Unrealistic expectations of service

Forums › Off topic › Unrealistic expectations of service

halper86

555 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 156

ID Verified

#279650 30-Oct-2020 10:22

https://stuff.co.nz/national/123228361/spark-stumped-as-customers-demand-answers-for-virtually-nonexistent-cellphone-coverage
Come across this article today: a few residents in a rural/lifestyle neighbourhood near where I live, complaining of the lack of signal provided by the nearby cell site. They are not the only ones to complain and then go to the media about it - A second business near Invercargill has contacted Stuff within a week to express their extreme frustration at the Spark telco, saying the company is failing to provide them with an adequate cellphone service.
This to me sounds unrealistic and entitlement. Anymore thoughts?

1 | 2

Geek of Coastguard
14115 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4574

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2593850 30-Oct-2020 10:24

Reading the full article, it sounds like it was working, then has started failing. So fair enough for them to kick up a fuss if the provider has done nothing.

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

halper86

555 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 156

ID Verified

#2593864 30-Oct-2020 10:35

xpd:
Reading the full article, it sounds like it was working, then has started failing. So fair enough for them to kick up a fuss if the provider has done nothing.

Or whether they believe it is going to get better and it never does.
Overloading may also be an issue as there has been an increase in lifestyle developments in the area. The nearby freezing works only has one 850mhz transmitter, so traffic to the tower in question would be increased, so quite possibly this could be a factor to play.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
13036 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3896

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

Subscriber

#2593870 30-Oct-2020 10:42

xpd:

Reading the full article, it sounds like it was working, then has started failing. So fair enough for them to kick up a fuss if the provider has done nothing

read to me like their concept of it originally working is that it would get enough of a sniff to send a sms.

all it really takes is for a minor environmental change for that little sniff to go.

I'm not surprised by the response from spark. although reading between the lines it sounds like they might simply put a femicell in for this customer.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

BlinkyBill

1443 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1100
Inactive user

#2593915 30-Oct-2020 12:29

halper86: https://stuff.co.nz/national/123228361/spark-stumped-as-customers-demand-answers-for-virtually-nonexistent-cellphone-coverage
Come across this article today: a few residents in a rural/lifestyle neighbourhood near where I live, complaining of the lack of signal provided by the nearby cell site. They are not the only ones to complain and then go to the media about it - A second business near Invercargill has contacted Stuff within a week to express their extreme frustration at the Spark telco, saying the company is failing to provide them with an adequate cellphone service.
This to me sounds unrealistic and entitlement. Anymore thoughts?

I have a thought. How about you pay me, say $150 p.m. for cellphone service; I won’t provide any and I won’t respond to your pleas for service either. No doubt you’ll be happy with that - anything else would be unrealistic and entitlement. How about that proposal?

gbwelly

1263 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 776

#2593926 30-Oct-2020 13:05

hio77:

read to me like their concept of it originally working is that it would get enough of a sniff to send a sms.

That is how I read it too. I think Spark are being very polite in this matter, they could have easily suggested that the customers explore other providers.

halper86

555 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 156

ID Verified

#2593953 30-Oct-2020 14:05

gbwelly:
hio77:

read to me like their concept of it originally working is that it would get enough of a sniff to send a sms.

That is how I read it too. I think Spark are being very polite in this matter, they could have easily suggested that the customers explore other providers.

Maybe offer discount?

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

halper86

555 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 156

ID Verified

#2593955 30-Oct-2020 14:08

BlinkyBill:
halper86: https://stuff.co.nz/national/123228361/spark-stumped-as-customers-demand-answers-for-virtually-nonexistent-cellphone-coverage
Come across this article today: a few residents in a rural/lifestyle neighbourhood near where I live, complaining of the lack of signal provided by the nearby cell site. They are not the only ones to complain and then go to the media about it - A second business near Invercargill has contacted Stuff within a week to express their extreme frustration at the Spark telco, saying the company is failing to provide them with an adequate cellphone service.
This to me sounds unrealistic and entitlement. Anymore thoughts?

I have a thought. How about you pay me, say $150 p.m. for cellphone service; I won’t provide any and I won’t respond to your pleas for service either. No doubt you’ll be happy with that - anything else would be unrealistic and entitlement. How about that proposal?

IF they had service prior, then I would agreee. But as there is more than one physical network, you aren’t obliged to be a customer of spark. All 3 providers (+MVNO’s) operate from the same site in this case

Bung

6733 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2926

Subscriber

#2593969 30-Oct-2020 14:24

halper86:IF they had service prior, then I would agreee. But as there is more than one physical network, you aren’t obliged to be a customer of spark. All 3 providers (+MVNO’s) operate from the same site in this case

All providers on the same site isn't the impression I got from your Stuff comment that Vodafone having a site close by might be a better alternative.

afe66

3181 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1678

Lifetime subscriber

#2594028 30-Oct-2020 15:06

Whats the bet that if spark puts up a big new cell transmission tower people from same community will moan complain about it ruining the outlook..

tripper1000

1648 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1176

#2594043 30-Oct-2020 15:48

It looks like Stuff is scraping the bottom of the barrel for stories. I wonder if the journalist has a conflict of interest here.

Many old people don't realise there is more than one telephone company now days...? Some of the other companies and newer phones have something called Wifi Calling which is very handy for rural customers.

Edit: I wonder if the apparent deterioration in coverage coincided with with the customer dropping/damaging their handset or changing handset to one without B5/850Mhz capability.

KrazyKid

1247 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 616

#2594046 30-Oct-2020 15:58

hio77:

read to me like their concept of it originally working is that it would get enough of a sniff to send a sms.

if you read the article a week ago (and assuming it is the same location) it has gone from full internet to 0.

If it's good enough for fair go - it's good enough for Stuff :)

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

halper86

555 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 156

ID Verified

#2595185 31-Oct-2020 00:49

Bung:
halper86:IF they had service prior, then I would agreee. But as there is more than one physical network, you aren’t obliged to be a customer of spark. All 3 providers (+MVNO’s) operate from the same site in this case

All providers on the same site isn't the impression I got from your Stuff comment that Vodafone having a site close by might be a better alternative.

Close by their location, never mentioned if it was the same or different spot to sparks

halper86

555 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 156

ID Verified

#2595186 31-Oct-2020 00:53

KrazyKid:
hio77:

read to me like their concept of it originally working is that it would get enough of a sniff to send a sms.

if you read the article a week ago (and assuming it is the same location) it has gone from full internet to 0.

If it's good enough for fair go - it's good enough for Stuff :)

Other side of the city and completely different story, otatara is like waiheke to auckland, and it is an affluent suburb with dense bush, I struggle to think why they believe they should have service delivered in a different way..

quickymart

14940 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 13953

ID Verified

#2595257 31-Oct-2020 07:57

Rachel Wood looks quite nice :)

Geektastic

18009 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8465

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2595694 31-Oct-2020 22:07

Logically one might reasonably posit that Spark (or whoever - but in this case, Spark) might actually WANT to provide adequate service to customers. They might actually set themselves that standard and in this case may not have lived up to that ideal and do something to fix it.

"The Spark spokesman said the service provided to the couple “isn’t the service we expect to provide our customers”."

Oh look. They are doing something.

How is this news? Why is it even in print?

1 | 2