[blindza] Slightly OT: Good/decent/nice service from local cellphone provider
- From: "Jacob Kruger" <jacob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "BlindZA" <blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "NAPSA Blind" <blind@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:25:56 +0200
Just want to say, I am pretty much impressed with service from local vodacom
guys.
Effectively, vodacom direct got hand-to-hand couriers to deliver my new handset
to me last week Monday, and while made configuration changes to it myself, to
start using it etc., which was perfectly reasonable/to be expected, what with
hardware, model, etc. etc., the one issue sort of noticed right off the
bat/from the start was that the battery didn't seem to be acting/reacting
properly - in that, for example, if I left phone on over night, but with
wifi/WLan switched off, etc., the battery would still drain/lose like 40% of
it's power in the space of 6 hours, etc., and a couple of sighted friends told
me they'd had similar issues with roundabout the same model/make, and had been
told that it might have something to do with a specific batch of batteries that
weren't right/lekker, or something, but anyway - what they'd then had to do was
take phone in to an outlet, hand over whole unit, wait like 2 weeks, and then
go fetch it again themselves, etc.
Either way, while didn't really expect much, I initiated the query/complaint
process by filling out the online form roundabout end of last week sometime,
asking for opinions, possible solutions, etc., and explained to them how was
making use of phone, how had initially kept it on charge for like 10 hours,
etc., and that had even noticed that if turned it off overnight, it would still
lose like 15-20% of it's charge, which was a definite bad sign.
Anyway, first, initial response sort of also requested me to take it in to an
outlet, to then have it sent off to technical workshop for testing, etc., but I
replied to that one telling them that while could try make a plan, it wouldn't
really suit me, since transport was an issue for me, due to being VI, stating
that had already made configuration changes to phone involving getting the
talkBack android screen reader software to operate, etc. etc., and just
primarily explaining to them that, while hadn't as such requested this handset
via their specific needs department, I was in fact a specific needs customer,
etc., but anyway.
Either way, aside from a couple of e-mail responses, I did also get a phone
call from the vodacom direct representative near end of week, and he offered to
have a full replacement unit sent round, and told me I could then just ask the
courier/delivery guy to wait while I swapped batteries, and then let them take
the whole, slightly newer unit, but with the original battery away again, and
guy had phoned me directly from his own number, and told me to save it, and if
necessary contact him when the courier arrived if any specific explanation
needed to take place regarding the situation/explanation at the time.
Anyway, when courier, who was same person who had delivered original unit last
week brought full new unit round today, in sealed box, etc., he told me he'd
just been told to drop off unit, and possibly take away whole original unit,
again, but he was quite comfortable/prepared to wait while I phoned the vodacom
representative for any form of confirmation, and when I got hold of him, he
told me that he'd discussed it with his supervisor, and they wanted me to
actually keep both units for now, and firstly test/try out new battery in old
handset, but if it didn't behave better then, I could/should try out possibly
both separate batteries in both units, and see if either combo reacted/behaved
better, and they would thehn make yet another courier arrangement to come and
fetch whatever combination of hardware I didn't need to keep, etc. roundabout
early next week sometime.
In other words, instead of asking me to make arrangements to go drop off whole
unit at an outlet for it to then be sent away to a technical workshop, and then
make another arrangement again to collect it, they've brought me another full
set of components, and told me it's perfectly OK with them if I test/try out
components from both sets in different combo's to see if it works better either
way, and they will then, again make arrangements to collect all extras, and the
guy just asked me to, please, lock away all extras while they might just be
lying around here at my place, inbetween.
And, like said, while mentioned blindness, etc. to them, am pretty sure this
has all been handled by vodacom direct/upgrades department themselves, and it's
just really impressive/nice that they're prepared to make the effort, sort of
under their own initiative, etc.
Lastly, not really related, but during one support call relating to something
rather unrelated to this battery issue, but also sort of relating to this
handset early last week, it turned out that the general customer service
representative I was chatting to is actually a personal friend of the VI/blind
member of parliament, and we ended up just talking slightly off topic for a
short while about a couple of small things related to blindie
lifestyle/behaviours, etc., but anyway.
Anyway, what it comes down to is that, yes, I am quite impressed with the whole
approach/effort made by vodacom overall, but anyway.
Stay well
Jacob Kruger
Blind Biker
Skype: BlindZA
'...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...'
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- » [blindza] Slightly OT: Good/decent/nice service from local cellphone provider - Jacob Kruger
