Vodacom Kollonade

We where at Vodacom Kolonnade on Tuesday and met Gregory (an employee) working there, who “helped” us.. I asked for a phone that I urgently needed because my phone was broken. I said I didn't need the best, just a phone that could do the basics and give me call time and data. He then started talking about the Huawei phones. - I immediately said no, I prefer the Samsung please, I know it, trust it and will actually just want to replace my broken one, even if it's the same model. He said the Samsung Galaxy 6 is old and they no longer sell it, but they have a combo deal on a phone where I can get two while carrying the contract on one. I didn't want it, because I didn't know what to do with the extra phone. He tried to persuade me, but when he looked at the price on the computer he saw that it was much more than what he initially mentioned it was. He suggested that I look at the Galaxy S10E if I really want a Samsung phone and also give a prize. When he looked at the computer, he also saw, Oh no, it's more, BUT then he asked if he can’t introduce me to another brand, as he can’t imagine another brand that could be better?! - Because it's really better, he said quickly. I then rep****; all right, tell me more…? He then got up and picked up a Huawei P30 dummy phone and started talking about how great the phone was. - That it has back-charging back, and that the battery holds 2 full days, that it has the best cameras on the market, that it is much better than Samsung and even better than IPhone, and has just taken the best features of IPhone etc. and that it was even cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy phones. When asked how much is the price. He opened the booklet and pointed to the phone. I asked again if there was no cheaper like a J5 or something, as I seriously didn’t want an expensive phone, I wanted to pay no more than R400 if I didn’t have to (basic Samsung with airtime and data, is what I wanted), but he immediately said: “No, the J phones were taken off the market it was too weak”. Also immediately said that any other suggestions is not worth it, because it's too weak for what you get for the price. I once again mentioned that I don’t need the best. I just want something simple that can phone and WhatsApp. – I’m not a gamer and I use a separate camera for photos so I don’t need special features or the best. He convinced me to not even think about any other phones, but that I should come back the next day to sort things as they are going to close and then I can go and think about it. We asked what was needed to get a contract. He rep**** 3 months bank statement and ID.

The next day, Wednesday, voting day Wednesday, just after 10am, I went back to the shop to find Gregory. He helped me. He asked: “so are you taking the Huawei Phone? I opened up the booklet and said that I saw the Samsung Galaxy S9, I would like it if he could tell me more about that phone as I would rather take that phone if they don’t have the Samsung Galaxy S6 (as I had before) or something cheaper that offer what I need, because I don’t need a better phone, I need one I trust and know how to work with. He then said that it will be difficult to fix a Samsung phone if something happens because they don’t really want to fix Samsung anymore and it’s difficult to get parts, whereas Huawei is much better in all aspects, I’ll struggle and regret taking Samsung. He also added that they don’t have stock of the Samsung any case as they are not really good or popular enough. I then said okay, I’ll take it (the Huawei). While he was doing things on the computer I saw the Huawei P30 LITE phone and asked if I can’t rather take that one, what’s the difference? – It’s just smaller, like a “mini” isn’t it? He then rep****: “No! It’s not good. It is much smaller”. I then said that I don’t mind smaller, as I don’t need a lot of space and the best cameras or anything, I just want the airtime, data contract. He then said that those phones only has R175, not airtime like I want (But I figured out that that is not true either!! It’s exactly the same with 75min airtime, 1GB data and 25 smss’ like the other ones. If I knew all those things from the start I would have taken THAT phone rather as it is R241 cheaper each month!!). He kept going on filling in the contract info on the computer as he rep**** to my questions, not really wanting to help me, not wanting me to change my mind. At some point he stopped and said all my details aren’t filled in, to what I rep**** that I am not sure that I want that phone yet. He then just said that it’s the best, there is no use taking Samsung as it’s so bad now and Huawei is taking over. I thought about the back charging and the great camera and the easy operation (even though I didn’t really need it) as he discussed with us the previous night and then just rep****: “okay then, I’m going to trust you on this. This is the reason why I don’t buy online, because here you can explain it to me and make sure I know everything because I’m not a technological person.” I signed the contract after everything and said he should help me set up the phone before I leave because I don’t know how this phone works and would rather he put the basic stuff so that I can do the rest more easily. He took the phone, did few things –I did not see, and then said that all is sorted. I went home with a new Huawei P30 phone. I got home and started to download the things I use on a phone. As I started to play around to get to know the phone, I realised that some of the features that Gregory told me, is not working.. I then googled, and watched YouTube, and it said that the P30 cannot do those things. I then immediately took the phone back within few hours, and told Gregory that it’s not what he told me it is. After I explained everything that he told my husband and I, he said that I chose that contract and I signed the contract, if I expect him to take it back he will have to pay R19 000 that comes of his salary. Then I said I am really sorry to hear that, and that’s not what I would want to happen, and I seriously doubt that it would, but unfortunately if that’s the case he will have to deal with it when it comes to that point. I then said, I want a new phone, and I want it before I leave the shop. He then took the phone and called the “so called technician” who he mostly call friend, and said, you can ask the technician, it’s not possible to take the phone back if you downloaded things on the phone. If you didn’t use the phone yet I could take it