We Care

South african business cares almost as much as our government cares.

Take the banks. We used to endure long queues in the banking halls. Now we endure long queues in the scorching sunshine. Much more a typically South African thing - the great outdoors. 

I know that businesses in South Africa do thorough research on consumer behaviour and preferences, but let me explain. Those unending queues at government departments, they are not by choice. We are forced to stand there all day. We don't like it. We don't get up in the morning and say:

"I know! I'll queue at Home Affairs all day, today. What fun!"

As an aside, I wonder how much the Great South African Queue robs us of productivity. How does it compare to the sterling efforts of Eskom, for example?

My favourite bank, (who shall remain unnamed, save to say that their name begins and ends with the letter 'c'), made improvements to our local branch. Where there were two ATM machines, there are now three. On one of the busiest days this week. one went to sleep and never rose again that day. Still, at least we have three.

One would have thought that an alert supervisor would have called a technician immediately. It can't be nuclear physics, repairing the machines, can it? Then again, who am I to comment? I don't understand the intricacies of the banking business. At least, there was an armed guard next to the slumbering ATM machine. Who knows what a dead ATM might do? Besides, let's cut to the chase: if you have to queue at an ATM, your time is really not that important in the greater scheme of South African things. If it were, you'd be able to jump the queue, like an honourable minister getting her driver's license. 

Someone in the ATM queue complained that there seems to be no planning for busy days. How ridiculous! It's not the business of South African banks to plan around the needs of customers (just as it's not government's). Theirs to bleed...., sorry, build, sustainable business for shareholders (damn these typos!). That includes the investors that Julius encouraged to join our booming economy by whatever creative means come to hand.

Just a word to my fellow ATM users. Folks, the ATM machines have already been programmed and calibrated. There is no need for you to do that. Well, my assumption is that that's the only activity that could keep you at the ATM for an agony of waiting, as the hours tick mercilessly by. After all, drawing or depositing cash takes no more than five minutes for a fully functioning human being. If you don't know, please don't emulate the ANC. Just ask.

Enough negativity.  Dear Spur, the 'unreal breakfast' tag is a good one. You could have used a synonym, such as 'insubstantial' breakfast. At almost fifty seven rand, that's real value for money (somewhere in the world), isn't it? I checked that by preparing the very same breakfast. Yes, it cost the same - for ten people. But let's not split hairs. We'll leave that to Clicks and the EFF. As for Wimpy, your name well describes your special breakfast offering - wimpy.

 

Dear MTN, if you are going to reward users for buying air time and data, then you should do just that. But please do learn about rewards and how they mean nothing until they mean something to the recipient (valence, I think the psychology people call it).  Most of my 'rewards, are discounted offers on airtime and data.  The fact that I have just purchased  airtime or data renders most of them rather meaningless.  Many of those offers looks suspiciously similar to normal, 'undiscounted' rates. That may just be my jaundiced eye and cynical nature. You guys are doing your utmost to make  internet access and communication easier for the poorest South Africans. Like our government, you are doing your bit for education and for the economy.  

I do like your quaintly named 'customer service helpline'. Particularly love the 'If you wish to speak to a living, breathing human being, good luck' option. Okay, not true - but it might as well be.

As for the caring supermarket chains, your almost daily price increases on essentials, are clear evidence of your concern for the drowning consumer. You need the money for those full-page advertisements and jolly TV ads.

We could go on but I hope that these few examples prove:

 

Yes, South African business cares so much that it hurts.

Tips for the blogger gratefully accepted 

Capitec Bank, South Africa  

1378565477

O Tichmann 

+27 833970723