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Customer Service Anyone?

Today, I had to "let go" of my first and only employee. She did some decent work for us but there were times when she would not come to work at all and K & I would have to share the work left behind by her. Happened a couple of times last week but got to know later that she was not in the best of conditions to work.

Moreover, with a new month starting, we thought, her services were not really required on a daily basis. Just when the need arises, she would be summoned.

Guess whose services were terminated: ________________

Last week we had a horrendous experience with TWO service providers (retail), from whom (1) we had purchased a rather expensive product and (2) we wanted to get their services for digital TV. Customer service has a long way to go in India.

With the retailer (Croma), we almost cancelled the purchase but the product made its way just as we were getting to the point of barging into their store and demanding our money back.

The TV wall mount did not even get shipped to our house and was rather erroneously sent to the Croma store. We had to pick the shipment from there. God only knows who does their Quality and Inventory checks.

Painfully though, Tata Sky disappointed the most. After setting up an appointment for a fixed time and date, we waited..and waited...and waited...and then we were told that the guy will be a few hours late.

Not only was the guy a few hours late (5), but he forgot the "most essential" component of a digital satellite TV connection. You guessed it right, he forgot the goddamn DISH itself.

Mistakes happen and everyone can have a bad day, but this was bloody pathetic. So we confirmed the next day appointment for 11:30 AM. Promptly, Tata Sky sends a "confirmation SMS" for 11:27 AM the next day and we asked the installer very nicely to at least give us a phone call if he was going to be late.

After profusely apologizing for his gaffe, he left. Next day, we waited...and waited...and waited..only to be called at 3:45 PM whether another installer can come and install the antenna and service.

Thanks, but no thanks.

The only thing that was "on time" from Tata Sky was begging for another chance and I did give them a piece of my mind and asked them to not call us again.

We tried to inquire about digital TV services from Reliance as well but after 20 odd minutes of "Your call is on hold, please stay on the line" we decided to put our number on their website so that one of them could call us. An email confirming receipt of the request and guarantee that some one would call us the next day did arrive, but you can easily guess the ending of this story as well. No call, no interest.

Finally, good ol' local cablewallah came to the rescue and we have been enjoying (sort of - some channels do not work yet) a good dose of HD channels.

Quite an eventful week wherein even K got frustrated for good measure. Very unlike her, but such was the pain that it was difficult to keep a cool head. Tata Sky, Reliance and Croma - you have been banished from our wishlist for now and you have received quite a lot of Maa-Behen ki gaali from yours truly.

Keep up this reputation and you are bound to be doomed. But then, India hai bhai, yahan par sab chalta hai...

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