I have just bought a 2nd hand 3G data card (Huawei E620) off the MyBroadband classifieds. Previous owner got it last year sometime and it turns out it's still network locked.
I read the post here which says I should just take it to a VodaCare shop to have it unlocked.
My nearest Vodacare shop is Sandton City, so off I go during my lunch hour. I wait 10 minutes in the queue (Funny how you always have to queue at the Service Dept., but never at the Sales Dept.)
Eventually I get to the front of the queue and (surprise, surprise) completely blank looks from everyone at the desk.
It's as if they've never seen a 3G data card in their lives before! Auw, what is this shiny metal thing you wave at us?
Finally, one of them points to someone standing at the Sales Desk and says I should ask him because he's the '3G technician'. Apparently '3G technician' is the the only one with enough magic Voodoo to deal with the shiny metal thing.
The '3G technician' is busy setting up someone else's 3G modem, so I wait; and wait; and wait; and wait; and ......................... wait a little bit longer.
Half an hour later and '3G technician' is almost done setting up the modem, at which point he says to his friend behind the counter that he's going out for his lunch hour after he's finished setting it up.
Um, NO! I been waiting for longer than half an hour and before you leave you're telling me how to unlock my card.
So before he gets to the door I ask him about unlocking the card. "I don't know about unlocking the card, go stand in the VodaCare queue and ask them", is his reply.
So, right then, I started getting a teensy-weensy bit angry, and just to make sure that we're both on the same page I make sure that '3G technician' knows that I'm starting to get a teensy-weensy bit angry and that if he moves any closer to the door that maybe I'm going to start getting 'BIG MotherF@cker Screaming and Shouting' Angry.
'3G technician' pauses; thinks; strategises; and ultimately makes, what I considered to be the rather intelligent decision of retreating into the back room where the other technicians are hidden away to find out a little bit more about this rumoured, possibly mythical, network unlocking software.
He emerges a while later; "Sorry, I didn't know you were talking about THAT network unlocking software, I thought you maybe you meant some other network unlocking software."
So now, teensy-weensy bit angry is a thing of past. Now, I'd say slightly seething angry was a more appropriate description of my state of mind.
"We do have THAT unlocking software, but the unlocking codes they sent us don't work so you'll have to go to VodaWorld in Midrand."
OK, so now slightly seething angry is a distant memory, 'On the verge screaming at someone ' sums up the situation better.
"Can I speak to the Store Manager?"
"Sorry, he's left for the day (it's 2:30PM); and don't get angry with me because we can't help you."
And right here, I do feel the need to take a pause and swear; with my right on the appropriate biblical text and my left hand pointed to the heavens that "Yes, the actual words that came out of his mouth were 'don't get angry with me because we can't help you'".
Remember that 'BIG MotherF@cker Screaming and Shouting' Angry that I spoke about earlier, about now is when it kicks in.
So in summing up, I'm glad to say that each of the Sandton City Vodacom staff (including Mr. 'Don't get angry with me'); all of the 20 or so customers milling around the store and most the Sandton City shoppers within (shouting) distance of me; are now all aware of the fact that:
-I don't appreciate Vodacom staff lying to me to get out of doing their job.
-I think their customer service is absolutely shocking.
-I'm glad I'm not a Vodacom subsciber.
-If they were considering becoming Vodacom subscribers that they should probably all get used to being treated like crap for the next two years until they could get out of their contract.
In case you were wondering; Yes, it really is quite satisfying having a good, loud shout at the top of your voice to shake off the frustration of having to deal with there completely ignorant and incompetent idiots, I highly recommend it.
And finally, Thank You Vodacom; seriously. My contract is up for renewal at the end June and you've made the choice so much easier. Now I only have to decide if I stay with CellC or if I move to MTN. So much simpler now that you're not in the running any more.
I read the post here which says I should just take it to a VodaCare shop to have it unlocked.
My nearest Vodacare shop is Sandton City, so off I go during my lunch hour. I wait 10 minutes in the queue (Funny how you always have to queue at the Service Dept., but never at the Sales Dept.)
Eventually I get to the front of the queue and (surprise, surprise) completely blank looks from everyone at the desk.
It's as if they've never seen a 3G data card in their lives before! Auw, what is this shiny metal thing you wave at us?
Finally, one of them points to someone standing at the Sales Desk and says I should ask him because he's the '3G technician'. Apparently '3G technician' is the the only one with enough magic Voodoo to deal with the shiny metal thing.
The '3G technician' is busy setting up someone else's 3G modem, so I wait; and wait; and wait; and wait; and ......................... wait a little bit longer.
Half an hour later and '3G technician' is almost done setting up the modem, at which point he says to his friend behind the counter that he's going out for his lunch hour after he's finished setting it up.
Um, NO! I been waiting for longer than half an hour and before you leave you're telling me how to unlock my card.
So before he gets to the door I ask him about unlocking the card. "I don't know about unlocking the card, go stand in the VodaCare queue and ask them", is his reply.
So, right then, I started getting a teensy-weensy bit angry, and just to make sure that we're both on the same page I make sure that '3G technician' knows that I'm starting to get a teensy-weensy bit angry and that if he moves any closer to the door that maybe I'm going to start getting 'BIG MotherF@cker Screaming and Shouting' Angry.
'3G technician' pauses; thinks; strategises; and ultimately makes, what I considered to be the rather intelligent decision of retreating into the back room where the other technicians are hidden away to find out a little bit more about this rumoured, possibly mythical, network unlocking software.
He emerges a while later; "Sorry, I didn't know you were talking about THAT network unlocking software, I thought you maybe you meant some other network unlocking software."
So now, teensy-weensy bit angry is a thing of past. Now, I'd say slightly seething angry was a more appropriate description of my state of mind.
"We do have THAT unlocking software, but the unlocking codes they sent us don't work so you'll have to go to VodaWorld in Midrand."
OK, so now slightly seething angry is a distant memory, 'On the verge screaming at someone ' sums up the situation better.
"Can I speak to the Store Manager?"
"Sorry, he's left for the day (it's 2:30PM); and don't get angry with me because we can't help you."
And right here, I do feel the need to take a pause and swear; with my right on the appropriate biblical text and my left hand pointed to the heavens that "Yes, the actual words that came out of his mouth were 'don't get angry with me because we can't help you'".
Remember that 'BIG MotherF@cker Screaming and Shouting' Angry that I spoke about earlier, about now is when it kicks in.
So in summing up, I'm glad to say that each of the Sandton City Vodacom staff (including Mr. 'Don't get angry with me'); all of the 20 or so customers milling around the store and most the Sandton City shoppers within (shouting) distance of me; are now all aware of the fact that:
-I don't appreciate Vodacom staff lying to me to get out of doing their job.
-I think their customer service is absolutely shocking.
-I'm glad I'm not a Vodacom subsciber.
-If they were considering becoming Vodacom subscribers that they should probably all get used to being treated like crap for the next two years until they could get out of their contract.
In case you were wondering; Yes, it really is quite satisfying having a good, loud shout at the top of your voice to shake off the frustration of having to deal with there completely ignorant and incompetent idiots, I highly recommend it.
And finally, Thank You Vodacom; seriously. My contract is up for renewal at the end June and you've made the choice so much easier. Now I only have to decide if I stay with CellC or if I move to MTN. So much simpler now that you're not in the running any more.
