I am one of those people who are struggling a bit with some new technology. Whether that is because I am in the plus 60 age group or that my brain is not well tuned for the ‘here’s another new phone, TV or God knows what,’ brigade is a moot point. Either way, I would have thought that I represent a rather large and growing demographic sector; one that the business’s selling all the latest fads, useful or just another ‘bling bling’ product, so they would be crazy to ignore us. Politicians also take note.
Given that we have power and money, then isn’t that a reason to go the extra mile for us? Let me give you a few examples. How many of my ‘senior’ friends have purchase a new product, and then carefully open the packaging (OK--- I rip the bugger open) only to find a ‘user guide’ (printed in many languages ---- good) that is barely readable? Don’t even attempt to try in less than extremely bright light. Come on you lot---at least print it so that the letters are visible to anyone other than a teenager, who probably won’t need to read the instructions anyway. You are neglecting the market I have described above.
You’ve got our money and signed us up, then you either just assume we’ll be OK or you don’t give a stuff. ‘Oh--- but the product has a help number or it is on the menu’---- yeah, we have all seen and heard that. Right--- now for a more explicit example.
I have just purchased a Samsung Ace--- it was free if I extended my contract and will spend NZ$70 a month. I bet some of my friends reading this overseas are throwing up their hands (or the other way) in horror. How is it that NZers pay so much? I suppose it is the small market here. We are after all, only a country of about 4.5 million people. Small market equals less competition. It is one of the prices we pay for living in paradise.
I chose Samsung, because I have developed a ‘trust’ in Korean products. My car is Korean (Hyundai) and my TV likewise--- no problems--- love them both. I am even thinking about getting other Samsung products---at the expense of a traditionally favoured local product. It’s OK Fisher and Paykel--- I won’t ditch you completely.
Back to the reason for this blog--- I purchase the phone and they were too busy to give me a quick tutorial. I once again assumed that the ‘instructions’ contained inside would be enough to get me going--- no such luck---the printing size to start. At that stage I started to develop that feeling that things were not going to be hunky-dory. Ooops--- that’s means---OK--- just teaching you a bit of Kiwi.
Eventually with a bit of help, I managed to get the phone to function for texting and ringing my mates. That was until this morning where the bloody thing will not connect to the local network and all I can do is ‘emergency calls.’ Yeah right--- everything will need to be an emergency--- I shall ask the 111 option (you may use different numbers) to order a pizza!
Is it just me who gets into these predicaments? Some of my friends will be laughing and if this doesn’t generate a few comments, I don’t know what will. I am wondering now if I should have stuck with the old phone or have purchased a lower-tech option—one that I can use, but no---- The way phones are going, it may not be possible to stay with the tried and true for much longer.
My solution--- I shall go to one of the Vodafone shops and ask for help. If I get anything other than excellent service I am going to ask for your support—Yes, I will blog my tits off and ask that you pass on the result! If things work out I will shout Vodafone's excellence from the highest hill---that will of course be Mt Roskill--- the same hill featured as the title to my book—‘ROSKILL (go and read it free online in my blogs and don’t forget to click on the adverts so that I can continue to release my books online--- free).
The main purpose of this blog again. Companies, firms, entrepreneurs, product designers and everyone else who has dealings with the 60 plus sector----DON’T BLOODY ASSUME THINGS ABOUT US AND NEVER IGNORE US! You do so at your peril.
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