Consumer

Consumer / Mobile / People / Technology — 2 Comments
2
Oct 09

Thoughts on RICA

If you missed it, a new piece of legislation came into effect in June that requires all cellphone users to register their sim cards. I’m not going to get into why I agree with this and why I don’t, because I have my own views on it’s effectiveness.

However, I will share why I won’t be registering my sim card. In South Africa, identity theft is still a reality yet we are obliged to hand over all of our personal information to anyone who asks for it. I’m quite annoyed by this as I hate filling in documentation, but more importantly I don’t feel comfortable sharing my personal information with just anybody.

In the article, they mention that “all information will kept confidential in a secure database”. I would like to question how secure that database is if I can go to numerous outlets around the country to register. If it is so secure and confidential, then what happens if I need to update my information? How does someone at one of these outlets assist me? If they can retrieve and update my information, then I don’t trust the system because there are thousands of outlets and thousands of people who can access this information.

I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit and this is what I think is going to happen in 18 months when the registration window expires for existing sim cards. All the major mobile operator networks (Vodacom, MTN and Cell C) will submit a letter to government stating that they cannot de-active the sim cards that have not registered due to the large quantity and the effect it will have on their business. We will be granted an extension period.

What are your thoughts on RICA?

Consumer — 5 Comments
26
Feb 08

Customer Service – It Needs To Change

Customer service is probably one of the most important aspects of a business. In South Africa, customer service levels are appalling. If your call gets answered within 5 minutes of holding, you would consider yourself lucky and be some what satisfied that you didn’t have to be on hold forever.

I think we as South African have become increasingly lenient on the companies we deal with. I for one am sick of holding on a line for over an hour to reach someone on the other end who doesn’t have a clue about or how to help me. Customer service is at the level it currently is because we have come to accept it. We need to start demanding better service and fast.

As a customer, over the last few months I have had some of the worst service from South Africa’s top businesses. In future, this what I want and how I would like to be treated as a customer, because I will demand it.

  • Proper Explanations, Including The Fine Print
    I want to know exactly what I am getting for my money and I want you to explain it to me well. If you can’t answer my questions, find me someone who can and do it immediately. We as consumers should never settle for an “I am not sure“.
  • Go The Extra Mile
    If I have a problem, I want it sorted out yesterday. I want answers, I want a solution. When I ask for service, I want you to jump and give it to me. I payed you didn’t I? Even if I don’t call you, you can still call me! Think of me as repeat business.
  • Less Attitude, More Action
    Cut the crap attitude please, it’s not my fault you’re getting 1 000 calls an hour. It’s your fault for not making something that should just work and not break. If you are the unfortunate person who works in a call centre or deals with unhappy customers often, think of yourself as one of the most important people in the company. Your attitude determines the level of customer service and whether or not those customers will return.

I think that is most of my rant over. I think it’s valid. You don’t always have to buy your customers little gifts to show them they are important, you just need to do your job and do it well.

Consumer — 21 Comments
8
Nov 07

Why I Won’t Buy Apple

Update: It’s been about 10 months since this article was posted. Since then, Apple has brought the iPhone 3G to South Africa and I am now a happy Macbook and iPhone 3G user. I also have a normal HP laptop and Nokia N95. I have the best of both worlds now.

Apple has been one of my favourite brands for quite some time now. I own an iPod, which I was going to upgrade after reading this iPod Touch review. I was also going to purchase a Macbook Pro this December. A lot of my peers in the online industry use Macbooks and some really popular bloggers I follow use them too. I was worried about the transition from PC to Mac, but now I don’t because I am going to buy a Dell Vostro (thanks Mike).

Ever since the launch of the iPhone I have been waiting patiently for them to announce its arrival in South Africa. I was really disappointed this morning when I found out that Apple HQ in the States has decided not to distribute the iPhone in South Africa. I wanted to have an iPod, an iPhone and a Macbook to create the perfect Apple setup. I wanted to have 3 devices that could communicate with ease and become a part of my lifestyle.

Guess what Apple, my iPod and iPhone will be replaced by a snazzy Nokia N95 which actually has 3G unlike your useless iPhone. It also has a 5 megapixel camera (3 more megapixels more than the iPhone) and a GPS, take that! I don’t need to use your not so new touch screen because Nokia uses cutting edge technology, buttons! Every time I use my new Nokia N95 I will smile, because I know I can use my device freely, because a real device has no limits.

Update: Created a Facebook group to see if there are people in South Africa who want Apple to bring the iPhone here, join over here: Apple – Bring iPhone To South Africa