The power of choice

Remember the days when our local cable provider ruled the roost - if the local chapter of the cable provider's association does not like the pricing of ESPN Star Sports, i don't get to watch wimbledon or india vs XX cricket series. How handicapped were we, i had the 15 Rs / month ESPN Star Sports demanded - i wanted to watch the action (pretty desperately that too) but as a consumer was not allowed to get whatever i wanted and in a way deserved too..

Yesterday, I could feel the change, the power when i could log in to a site and choose the sports channel i want to watch for the next month. 

Customer service in India

Have things really changed so soon, or have i been suddenly transported to a different age? Customer service in India has improved leaps and bounds. 

Recently, i have been on a spending binge; bought all the electronic items (TV, Washing machine, broadband connection, DTH etc.,) from different vendors and for each purchase i got 2 calls without fail - one to check when they can come and install and one after installation to check how things are. I can't believe it. The vendors i am talking here are Sony, Siemens, Tata Sky and can you guess the broadband service provider - dear o' dear it is good old Reliance.

You won't believe how much i contemplated before taking Reliance's service. After Airtel said my house is in some alien planet and they cannot extend their service here, i was left with 2 choices - Tata Indicomm and Reliance. The choice was more like voting in general elections - choose the best among the worst. Finally Reliance, primarily because the agent spoke to me really well - Tata Indicomm guy was rushing too much to lay hands on the installation charge. The installation went smooth, though i felt the guy was irresponsible enough to come without a working signal detector and relied on his own antennaes to determine the direction of the nearest reliance tower. One month after installation i get a call asking if everything is fine and if i would need some support (i dint need any) - could not believe it. 

I am pleasantly surprised.