Works in 3G and 4G mobile, tablets and mobile broadband device.
T&C: Offer valid in Coles and BI-LO Supermarkets (excludes Coles Online and Coles Express).$30 must be spent in a single transaction and excludes purchase of the Telstra prepaid $30 SIM and Coles Group Gift Cards, tobacco and tobacco related purchases. While stock lasts. Limit 1 per customer. No trade sales.
@brucefromaustralia:
How is it you are so eager to defend their failure to adequately stock an advertised special deal ?
@Snoovey:
I don't defend it, but stock availability normally varies between stores.
It's a difficult balancing act between carrying too much stock that may not be sold & stock shortages because some stores or areas were more aware of the promotion & stocked up.
I haven't seen this deal advertised - it was reported only seen in Sydney & Melbourne Mx papers with limited circulation. This promotion may not even be aimed at the broader population, so a limited response was expected! It's not a normal sale & expect wouldn't be treated as such under consumer law.
Based on previous sales, some stores will keep a higher stock level, so have more stock on hand at the start of this promotion.
Sometimes it is the behaviour of individual store managers that leads to shortages. Some stores just don't order many of certain items that do not sell well in their area. Head office may choose to send more of certain stock to different socioeconomic areas. It's not personal, it's business.
Just living in an area with a higher density of OzBargainers will lead to stock shortages (possibly gone before you asked).
As there is no need to tell a store you are redeeming this offer, it is difficult for a store to know this offer is being used. Restocking often takes days if other stores also request the same stock, and is usually triggered when stock drops slowly to a certain level, not rapidly as during this promotion.
It is difficult enough for store managers to predict levels of stock to have on hand before a normal sale. When stores weren't even aware of this Promotion, it is almost impossible to organise adequate levels. It's just a reality of retailing.
I take time to informally discuss these matters with store managers. Understanding systems & delivery bottlenecks is handy when dealing with these complex issues. Also, had a brilliant client who taught me about the supermarket sector & selling to places like Coles. It also taught me to be a savvy shopper.
In my experience with Coles, they were better at restocking during an advertised sale than most other retailers. I have posted details of restocked stores in one Coles Vodafone deal.
You don't need to lack knowledge to be an OzBargainer ;-)
@brucefromaustralia:
Still sounds like a defence to me. I'm not sure this is the right forum to stand up for the struggling retail giant no matter how well informed you are ;-)
@brucefromaustralia: It started in Mx on Wednesday but hit the other major papers yesterday. I saw the ad in The West Australian.
The first Coles I went to had heaps of $2 SIMs but none of the $30 ones. The second Coles had about a dozen, certainly not enough for a major campaign like that.
@Snoovey:
Seeing both sides, is not a defence of anything, let alone a very profitable business.
It's rather limiting to claim only your view of an issue is correct. The law won't accept just your view.
You see a shortage of stock in some stores as a legal issue. Proceeding with such a dispute requires more than recognising your disappointment in not finding stock at a certain time at 2 stores.
Regularly OzBargainers who miss out on deals mistakenly resort to "I'm going to contact the authorities" - the grown up cry of "Mum!". With a while left on this promotion, I think it's a bit early for that!
Try again, rather than complain :-)
About the first thing a complaint will bring is the question - what have you done to resolve the issue?
I asked if you had found out other stores & delivery centres stock levels or expected restock date. I take it you decided to complain rather than ask.
Seems people would better spend their time looking, ringing, asking where the nearest stock is or when new stock is arriving, rather than complaining.
I think that's where we started this conversation ;-)
started in Mx on Wednesday but hit the other major papers yesterday. I saw the ad in The West Australian.
Thanks for that, I don't look at much advertising or newspapers. Lucky there's OzBargain ;-)
Got confused who I was replying to there ;-)
@Snoovey:
Compliments all round ;-)
If I wasn't distracted here, I could have rewritten the wiki by now, honest ;-)
@Snoovey:
The trouble is proving Coles had not enough stock to meet an advertised line. Unless you were the first there, you don't know if a large number had already been sold. (Ducking my head - flock of flying pigs.)
It rests on total stock levels across a region rather than a particular store, and if that was enough to meet demand. It's not an easy matter. I doubt stores ordered more stock for this promotion, based on lack of knowledge of the promo by staff.
Then there is restocking, or attempts. Did Coles try to obtain more stock, or move existing stock to stores by the end of the promotion period.
