Subscribers complain over Smart Freedom Day Sale

Smart is holding a whole-day Independence Day Sale today. This is a nationwide sale for folks who subscribe to their postpaid line, the Smart Freedom Plan. However, reports are coming in from around the country that the sale was in complete chaos and disarray.

We received reports via Twitter, SMS, Facebook, Email and in the blog comments about what’s happening on the ground.

Im the first in SM City Cebu Freedom Booth and no supplies for ip4s, sgs2 and others. Please yuga help us investigate to stop this very irresponsible promotions of smart! I heard of some sort of early reservations but it was very clear from their official site that first come first serve basis. I hope also DTI will look into it! – Ruel Quidato

deception is what they did! pipila ka tapos walang ibibigay na unit dahil checheck muna kung my record ka? anu yun? san ung freedom jan? mga po***!!!! e bayan mo patrol mo na yan pra matauhan yang msart na yan.. lokohan na yan eh… nagka stampede na – Asih Lumah

I was in Galleria and it was crazy. – Pipo del Rosario

10:30am pa lang ubos na mga units, nagkakagulo pa sa pila.. – Gilbert Morallos Cruz

Hi yuga! i believe that smart did this deceptive act to draw a lot of customers. I’m the third customer in their business Center in sm cebu and first sales person who I talked to said they ran out of stocks because of people who reserved yesterday. I didn’t buy into that BS and asked another person who gave me a different answer. Kesyo la pa daw stocks and they did not accept reservations. When I started to voice out, no one could give a straight answer. I asked to speak to their manager and no manager showed up. – Joshua Dungog Dabatos

– With my family in tow at around 9:30 we arrive at Rob Galleria basement 1 parking.
– At exactly 10am people started running I was forced to run as well.
– Running with my slippers on moving escalators was difficult as hell.
– It took 5 escalators to reach Level 4.
– At this almost all people were running for their lives.
– A guard who was not aware of the situation panicked an started to blow his whistle.
– I managed to comtinously run non- stop just to reach the booth.
– To my dismay there were already 50 people in the booth.
– I quickly secured an application form and started operation singit.
– After 3 minutes the smart people announced that the 4s was not anymore available.
– Pissed I continued to observe the scene:
People were mad and shouting at the staff especially the 4th person on the line.
At the back of the booth I can see othe staff from smart openning boxes of iphone 4s as if checking the unit.
– Unless you had access inside you did’nt have a chance of getting the 4s when the doors openned.
– I believe there were only 10 units or less available iphone 4s that time.
– I spent gas, parking, coffee just for nothing. Thanks Smart!

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– from Ric

A friend of mine was at Galleria this morning. Same experience as the above post. A lot of people were angry kasi kahit maaga sa pila, wala ding stocks. Grabe. Diba dapat nirereport ito sa DTI? Sales and promos like this are regulated diba? -biboy

wala po stock mga iphones at samsung sa lahat daw po ng branch ng Smart, ang meron lang daw po mga stocks yung nokia units. pumunta po sister ko sa SM dasma bago magbukas, maaga pa sila pumila ayun pala wala daw po stocks sa lahat, tinawagan mga ibat ibang branches wala daw po! sayang lang ang pagpunta – Alden

10am nag open mall. 1020 out of stock na iphone 4s. Ito ay kahit na wala pa kahit isang unit ang narerelease. I do hope that promos like this are monitored. Ginagawang joke ng smart ang oras at pagod ng mga taong dumayo dito. And sana sites like yugatech wont just publish such ads kahit na bayad sila. Lumalabas kasi ginagamit din ang site sa panloloko ng mga telcos. – anonymous

SOBRANG MAGULO, WALANG SISTEMA. MGA MANLOLOKO LANG. PAASA. SA ARANETA GATEWAY WALA NA DAW UNITS! WALA PA NAMAN NARELEASE. PAN 10 LANG AKO SA PILA,,, WALA NA UNIT! BOOOOO SMART COMM. – anonymmous

I was #6 kanina sa SM Cebu. Wala na daw stock kac few days ago marami na daw nag pareserve. Then confirm pa daw nila ang warehouse if my incoming stock. – Early Bird

i wasted so much time going to smart wireless center cagayan de oro! they said they’re not included kamo sa promo! kakainis i even told them how come na di kasali kayo eh andito ata kayo sa listing since all venues nakasaad for iphone4s promo! malaking kalokohan! – julz

Same here in SM pampanga wala daw stocks ng iPhones and Galaxy Tabs… SHAME SYANG ANG EFFORT! – Used Tindahan New

Same scenario with Smart Business Center at SM City Fairview. As soon as the entire mall opens at 10AM, people were rushing upstairs (as if there’s a marathon of sorts) and the guards were unable to control the crowd. Only to be greeted with a bad news that the coveted units are already “out of stock” due to prior reservations made. – Noel Selarde

Hi Yuga- Just an update. i already contacted DTI and I have been endorsed to their Cebu Office. I will not stop until all victims of this unfair and deceptive business practice is given justice. We Filipinos should fight for our rights and we should not be a victim of this Corporation who’s earning millions in profits from consumers (US) and especially not today which is considered our day of FREEDOM which they used and took advantage of.

P.S. I encourage everyone who were affected by this deceptive campaign to contact DTI Call Center
(+632) 751.3330
(+63917) 834.3330– (if need be, contact your local DTI office)

One voice will be part of the millions.. – Joshua D. Dabatos

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We originally reported this story yesterday based on Smart’s website and while we only posted what is available information, we play no role in whatever marketing strategy the telco was planning. We also apologize to readers if they feel we misled them about this event.