Consumers say EE is ‘too expensive’

Consumers are unimpressed with the pricing announced by EE for its forthcoming 4G network today (23 October), with research seen exclusively by Marketing Week suggesting the majority of people believe its tariffs are too expensive.

EE
EE Facebook photo

Less than a third of consumers (28 per cent) are considering signing up with EE to get a faster mobile internet connection after it launches on 30 October, online polling company Usurv found.

The majority of consumers said they believe EE’s tariffs – which range from £36 for a 500MB a month data allowance, increasing to £56 for an 8GB monthly allowance – are too expensive.

More than half of those polled (53 per cent) said the pricing is “far too expensive” and 34 per cent found the pricing options to be “too expensive”. Just one in 10 agreed the tariffs were fairly priced.

Alongside unlimited calls, texts and a 4G data allowance, EE announced it is also offering customers additional services such as EE Film – which will offer customers a free film download or stream from FilmFlex each month, that will not eat into their data allowance – and Clone Phone, which will replace their handset if lost or stolen in 24 hours with all their previous apps, photos and contacts pre-loaded.

Almost two thirds (61 per cent) of respondents to Usurv’s poll, however, said neither of those options would tempt them to upgrade to EE. Of the two add-ons, Clone Phone was the most popular choice, with 33 per cent of people saying it would make them think about upgrading to 4G.

Usurv polled 500 people in the UK on 23 October using its online self-serve tool that sources survey participants through its partner digital publishers’ registered users.

EE made its pricing announcement to consumers and press this morning (23 October), which has prompted hundreds of comments on Twitter and Facebook today from consumers unimpressed with the pricing structure and its proposed data caps.

The company will be releasing more details about other add-ons, such as a music service and live mobile TV channels, in the coming weeks. It will also roll out a multi-million pound multi-media campaign from the end of the month and is rebadging all its 700 Orange, T-Mobile and Everything Everywhere high street stores as it looks to boost awareness about the new network and its capabilities.

An EE spokesman told Marketing Week the company strived to offer tariffs to suit everyone and noted that the average user on its Orange Panther tariff at £36 a month uses 400MB of data, while people on T-Mobile’s Full Monty plan – also £36 – tend to use about 1GB a month.

He added: “The reality is we announced our prices today but our customers have not used 4G yet. We are confident that once people experience 4G first-hand these attitudes will change – at the moment they are making comparisons to what they already have.”

Dominic Baliszewski, telecoms expert at broadbandchoices.co.uk, says consumers disappointed with EE’s announcement today should not forget that its competitors will be launching their own 4G services in 2013.

He adds: “Everything Everywhere has an excellent track record for service but more providers competing for your custom means cheaper prices and better terms for you, so it could be worth waiting a little longer before signing up to speeds that are 5 times faster than 3G.”

EE
Photo posted on EE’s Facebook page 23 October to explain its new tariffs to consumers

Recommended

W13

Meet the young ringleaders

Maeve Hosea

Setting up marquees at air shows and hosting launch parties for games and cookery competitions are some of the tactics companies are using to get out and meet their target audiences of young people and their parents

Mark Ritson

It’s not taxing, just be true to the brand

Mark Ritson

Have some sympathy for Kris Engskov. I would imagine the beleaguered managing director of Starbucks UK spent most of his weekend devising an explanation for why his company has apparently paid virtually no tax in this country despite its 10-figure corporate revenues.