But ultimately it's down to those words "While stocks last." It's an issue with Aldi's twice weekly Special Buys™ sales, where little stock if any exists at some stores. But the sales continue…
The most likely outcome that any action could result in is a warning letter to Coles. I can sense their fear from here.
Ultimately, missing a deal (it's still on you know) is not the worst thing in life.
Oops, I've committed OzBargain heresy! I wonder if I'll get stoned for it?
My local stores have restocked as I expected.
So much for no stock during the sale period. Pretty good in a "While stocks last" offer.
As I commented, that is what I have found before with Coles. But I seem only to shop there when these deals are on.
As I suggested - no use complaining, get out & look.
Some people would rather just whinge that they missed the deal.
Nice story Bruce, now go troll someone else.
@Snoovey:
Lol. Well your complaining
was just a waste of time.
I've never had the problems you report. Why should I?
I just save my energy & relax until new stock arrives. Much more pleasant & rewarding than complaining about things you can't change.
I suppose that's why such interesting & successful clients have paid for my advice. My business taught people & businesses to look at life differently.
Local Coles staff run up to help me with these mobile deals. Always surprises me.
My Woolies accidentally gave me $100rrp of Tasmanian smoked salmon in my order last month. The staff & manager there know me far too well. (Smoked salmon is my weakness.)
But that's nothing to my life in Japan, where people know me as 'very lucky' :-)^
So I think it is down to attitude ;-)
^Certified Troll Free stories
@Snoovey:
An email from stumbleupon.com arrived this morning with an interesting article you'll just love ;-)
HOW TO BE A SUCCESS AT EVERYTHING
What It's Like To Go Without Complaining For A Month
Nothing unites people more strongly than a common dislike.
Bloody hippies!
What ! changed you username ! or just banned?
Wasn't anything to do with collecting Nazi memorabilia was it ?
brucefromaustralia for anyone interested in looking up the username on other forums. Same argumentative style and language.
Or was it from your comments about working with major retail chains and their unprovoked gifts to you ?
Not associated ! liar
What usernames do you now use ?
Just picked up 2 from Broadway Coles.
Not sure if there were many left as the guy had to get them from the cupboard.
How did you manage to get 2 when it's only 1 per customer ?
buy from another store. my guessings.
Since SuiCid3 specified Broadway Coles I would assume it was from one store.
Separate transactions.
The guy was looking for the deal in the catalogue to check the T&C but couldn't find it, so he allowed me to grab 2.
nice work !
I wonder if officeworks would match this promotion.
Highly doubt it. But you can try and let us know.
Discussion of Coles deal on Whirlpool
Discussion of Telstra Starter Pack options on whirlpool
And of course OzBargain's Telstra Starter Pack Wiki - now updated (a bit)
I love reading about these discussion crossovers between OzBargain and Whirlpool, it makes me think of the Arrow/Flash crossovers!!
Tried in Queanbeyan Coles, does not work. It is not national wide promotion.
When you say "does not work", how far did you go with the transaction when trying?
Just scanning the SIM is not enough, it comes up at full price. But when we went on to pay the discount was automatically taken off. The operator did not have to do anything - and based on her surprised reaction she had probably no idea about that promotion.
of course I purchased $30 worth of other things then scanned the $30 sim starter pack, it added up as $60, not $31. The operator did nothing.
Did you go as far as enter a payment method? That's when the price was reduced, not before.
So in my case: $32 of products, scanned SIM, added $30 to come up with $62. Then, once the payment method was selected (gift card) it came down to $33.
I haven't gone that far. The operator just say total $60. Thanks Mate, I will try again.
tried again, it works!!!
@vhfyagi: Yep same for me in WA. Discount did not come off until payment processed. You need to take a leap of faith.
Tried Garden City WA. Lady at the service desk hadn't heard about the promo. Persisted and showed the photo of the catalogue and got her to call up the internal customer service team. Eventually managed to snag one. Got to work hard for these $1 sims!
If it is in the catalogue, they should honor it. But the problem is for Queanbeyan Coles, it is not in the catalogue. I guess it is only for Coles stores where the local newspaper ads covers.
I don't think these are in the printed catalog. They were advertised in newspapers.
Should cause a bit of confusion at Coles.
caused much confusion at my local Coles. They thought i was a scammer and a bad guy for suggesting that a SIM card could be so cheap :(
Was not in the printed cattledog in WA. Most staffers at Guildford were unaware it was on, fortunately found one who did. Picked one up at the service counter before I started my shopping.
