False advertising, lies and delay tactics

I went into Vodacom Emalahleni Saveway Crescent on Tuesday 17 May 2022 with my mother to get a samsung trade in deal (Note 10 Lite for a S22) over 36 months upgrade contract at R350 as per their 6 May 2022 - 6 June 2022 Catalogue which I still have a copy of. The Consultant showed me that the price on the instore system did not match the Catalogue as it reflected at over R500. The manager was called and together with the consultant, they called their respective contacts at head office. I was assured that this issue will be fixed by head office within 24 hours and they would call me. They took down my contact details and a copy of my mother's ID to process the upgrade. I was never contacted by Vodacom.

I decided to call 48 hours later on Thursday 19 May 2022 and follow up, was still told that head office had not resolved the issue. I went into to shop that afternoon to fetch my mother's ID copy as she is an elderly woman who is worried about ***** being perpetrated with it. I was told by a different consultant that they were busy processing the order with head office so I couldn't take the ID copy and they would contact me shortly. It's been over a week and no one has said anything. Today 27 May 2022, I called and was still told the head office and we will call you back. I'm still waiting for that call even today.

It is starting to seem like Vodacom is trying to wait for a stock out or wait out the Catalogue date so that they do not have to process the upgrade. They advertised a product at a price that they are not willing to fulfil. This surely is a contravention of the Consumer Protection Act? Vodacom has gravely inconvenienced me as I had to call and go to the store at my expense and they are giving me the run around. I could've been told that this store couldn't help me on day 1 and I would've swiftly moved on in time to secure this deal at another store that had stock.

I also tried getting help from Vodacom online but it yielded no positive result as I was basically told that different franchises do as they please and have different shop policies. So I guess it is Vodacom Alisom Communications policy to not adhere to the published in store vodacom catalogue and the Vodacom group has no control over their own franchises.