So it's been a week since we've had to complain about the SBS driver who zooms his service bus past a group of poor army boys who had been waiting for some time already at the bus stop outside camp.
Not surprisingly, no reply.
Perhaps for the better, since last time, we got scolded for submitting a feedback.
Service standards, Singapore style?
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Hachi.Tech Nightmare
We used to think we should purchase items from outlets that offers the best bargains.
After our shopping experience with Hachi Tech, we've learnt the importance of factoring in the time value, as well as the stress involved, into the shopping equation.
One really cannot simply buy on price alone.
Now, even if we find an extraordinary cheap deal at Hachi.Tech (that hasn't been the case so far due to competition from many other vendors), we will avoid Hachi.Tech online website like a plague.
First, they expect members to pay for membership.
That's still ok because for $8 membership, they give $10 back - but that is provided you remember to key in the new member code. But why charge in the first place? Hassle, hassle.
Second, the period to redeem the rebates is a very short 1 month.
They may extend another month, but overall, again, that's a hassle.
The aim is to leave customers no choice but to keep going back to them.
That's almost harrassment.
The rewards are not attractive enough to keep one tethered to them.
We hate organisations which holds one to ransom in this way.
Third, to redeem your rightful rebates, you need to spend a minimum purchase of $5!
This wasn't informed in advance.
We got an unpleasant shock after checking out the redemption cart. Only then did the information that the $5 requirement pop out. We wasted good time selecting the wrong price range as a result, and have to repeat all over again to incorporate their greedy requirement.
Forth, for purchase below $80, you'd likely want to pick it up at designated stores to avoid delivery fees. So to redeem, you have to factor this in as well. Hassle, hassle.
Fifth, the FAQ doesn't get to the above points. We went round and round and still the terms and conditions that might make the customers NOT want to have anything to do with Hachi Tech, are not found (at least at time of writing).
We only knew of the restrictions AFTER we made a purchase.
Especially since Hachi Tech has no telephone number to contact, unlike all other online vendors, they should have made it easier for customers to make informed decisions.
Hopefully, after feedback, they have revise their FAQs.
Any restrictions should be prominent enough, otherwise, until one is about to redeem.
Sixth, there is no hotline to call. You can only chat or email.
Seventh, the customer service is worst of the worst.
When we email, we get an automated response to say a support staff will get back to us soon, followed by a next reply of "Case closed!" from the support staff. No explanation, no apologies, nothing. Just a "Case closed!" Life is so easy for the support staff!
Eighth, items that are popular are always out of stock.
Nineth, the only time we got a response to pre-sales enquiries was when we wrote to Fujisu sales rep. Only then did we receive a response from Hachi.Tech sales rep.
Tenth, their credit card payment system is routed via the eNets system. It cause quite a bit of confusion (which means more time has to be expended towards double-checking). It confused the credit card company so much, it required half an hour before they confirm the credit card transaction was valid.
We want to make it a rounded 10-fingers count, but apparently, still haven't reach the end..
So on to the big toe for the next reason we are moving away from Hachi Tech....
Eleventh point: we simply hate the name Hachi.tech with the full-stop and all.
It is a non-Japanese entity, but the name sounds desperately that of a Japanese wanna-be. It was Challenger Online previously, with better service and product range. They say when it is not broken, don't fix it.
By providing an unpleasant online experience, it seems to us that Challenger fixed themselves even without the help of their competitors.
After our shopping experience with Hachi Tech, we've learnt the importance of factoring in the time value, as well as the stress involved, into the shopping equation.
One really cannot simply buy on price alone.
Now, even if we find an extraordinary cheap deal at Hachi.Tech (that hasn't been the case so far due to competition from many other vendors), we will avoid Hachi.Tech online website like a plague.
First, they expect members to pay for membership.
That's still ok because for $8 membership, they give $10 back - but that is provided you remember to key in the new member code. But why charge in the first place? Hassle, hassle.
Second, the period to redeem the rebates is a very short 1 month.
They may extend another month, but overall, again, that's a hassle.
The aim is to leave customers no choice but to keep going back to them.
