iBurst Resellers ???

W

Wino

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Good day
I wanted to get an iBurst connection before I even looked at ADSL. My gripe is the following:

every reseller I phoned could not give me reliable information on my possible signal strength although from their coverage maps they can say it is good - this is fair enough, however when I said I would pay cash on the spot if they come to my house and demonstrate the signal strength, they insist I pay a R300 call out fee.

I absolutely dont see the point of this, some of these guys are less than 8km from my house and why should I pay them to sell me a product?

Do iBurst resellers want new customers?
 
Wino said:
Good day
I wanted to get an iBurst connection before I even looked at ADSL. My gripe is the following:

every reseller I phoned could not give me reliable information on my possible signal strength although from their coverage maps they can say it is good - this is fair enough, however when I said I would pay cash on the spot if they come to my house and demonstrate the signal strength, they insist I pay a R300 call out fee.

I absolutely dont see the point of this, some of these guys are less than 8km from my house and why should I pay them to sell me a product?

Do iBurst resellers want new customers?
Click to expand...

I understand they would charge you a call out fees. Imagin everyone wanted a demonstration. They would not get work done. Even though I think 300 bucks is a bit steep.

Why dont you go to them and let them demontrate .If they only 8km away... You should be able to pick it up in your area. I live in a very montain like area my signals are are up and down in the late afternoon and early morning. Otherwise I get a 80% signal strength.
 
Sure, but let me clarify - the fee is ridiculous in the first place, it doesnt need to be so expensive especially considering the fact that I am within 10 KM of their office, and there is nothing for the rep to do when he gets here other than switch on his laptop etc.

Why cant they deduct the fee if I accept their product?
 
Which company is this???

I would seriously suggest this company
FUSION REACTOR

http://www.fusionreactor.co.za/content/home/home.cfm

Speak to Bill Hogan there he's got a extremely comprehensive idea about the connection and signal strengths in the areas.

Plus they have a policy that they will re-emburse you within 7 days of discontent

:D
 
In my past experience with a couple of resellers. The deal was this.

1. If a reseller could not get a GOOD signal then he would not charge the R300.
2. If he did get a good signal on his laptop using the modem only and you decided to sign up then they don’t charge the R300.
3. However, if he does get a good signal and you don’t sign up then he will charge you.

I understand the fee is totally wrong. However, you do need to get it checked out. I would not trust the maps at all, as it all comes down to 'line of sight' whether you are in a good area or not, and in my case, how many concrete buildings and small valleys you may just live in or around.

When he does come round make sure he tests it indoors and in the room where you would be working. Also play around on the internet and make sure the signal is stable.

Try to negotiate on the above points the reseller may be willing to come to an agreement and help you out. If not ring around there is always someone better that will help. They are there to make money and work for you, don’t let them push you around with 'call out' charges.

If you don’t want to use the reseller option and feel they are thieves, why not go to Hi-Fi corp and buy a modem? Test the reception out for yourself. I'm sure those guys have a returns policy that you can utilise should you not be able to get a signal (please check yourself on the returns policy, I'm a little vague on this).

If you do get a signal then great and you've saved R300.
 
Fishfly
The company is RSAWeb.
They do have a 7 days return policy though, its just the call out fee that I am irritated about considering they wont refund it even if the signal is weak!
The guy I spoke to (Travis) didnt seemt o care either which way.

I will try the reseller you have suggested - thanks.

Andytl5
Excuse my ignorance, but can I jsut buy a modem from HiFi-Corp, set it up and then get a valid idea of signal strength even though I am not surfing etc?
 
You are totally correct. When you buy a modem from Hi-fi Corp you will have to sign up with Iburst. I have a month-to-month contract. There is normally a cooling off period where once you 'sign on' you can 'sign off' just as easily especially if there is no signal.
Of course you'll need to ring Iburst about that and check the cooling off period and returns policy. I would have thought if you pay for a service and cant get it then you can return it, since its not your fault. You can also claim that the map you used showed your area as having signal, but when you got home you couldn't pick one up!

Personally I don't care for resellers and I'm tight with money so I did it myself (through Hi-Fi corp) and it paid off.

This kind of approach worked for me when i bought Vodacom's 3G pack, they accepted my excuse that there was no reception (which was true) and let me return it. I then went and bought Iburst and fortunately it did work just fine. However, I then moved into an area with low signal. I had a UTC card, and bitched down the phone that it did not work and picked up a poor signal, they then sent me a UTD and I sent back the UTC. The UTD is far more powerful and I have a great signal now.
 
