where I am living in Gold Coast has exceptional better services than Telstra and Optus, hence would be useful for my grandparents, time to upgrade :) (usually can save the last 5-6 months of the contract if you talk it out with one of the operator which is a good deal to me)
Referrer & referee receive $25-$50 credit after referee's 3rd monthly bill.
And a 100 visa card discount over 24 months is, like, $4.17 a month. ( So, on a S4, you end up paying over $70 per month AFTER the discounts - 65 plan+10 handset repayments - 4.16 discount)
Unless you are actively looking- you will end up paying for a service that you may not require in toto.( maybe, you want less talk time, more data etc.)
PS: I prefer to buy the mobile outright, and go for a custom plan- but may not suit everyone.
I know it's been said a million times but here goes and doesn't apply for the OP who has already said Vodafone is best for him (I suppose they had to have 1 tower somewhere in Australia, turns out it's the Gold Coast).
Cost for a Galaxy note 3 on 24 month contract $65 plus $10 handset repayments = minimum $1800 over 24 months.
Compare that to Aldi Mobile for 24 months $845 ($35 a month plus $5 for sim) plus a Note 3 from Kogan $671.99(inc shipping) = $1511.99
Now Aldi mobile gives you the Telstra network and an extra gig of data.
What's that I hear the chorus of 4g lovers saying, well look no further than the all mighty Boost same deal but add $5 a month ($120 plus $1511.99 = $1631.99).
Telstra network with and without 4g, same applies for most any phone (although iPhone 5s is the most subsidised even it works out cheaper). In this example you save between $168.01 and $288.01 ($100 gift card brings these fugues down to $68.01 and $188.01 respectively).
This may not seem like heaps over 24 months but you get more data, more flexibility since your not locked in AND you never have to deal with Vodafail.
If Vodafone has your area fully covered (and Telstra as well) in 4G, then wanting 4G is quite a reasonable request.
Boost (and Aldi) does not give you 4G.
The only way to get Telstra 4G is directly through Telstra. They have Galaxy Note 3 for $77/month. 1GB data, $600 calls, unlimited text.
I believe iPhone 5S is most subsidised on Vodafone as well?
Anyway, what you haven't factored in with the Vodafone deal is Vodafone tends to be the only telco that subscribes to the 'cashback' model. Just below the post you can see all the cashback offers available. For contracts with a minimum 24 month costing > $1440, you can get $120 cashback in addition to the $100 Visa.
Also, there's no reason to go on the $65 plan as far as I can see. $60 plan is almost the same, just no unlimited calls — like Telstra.
So that's $70/month - $220 = $60.8/month. On Vodafone 4G. 1.5GB, $700 calls, unlimited text.
Total 24 month cost: $1460 with Australian stock phone (24 month warranty) and 1.5GB 4G data
Boost doesn't give you 4G - unless something has changed recently?
Personally, I would strongly recommend against Vodafone. Even if their network has improved, their customer service has not. Vodafone still have more TIO complaints than any other network.
There are also numerous stories of people getting phones with accounts set up already the forums, Facebook page. As a guess they have a high volume of phones coming back with their network guarantee. There are also stories of them refusing to honour the network guarantee.
My partner is currently dealing with them over a issue with a faulty phone.
-'Repaired' twice, both times simply a reload of the software (once to same version on phone)
-Agreed to send out a refurbished phone, which they changed their mind about, told us to go back to store
-Refused to honour a 3 month warranty on repairs after the contract despite being written on the receipt by Vodafone
-Agreed to send out a refurbished phone again.
-Different departments - social media, call centre, store can't read notes
-Call centre works are rude or not authorised
-Don't return calls when they say they will
It looks like plans $60 and above get a $100 Visa gift card, while plans between $30-$50 get a $50 gift card.