Vodacom 3G Rip-off

[PCTECH]

Vodacom has outdone themselves this time. My customer has a 3G contract and was provided with a PCI PCMCIA adapter card for the 3G card (they have a desktop not a notebook). 6 months ago the adapter blew and Vodacom "had no stock" to replace said adapter. They offered the customer an upgrade on their contract at almost double the price. This upgrade would include a USB 3G Modem! The customer declined and I managed to source an adapter from Mustek.

The PCI adapter has blown again, this time taking with it the PCI Slot on the motherboard. Vodacom say: "We don't use those any more because they were unreliable and kept blowing and were very expensive to to replace. You can upgrade your contract and get a USB 3G Modem." Again the upgrade will cost an arm and a leg.

Unfortunately, this time there are no adapters at any supplier in the Eastern Cape and rumour has it there never will be again. This leaves my customer between a rock and a hard place since they live on a farm in a remote area where Telkom don't frequently replace the stolen copper wire.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Any MTN shops able to help you?

Maybe the supplier stopped supplying that specific PCI adapter due to problems with it blowing up?

Can't you buy an USB 3G modem separate without an contract?

 

[vodacom3g]

Vodacom has outdone themselves this time. My customer has a 3G contract and was provided with a PCI PCMCIA adapter card for the 3G card (they have a desktop not a notebook). 6 months ago the adapter blew and Vodacom "had no stock" to replace said adapter. They offered the customer an upgrade on their contract at almost double the price. This upgrade would include a USB 3G Modem! The customer declined and I managed to source an adapter from Mustek.

The PCI adapter has blown again, this time taking with it the PCI Slot on the motherboard. Vodacom say: "We don't use those any more because they were unreliable and kept blowing and were very expensive to to replace. You can upgrade your contract and get a USB 3G Modem." Again the upgrade will cost an arm and a leg.

Unfortunately, this time there are no adapters at any supplier in the Eastern Cape and rumour has it there never will be again. This leaves my customer between a rock and a hard place since they live on a farm in a remote area where Telkom don't frequently replace the stolen copper wire.

Not quite sure how Vodacom is 'ripping off your customer'

Sounds to me like he's got a working 3G data card, but some flaky hardware, probably the mobo. If PCMCIA-PCI adapters keep on blowing, you should look at the cause of that.

You should be able to get adapters using the Ricoh chipset. Feedback on this forum indicates they work quite well. But I think your problem is probably more related to the motherboard.

 

[Mastercarder]

Not quite sure how Vodacom is 'ripping off your customer'

Sounds to me like he's got a working 3G data card, but some flaky hardware, probably the mobo. If PCMCIA-PCI adapters keep on blowing, you should look at the cause of that.

You should be able to get adapters using the Ricoh chipset. Feedback on this forum indicates they work quite well. But I think your problem is probably more related to the motherboard.

Got to agree with you with this one - that's a first...

 

[Just_Ice]

Yea... Im with v3g on this one...

 

[vodacom3g]

Got to agree with you with this one - that's a first...

No, it's not.....

 

[Iam3G]

No, it's not.....

Oh my... guess thats what happened to my customer. He came to me to give him the latest VMC, which i did. He went home and installed it.

He came back the next day saying after he installed VMC his PC blew

 

[PCTECH]

Not quite sure how Vodacom is 'ripping off your customer'

Sounds to me like he's got a working 3G data card, but some flaky hardware, probably the mobo. If PCMCIA-PCI adapters keep on blowing, you should look at the cause of that.

You should be able to get adapters using the Ricoh chipset. Feedback on this forum indicates they work quite well. But I think your problem is probably more related to the motherboard.

I tested every single component in that unit, including the PSU. When I moved that adapter into another motherboard it blew the PCI slot - for me the conclusion is obvious - the PCI adapter is faulty.

My point is that if you are binding people to a contract then at least replace the faulty item while it is still under warranty. If you no longer use these cards as I was told by the local Vodacom shop "because they give such hassles" then instead of trying to rip off people by making them upgrade just replace the adapter with a USB modem.

