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| Thread ID: 43411 | 2004-03-14 04:02:00 | OT: Slap in face for loyalty (Telecom) | |llus|oN (645) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 222439 | 2004-03-14 04:02:00 | Ok, so we all know the adverts on tv where Telecom is trying to lure back customers who have strayed from the fold by offering 25% off their toll calls for six months AND after six months of staying with Telecom $50 off their phone bill. Well having been one of the loyal ones who have never 'strayed' I wondered what they were going to give me. After a lenghtly discussion last night I was told they would give me the 25% off my toll calls FOR THREE MONTHS. "Yeah right!!" I thought and asked to speak to a supervisor. Was told "one would call me tomorrow (sunday) morning". No call by 3pm so I rang them, to be told that the 25% was already in effect and that it was for the full six months. No joy however on the $50 off the phone bill. Same answer from the supervisor who I FINALLY got to talk to. Ok .... so if I want to reap the same rewards as the unfaithful the option is to BE unfaithful. Tomorrow I change to Telstra-clear, or another provider, for a week, then change back (unless they offer the same or better) and get paid the full amount for being a DISloyal customer. Makes a whole lot of sense doesnt it? NOT... What a way to do business. |
|llus|oN (645) | ||
| 222440 | 2004-03-14 04:47:00 | Telecom couldn't give a single toss about those that have stuck with them, after all why should they try to lure you back they are already getting the money from you. <Sarcasm> Most companies respect loyalty but not telecom. I am switching to another provider and intend to switch back just before the April 4th cut off then after six months I'll tell telecom where they can shove their call plans and switch again. I know many people who have stuck with telecom for over a decade, despite being tempted many times to change they decided to remain loyal (myself included) and they feel that the advert by telecom is nothing but a kick in the teeth for all their years of loyalty. Well I say screw you telecom if that's the way you want to treat your loyal customers then I'll take what I can and then bugger off to another provider. I also have no intention of ringing telecom and informing them of my outrage at their lack of respect for their loyal customers, because as far as I am concerned if they are to stupid to see if for themselves no amount of talking with them is going to make them understand. The only thing that will get through to them is the massive exodous of their loyal customers who have just been slapped in the face with a dead fish. |
Odin (227) | ||
| 222441 | 2004-03-14 06:11:00 | I have to agree. The problem is that the concept of loyalty has diminished in the general population. People shop around - why not you might ask? Well there is no reason not to look and gain some knowledge of the choices. But where it goes wrong is that the same people (you and me) expect the local shop to offer free advice, sponsor club newsletters, and give our kids a holiday job. We then decide to buy something and instead of buying locally paying normal retail, order online or drive to another city to do the shopping there. This market view of the world is just natural to the bright new generation of management. Thus the Telecom people don't even think about loyal customers. Perhaps they actually think we are suckers. We am lucky enough to pay three telephone companies (it was four at one time) between work and home. What a mess. I am convinced that we are paying twice at times but sorting it out is impossible. Unhappily the easiest and therefore the most straightforward choice is to return completely to Telecom. Which is why we've done nothing. X-( |
Winston001 (3612) | ||
| 222442 | 2004-03-14 10:48:00 | >The only thing that will get through to them is the massive exodous of their loyal customers who have just been slapped in the face with a dead fish. Are you realy surprised with a company like Telecom that they are prepared to give non loyal customers a better deal. That is why I left them back in the Bell South days |
mikebartnz (21) | ||
| 222443 | 2004-03-14 19:48:00 | Nope not really, but one can hope even in the face of adversity such as telecom :D | Odin (227) | ||
| 222444 | 2004-03-14 20:26:00 | There is a certain irony in this topic being posted on a site run by NZ PC World! I am not sure what the current state of play is because I haven't looked at a renewal notice since I last renewed my sub to NZ PC World, but when I last did a few months ago, a similar situation existed for "loyal customers" . If you were a new subscriber to NZ PC World, you received a free gift (from memory it was an FM radio) . If you were a loyal subscriber, not matter for how long, what did you get when you renewed your sub? As I believe the americans say, zip, nada . . . Now we need another radio in this home like a hole in the head, but that was not the point - new subscribers get something extra, loyal subscribers are taken for granted . It does leave a bad taste in the mouth . John |
John H (8) | ||
| 222445 | 2004-03-14 23:31:00 | Ok ... the update: Rang telstra-clear and the nice lady (well they have to be dont they?) got me all signed up, no problems, at pretty much the same prices as I was gonna get from telecom INCLUDING their 25% discount for six months. Then just before I am about to hang up she throws out the baited hook. For the first two months all NATIONAL toll calls (not to cell-phones) will cost me no more than $1 each for up to two hours (as in they are 'capped'), no matter what time of the day. Now I have to think about whether its even going to be worthwhile bothering going back to telecom just to get a $50 rebate off my phone bill in six months time. I'm already guessing its not. | |llus|oN (645) | ||
| 222446 | 2004-03-15 01:42:00 | I know what you are all talking about, but humbly suggest we minimise vitriol and try to stick to the facts. Winbacks from the opposition is a way to increase market share AND reduce the other guy's - so has a lot of appeal to marketers. What the heck, there's nothing stopping you from being a toll-carrier ****. I went to TCL because I got a Black Caps hat for my kids (I suppose I can go back now for the other deal). My toll bill is tiny so I don't care about who I use. I am pretty sure most PC World promotions will apply to existing customers renewing (even before they are due to end, and they tack 12 months onto the existing). I have checked with subs and this is the case, renewing gets you in the draw and also when they are doing tools, etc, you get those. You don't want the radio, trust me. I specifically recall similar equal treatment of existing subscribers/customers by the Listener, and some banks in their promotions and draws. robo. |
robo (205) | ||
| 222447 | 2004-03-15 01:52:00 | Thanks for clarifying that robo . I didn't want the radio, really! It was just the business ethics behind a promotion not applying to loyal customers and being taken for granted that I found hard to take at the time . It looks like a different deal next time then :-) Now my cellphone is with Vodafone, my ISP is Paradise, and I am moving closer to having a Linux-only environment, and IF ONLY Saturn had come to my suburb of ChCh I could have got away completely from both Telecom and Microsoft! I don't want to get away from NZ PC World robo . . . |
John H (8) | ||
| 222448 | 2004-03-15 02:12:00 | Glad to hear it, John, although some might argue PCW's local market dominance makes us an evil empire. I reckon the key thing is dealing with the big guy is okay if they earn/deserve your business. Nobody makes us buy things we don't need, but you can't really blame companies for products they offer that you don't want. Windows Millennium comes immediately to mind in that class, there are plenty of other examples out there. robo. |
robo (205) | ||
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