How do the resellers feel about Neotel?

[VMS]

Well, I don't know about the rest but I just came back from an Autopage branch.

This is the same branch where my application was declined several times( I am not going to say which branch or person I spoke to, and if you, X, is reading this, don't worry, I won't split on you). The person I spoke to is their resident tech expert, a real super brain of a guy.

Last month, when I applied, the shop was filled with Neotel ad stuff... People lined up to get Neotel.... me as well.

Today different story. I only saw one (1, uno, ein, een) ...one Neotel poster nearly hidden behind a shelf. They probably missed that one...

When I spoke to X I just mentioned Neotel. I couldn't even finish my sentence when he said: "I do not recommend Neotel for internet". During the course of our quick chat he repeated it a few times. Obviously he could not say anything bad about it as Autopage probably has some watertight agreement with Neotel and they cannot really bad mouth the product. But the message was clear that Neotel is not a recommended method of getting onto internet.


So if the dealers are losing faith then who the hell am I to believe that this thing will ever live up to any promises?

 

[Mars]

Just cancel it dude. I cancelled mine today. Im fedup with them. I stick with them for almost a year hoping it would get better but im over it. I gave them enough time.

+10!

Dump it. I cannot tell you how sick I am of being ripped off.
Once they get their house in order we can look again.

 

[Saajid]

Consider yourself extremely lucky that your application was declined, several times nogal.

As Hiro Nakamura put it, it is a "Godsend".

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Would things have been different had Neotel access to the local loop?

 

[Imoe]

Would things have been different had Neotel access to the local loop?

I don't believe that is an excuse firstly for poor customer service. Give your customers decent feedback. Secondly, if Telkom can deploy wireless technologies, like their Do 3G products, why are Notel having such difficulty in providing decent links.

 

[VMS]

Toxic...

No, I am a persistent mother $%^&*. I just went to a different dealer until Neotel's system gave me clearance. Like a small boy throwing a tantrum saying:"Mommy I want to play with the 220V live wires !!!".

So I am not so lucky. I got it and got burnt.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

I don't believe that is an excuse firstly for poor customer service. Give your customers decent feedback. Secondly, if Telkom can deploy wireless technologies, like their Do 3G products, why are Notel having such difficulty in providing decent links.

Not making any excuses for Neotel, just pointing out that this situation might have been avoided had the local loop been open for competition.

 

[Ice2Cool]

Then cancel it dude?

 

[VMS]

ushir

Yeah, cancelling would be the proper thing to do. But this is like buying a BMW 955i and finding out it only runs on fermented olive oil, which is in low supply, only support is 10th grade metal working students and the helpline is populated by the patients of Weskoppies.

I once bought a camera that looked just like a SLR (young, stupid and would believe anything). It really looked the part but it was infact a common "mik & druk" in a beautiful package. It worked, only just. My parents were with me the day when I spent that hard earned cash. So I didn't return it. I didn't want to make it obvious to them that I was sold a piece of crap. The flex 15GB contract is basically the same. The package looks great, high speeds and huge cap but the inside is basically dialup. So what changed? Not young anymore but still stupid and believing anything.

So, Ushir, I am waiting for my scooter to turn into a dream BMW 955i. Wouldn't it be cool to actually have a router that can do 1 to 2 mbit/s (even 3.1) and have 15G of cap?

 

[Simpleinternet]

Hey everyone

Are guys guys happy with your current ISP?
I converted a couple of clients away from Neotel.
Yeah their packages look good until you put it to the test.

Regards

 

[Arnold1988]

What is so bad about their packages? Surely there is a reason Neotel has been voted best broadband 3 years in a row and is unrivaled when it comes to business internet. Sure, there may be some issues in terms of line of sight issues when applying for microwave coverage etc. but services will not be installed if we cannot ensure adequate service levels. Autopage is closing shop soon and a lot of the bad press has to do with people just wanting to punt a product when they know it might not facilitate the client's needs. Resellers do not have the patience to realise what the customer needs and is just interested in pushing a sale. Either way I am happy with my Neotel services I get from my employer so no issues from my side

 

[agentrfr]

We tried the CDMA a couple years ago and it was quite average. It wasn't 'bad' though. With our LTE nothing but smiles the last 6 months.

 

[SideWinder]

Not defending Neotel, but they choose to go the reseller route to get quick traction in the market. As with anything, you get good and bad sales staff. If you happen to be served by an average Yahoo with "how fast can i move on with this sale" attitude and knowledge (or lack off) of a particular companies products, the bigger the comebacks are going to be, which reflects bad on the company and its products.

I say horses for courses..do your own homework, ask questions. read up.. etc. By the time you walk into a dealer/Walk in Centre, you probably know more that the person behind the counter, and that gives you a position of strength/power.

The only problem that remains is actually fitting your/each need into a product, or the nearest product to suit.

Neotel is probably not for everybody and everybody is not for Neotel. They have been around for less than 10 years. Telkom has been around for ever, and still get it wrong. I would have hoped that Neotel would have a lot more services/coverage etc, but that costs money. Funding/ICASA/CC is holding back the VC deal, which is hurting a company like Neotel in the long run.