Yet another open letter to Cell C's CEO

[Antonf]

Dear Lars

It seems to be fashionable to write letters to you on this forum, so here's another one.

1. Please stop this p!ssing contest with Vodacom. Yes, their new branding sucks. Yes, their 4G network appears to be slower than your 3G network. Be that as it may, the ads were funny, and we all had a nice chuckle. However, many (if not most) of YOUR customers couldn't care whose XYZ is the longest, thickest, etc. Get on with your business now.
2. Appoint a knowledgeable person with a fair amount of devision-making powers to be your rep on this forum. I don't know what else Jannie and VodacomData has to do in Vodacom, but they are doing a great job here. Trevor was funny for a few days, but you need someone here that has technical savvy, an understanding of your products and the poer to get things done for a customer.
3. I don't know if you have political ambitions, but the way you explained how Cell C will cover certain percentages of the population at certain times sounded like election promises. Population figures are somewhat of a joke to start with, and populations migrate. I'm keeping an eeye on the Mpumalanga area, and there's been no change in the map for some time. Why not put areas to be covered over a period on the map? I've had it being stuck on Cell C over weekends when I have to work... I know it isn't nice to go and look at the competition's map, but I can literally zoom in to property level on Vodacom's - and it is very accurate.
4. Implement a proper online management tool like the old Vodacom4me site. The new site is getting there, but surely you have the resources to get things done? Please test it before you launch it though - to get your customers to suffer the beta testing is a cheap trick.
5. Why can't I buy a top-up data bundle on the web? Rather than do that I now buy a Vodacom bundle, it is easier even though it is is a hell of a lot more expensive.

I did follow the "Contact Us" route, but the "consultant" who called me should go find a position in Mamparalanga - he was clueless.

Kind regards

Anton

 

[rory]

I cannot agree more to the above open letter. Hope Lars is reading this.
In east london where I live you have by far the best network.
You have presumably upgraded the cell area where I live over the weekend.
speedtest.net this am (amazing)
http://www.speedtest.net/result/1296625933.png
It is however almost impossible to buy prepaid cell c data sims locally.
Have been trying for a week now. No one sells them here and the cell c rep has promised to send me one but am still waiting.
one really needs to be able to buy these online.
Also it would be nice to have a rough guideline of where you will be rolling out your network. I know that this may be strategic but due to the fact there are now competitive packages from vodacom and mtn it would be wise to let us know where you will be next so we can just wait for that rollout rather than recommend one of the opposition products. (i have also asked the cell c rep this info but still waiting )

 

[BlackBox]

In principe I too agree with the letter. On the other hand, recommending Vodacom ! ? @ % ? WTF - Are you out of your mind? Do you have money to throw out of the window? NEVER - Read my lips: N.E.V.E.R. Just because you reside in a area CellC is not up to speed yet, does not mean everyone als does For me at least, Vodacrap has to be half as cheap as CellC to even look at their offers. 7-9Mbit/sec download on 2x5gig packages a month, absolutely ROCKS ! Not to mention the mobility (I am fortunate enough to have a good connection at my home and work). But yeah, apart of the mentioning of Satan, you are right. CellC SUCKS at customer care!

 

[rory]

In principe I too agree with the letter. On the other hand, recommending Vodacom ! ? @ % ? WTF - Are you out of your mind? Do you have money to throw out of the window? NEVER - Read my lips: N.E.V.E.R. Just because you reside in a area CellC is not up to speed yet, does not mean everyone als does For me at least, Vodacrap has to be half as cheap as CellC to even look at their offers. 7-9Mbit/sec download on 2x5gig packages a month, absolutely ROCKS ! Not to mention the mobility (I am fortunate enough to have a good connection at my home and work). But yeah, apart of the mentioning of Satan, you are right. CellC SUCKS at customer care!

I would never recommend the vodacom or mtn deal as they stand but if they they offered this on prepaid or topup I may recommend this to someone who gets no cell c signal and are not prepared to wait for cell c to roll out their network to their area.

 

[Antonf]

In principe I too agree with the letter. On the other hand, recommending Vodacom ! ? @ % ? WTF - Are you out of your mind? Do you have money to throw out of the window? NEVER - Read my lips: N.E.V.E.R. Just because you reside in a area CellC is not up to speed yet, does not mean everyone als does For me at least, Vodacrap has to be half as cheap as CellC to even look at their offers. 7-9Mbit/sec download on 2x5gig packages a month, absolutely ROCKS ! Not to mention the mobility (I am fortunate enough to have a good connection at my home and work). But yeah, apart of the mentioning of Satan, you are right. CellC SUCKS at customer care!

Where did I recommend Vodacom? However, there are a lot of good things about Vodacom, and it would be childish to ignore that. You clearly don't have to try to download a 4Mb e-mail on Edge - it is sheer hell... I will NEVER enter into a contract over which I have no control in any case.

 

[Cell_C]

Dear Lars

It seems to be fashionable to write letters to you on this forum, so here's another one.

1. Please stop this p!ssing contest with Vodacom. Yes, their new branding sucks. Yes, their 4G network appears to be slower than your 3G network. Be that as it may, the ads were funny, and we all had a nice chuckle. However, many (if not most) of YOUR customers couldn't care whose XYZ is the longest, thickest, etc. Get on with your business now.
2. Appoint a knowledgeable person with a fair amount of devision-making powers to be your rep on this forum. I don't know what else Jannie and VodacomData has to do in Vodacom, but they are doing a great job here. Trevor was funny for a few days, but you need someone here that has technical savvy, an understanding of your products and the poer to get things done for a customer.
3. I don't know if you have political ambitions, but the way you explained how Cell C will cover certain percentages of the population at certain times sounded like election promises. Population figures are somewhat of a joke to start with, and populations migrate. I'm keeping an eeye on the Mpumalanga area, and there's been no change in the map for some time. Why not put areas to be covered over a period on the map? I've had it being stuck on Cell C over weekends when I have to work... I know it isn't nice to go and look at the competition's map, but I can literally zoom in to property level on Vodacom's - and it is very accurate.
4. Implement a proper online management tool like the old Vodacom4me site. The new site is getting there, but surely you have the resources to get things done? Please test it before you launch it though - to get your customers to suffer the beta testing is a cheap trick.
5. Why can't I buy a top-up data bundle on the web? Rather than do that I now buy a Vodacom bundle, it is easier even though it is is a hell of a lot more expensive.

I did follow the "Contact Us" route, but the "consultant" who called me should go find a position in Mamparalanga - he was clueless.

Kind regards

Anton

Good Day Antonf

Please PM with your details and ill contact you ASAP

****Rory followed up for you. will PM later today

Regards
~AM~