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The LifeTime Offer

Vodafone India ₹ 499 LifeTime Offer

Today, as I was having lunch, I received a call. The caller identified me by name. Then proceeded to explain she was calling to offer me a great ‘postpaid’ plan. From Vodafone. Why? I was already on a Vodafone pre paid. No Answer. But I figured. A few months earlier, I had figured that the bill being charged to me was too much for the services I was availing. So I did what a right minded Gujju would. Switched to pre-paid. Now mind you, I have been on post paid for over a decade before the switch.

 Back to the call. 

 She: I am suggestiing a Rs. 499/- “lifetime” plan which would include some 700 minutes of local talk time, 500 SMS and 2 GB of 3G data.
Me (Thinking) : Now that is a pretty decent plan for someone with my kind of usage. My curiosity is piqued.
Me: How long is “lifetime”
Her (irritated voice) : lifetime means lifetime.
Me: What if Vodafone shuts down this plan.
Her: Kya Sir, aisa kabhi hota hai kya. Vodafone will never do it.
Me: Madam, already happened twice to me.
Her: Not possible only Sir.
Me: Madam, couple of months back Vodafone suddenly stopped my per second billing on this number.
Her: Sir, this is a pre paid number.
Me: Madam, I was on a Rs.150/- per month billing plan. Suddenly 1 fine day, Vodafone just sent me a sms saying that plan was shut and I was moved to a different plan, few years back.
Her: Kya Sir, Wo to Rs. 150/- wala plan tha.
Me: Madam, kya aap guarantee denge ye plan lifetime chalega ?
Her: Anyway sir, aap ko kabhi ye billing plan chahiye to ye number pe call kar dijiye.

Epilogue: For the longest of time Vodafone was marketing a system which would recommend the best plan for you. I understand well that Vodafone is a business. But why would you makes your customers expect you to recommend what’s best for them. Do you expect your customers to never find better plans listed in plain sight on your website.
And btw, it is nice to see you work hard for customers with the new competition. It may not last long, I know, but meanwhile, All the best.

 Absit Invidia
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