Problem with Hi-Fi corp is the fact that you need to pay what R2800 - or is it R2300 nowdays - upfront... Personall I'd hate to have something that I paid upfront and not have it working...

First try this company and if not then find someone near your area that's willing to bring his/her modem over to your place :D
 
Agreed fishfly

HiFi-Corp in Goodwood didnt answer their phone for the first half hour I tried phoning them, and then when they did, the guy I spoke to didnt know what the policy was regarding their iBurst modems. He said maybe I could get a Cr Note, maybe cash back - didnt know and didnt offer to find out either.

When I asked the RSAWeb guy if he could look up some clients in my area so I/he could contact them and maybe get them to come around and check my signal strength, once again he wasnt remotely interested!!!!
(Thank you Travis)
 
There are resellers who offer free demos, free, no-obligation signal test and free delivery. Just look for them.
 
Hey Wino

A company called i-wi solutions come to you at no cost. At the end of the day if they find good signal and sign you up, you become one of their customers anyway. If they don't find decent signal, it's good for them, cos' they know in the future that with the current towers, there isn't signal in your area. Unfortunately, they only operate in Gauteng at the moment.
 
One of the reasons that some resellers charge may be that they have had the experience of doing a successful test and then finding out that the prospect has purchased / signed up with WBS or one of the other box droppers (or has bought a second-hand device). Charging R300 and then giving it back on delivery of the modem is a way of locking in a prospect.
 
I would like to share my experience of a reseller which I can recommend anytime. I contacted Jaco Greyling from Nanonet in July 2005. He was at my place in minutes (I live in Montana Park, his business is in Queenswood). He brought a brand new modem, installed the software, used his own login details and I was online in no time at all.

I paid for the modem on the spot, Jaco did the admin while at my place and within 30 minutes I had my own login. By the time he had left, I was on the go. Jaco also did the same for some people I referred to him and they had the same excellent service. For one such person he drove out all the way to Northcliff. The callout did not cost me a thing and I am extremely happy with the service.

So, if you are in the Pretoria area, give Jaco a call. In fact, minutes before posting this I referred another of my clients to him.
 
@Wino

I noticed on IBurst's map that our area is totally excluded in terms of coverage. Does that mean there is no coverage/minimal coverage and they're not willing to guarantee anything? Also, did any of the installers hint at putting up an antenna for reception or would the normal one do?
 
APG sometimes you might be luckily but sometimes not...

But don't disregards Iburst as yet... seems as tho there are at lease 2 new towers going up every week!!!

So you might get some sort of connectivity now but in a months time you might get full signal! :D
 
Wino,

Pitty that I'm going to Wilderness tomorrow (Flying from JHB), cos I could've driven out to your place and test your signal. I'm just an user of Iburst not reseller. After that we could've gone to Blowfish for some sushi!!

:)
 
APG said:
@Wino

I noticed on IBurst's map that our area is totally excluded in terms of coverage. Does that mean there is no coverage/minimal coverage and they're not willing to guarantee anything? Also, did any of the installers hint at putting up an antenna for reception or would the normal one do?
Click to expand...

Not sure APG - The map I looked at did have some coverage for Sunset Beach, and then Milnerton Lagoon, so it looks like we are covered. Depending on the signal strength though which is very particular to your own location, they will advise about teh extra antennae.

cheers
 
Swoosh said:
Wino,

Pitty that I'm going to Wilderness tomorrow (Flying from JHB), cos I could've driven out to your place and test your signal. I'm just an user of Iburst not reseller. After that we could've gone to Blowfish for some sushi!!

:)
Click to expand...

Thanks Swoosh, hopefully I'm sorted before your trip ends, or else I might give you a shout.
I did take someones advice further up this thread and phoned fusionreactor, and they are sending soemone out to test the signal. They were very good in their prompt manner of reply etc and I hope it worls out.
 
@ Wino

Would you let us know how the signal test went... I still have time to cancel ADSL and go for IBurst then!
 
APG said:
@ Wino

Would you let us know how the signal test went... I still have time to cancel ADSL and go for IBurst then!
Click to expand...


Sure can
In fact you can contact fusion reactor, ask for Pierre - if he's coming out to test at my house he can test at yours as well. Good business for him as well.
 
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