Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Promotional Offers and Freebies for Globe Subscribers

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9, upon its release, was accompanied by a variety of promotional offers designed to incentivize purchase through specific channels. For consumers in the Philippines looking to acquire the device via Globe Telecom, the available incentives included bundled freebies and specific plan structures. These promotions were available during the pre-order period and through postpaid contract options. The device itself was priced starting at PhP 55,990 for the 128GB variant and PhP 75,990 for the 512GB variant.

Pre-Order Incentives and Bundled Freebies

During the pre-order phase, Samsung offered specific freebies depending on the model of the Galaxy Note 9 purchased. These offers were available through official Samsung retail channels and partner stores.

128GB Model Freebies: Customers who pre-ordered the 6GB+128GB variant had the choice of one of the following free items:
- Gear Fit2 Pro
- Gear IconX
- Galaxy Tab A
512GB Model Freebie: The premium 8GB+512GB model, which was a pre-order exclusive, came bundled with a free 2018 Samsung 32-inch Smart TV.

These pre-order offers were valid from August 11 until August 19. Participating retail partners included Abenson, MemoXpress, Argomall, Lazada, and Shopee.

Globe Postpaid Plan Offerings

Globe Telecom offered the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 under its postpaid portfolio. Specific details regarding the plan pricing, data allocations, and included services were available for subscribers.

ThePLAN 1499 Details

Globe’s ThePLAN 1499 was one of the specific plans highlighted for the Galaxy Note 9. The breakdown of this plan included:

Total Monthly Fee: PhP 2,799 (comprising the plan cost of PhP 1,499 and a device fee of PhP 1,300).
Contract Period: 24 months.
Total Cost over Contract: PhP 67,176.
Device Cashout: PhP 31,200, which is amortized over 24 months at PhP 1,300 per month.

Included Services and Data

Under ThePLAN 1499, subscribers received the following connectivity and entertainment benefits:

Calls: Unlimited calls to Globe and TM numbers.
Texts: Unlimited texts to all networks.
Mobile Data: 8GB of data allowance.
Music Streaming: An additional 1GB allowance specifically for music streaming.
Entertainment Subscriptions:
- DisneyLife subscription for six months.
- Spotify Premium for three months.

Other Globe Plan Options

While ThePLAN 1499 was detailed for the Note 9, Globe also offered other plan structures for Samsung devices in the past, such as the Unli Surf Plans. For the Samsung Galaxy Note II (an earlier model), Globe provided options ranging from PhP 1,699 monthly (Unli Surf Plan 999 with a cashout) to PhP 2,499 monthly (Unli Surf Plan 2499 with no cashout). These plans historically included unlimited data, varying amounts of consumable balances for calls and texts, and changeable monthly freebies.

Smart Postpaid Comparison

Smart Communications also offered the Galaxy Note 9 (128GB) via postpaid plans, allowing consumers to compare value against Globe.

Plan Name: GigaX Plan 1499.
Total Monthly Fee: PhP 2,799 (Plan PhP 1,499 + Device Fee PhP 1,300).
Total Cost over Contract: PhP 67,176.
Calls: 60 minutes to all networks.
Texts: Unlimited texts to all networks.
Data: 5GB + 10GB for video streaming.

International Promotional Context (U.S. Market)

While the primary focus of the provided data is on the Philippine market via Globe, the source material also details promotional strategies employed in the United States during the Galaxy Note 9 launch. These offers highlight how carriers and retailers sweetened deals with free products and credits.

Carrier BOGO and Trade-In Deals

Major U.S. carriers utilized aggressive tactics to secure subscribers:

Verizon: Offered a "Buy One, Get One" (BOGO) deal where customers could receive a free Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (128GB model) when purchasing another Note 9 on a device payment plan. The device was priced at $41.66/month for 24 months.
AT&T: Matched Verizon with a similar BOGO offer for the Note 9, S9, or S9+. This required a 30-month installment plan (AT&T Next) and included a $30 activation fee.
T-Mobile: Offered up to 50% off the Note 9 via trade-in. Discounts varied based on the trade-in model: $500 for a Galaxy Note 5 or newer (up to Galaxy S7), and $250 for models down to the Galaxy S5.

Retailer and Manufacturer Incentives

Sam’s Club: Provided a $200 gift card with the purchase of a Galaxy Note 9. Restrictions applied, preventing the use of the gift card for membership fees or further discounting the Note 9 purchase price.
Samsung Direct: Samsung offered a free gift bundle for Note 9 purchases. To redeem, users had to download the Shop Samsung app, access the "Work Smarter, Play Harder" offer in the My Inbox section, and register. Eligibility checks required the app to manage phone calls and access contacts. After signing in to a Samsung Account, users could select from two gift options (specific items not detailed in the source).

Conclusion

The promotional landscape for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 varied by region and carrier. In the Philippines, Globe Telecom provided specific postpaid plans like ThePLAN 1499, which included substantial data allowances, unlimited calls to Globe/TM, unlimited all-network texts, and entertainment subscriptions such as DisneyLife and Spotify. Pre-order customers could also select from hardware freebies like the Gear Fit2 Pro or a Galaxy Tab A for the 128GB model, or a 32-inch Smart TV for the 512GB model. Conversely, in the U.S., the market saw widespread BOGO deals from carriers like Verizon and AT&T, trade-in discounts from T-Mobile, and retail incentives such as gift cards from Sam's Club or direct hardware bundles from Samsung.