topic Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card. in Get Support

Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

aciccone — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 10:14:32 GMT

Just an FYI to Public Mobile. I went to purchase a SIM card today to activate a new phone for a family member. The closest retailer was MEGA MART at

2104 54 AVE SW CALGARY AB. I was told that I was not able to purchase a card unless they activated it at the store. This is not what is advertised by Public Mobile on the corporate website. I am under the understanding that I purchase the card at the retailer and activate it myself. I had to go to three other stores to find a card as apparently there is short stock around the city. I did finally get one and the guy had no issues selling it to me. I'm not one to complain, I just want to make sure that there is clarity between all retailers and customers; to avoid any confusion in the future.

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

Dunkman — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 03:46:42 GMT

@aciccone

Retailers are suppose to sell you the SIM card without activation. Dealers get a commission when they activate a SIM card for a customer. It is hard for Public mobile to control independent dealers.

You can leave a review for that particular store.

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/store-locator

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

ShawnC13 — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 04:30:28 GMT

It is unfortunate that you have experienced this. As mentioned it is hard for PM to control the retailers as many operate the same way and say they can't just sell a sim card. Glad that you did find one and I hope the at-home activation went smoothly

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 04:54:37 GMT

@aciccone : Welcome to PM. If you used a referral code at activation then you should see the $10 credit before 3 days but usually overnight.

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

TheGx — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 04:58:48 GMT

@aciccone :Thank you for warning everyone here about this, the more people that avoid that place the better.

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

darlicious — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 07:21:38 GMT

@aciccone

That is unfortunate....but it is common place in retail locations that are big and end in "mart". Generally speaking many pm customers have had very good experiences activating or just buying a sim card at London drugs, TMS and Wow mobile to name a few.....reviewing your retail experience at MegaMart will help pm evaluate tbeir retail partners when it comes to renewing their partnerships.

But you made it, you are here now so.....Welcome to public mobile!

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

stevenanto — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 08:36:41 GMT

I think it also depends on the person at the counter as well. Most of them just want easy work and no headaches. I remember when I was looking to move to PM I went to the local walmart and the first associate had to ask a second slightly older associate if I could purchase PM sim card. In the end they said that they dont like to sell them because they have had too many problems upon activation (which in a way is true) but then they went on to telling me about other companies and their affordable plans lol.

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

HALIMACS — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 11:10:05 GMT

Good info, @aciccone

It is true that these places make money off activations, not just selling the SIM card.

I would suspect that they will continue to carry the SIM card as part of their broader relationship with TELUS.

I've had great success purchasing and receiving SIM cards through canadiancellsupplies.com PLUS they frequently discount their SIM cards for anywhere from $1 to $3 and there is no shipping nor minimum purchase limit.

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

Meow — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 14:15:07 GMT

Get PM SIM on eBay for a $0.99 or less with free shipping from Canadian seller. Catch is, they will provide you with SIM number, you have to activate it using their referral code and then they will send SIM to you.

I can refer you to reliable seller (I do not sell anything on eBay) if you wan to go that route.

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

Yummy — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 14:20:22 GMT

@Meow wrote:
Get PM SIM on eBay for a $0.99 or less with free shipping from Canadian seller.

I can confirm it works exactly as described. Received my SIM in 3 days!

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

HALIMACS — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 14:23:25 GMT

@Meow wrote:
Get PM SIM on eBay for a $0.99 or less with free shipping from Canadian seller. Catch is, they will provide you with SIM number, you have to activate it using their referral code and then they will send SIM to you.
I can refer you to reliable seller (I do not sell anything on eBay) if you wan to go that route.

@Meow @Yummy

I suppose if you're desperate to get one, sure. However giving the referral to someone else as a condition to purchasing a SIM card is not something I'd ever do.

The OP should get one themselves and give someone they know (family, close friend) that $1.00/cycle referral bonus for as long as they're a customer.

Why pad someone else's pocket?

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

darlicious — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 15:25:29 GMT

@Meow @Yummy

Better yet order tne $50 plan from CCS discounted by 50% ($25) and recieve a free sim card in the mail 5 business days later. Combine it with the current pm second 30 days free promo and a scheduled plan change to the $15 plan and you will get unlimited calling/texting and 8.5gb of data for your first 30 days and 5 more months of service ($15 plan) all for $30.....or about $5/30 days!! And you can still use your friend's referral code!

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

Smile24x7 — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 23:10:57 GMT

@darlicious Can you tell me more on how to get the scheduled plan (of $15) for 5 months for $3”? I couldn’t follow through what you explained there..

Thanks a lot!

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

darlicious — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 00:00:59 GMT

@Smile24x7

Heres the lowdown....order the $50 plan from Canadian Cell supplies. They offer a 50% discount ($25) on your first month and a free sim card. Either have them activate it upon ordering or wait for it ti arrive in the mail (5 business days via Canada post.) If you intend to activate after recieving the sim card make sure you confirm with them that you will still qualify for the second 30 days free promotion if activating thru them after March 31st and make sure you have registered your email for the promo on pm's website. Then follow the CCS procedure for them to activate the sim card.

Once you are all set upon the $50 plan schedule a plan change (preferably after you recieve your $50 plan credit but you may have to wait til your renewal to recieve it so schedule it on day 29 if necessary) to the plan you want...$15 plan? If so the math will work out as follows :

You pay CCS $25+tax and recieve a free sim card and the $50/8.5gb plan. Pm will credit your account $50+$10 (bonus referral credit)+$4 ($2+$2=$4 autopay reward)=$64 You change to the $15 plan on your first renewal. $64-$15=$49+$2 (autopay)=$51-$15=$36+$2=$38-$15=$23 $23+$2=$25-$15=$10+$2=$12 You add $3 to your account=$15-$15=$0 That will cover your 6th month of service. Total cost for your first 180 fays of service is $25+$3=$28+tax depending on your provincial tax rate the total cost will range between $29.40 to $32.20.

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

Smile24x7 — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 23:54:25 GMT

Thank you @darlicious , you’re genius 😃

but do we know for sure the second month free promo from PM will be in credit balance of $50?

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

darlicious — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 00:04:23 GMT

@Smile24x7

The conditions of the promotion regarding your question are as follows :

The credit value that you will receive will be equal to the price of the rate plan on which you activated your SIM card. This credit will cover the rate plan cost only. It will not cover additional costs such as Add-Ons.

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

Smile24x7 — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 04:45:09 GMT

Thank you @darlicious !
I couldn’t find it anywhere on the PM’s reward rules page, but I do hope this works 🙏🏻

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

darlicious — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 05:14:54 GMT

@Smile24x7

Your welcome. I chatted with the owner to clarify some things. They are very friendly and if you order the sim won't get mailed til monday morning so contact him tomorrow for any additional questions on his end of the activation.

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

cellphoneuser1 — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 06:52:09 GMT

@Smile24x7 Information about the free service offer won't be on the reward rule help page. Rewards are discounts given during renewals from autopay, referrals, community participation, and loyalty.

Re: Retailer refused to sell me a SIM card.

Smile24x7 — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 04:23:54 GMT

Many thanks you two @darlicious & @cellphoneuser1 !

@darlicious yeap the owner is very nice! Thanks to you, my purchase was smooth. The CCS owner called to make sure I am aware of the deadline and will help me activating 😊