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whatthefunk
Joined: 05 Aug 2003
Posts: 130
Location: Japan
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 Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 3:07 pm Post subject: 4 Reasons to Avoid Vodafone (Especially 3G Phones) |
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I hate Vodafone. Heres why.
Reason #1: Crappy Phone Selection
If you go with Vodafone, you basically have two choices of phones...old ones with no features at all, or Vodafone 3G phones which have all the features but dont work at all (see reason #2).
Reason #2: Crappy 3G Phones
The problems that I've had after one month of owning a Vodafone 3G phone:
About once a week it freezes in the middle of an operation. The power button wont work when this happens, so I have to take the battery out and then restart it.
It takes about two minutes to dig the MD card out of the slot because whoever designed it made the door go the wrong way making it impossible to get the card out.
Its slower than my 1998 laptop. Sometimes it takes half a minute to opens smy phone number list.
Sometimes I cant access the web or check my email. This is not a network problem because Ive been sitting right next to someone esle with a Vodafone 3G phone and theirs has worked fine while mine wont work at all.
Ive had my phone for one month and the paint has chipped off on almost half of it and I take good care of it!!!!
My last Vodafone phone lasted exactly one year, then broke forcing me to get a new one.
Reason #3: Crappy Service
Right now, whne I try to send a mail, my phone says "Network Down." This happens about once a week. I have never in my entire life delt with worse cell phone service. I cant send mails and I cant access the net. I can call, but thats it.
Reason #4: Crappy Customer Service
Last time my phone said that the network was down, I called the service center. It took me two hours to get through to an operator. When I talked to an operator, she repetedly told me that she was sorry that service was down, and then hung up. Today I went to the Vodafone shop where I bought my phone an complained. The guy there basically told me to *beep* off.
In conclusion, I hate Vodafone. I would strongly recommend that anyone coming here buy anything other than a Vodafone. This weekend, I will tell the guy who sold it to me to shove it up his owns ass and then I will buy a DoCoMo phone. I recommend that you all do the same.
Last edited by whatthefunk on Thu May 26, 2005 12:27 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Synne
Joined: 06 Apr 2004
Posts: 269
Location: Tohoku
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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I present this not to counter you, but to give info as to why Vodafone is not as bad as you are making it out to be.
3 reasons why to get a Vodafone
Reason #1: Practically the only fully English friendly phone company
Vodafone has 24/7 English service open to anyone needing assistance.
Every other phone company has certain times when this such service, although said is available, is not.
Reason #2: English Menu and Internet
With my Vodafone every site I visit has an "English" option.
I have never asked for train times or locations since Ive had this phone becuz it has an online Route Finder in complete English.
Older phones I cannot attest to but then who would get a 1yen older phone when they can get a 1yen newer one.
Reason #3: Phone Selection
Asides from the 3G's most phones have a variety of options.
The T series phones (Toshiba) are amazing, I have a three base dictionary: English to Japanese, Japanese to English, and Japanese.
It also comes with a mini test game which is great for testing your Japanese skill on.
The camera on most T series phones is amazing. I have the 601T and it runs at about 2.0 megapixels. The newest T series I believe is 3.0 megapixels.
Conclusion
My company revolves around Vodafone so it was a quick decision for me. I have no complaints with Vodafone, the face to face service may vary depending on which shop you go to, but the Phone Service is great. I have yet to ever had to complain about anything with my phone. Ive dropped this thing a good twenty some odd times and it still has never broken.
Most phone companies in Japan are really all the same, the extra features are sometimes just ridiculous...(karaoke/substitute for a remote control/little animals that send you emails asking you how your day was...) but the service is always pretty reliable for the most part. |
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whatthefunk
Joined: 05 Aug 2003
Posts: 130
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Synne wrote: |
| Vodafone has 24/7 English service open to anyone needing assistance. |
This is not true because I have been trying to call them to complain for the last 4 hours and I get the message that tells me to call back tomorrow morning.
| Synne wrote: |
| With my Vodafone every site I visit has an "English" option. |
Yes, but what good is an English option if you cant even access the internet????
| Synne wrote: |
| I have a three base dictionary: English to Japanese, Japanese to English, and Japanese. |
I too have this dictionary, but again, I have not been able to access it all night, so what good is it to me??
| Synne wrote: |
| the Phone Service is great. |
Are you kidding me?? My phone NEVER works! Its been off line for the last 6 hours! How is that good service?
| Synne wrote: |
| the extra features are sometimes just ridiculous...(karaoke/substitute for a remote control/little animals that send you emails asking you how your day was...) but the service is always pretty reliable for the most part. |
I agree about the extras...I really have no need for a bar code reader or remote control on my ohone, I just want one that works. And mine doesnt work at all!!! It breaks all the time! I hate it! My friends ho have DoCoMo or AU have half the problems that I have. Vodafone is losing customers rapidly at the moment and its no surprise given their crappy service. STAY AWAY FROM VODAFONE!!! THEY ARE EVIL!!!! |
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Rorschach
Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 130
Location: Osaka
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 2:41 am Post subject: |
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| whatthefunk wrote: |
This is not true because I have been trying to call them to complain for the last 4 hours and I get the message that tells me to call back tomorrow morning. |
Have you tried calling 157? All English support at least up to 11pm in the evening. When I had a problem with billing information I was able to call late at night and speak to someone in English fairly quickly.
| Quote: |
| Yes, but what good is an English option if you cant even access the internet???? |
Maybe it has something to do with your service area. If you're living out in the countryside you might have problems with reception. Either that or there could be something wrong with the handset itself.
| Quote: |
| I too have this dictionary, but again, I have not been able to access it all night, so what good is it to me?? |
Again, it sounds like your handset is faulty. What model are you using by the way?