Anything bought yesterday, cannot be claimed today.
Also if the store is out of stock, you won't get it. So make sure they have stock before you spend $30.
Always best with this type of deal to check at service counter before shopping. Get them to put one aside for you.
(I checked there were stock of a similar mobile deal at service counter, shopped, then found all stock gone when I went to buy. Coles restocked the next day, so staff were happy to sell me more than 1.)
I went to Coles today and spent $30 and went to the counter. The chuppy lady refused and said that she did not know anything, she was very unhappy. I returned all my stuff got the money back and went to Woolworths.
Good on you mate! Let her enjoy cancelling all those items.
It was tlam who made the mistake.
"spent $30 and went to the counter"… the Starter Pack was to be bought WITH the $30 shopping, not bought AFTER the shopping was completed.
If tlam had followed the deal's instructions as others did, it would have worked out.
So any staff at the service counter would be correct in refusing to sell the $30 pack for $1. That wasn't the deal.
FWIW my Coles (Randwick, who sold out) won't sell them at checkout. They tell you to go to the counter after.
I took the safe option and grabbed one of those "Please take to the counter" cards for the sim and went through the express checkout which is connected to the front counter. The lady grabbed a sim card from the counter and scanned it, came up as full price until she got til the end and it was $1.
Also borrowed a relatives receipt after she bought her groceries but no mention of a sim card on it so i am not going to worry about taking it to the counter and grabbing another one that way.
Yes, it's only at the end of the sale that the "Loyalty Discounts -29.00" shows.
Staff knew nothing of this offer, but it worked. When the pack was scanned, the sale was over $60, then dropped by $29.
Also used the checkout at the service desk, as that's where the sims are.
What a waste of everyone's time & effort! And you missed the deal.
All you needed to do was buy the $30 Starter Pack without any explanation.
(No need to confuse the staff. I also did that! When I tried explaining this deal, she added a $30 recharge to my shopping - misunderstanding that was the deal. It was removed. Shopping at a supermarket shouldn't need explanation.)
At the purchase screen, "Loyalty Discounts -29.00" shows. Without going to the effort of explaining the deal few staff know about, you would have got the deal & hopefully be happier. She probably would not have even noticed.
Instead she thinks badly of OzBargainers like you, had to clear up your shopping you refused. You wasted the time shopping, waiting, & still did not get the deal that was in front of you.
And then you spent much more time going to Woolies to do the shopping all over again, without any possibility of getting this deal?? Then more time posting about your experience. And now you've done the shopping that would have got you that deal if you simply went back to Coles.
You really lost in this deal, and just made 1 staff member at 1 store more grumpy for other shoppers :-(
That was a lot of effort for no benefit. You both lost, for absolutely no reason. Coles & Woolies didn't notice. And no deal! Not a good outcome.
I don't understand why OzBargainers think that is a good outcome worthy of many + votes?
Reread tlam's comment.
spent $30 and went to the counter
I had assumed tlam had followed the deals instructions as others did. Unfortunately tlam did not, causing this problem.
The Starter Pack was to be bought with the $30 shopping, not bought after the shopping was completed.
If tlam had followed the deal's instructions as others did, it would have worked out.
So being angry with the staff member correctly doing their job, or teaching Coles a lesson by shopping at Woolies… I think tlam might be angry with the wrong person, but we all make mistakes.
Successfully purchased 2 x SIMS in West Gippsland, VIC with >$30 shopping each time…..at the service desk. One staff member knew about the deal and the second didn't! So thanks OP as great savings there!!
@cim85:
As in the Woolies $1 pack deal, staff are becoming more aware of the deal, & so are customers. As so many didn't follow the similar instructions in that deal, some stores manually adjusted the $30 price down to $1. Other stores refused.
So you took your receipt for $30+ to the service counter & asked for the $30 pack for $1?
What did you ask & what did they say?
Did they mark the receipt to show it was redeemed?
The process may be helpful to others. Some bought but did not get the SIM. Thanks.
The problem is Woolworths wants you to get sim cards AFTER the checkout… not necessarily the customers fault with the misunderstandings…
Works in Sydney !
Bought a $40 Telstra recharge + $30 prepaid kit for $41 !
Thanks OP
can I use the credit to unlock my phone (if it is with telstra?)