Both the customer and I are upset that Vodacom seems to think it is not their problem! The original card failed and was replaced by Vodacom. The 2nd card blew and Vodacom had no stock and made no effort to resolve the problem other than offering an expensive "upgrade" to the existing contract.

Sorry, this is *** service on the part of Vodacom!

 

[ic]

Vodacom has outdone themselves this time. My customer has a 3G contract and was provided with a PCI PCMCIA adapter card for the 3G card (they have a desktop not a notebook). 6 months ago the adapter blew and Vodacom "had no stock" to replace said adapter. They offered the customer an upgrade on their contract at almost double the price. This upgrade would include a USB 3G Modem! The customer declined and I managed to source an adapter from Mustek.

The PCI adapter has blown again, this time taking with it the PCI Slot on the motherboard. Vodacom say: "We don't use those any more because they were unreliable and kept blowing and were very expensive to to replace. You can upgrade your contract and get a USB 3G Modem." Again the upgrade will cost an arm and a leg.

Unfortunately, this time there are no adapters at any supplier in the Eastern Cape and rumour has it there never will be again. This leaves my customer between a rock and a hard place since they live on a farm in a remote area where Telkom don't frequently replace the stolen copper wire.

I tested every single component in that unit, including the PSU. When I moved that adapter into another motherboard it blew the PCI slot - for me the conclusion is obvious - the PCI adapter is faulty.

My point is that if you are binding people to a contract then at least replace the faulty item while it is still under warranty. If you no longer use these cards as I was told by the local Vodacom shop "because they give such hassles" then instead of trying to rip off people by making them upgrade just replace the adapter with a USB modem.

Both the customer and I are upset that Vodacom seems to think it is not their problem! The original card failed and was replaced by Vodacom. The 2nd card blew and Vodacom had no stock and made no effort to resolve the problem other than offering an expensive "upgrade" to the existing contract.

Sorry, this is *** service on the part of Vodacom!

Clearly you are giving your customer crap service - you supplied your customer with a PCI<-->PCMCIA adapter from Mustek, which you say blew your customer's mainboard, now you are blaming Vodacom for a product that was not even supplied by Vodacom...

BTW, if you want to know why PCMCIA adapter cards are going out of fashion, it is bcos there is a new thing called PCI Express - actually it is not new, it has been around for well over a year now.

 

[PCTECH]

Clearly you are giving your customer crap service - you supplied your customer with a PCI<-->PCMCIA adapter from Mustek, which you say blew your customer's mainboard, now you are blaming Vodacom for a product that was not even supplied by Vodacom...

BTW, if you want to know why PCMCIA adapter cards are going out of fashion, it is bcos there is a new thing called PCI Express - actually it is not new, it has been around for well over a year now.

IC the only reason I had to source an adapter is because Vodacom declined to assist the customer in the first place. Read my first post again - Vodacom "had no stock" to replace said adapter. They offered the customer an upgrade on their contract at almost double the price. This is the point where I have a problem with Vodacom. The unit was under warranty and instead of replacing it with something else they just shrugged their shoulders and said it wasn't their problem.

I was trying to help but I know better now and I will NEVER EVER get involved with a customer who has Vodacom problems again.

Funnily enough PCI-E only works on a motherboard which supports it and in this case wasn't an option

 

[nuyork]

What about a PCMCIA-to-USB adapter? I've seen them around, but not sure if they work with the 3G cards?

Well the one I saw about a year ago was working perfectly with a PCMCIA 3G card. Can't remember what make it was.

 

[vodacom3g]

IC the only reason I had to source an adapter is because Vodacom declined to assist the customer in the first place. Read my first post again - Vodacom "had no stock" to replace said adapter. They offered the customer an upgrade on their contract at almost double the price. This is the point where I have a problem with Vodacom. The unit was under warranty and instead of replacing it with something else they just shrugged their shoulders and said it wasn't their problem.

