M1 sales gimmick

M1 sales gimmick
Home > ST Forum > Online Story Oct 18, 2007
$0 deal for cellphone advertised, but told only at shop counter that a trade-in was involved

I HAD wanted to apply for a new line with M1 for a while. But so far all the prices of those mobile phones I am looking for are higher than those offered by StarHub (I had not compared them with SingTel because the customer service hotline is difficult to get through).

However, on Saturday, Oct 13, I saw an advertisement by an M1 exclusive distributor that has a $0 deal for the new model Nokia 6500 classic (The Straits Times, Page 2).
This was cheaper than what was offered by StarHub on Page 9. At the same time, there was a big advertisement by M1 on Page 19 boasting the lowest price for this phone.
I thought this was a good time to get one and, despite the anticipated weekend crowd, I made my way to the M1 shop at Parkway Parade. But to my disappointment, it seemed that the advertisements were merely a sales gimmick.
The $0 deal was applicable only if you trade in a $300 phone. I was told that it was in the fine print. I went back home and looked through the advertisement again but nowhere could I find this condition, even in fine print. Are such sales gimmick acceptable?
Lynn Chua Say Khiang (Ms)
http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_167945.html