********** customer service and 'out of stock' Black Friday deal

Hi

On Black Friday I came across a deal for the Nokia 8 Sirocco on uChoose Flexi 165 for R165pm x 24 months along with 5GB data valid for 7 days and a R10 000 TopDog educational voucher. There was no indication that this deal was in limited numbers (a numerical value stating how many deals are left) or out of stock before I started the application and purchasing process, as a new Vodacom client. I completed all the steps (at around 17h00 or 18h00 on 23/11/2018) and on the webpage it was stated 'CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PURCHASE' along with my ORDER DETAILS and reference number. It was also stated that an email and sms will be sent to CONFIRM my purchase. Nothing about documents that must be submitted before my purchase can be confirmed, anywhere on the website or in the Terms and Conditions. Only that I will need my ID and proof of residence to RICA the SIM card on delivery.

Before I got my 'confirmation' sms and email, I paid a visit to the Vodacom website again. I searched for the Black Friday deal, I JUST PURCHASED, and there was still no indication that the deal was in limited numbers or out of stock so I felt assured that I would receive my device.

I then got a call from a Vodacom call center agent who said that I need to submit some documents. At this stage I already left work and I said that I would only be able to submit the documents the following day. She confirmed that this was FINE. I then submitted the documents early the following morning (24/11/2018), ON TIME (I have screenshots and emails to prove that my part of the application, purchasing and confirmation process was completed ON TIME), but I only received a response from the agent 2 DAYS LATER. She called me and told me that she cannot promise me that she will be able to offer me the deal because 'the case was still pending' and that the device was no longer in stock. She gave me the impression that I should just leave everything but I really wanted the deal.

I am extremely upset with and disappointed in Vodacom because, up unto this day, I have not received the phone call that this call center agent promised me. I only received one call from her when she gave me the feeble excuses above and she said she would contact me again.

So what now Vodacom? Will I still get the deal (I noticed that the Nokia 8 Sirocco is being advertised in your latest catalogue, so stock shouldn't be an excuse anymore)? Or offers for a replacement device that is SIMILAR in value to the Nokia 8 Sirocco at the deal price stated above or a SIMILAR price? Surely it is NOT my fault that my purchase was not confirmed by your call center agent before the stock was depleted and the deal became invalid or that you failed to state on your website that I need to submit documents before my purchase could be confirmed. If your call center agent did her job properly and confirmed my purchase when the deal was still valid and when there was still stock available, I could have possibly been using my new device to give Vodacom a positive review. Or if she got back to me earlier, could've purchased another Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal when it was valid.

Before this annoyance I regarded Vodocom as the best South African internet service provider, for their superior cellular coverage and internet speeds, but that opinion has completely changed since.