I was trying to help but I know better now and I will NEVER EVER get involved with a customer who has Vodacom problems again.

Funnily enough PCI-E only works on a motherboard which supports it and in this case wasn't an option

PCTECH, I think the point ic is trying to make, and you're maybe missing, is that the second card was not a Vodacom unit and not only also blew up, but took the mobo with it, so clearly something else is going on here.

You do get USB adapters but they only work with specific 3G cards. It's to do with how the USB host architecture is implemented by the specific card manufacturer.

 

[BBSA]

PCTECH, I think the point ic is trying to make, and you're maybe missing, is that the second card was not a Vodacom unit and not only also blew up, but took the mobo with it, so clearly something else is going on here.

I'm with PCTECH.

The customer is paying for a service he can not use. Surly Vodacom must make a some plan? It is not the customers fault that there is a problem with the PCMCIA cards.

 

[Iam3G]

I'm with PCTECH.

The customer is paying for a service he can not use. Surly Vodacom must make a some plan? It is not the customers fault that there is a problem with the PCMCIA cards.

This specific PCMCIA Card(1 in possibly 1000's) was only tested on 2 PC's. There's no way to pinpoint the problem JUST to the PCMCIA Card

 

[BBSA]

This specific PCMCIA Card(1 in possibly 1000's) was only tested on 2 PC's. There's no way to pinpoint the problem JUST to the PCMCIA Card

So is it fine that a contract customer pays for a service he can not use

This is not the first I notice that YOU are not so hot on customer service.

Way not go the extra mile?

 

[Iam3G]

So is it fine that a contract customer pays for a service he can not use

This is not the first I notice that YOU are not so hot on customer service.

Way not go the extra mile?

I'm not saying Vodacom shouldn't go that extra mile, I'm saying the customer cant hold Vodacom responsible because the motherboard didn't like the PCMCIA Adapter.

I'm less likely to go that extra mile for a customer when a customer makes a problem that isn't mine, mine and just expects me to help.

And yes, i'll admit, i'm not that good with customer service. But my customers, they love me Every customer is a happy customer!

 

[MobileAllOver]

Nee, PCTECH jy vat nou vet kanse... Blame liewers Eskom, hulle verdien dit...

Sukkel is 'n keuse, kry die regte toerusting en hou op om ander te blameer

 

[Gunny]

I did not know voda sold a contract with the PCI - PCMCIA adaptor in the bundle ?

 

[[OUPA]MrNutz]

Nee, PCTECH jy vat nou vet kanse... Blame liewers Eskom, hulle verdien dit...

Sukkel is 'n keuse, kry die regte toerusting en hou op om ander te blameer

50/50 Situasie die:....As die vodashop die pcmcia adapter die eerste rondte saam gegee het , is dit hulle verantwoordelikheid as hy die eerste keer gepop het....2de keer sou ek dit dalk weer probeer ruil het......3de keer sou ek dalk terug gestaan en selfondersoek begin instel het.

Omdat dit elektronics is , weet mens nie of die 1ste kaart dalk 1 uit 'n miljoen wel 'n fout op gehad het , en die mainboard seer gemaak het nie. Difficult to do fingerpointing.

 

[ic]

I did not know voda sold a contract with the PCI - PCMCIA adaptor in the bundle ?

AFAIK these adapter cards have never been sold on contract - one buys them over the counter for cash at a Vodashop for about ZAR250.00, although it's possible that PCs sold on contract a while back, might have come with an adapter card already installed, or optional.

@PCTECH, note that it was several of us forumites that originally asked Vodacom [via v3g] to get Vodashops to sell these adapter cards, and they work well. Having said that, aside from issues with the original adapter card presumably bought by your customer from a Vodashop, you are currently blaming Vodacom for an adapter card that you bought from Mustek and supplied to your customer, furthermore, you don't have any evidence to support your theory that it is the adapter cards that caused problems. MobileAllOver has a good point about Eskom, it's more likely to be power surges that caused things to blow.