Slingshot using Indian call centre

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Slingshot using Indian call centre

freitasm

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#13568 17-May-2007 14:34

I thought they always had used Indian resources on their call centre but it appears it's a new thing:

After struggling for 18 months to find a local telemarketing service, New Zealand owned ISP Slingshot has contracted its outbound sales to a call centre in India.

Marketing director Mark Callander says Slingshot have employed up to 25 agents based in Bangalore for the past five months to sell their products to New Zealand consumers.

What's the problem? Nothing, if they weren't afraid of disclosing it:

He’s concerned that publicity around using an Indian call centre could impact negatively on Slingshot - whose marketing strategy is built around being Kiwi owned - but he says the company has no choice in the matter.

“That is probably my biggest concern. To create an awareness that we’re using an Indian call centre is not a path I want to go down,” says Callander.

He says that some local companies can't be used because are tied to Telecom or Vodafone. That's just not true. I've been to many projects with both operators and that's why companies implement Chinese Walls.

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#71022 17-May-2007 16:14

Slingshot have been using Indian call centres for a long time. See my blog from last year.

dan

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#71029 17-May-2007 16:52

Xtra partially using Philippines Helpdesk too..

cokemaster

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#71031 17-May-2007 17:12

dan: Xtra partially using Philippines Helpdesk too..

Xtra dialup and broadband billing options, if I remember.

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weblordpepe

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#71088 17-May-2007 23:05

Hurro! Welcome to kiwi internet help boat service. Internet with pictures!

Yeah to be honest I never liked the idea of outsourcing to another country. It just makes people complain. 'I couldn't understand the person on the phone' or 'the person on the phone didn't understand a word I said' are the common ones.

Regardless of whether it's telephone or at McDonalds...its just annoying when sales reps don't understand you. Ya there..willing to give the company 2 minutes of your own time but its wasted on 'hello? hello? no i meant THREE burgers, not cheese burgers.'

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#71090 17-May-2007 23:15

I'm guessing this is a sign to come with internet providers profit margins getting tighter and tighter with so called 'competition' coming up (how the market will be is anyones guess).

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allstarnz

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#71115 18-May-2007 09:53

interesting news, but kind of intevitble.

i'm sure Slingshot have been using direct marketing call centres from India for a while. I recall getting calls from them late last year, from someone with a very strong Indian accent, on what sounded like a VOIP line.

To me there's two things that annoy me. Firstly they often are not understandable, and secondly the quality of lines is generally very poor, multiplying the annoyance of point one.

Gigs

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#71139 18-May-2007 13:53

At least it's only the Telemarketing side of the business. There'd be a fair few people out of a job if it was their main call center.

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Shelbflaco

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#71240 19-May-2007 09:46

I Can Not , I repeat NOT! see how those MUPPETS won the Net Guide awards.......WHO ever voted for them......SHAME!!!!!!!!!

paradoxsm

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#71258 19-May-2007 10:55

I refuse to deal with companies that use the cheap, outsourced oveseas call centres, I do see the merits in helping the developing countries and most of the agents do their job very well however too many mistakes happen and there are mny people here that could be employed whom are out of work due to this fact. Also the quality of the voice lines is terrible at best.

American express,
Xtra (dial-up support and Billing)
SLingshot (telemarketers)
3 (in australia)

can somone add to the list?

Basically, if you are phoned up by an overseas telemarketer, Refuse to use that company.

tUK5L5P8Xp87

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#71275 19-May-2007 12:35

Actually most companies outsource their call-centres nowadays. More than just those four you mentioned. It is quite popular to train call-center employees in overseas countries (e.g., India) to speak with a neutral (or American) accents. Though it seems the call-center companies employed by New Zealand firms have cut costs in that area!

Are you serious about not being able to work in a call center because they have moved those jobs overseas? You should raise your asperations a bit. Unless you absolutly LOVE taliking to people, its hardly a dream job is it.

weblordpepe

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#71286 19-May-2007 14:33

As odd as it seems...some people like talking to customers on the telephone. ...I know, I don't get it either :P
I really do appreciate when I get a clearly understandable person on the phone though.

hellonearthisman

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#71335 19-May-2007 21:32

I have had no problems when dealing with the slingshot call center.

Americancars

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#71348 19-May-2007 22:17

Yea, they are annoying.

You just have to find a way to annoy them. Lucky for you, it isn't hard.

You could say "how is it over there in India, is it hot?"

You could speak with a very strong Indian accent and then say "Sorry, I can't understand you, could you please say it again?"

You could always use the effective technique of "bugger off!"

Or my personal favorite:

Here is an anti- telemarketer script to use against them. It is very funny.

Can't beat the burble of that American V8. Ohh yea!

bradstewart

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#71349 19-May-2007 22:29

Americancars: Here is an anti- telemarketer script to use against them. It is very funny.

Printed and stored by phone for the next time I get a call from a telemarketer (more than likely an Indian on behalf on slingslug)

raytaylor

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#71387 20-May-2007 13:29

What annoys me is the promises you get. They say yes when they dont understand the question just to make you happy.

The indian guy that rang me up, and got me to change to slingshot (about a year ago) from orcon said that I Would get a static IP with my account. At the time, this was unheard of for the price they were offering so I got him to confirm it 3 (three) times. Unfortunatly they dont offer Static IP's and wouldnt give me one.

I stayed with them because they are so cheap and get by using no-ip.com

Ray Taylor

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