That's almost harrassment.
The rewards are not attractive enough to keep one tethered to them.
We hate organisations which holds one to ransom in this way.
Third, to redeem your rightful rebates, you need to spend a minimum purchase of $5!
This wasn't informed in advance.
We got an unpleasant shock after checking out the redemption cart. Only then did the information that the $5 requirement pop out. We wasted good time selecting the wrong price range as a result, and have to repeat all over again to incorporate their greedy requirement.
Forth, for purchase below $80, you'd likely want to pick it up at designated stores to avoid delivery fees. So to redeem, you have to factor this in as well. Hassle, hassle.
Fifth, the FAQ doesn't get to the above points. We went round and round and still the terms and conditions that might make the customers NOT want to have anything to do with Hachi Tech, are not found (at least at time of writing).
We only knew of the restrictions AFTER we made a purchase.
Especially since Hachi Tech has no telephone number to contact, unlike all other online vendors, they should have made it easier for customers to make informed decisions.
Hopefully, after feedback, they have revise their FAQs.
Any restrictions should be prominent enough, otherwise, until one is about to redeem.
Sixth, there is no hotline to call. You can only chat or email.
Seventh, the customer service is worst of the worst.
When we email, we get an automated response to say a support staff will get back to us soon, followed by a next reply of "Case closed!" from the support staff. No explanation, no apologies, nothing. Just a "Case closed!" Life is so easy for the support staff!
Eighth, items that are popular are always out of stock.
Nineth, the only time we got a response to pre-sales enquiries was when we wrote to Fujisu sales rep. Only then did we receive a response from Hachi.Tech sales rep.
Tenth, their credit card payment system is routed via the eNets system. It cause quite a bit of confusion (which means more time has to be expended towards double-checking). It confused the credit card company so much, it required half an hour before they confirm the credit card transaction was valid.
We want to make it a rounded 10-fingers count, but apparently, still haven't reach the end..
So on to the big toe for the next reason we are moving away from Hachi Tech....
Eleventh point: we simply hate the name Hachi.tech with the full-stop and all.
It is a non-Japanese entity, but the name sounds desperately that of a Japanese wanna-be. It was Challenger Online previously, with better service and product range. They say when it is not broken, don't fix it.
By providing an unpleasant online experience, it seems to us that Challenger fixed themselves even without the help of their competitors.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Why I Close My LinkedIn Account
I am closing my LinkedIn account.
Why?
To open another one later!
Sounds funny but that's what I'm doing, and here's why.
Closing my LinkedIn account
1. Unauthorised access to my email contact list.
Although there are means to switch it off, once shaken, twice shy.
2. Spammy Invites.
The "invites", as I found out later, didn't really come from the person but from robots -- the other party's contacts were also being mined!
3. Spammy Emails.
LinkedIn has good articles coming through the emails.
But mostly, it's all spam head-hunting and invites.
Does Preferences to stop spam even work?
4. Active Connection
I killed all.
Yet there's just this one stubborn active connection that I couldn't seem to kill.
In the first place, I never even requested connection.
5. Time management
Time management in this case call for a full delete of the account.
For all of the above issues, there are instruction on how to prevent them from happening via preferred settings. But settings consumes time, especially when it doesn't work as well.
Then you have to write in to Customer Service.
The hack and the hassle!
LinkedIn takes time to manage if there are data you don't want let loose.
Pronto.
Out it goes.
6. Professional Identity
The folks who should know the value of my work already have access through my preferred choice of communication.
I may not necessarily want every one I meet to know what I do for a living.
As long as my data is "out there", I just don't feel secure, no matter what the currently provided privacy settings may be.
7. A New Me
All in all, let's just say that the person (and all the accompanying lifestyles and en·trails that comes with it) that first open the LinkedIn account (that I am closing now), is today, an entirely different person.
The new me has shed the old me.
The new me's a better me.
So why have reminders of the old me?
8. Tools and its Appropriate Use
To me, tools are meant to be used to your advantage.
The day when tools starts taking advantage of you — that's wakey wakey up time.
I need to be comfortable and secure in the tool I use.