Also excludes Skype Gift Cards
really? ahh crap
Well, it didn't work for me (Sydney) :(
Ditto - was equally as oafish. Had to have it saved while I returned with items to meet $45 dollar threshold and exceeded 75.00 before payment step.
Would the exclusions for the $30 include other gift cards like jb, rebel etc? It mentions coles group, jb isn't Coles
Tried getting a $50 JB and Bunnings gift card. No deal even though the T&Cs states excludes "Coles Group Gift Cards". Appears to be all gift cards that are excluded.
Yup, can confirm doesn't work. Tried to get a $50 jbhifi card(figured I could use it to buy the laptop in vogue on ozbargain now) and see if I could get the sim starter kit for $1, but it doesn't work.
Love to see the fight in those deals :)
by chance, has anyone bought more than 1 in one transaction?
That would require their system to offer 2 "Loyalty Discounts -29.00" on same $30+ shop. That might be the issue.
Waiting for you to try, as staff don't seem knowledgeable about this deal to stop you trying.
But Coles staff have previously told me they restrict sales of SIM cards to 1 per person normally, although it's up to staff to enforce it.
There were similar restrictions on these Starter Packs in the $1 Woolies deal at Christmas. Staff were so confused, with different rules at different stores. But I was able to use the same $30 receipt to buy 3 $1 packs at the end of the deal & even got $1 pack without any purchase. But that was only due to problems with their system not reducing price. Staff had to manually reduce the $30 scanned price by $29 - I think they gave in & gave the discount to anyone who asked at my nearest small store.
Just got one at Coles Firle in SA.
Went through self check and just put one through the register as normal. Discounted at payment screen
http://imgur.com/NIE849q receipt
Hi Matt, how did you get the sim pack. They are usually stored behind the counter. Did you ask for one over the counter and then bring it to self-check?
Most of them were behind the counter, there was a small amount of "tablet" ones out front of the counter though
Just worked out how to do this: At my local Coles, you ask the assistant at the self-checkouts to "suspend" the transaction once you've scanned everything, if they ask why just say you want to add a SIM at the service desk, then they enter some supervisor code on the self-checkout and it prints out a small receipt-like-thing with a barcode to scan, then you take that barcode plus your as-yet-unpaid groceries to the service desk, they scan the barcode, it resumes / brings up your unpaid groceries, then they add the Telstra $30 starter pack to that still-open transaction, they give you the total (which seems like too much because the discount has not been applied yet), but when it comes time to enter your credit card into the terminal, it takes the $29 "loyalty discount" off the total, and then you pay.
That's how you do it with self-service checkouts plus SIMs kept behind the service desk counter.
or, take the "please take me to the counter" card to self checkout, and ask the staff to help you grab the sim from the counter. This is what happened to me. But I could have went to the counter to get the sim first before heading to self checkout next time.
Just bought 2 from different Coles stores in Central Coast NSW. The staff knew nothing of the special price, but it's all automated so they don't need to do anything.
As others have said, it scans at $30, with no sign of any discount. If you have $30 or more of other items in the same transaction, the discount will appear only when the operator moves to the payment screen. Early in the thread someone asked about the Voadafone $14 (3GB)) USB modem making up part of the $30. That's what I did and it worked fine.
Hey guys,
I received the $30 Starter Kit in the Purple packaging instead of the one specifically for Tablets in the orange pack. Does it matter - can I still activate the tablet plan on it?
Doesn't matter when you activate it click on activating for "mobile phone" and change to "Tablet" it's early in the activation process.
My local Coles knew nothing about this deal, and argued that I can't buy $40 Boost vouchers and get a $30 Telstra sim for $1.
She demanded me to buy milk or bread…etc.
I insisted on the Boost vouchers and asked her to try and scan it, if the register/system allows it than it's mine. She reluctantly accepted and voila it worked :D
Thanks OP!!
Yeah seems many coles aren't aware of the deal.
Thanks OP, got one from Coles, Burwood Westfield. They still had few in stock when I bought it this evening.
The deal is automated, so no need to argue with the staff.
Just have them scan your items and when it comes to payment, that's when the discount is applied.
I don't understand why some people are still arguing with them when it's been stated here a couple of times already???
They're probably arguing because it's not always easy to buy groceries at the service desk. Not all Coles are set up to buy SIMS outside the service desk either…
I grabbed mine from the service counter before going to do my shopping.
