Student Discount -S7/Edge and other new release phones

[Anonymous]

Anyone else think o2's terms and conditions for the student discount is very misleading? I went in the other day to upgrade from my Note 3 to the S7 edge, was nearly all ready to go box in hand when I asked about student discount.

Only then was I made aware that it cannot be applied to new release phones? Which to be honest doesnt even make sense, as the discount is only applied to the airtime bill.

Got home and did a little digging around and I am still not able to see where in o2's terms and conditions does it say the discount cant be applied.

What if ordered the phone online, and didnt try to redeem my discount until after the 14 day period where I could return my phone? Id be stuck in a contract without the discount.

What also doesnt help is if you go to the student offer page o2.co.uk/studentoffer and click 'smartphones on o2 refresh' the first phone you are faced with is the s7 and s7 edge.

Very bad practice I think, misleading to get sales.

[jonsie]

This is usually only applied to iphones when a new model is released but there have been instances where top end phones have been excluded for a couple of months after launch. You could think about a complaint here :

How to complain

[Cleoriff · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous We totally agree about this. Occasionally O2 delay O2 Open on flagship phones but the S7 wasn't mentioned in the terms and conditions.or FAQ's

We had a recent thread running with someone making the same complaint. It was confirmed that it will be applied eventually to the S7 /Edge but can't be added retrospectively......

Edited to add the recent thread..http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Other-Products-Services/O2-Open-Code/m-p/956572/highlight/true#M20747

[Cleoriff]

It isn't excluded on ALL new release phones though. Just certain flagship models which O2 know will sell out on release day whether Open is available or not

[Cleoriff]

This morning I have checked those student offers for a second time to see if there is any change. None whatsoever.

http://www.o2.co.uk/studentoffer

I think the whole process is misleading. It still infers by default that you would get the student discount if you bought the  S7 on Refresh. Good job @Anonymous thought to ask before signing up to the contract...

Obviously a complaint is justified.... though it would be more appropriate if O2 made a clear statement that the discount would not be available on the S7 until xxxxx date....

[MI5]

Yes, as we said yesterday. It's not in the terms so a complaint is wholly justified.

[Curr946]

I'm sure though the T&Cs state they can change or withdraw the offer at anytime without notice. Profiteering 101

[jonsie]

Maximise profits but alienate would-be new and existing customers...

[Bambino]

As I said yesterday in the other thread, this withholding of discounts on flagship phones is primarily based on greed. O2 knows that customers want to be the first to own a flagship phone, and that some will be willing to forego their rightful discount in order to have it. Stock issues have nothing to do with it. If O2 put in an order for more, the manufacturer will supply it. They would still be paid their agreed amount but O2 would have to take the hit by giving immediate discounts. O2, by choice, choose not to, and it's the customer who bears the brunt if they want the phone at release.

[Curr946]

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@jonsie wrote:

Maximise profits but alienate would-be new and existing customers...

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Not anymore than overpricing the flagship handsets in the first place but thats another topic altogether.