Vodacom - why do they have an online order system?

<p>So, my UChoose 500 contract was nearing expiration and I was set to finally be free of contractual obligations to the ever reliable Vodacom. My plan was: give notice of contract cancellation, keep phone, go prepaid as my Galaxy S4 was still rocking it after two years. Then I dropped it and literally nearly died... the phone actually did. So I thought, I might as well upgrade and just take a cheaper option the UChoose 350 with a cheap phone. So I put my order online and received an email stating that I'll be contacted in 24 hours.... mmmmmmm.</p> <p> </p> <p>This was on Thursday, 09.06.2016, so on Friday, 10.06.2016, I phone them. They apologize, and say that I was migrated onto some or the other system that only 5 of their operators know how to operate (I beg to differ, I believe none of them can) but at the end of the day I managed to get it sorted was told my new Sony Xperia is on its way. (They don't have stock in black, and now had to accept the fact that gold was just the colour for me).</p> <p> </p> <p>Delivery on the website says "next day delivery", note then how by Monday, 13.06.2016, when I had to phone again to find out if they phone is on its way and I was told it would probably take three days I was a little upset with due cause. So, by Wednesday, i.e. three working days after my order was made, I again phoned them (note how they never phone you), only to be told that they are sure it would be delivered on Friday, 17.06.2016. At this stage I was a little more than upset as we are now nearing a week of waiting.</p> <p> </p> <p>If I do get the times and dates wrong of when I phoned them, please forgive me as I phoned them so many times that I lost track. On Friday then, with no delivery as yet, I phone again only to be told that my phone was returned by RAM on the Wednesday already and that they now have no stock left and that I might wait long for the phone.</p> <p> </p> <p>After an hour's discussion, I was told I could get the Huawei P9 lite instead as they do have stock and that it will be delivered by Monday (That now being yesterday) morning before 09:00. NOPE.. So I phone again (see? still me doing the phoning!) and ask what's going on? Apparently there were some or the other ***** orders or what, but they are sending me the Sony Xperia (uhm, okay, so I'll just open the box and see what you sent me Vodacom, seeing as we are changing devices at my cost), and that it will be delivered the next day (that being today), no later than 09:00... NOPE... it is now 16:20 and still no delivery.</p> <p> </p> <p>Note that my phone was broken through the entire time and that obviously my cell number would not be available. I made this known to every operator who assisted me and gave them the number they should use. Yet, when questioned about call back times "they could not reach me".</p> <p> </p> <p>RAM says they can't deliver today.... shocker.</p> <p> </p> <p>My point in all this madness is... Online Upgrades are there for convenience.. to make life easier... To SAVE you R300 connection fee for if you upgrade in-store...</p> <p> </p> <p>Dead honest?? I would rather pay R1000 connection fee in-store and perhaps be so very lucky as to have a device 12 minutes later than be typing a 3 pager on Hello Peter 12 days after the next day delivery promise expired. Please also just know that RAM is pretty useless as well.</p> <p> </p> <p>Service delivery is but a myth and a legend that Vodacom and RAM tell as a horror-story around a camp fire on weekends for them to escape from the reality that is the hell us poor customers go through.</p>