I activated a Telstra sim and am trying to make a Google Play purchase but getting the following error: 'Message from your mobile service provider: User was not found". Anyone else had this happen before and knows how to fix it?
Thanks.
As per my whirlpool response, check out the wiki… https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/telstra_pre-paid_starter_p…
Google needs to know which account to bill, so you need to be using that SIM & check account is set up to bill that SIM's credit.
But I know little of this area, so others should be able to offer their experiences.
I am using the sim in the phone that I am trying to make purchases with.
What do you mean by 'check account is set up to bill that SIM's credit?'
When setting up payment by Telstra I had to put in my name, number and postcode. For number I put in the Telstra SIM number - is this what I should have done? Or should I use the phone number that I have setup with Google 2 step authentication?
Thanks.
I think you solved your own problem. Accounts operate on phone number, not SIM number - so an edit of that detail should show if that is the cause of your problem.
SIM number is only to operate your phone service on the telco, but is useless information to the outside world. It's your phone number Telstra uses to identify your account for billing purposes.
That's basically what I was referring to - it can't find your account (phone number) to bill, hence the message "User was not found".
So many variables, like is the sim in the device, are you using data on that sim & not WiFi, is the account correctly set up… It's not an area in which I have much experience.
Hope you helped yourself ;-)
Sorry, the wording I used was confusing. When setting up the Google Pay, I put in the Telstra SIM phone number, as opposed to putting in the phone number that is associated with my Google Account itself (2 step authentication). I definitely put in the correct mobile phone number that is linked to the new Telstra SIM card that I am using, I did not put in the SIM number that is on the back of the SIM card.
I have got the same problem…tried all my phone numbers without success…anyone have a fix?
Same problem here.
Would like to know too!
@illumination: I tried to purchase again today - and succeeded. Rented a movie and bought an app. Its been about 4 days so I'm not sure what I did differently - but I had the Telstra sim inserted in the device I was using to make the purchase - while last time I may not have.
I just missed it . spent $45 grrrr.
Can I go back and show the receipt to buy this $1?
else you can always return everything and buy it again
I did that last week at Woolies when I forgot to scan my EDR card to claim a $10 voucher on a $50 shop. I had just made the purchase, went to the service counter, plonked my shopping down & asked to return it. The senior person was called, took a look at my docket, my small pile of shopping, opened the till & gave me $10 :-)
Always worth a try.
bought one in SA, firle shopping centre coles, the sales has no idea about this deal but the price will automatically -$29.
I accidently got a sim card for tablets - can I use this in my phone, with the normal phone plans? Otherwise is it possible to swap one at a Telstra store?
Yes you can. Just go to https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/activate and you'll be able to choose and mobile plan after you enter the mobile service or SIM number. I've checked already.
Thanks!
Cheers,
Just happened to me so thought id check on here if it been asked yet. mines the pink/orange packet.
Apparently the offer seems to apply to more than one type of prepaid SIM pack.
I got a tablet pack (orange not purple) and it scanned as $1. Another Coles offered me the green Nano SIM packs (old design) and they said would also cost $1. I didn't take that because the expiry would be next year (too near!).
It applies to $30 Telstra Starter Packs in general. As shown in the photo & details in the deal link. It's just the current stock of tablet or phone packs displayed in the photo. Those new packs are multi-fit, suiting all applications.
Others reported buying different packs. Just watch out for expiry date on those odd packs! Coles would like to offload that old discontinued stock, as they are about to expire. There is absolutely no upside to buying them. So only buy those if there is no other stock available!
All (except ancient iPad data Starter Packs) perform the same function & can be connected to any prepaid phone or the new data only 3GB Data Pass plans.
So apart from groceries, what else could we buy from there? Any tips? Can't think of how to make up those $30
Mobile recharges apparently work.
So if I bought $100 worth of items I can get 3 Telstra packs for $1 each? Or would I have to make 3 separate payments of $30 or more each time?
By the way what's the difference from the sim for tablets and phone? They look and seem exactly the same as all have the separations for iPhone 4-6 and normal phones. Just the packing cover I assume?
@Snoovey:
Is my association flagged - absolutely no. Your suggestion is insulting.
I have fought a number of consumer cases, set a precedent in one case. I have given advice to businesses, a Minister of Government, as well as consumers. I have taught consumer awareness & budgeting free of charge for community groups. My loyalty is more for the consumer.