Vodafone has terminated all retail product distribution arrangements, leaving retailers without easy access to Vodafone products. I’m told they plan to establish direct with retailer relationships. In the meantime? Nothing. This is leaving retailers, including newsagents, up the proverbial creek. The obvious gap in customer service is set to hurt Vodafone network numbers and customer perception even more than it has been hurt over the last year or two as the company shed many customers. It’s another brick for Vodafail.
I have now been contacted by several newsagents with many Vodafone customers. they are all asking if I have any ideas on future distribution arrangements. I contacted the company directly but that’s a challenge as the regular customer service entry point was a waste of time and my contacts are no longer with the company.
Beyond poor network service, another way to kill a telco brand is to cut off support for your customer facing retailers who have actively supported your brand and have been a point of purchase for recharging prepaid phones.
Must not be all Mark as my Aus Post system is still spitting out recharges this morning for Vodaphone ! I’m hoping they’re still working anyhow as I’ve already done two this morning.
Recharge is okay, it’s the retail products like handsets etc.