The price I pay to avail of services - in terms of security or time - has become too high.
Time to part ways.
Update:
Viola!
As soon as I hit "Close The Account" --
a while plethora of options came up!
Now I can hide my profile, and do a lot of settings that makes for a viable option to closing it completely (in case you need it back someday or for temporary purposes).
LinkedIn should make this setting more accessible - not only when someone hits the close account tab.
Hopefully, I need not write in to LinkedIn to shut of the auto-link to my gmail contacts that shoots automated invites to them. Some members have had to do that previously, but hopefully, LinkedIn has rectified that.
Opening another LinkedIn account
Yes, I am closing one account to open another new one.
The old one reveals too much of me.
The new one will have safeguards in place - a new identity that allows me to know that is going on without revealing anything about me.
LinkedIn remains a useful resource that puts many professional profiles at your fingertips. I've been able to communicate with VIPs who otherwise will not respond via other means.
At times, this is also the only way we can find out if an old acquaintance has move on to a new position.
If you are in the market for business or a career, this is also one essential tool that helps you tap into.
The changes are working for the moment.
With the safeguard of an alter-identity, LinkedIn can spam all they want.
I'll just take what's useful, and leave the rest.
Why?
To open another one later!
Sounds funny but that's what I'm doing, and here's why.
Closing my LinkedIn account
1. Unauthorised access to my email contact list.
Although there are means to switch it off, once shaken, twice shy.
2. Spammy Invites.
The "invites", as I found out later, didn't really come from the person but from robots -- the other party's contacts were also being mined!
3. Spammy Emails.
LinkedIn has good articles coming through the emails.
But mostly, it's all spam head-hunting and invites.
Does Preferences to stop spam even work?
4. Active Connection
I killed all.
Yet there's just this one stubborn active connection that I couldn't seem to kill.
In the first place, I never even requested connection.
5. Time management
Time management in this case call for a full delete of the account.
For all of the above issues, there are instruction on how to prevent them from happening via preferred settings. But settings consumes time, especially when it doesn't work as well.
Then you have to write in to Customer Service.
The hack and the hassle!
LinkedIn takes time to manage if there are data you don't want let loose.
Pronto.
Out it goes.
6. Professional Identity
The folks who should know the value of my work already have access through my preferred choice of communication.
I may not necessarily want every one I meet to know what I do for a living.
As long as my data is "out there", I just don't feel secure, no matter what the currently provided privacy settings may be.
7. A New Me
All in all, let's just say that the person (and all the accompanying lifestyles and en·trails that comes with it) that first open the LinkedIn account (that I am closing now), is today, an entirely different person.
The new me has shed the old me.
The new me's a better me.
So why have reminders of the old me?
8. Tools and its Appropriate Use
To me, tools are meant to be used to your advantage.
The day when tools starts taking advantage of you — that's wakey wakey up time.
I need to be comfortable and secure in the tool I use.
The price I pay to avail of services - in terms of security or time - has become too high.
Time to part ways.
Update:
Viola!
As soon as I hit "Close The Account" --
a while plethora of options came up!
Now I can hide my profile, and do a lot of settings that makes for a viable option to closing it completely (in case you need it back someday or for temporary purposes).
LinkedIn should make this setting more accessible - not only when someone hits the close account tab.
Hopefully, I need not write in to LinkedIn to shut of the auto-link to my gmail contacts that shoots automated invites to them. Some members have had to do that previously, but hopefully, LinkedIn has rectified that.
Opening another LinkedIn account
Yes, I am closing one account to open another new one.
The old one reveals too much of me.
The new one will have safeguards in place - a new identity that allows me to know that is going on without revealing anything about me.
LinkedIn remains a useful resource that puts many professional profiles at your fingertips. I've been able to communicate with VIPs who otherwise will not respond via other means.
At times, this is also the only way we can find out if an old acquaintance has move on to a new position.
If you are in the market for business or a career, this is also one essential tool that helps you tap into.
The changes are working for the moment.
With the safeguard of an alter-identity, LinkedIn can spam all they want.
I'll just take what's useful, and leave the rest.
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