Monday, 18 July 2005
Tuesday, 12 July 2005
Sellers’ World
And there’s another breed of companies who are taking its customers ‘for ride’ while government is busy putting its acts right. The rapid growth of disposable income of people is creating business entities which are growing in terms of carelessness for its consumer and less regards for the consumer rights. Welcome to the world where consumer is not a King.
A major mobile operator in India keeps sending approximate 5 to 6 SMS per day, advertising some of its own and others’ offerings (like ring tones, hello tones, movie ads or TV ads). Now, if you are marketing agency, you could imagine value of these advertisements. Subscriber has not chosen to be a target and I am definitely sure it is wrong of service provider to keep sending ads without substantiating with other value additions. When I contacted “Customer Service” and requested them to stop sending these annoying SMSs; they informed me that they will not be able to stop all SMS!! What the hell…that’s bloody arrogance for being a major service provider and taking its customers for a ride.
Another one is mushrooming credit cards issuers in India. In US/Europe, you could terminate your credit card by simply sending a diagonally-cut-credit-card to your bank’s branch office. Try it in India. Bank won’t get back to you on that and on their records that credit card continues to be under use, thus charging you with annual fees and interests! An effort to sort these things will teach you a lesson that government bureaucracy has found new body.
On similar lines but worth a full entry is ‘Employee working conditions under new IT/BPO boom’, on that sometime later…
A major mobile operator in India keeps sending approximate 5 to 6 SMS per day, advertising some of its own and others’ offerings (like ring tones, hello tones, movie ads or TV ads). Now, if you are marketing agency, you could imagine value of these advertisements. Subscriber has not chosen to be a target and I am definitely sure it is wrong of service provider to keep sending ads without substantiating with other value additions. When I contacted “Customer Service” and requested them to stop sending these annoying SMSs; they informed me that they will not be able to stop all SMS!! What the hell…that’s bloody arrogance for being a major service provider and taking its customers for a ride.
Another one is mushrooming credit cards issuers in India. In US/Europe, you could terminate your credit card by simply sending a diagonally-cut-credit-card to your bank’s branch office. Try it in India. Bank won’t get back to you on that and on their records that credit card continues to be under use, thus charging you with annual fees and interests! An effort to sort these things will teach you a lesson that government bureaucracy has found new body.
On similar lines but worth a full entry is ‘Employee working conditions under new IT/BPO boom’, on that sometime later…
Deteriorating under own weight
Indian government is failing catch up with growing economy, hence failing to meet people’s demand for better life, better standards, better system and better governance.
Infrastructure in metros has crumbled to a state where private companies are offering to build roads, airports and public toilets!
It takes hours to travel 2 to 3km by Taxi. There are no traffic rules to abide! Taxi drivers demand money as per their wish, there’s no metering system in almost every metro. If you take a cab from airport then you have pay few hundred extra for no reasons. Local authorities have no intention of putting metering system in place and brining in some standard of service.
Traveling in local trains (many cities have no local trains) is an experience rivaling that of hell. There’s not even a single international airport in India which is connected to city center by local train. Consider an example of a tourist staying at Churchgate and he has to take an international flight at evening 6. Then he has to start at least around 12. A waste of a valuable half day for nothing but to travel a distance of approx 25km and check-in. So, if you are flying domestic, then flight duration will be far less than that of your taxi ride!
Recently there was one page article in Mumbai local news paper where people worried that a new shopping mall cum movie multiplex is coming up in their area. There concern is traffic volume that this new mall will attract from all over the city and their argument is that such an increase in volume will cripple their daily life. Now, that’s a strange complaint. The underline is Mumbai (any other city) is not well prepared to support today’s life style of people. This would only reduce the number of malls, people spending, people driving, visiting places, flying places and the cycle will reach riksha wala and then dobhi wala and then pan wala and then ….everyone. India Jago, don’t be a bottleneck of your own economic growth.
Infrastructure in metros has crumbled to a state where private companies are offering to build roads, airports and public toilets!
It takes hours to travel 2 to 3km by Taxi. There are no traffic rules to abide! Taxi drivers demand money as per their wish, there’s no metering system in almost every metro. If you take a cab from airport then you have pay few hundred extra for no reasons. Local authorities have no intention of putting metering system in place and brining in some standard of service.
Traveling in local trains (many cities have no local trains) is an experience rivaling that of hell. There’s not even a single international airport in India which is connected to city center by local train. Consider an example of a tourist staying at Churchgate and he has to take an international flight at evening 6. Then he has to start at least around 12. A waste of a valuable half day for nothing but to travel a distance of approx 25km and check-in. So, if you are flying domestic, then flight duration will be far less than that of your taxi ride!
Recently there was one page article in Mumbai local news paper where people worried that a new shopping mall cum movie multiplex is coming up in their area. There concern is traffic volume that this new mall will attract from all over the city and their argument is that such an increase in volume will cripple their daily life. Now, that’s a strange complaint. The underline is Mumbai (any other city) is not well prepared to support today’s life style of people. This would only reduce the number of malls, people spending, people driving, visiting places, flying places and the cycle will reach riksha wala and then dobhi wala and then pan wala and then ….everyone. India Jago, don’t be a bottleneck of your own economic growth.
Tuesday, 5 July 2005
Air Monsoon
You might not wish to plan a Mumbai holiday during Monsoons, but if it is inevitable that you need to, then don’t fly small aircrafts like ATRs, A320s or similar; otherwise get ready to experience a free fall of few feet or journey through turbulent weather which leaves you with moments of being closer to heaven (exceptions: you might love it if you are free fall freak!)
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