Not to dwell on the iPhone anymore than necessary (it’s not that interesting), but Cingular announced that it will only be available with a 2-year contract. What is wrong with this company? They get something this good (and it’s going to be great for them), and find a way to piss off a corner of their market.
I’ve been a Cingular customer for a while, and I’ve been relatively happy with them. They seem to be slightly less inclined to screwing customers than some other wireless carriers, but this is really pushing it. It doesn’t affect me. I’m not going to buy an iPhone for a host of reasons, not least of which is that my new fangled money tree still hasn’t sprouted, but it’s these kinds of decisions that really get to me. Now, honestly, it probably won’t have that much effect on them because the people that want the iPhone will get it anyway, and the people that don’t probably won’t even notice, but I subscribe to the Seth Godin line of thinking, the best way to attract and keep customers is to just do what’s right.
Bad marketing is still marketing. Chip away small pieces of your customer base, and soon enough there won’t be any left.
6 responses so far ↓
1 kevin // Feb 26, 2010 at 5:55 am
I remember the ruckus that caused. I was dealing with the same issues, because I also wanted to get an iPhone at the time. I didn’t - for the very same reasons: money and the fact that there was a two year contract. I do a lot of traveling and stay abroad for long periods of time… a two year contract for a phone is not exactly what would have served me best.
2 Karen Adams // Mar 3, 2010 at 1:24 am
I can understand your agony. Unless the customer is not happy, your company cannot excel.
3 manda // Sep 2, 2010 at 3:47 am
i better choose android
4 Mythical Madness // Nov 3, 2010 at 10:10 am
A lot of these corporate bastards could care less about the customers; often times, after they have grown so large, the greed and asininity usually starts to kick in. Oh, I like your title, “Pissing Off Customers 101.” Ha-ha!
5 Perpendicularity // Feb 27, 2011 at 10:41 am
Yeah, you nailed it when you wrote: “the best way to attract and keep customers is to just do what’s right; bad marketing is still marketing; chip away small pieces of your customer base, and soon enough there won’t be any left.
Yeah, I think greed and quick profit also often blurs the vision of good customer service. Some companies think they can get away with a few light screws to make a little more cash, but they start getting in trouble when they start trying to turn that inch of marketing madness into a mile of corporate dung.
Anyway, thanks for writing this lovely post entitled “Pissing Off Customers 101.” LOL!
6 Android Games Apps // Jul 13, 2011 at 4:43 am
sorry, but when i hear something about iphone and apple i gonna trow it to my toilet
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