Virgin Mobile cuts its customer target

Meh, i got a virgin mobile sim that i use to go on the net.

i get a maximum of 15KBps dl rate and 700bytes per second upload, that's with EDGE (they don't have 3g yet, wth). They also started charging 60c/MB just out of the blue. Not to mention the continuous disconnects when you're in a moving vehicle (this is not something i experience with my Vodacom sim card so it's not my phone thats the problem;))

So yeah, one wonders why they're slowly FAILing
 
In the eight months he has been at the helm, Bailey saved R100 million in costs by reducing staff by 40 percent from 400, cutting marketing and advertising spending, and selling the firm's 25 branded Virgin stores.
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A CEO who does that is just fluffing the pillows. In the end it will bite him in the ass.:rolleyes:
 
You know, Virgin Mobile have been really idiotic. They wanted to shake things up, but went about it all wrong.

If you're going to try to attract me to your network, you're going to have to make it worth my while. Why on earth would I move to a network that makes buying airtime the great trek? Their contracts, whilst claiming not to "cover up" charges, are still far less attractive than those of rival networks. Add to that the fact that (albeit it most likely can't be helped) their customers are forced to use the terrible Cell C network and things are simply an epic fail.

They're targeting the wrong people, and when do you ever hear a peep from them? The only time I hear from them is when I walk past their empty Canal Walk store with blaring music emanating from it.

The brand would have been perfect for targeting the huge audience of young people. The virgin brand in itself is seen as "cool," so they should simply have marketed products that would suit young people and maybe they would have done better.

But alas...
 
Only one thing I like about Virgin mobile when compared to other cell providers and that is no pay in.

When the Touch Diamond became available in the country I went to Vodacom who wanted me to take the phone out on a business contract whilst still paying a pay in fee of R2000. Went to Virgin Mobile no pay in fee and I am paying R600 a month for R600 airtime (that carries over) and 1000 free sms's. If it was not for the signal loss problem I would be a very happy camper.
 
Less than 1%? Then why bother? Close your doors now and allow your customers to port to their provider of choice (at Virgin's cost!).
 
Silverlight said:
Meh, i got a virgin mobile sim that i use to go on the net.

i get a maximum of 15KBps dl rate and 700bytes per second upload, that's with EDGE (they don't have 3g yet, wth). They also started charging 60c/MB just out of the blue. Not to mention the continuous disconnects when you're in a moving vehicle (this is not something i experience with my Vodacom sim card so it's not my phone thats the problem;))

So yeah, one wonders why they're slowly FAILing
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They have crap service and customer support.
 
Lydon said:
You know, Virgin Mobile have been really idiotic. They wanted to shake things up, but went about it all wrong.
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I would have considered porting but they had this stupid charge model where the first 5 minutes every day cost X and thereafter it is X-y, where X was the same rate as the other companies.
I don't even make 5 minutes of calls every day because I hate paying the cell companies to much money. I would have gained nothing.
If the lower rate would have applied from the word go I might have ported and used the cell more frequently.

While I don't make many calls, I can notch up to 15 hours per month of calls received. I am sure they would have made some money out of that.
 
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In the eight months he has been at the helm, Bailey saved R100 million in costs by reducing staff by 40 percent from 400, cutting marketing and advertising spending, and selling the firm's 25 branded Virgin stores
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I give them a year and they will be dead.

I could not stand their poor customer service. It was an absolute nightmare. I haven't seen any advertising lately and have pretty much forgotten that they exist. So how are the cuts helping reverse this?
 
Why not give more than one priceplan? I mean. MTN and Vodacom with MTNZONE and Yebo 4 Less gives most of the times during off peak times call rates off less than 20c

Nor Cellc or Virgin Mobile can compare with that! There is just no way! It seems there is a reason why MTN and Vodacom are the leaders!
 
VM is a loss in this country - I also got it for data but their 1 month network access is forcing customers to reload airtime for no reason - I gave mine away with about R160 airtime (the network access expires again early next month)
With VC's new bundles - i'd rather pay more per Mb for decent data access when I need it.
 
It is SAD to see that competition simply cannot exist in the current configuration.
Is this what we want?
Dying competition with Vodacom just getting stronger and stronger while still charging us ludicrous prices?
 
Virgin mobile has brought competition to the stagnant market of South African telecoms. I am glad they came and hope them success in their future endeavors.
 
Virgin Mobile only have themselves to blame, crap customer service on the phone and in stores. I'll be leaving as soon as I can.
 
davemc said:
It is SAD to see that competition simply cannot exist in the current configuration.
Is this what we want?
Dying competition with Vodacom just getting stronger and stronger while still charging us ludicrous prices?
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They are Dying Why... We had 3 contracts with them. 2 expired the Sim cards were suppose to be converted to pre paid never did, they blocked out going calls, we have reference from the East Gate VM that the contracts are expired but that means nothing because they say that the idiot behind the counter at VM in East Gate was not authorized to do it. Yes we are still getting charged every month now with ITC. A Nokia N73 broke after 4 months they want to charge us 4 a new battery. When we complain they say OK give us a copy of the contract we don't have and VM Also does not have so the phone is still there with them 1 year later... We call them we email them we lick there butts and nothing no reply and then they wonder why they have no business. Man I heard the Mr Branson made his tom by coning people... and it sure looks like it because we are getting conned by VM at the moment.
 
adsl3g said:
VM is a loss in this country - I also got it for data but their 1 month network access is forcing customers to reload airtime for no reason - I gave mine away with about R160 airtime (the network access expires again early next month)
With VC's new bundles - i'd rather pay more per Mb for decent data access when I need it.
Click to expand...

It's a pity. When I used them in the UK they were fantastic. But then again it takes Africa to really fsck things up! :(
 
davemc said:
It is SAD to see that competition simply cannot exist in the current configuration.
Is this what we want?
Dying competition with Vodacom just getting stronger and stronger while still charging us ludicrous prices?
Click to expand...

MTN is a much bigger company than Vodacom, so I would hardly see it as "dying competition".
 
and a good part of this mess is from ICASA and IV - The oneness of it all is a hell in waiting, Vukani madodana
 
When virgin started the they were saying all the things I wanted to hear: No hidden charges, no lock ins, true per second, none of the cellular bulls**t...

What happened?!? If they had stuck to this they would be exactly were they want to be. Instead their customer service is the biggest-load-of-horse-tripe-excuse-for customer service I've ever encountered! And slowly but surely they are adding all the other trappings that other cellular providers use to steal your money. The sms plan is still good value provided your phone doesn't break at any stage and you don't need data, but I severely doubt I'll renew my contract!
 
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