Vodafone Sure Signal scam

philfrommanch

d123 wrote: »

So is calling the sure signal box a "scam" meant as a compliment then?

Of course not. First, that's the title not the whole piece. Second, the scam was a reference to the way the box was offered not to the item itself but to make that distinction in a few title words wasn't very easy.

Pause for a moment and consider what you'd think of a motor manufacturer that offered you a car that might work as intended or might not - and sold it to you on the basis that if it didn't work that was your problem. Do you think that would be fair or reasonable? If you think it would be fair we can simply agree to disagree at that point.

Of course those who pointed out that I have the DSR and other legal remedies at my disposal are entirely correct but, as an Internet trader myself since 2000, I regard legal remedies as a safety net, a fall back, rather than a pivotal buying consideration.

Additionally (and its irrelevance to my original comment meant I didn't include it as chapter and verse) VF offered me EITHER the box on the terms I've described OR a free release from our contracts - which, given that I'm out of contract now and my wife's end in a couple of months, isn't that big a deal.

In that respect, matelodave is correct, the solution was always in our hands; whether he needed to spend time writing so is another matter.

gjchester

philfrommanch wrote: »

Pause for a moment and consider what you'd think of a motor manufacturer that offered you a car that might work as intended or might not - and sold it to you on the basis that if it didn't work that was your problem. Do you think that would be fair or reasonable? If you think it would be fair we can simply agree to disagree at that point.

However taking the car analogy, lets say you bought a low slung sports car.


Take that care to Scotland or Wales and try it on farm tracks, would you blame the maker for selling you a car you could not drive on bumpy tracks due to the low ground clearance?


Of course not, its out of the makers control, the car works just not in all circumstances, and the dealer would correctly point out that there is nothing wrong with the car just how you wished to use it.


So with the box, it will work in 99% of most homes and offices, but Vodafone have no control over your broadband , network, or what's in your houses walls, so they can't guarantee it.


It seems poor customer service to not offer a refund if its not suitable, but that's vodafones decision to make.

philfrommanch

Your analogy is fatally flawed - there's only one type of car on offer. Your last sentence is exactly the point I am making.

lammy82

Phil, just wanted to chime in to say that I understand your POV and agree entirely. From your original post I can clearly see that you're not blaming Vodafone for the situation you're in, you just don't like being expected to gamble £50 on something that might or might not solve your problem, with nothing in place to get that money back if it doesn't.

If Vodafone are sure that the product works then they should offer it on a 30-day trial basis.

And by 'should' I don't mean 'legally must', of course.

philfrommanch

Thanks Lammy82, I was beginning to think I'd stumbled into a Vodafone staff meeting.

Since writing my original post I've tested the EE group service using a PAYG card and found it to be excellent from my home which is what I wanted.

I've also discovered that the EE group also sells a box like Vodafone's but with two differences; a) the cost is proportional to the degree of the problem, the worse the problem the lower the price and b) if it doesn't work for you, you can get a full refund.

That seems to be a fair and reasonable way to treat your customers. Clearly mobile phones aren't a one-size-fits-all product but the customer deserves to be treated fairly.

robbies_gal

if youve left then whats the problem-the boxes do work its your broadband that might not accept it-is probalby what voda meant

mije1983

philfrommanch wrote: »

I was beginning to think I'd stumbled into a Vodafone staff meeting.

Only 16 posts before the 'everyone works for said company' line comes out!