back, but not after you downloaded things because it will come up if a new user buys the phone and wants to use it. After I said, take it off then, the “the technician” took it and said, “ahhhh’eish, it’s not possible”. I, who am not good with technology took the phone from him and deleted everything. – Then gave it back and said: “okay, where do you see it now?” He then said that it will come back after a month. I rep****: “well, sorry about that, but it doesn’t make any sense. You say I have 7 days return, but then you have these excuses that’s sound like nonsense anyways.” I want a phone, I want a phone that I wanted, and not this p30 that you sold to me under false pretence!” Gregory said that he didn’t talk about the p30 he spoke about the pro30 the previous day, so it’s my mistake, I chose the P30. I started to get really angry with him, blaming me for his sneaky ways! – I told him that he is really making me angry, because I went to him, trusting him, and asked, “how am I supposed to know that the Pro 30 is not the P30 if he talks about the Pro30 all the time, then shows it to me in the booklet, pointing to the P30”?! – He sold it to me under false pretence and then making me out to be the wrongdoer!? He was blindly lying to me just to sold the phone to me I didn’t even want!! After everything, and me being stubborn to go home demanding a new phone before I leave, he said that I will have to wait 14 days because there is a procedure that it has to go through before I can maybe get another phone. But my chances are 50/50. I said no. I need it now! I can’t even get into my home without a phone! He then said he will fill in everything and give me a call, but that’s the best he can do right now as all the places and systems are closed now as its voting day and almost 17:00. I then had no choice but to leave as he told me these things and not willing to help me further. I went home. As I got home I was furious. I told my husband, who was also very angry when he heard what happened, as he was with me the previous evening knowing exactly what was said and done. The next day my husband asked to leave at his work a bit earlier to sort this out for me. He then went to the shop to speak with Gregory. Gregory tried to make me out as a ****, saying: “she’s a woman, how can you believe her?– she picked that phone etc. ” – Forgetting that my husband was with me the previous day. My husband got even angrier with him as he then realised that Gregory is telling tales and was absolutely not helping me to buy the best phone for ME, but what outcome is best for himself at the end of the sale. After my husband explained very clearly to him that he must stop with his stories etc. He must sort everything out NOW and give me a phone before he leaves the store, no exceptions. I saw on an email while at work that my husband will meet me at Vodacom (as I didn’t have a phone and couldn’t get into my home without a phone in any case, so I met him at the shop). As I arrived there, he already spoke to Gregory and waited. As I walked in, Gregory stepped towards me immediately saying that he is trying to give me a phone but my husband is rude and he think he is going to hit him and so forth… I then looked at him with discuss as I knew he is talking nonsense as I know my husband and I already saw through Gregory s’ ways. I then just said he won’t. and fine then, give me the phone. Gregory told me to wait on a bench. My husband and I sat there for a while waiting as Gregory first wanted to help other people to make a sale. Then came to me with a box with a Samsung Galaxy S9, asking: is a Black one fine? I just said yes, at this moment I just need a phone! So he made me sign on the previous contract again where he scratched out the name and a number/code of the previous phone replacing it with the new. Honestly I feel like he took me for a fool, and sold a much more expensive phone to me – that I didn’t even want- as I really didn’t want to pay that much! I might have a phone now that I would rather have than the Huawei I didn’t want at all, BUT, I feel like I have wasted A LOT of time, with no information that could have honestly helped me making an informed decision. I ended up with something way more expensive than what I planned to have. I wanted to have enough airtime and data, with a respectable middle class phone for not more than about R400 per month if it could be possible. I loved my Samsung Galaxy S6 and would exchange my phone for exactly the same if I could, but at the end felt like I had to make a rushed decision with a phone I just have to take now, as I urgently needed a phone. I chose the Samsung galaxy S9, as that is the closest to the Galaxy S6 that I could recognise (still keeping the information in mind that he said the other phones is not on the market anymore), and felt safest just taking that one. At the end I got home with a phone in a box realising that I had no guidance whatsoever and no information regarding this phone at all. I do feel that I would have made a much better choice that would have been much more affordable for me than what I need to pay now and more informed, if he just listened from the start and gave me what I asked for and not what he wanted me to buy! I left with a phone that I was hoping to be the same as the Samsung Galaxy S6 I’m fami**** with, but had no idea what I was getting as I wasn’t told! I wish I didn’t use Vodacom! I’ve been with Vodacom since forever, but will not recommend it anymore as after my incident, as it is just not the way to be treated! What is the point of going in to a shop (PAYING MORE!!!) for better information, guidance and support, rather than buying over the phone or online (MUCH CHEAPER!!), IF I didn’t receive anything I pay for?? PS. Vodacom phoned me after I rated them a zero, asking me what happened. I explained. They said they will take it up with management and phone me back. After a few days another Vodacom customer person phoned ALSO asking why I rated zero. I said I already explained it all to a previous Vodacom customer service employee who phoned, where she rep**** to ok, then asked again why I gave zero (like she didn’t listen to me saying that I already gave my statement). End of story is: They can call to find out what is going on (as if that will make it better for the customer?), but they don’t act. I’m tired of this! They bother phoning for us to buy phones and contracts any day, all day during all hours, but I honestly feel like they don’t REALY care about the customer, just the sales.