I've been with Vodafone for 2 years and I have never had a problem with either their handsets (IMO the best in terms of price, reliability and features) or their service (dedicated English support with the 157 number). You may just be one of the unlucky ones funk.
| Quote: |
| The camera on most T series phones is amazing. I have the 601T and it runs at about 2.0 megapixels. The newest T series I believe is 3.0 megapixels. |
I love Toshiba phones, the 601T is one of the best available. Unfortunately the camera is only 1.3 megapixels, Sharp seems to be the only Vodafone handset maker putting 2 megapixel cameras in their phones. |
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Synne
Joined: 06 Apr 2004
Posts: 269
Location: Tohoku
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 3:54 am Post subject: |
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| whatthefunk wrote: |
| Synne wrote: |
| Vodafone has 24/7 English service open to anyone needing assistance. |
This is not true because I have been trying to call them to complain for the last 4 hours and I get the message that tells me to call back tomorrow morning.
157 has never failed me, even at 3am. Your phone must be faulty.
| Synne wrote: |
| With my Vodafone every site I visit has an "English" option. |
Yes, but what good is an English option if you cant even access the internet????
True, but again this must be due to your phone.
| Synne wrote: |
| I have a three base dictionary: English to Japanese, Japanese to English, and Japanese. |
I too have this dictionary, but again, I have not been able to access it all night, so what good is it to me??
This dictionary is not an online dictionary, it is based right off the mobile, you dont need to be connected to the internet to use it.
| Synne wrote: |
| the Phone Service is great. |
Are you kidding me?? My phone NEVER works! Its been off line for the last 6 hours! How is that good service?
Ive never had this problem. Your phone must be faulty, and the fact that you dont want to spend the time it would take to fix the problem is your own deal...not Vodafones.
| Synne wrote: |
| the extra features are sometimes just ridiculous...(karaoke/substitute for a remote control/little animals that send you emails asking you how your day was...) but the service is always pretty reliable for the most part. |
I agree about the extras...I really have no need for a bar code reader or remote control on my ohone, I just want one that works. And mine doesnt work at all!!! It breaks all the time! I hate it! My friends ho have DoCoMo or AU have half the problems that I have. Vodafone is losing customers rapidly at the moment and its no surprise given their crappy service. STAY AWAY FROM VODAFONE!!! THEY ARE EVIL!!!! |
Where is the proof that Vodafone is losing customers?
They are expanding in every corner of the world...is this what bankrupting companies do?
I can side with you only that your phone must be faulty and not working correctly...but it seems you are only one of a very small majority of ppl that has or is having problems with your Vodafone.
Spend the time and get it fixed...dont come to a message board complain. |
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whatthefunk
Joined: 05 Aug 2003
Posts: 130
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 11:44 am Post subject: |
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Its not my phone. Its 3G!! The entire 3G network was down for about 7 hours last night...Im sure it will be on the news tonight. This is the third time in the last week that this has happened.
Vodafone Japan is losing customers. I saw it on the news and my coworker said that their was something about it in a Japanese newspaper also. Theyre about to lose me too.
Im not here to complain, Im here to tell you all NOT TO BUY VODAFONE 3G PHONES! They suck. |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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| whatthefunk wrote: |
| Im not here to complain, Im here to tell you all NOT TO BUY VODAFONE 3G PHONES! They suck. |
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Synne
Joined: 06 Apr 2004
Posts: 269
Location: Tohoku
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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| whatthefunk wrote: |
| Im here to tell you all NOT TO BUY VODAFONE 3G PHONES! They suck. |
That would have been a better topic name and complaint.
Personally the 3G's looked like a bunch of B.S. to me in the first place.
| whatthefunk wrote: |
| Im here to tell you all NOT TO BUY VODAFONE 3G PHONES! They suck. |
Agreed.
...buy the Toshiba series or the Sharp series and you cant go wrong. |
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whatthefunk
Joined: 05 Aug 2003
Posts: 130
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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Youre right, my beef is not with Vodafone (although it is getting to be that way) its with the 3G phones. Will change the title accordingly.
By the way, my service is out again. havent been able to send mails in the last two hours.... |
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Synne
Joined: 06 Apr 2004
Posts: 269
Location: Tohoku
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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| whatthefunk wrote: |
Youre right, my beef is not with Vodafone (although it is getting to be that way) its with the 3G phones. Will change the title accordingly.
By the way, my service is out again. havent been able to send mails in the last two hours.... |
You should really either change out of 3G or switch to another company whatthefunk.
I know that some of the Vodafone ppl can be complete pains in the $%#, (I went throught four stores to acquire my Vodafone so I can side with you on that.) but not having a reliable cell in Japan...
...I couldnt even imagine.
Best of luck hey.
PS - Thanks for the title change and the level head.  |
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Rorschach
Joined: 25 Mar 2004
Posts: 130
Location: Osaka
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Ah, thanks for clarifying that. I still have my doubts about 3G network at the moment, the network seems to be too unstable. Both of my friends have 3G phones, one Vodafone, one Docomo. Docomo seems to be better in terms of handsets but there is still a lot of dropout. I'll wait for the 2nd generation of 3G phones to come along before I move up from my 601T. |
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Mike L.
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 519
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| Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| The guy there basically told me to *beep* off. |
This was a mistake on your part. At that point you should have snapped! If you start to lose it on the staff in any store you will get results!
At first do this in a controlled manner. Failing that really lose it.
I know from experience. And by watching some Japanese.
Customer service in Japan is unrivaled until something goes wrong. Then they they try to dodge all repsonsibility and talk a lot of shit..Many Jpaanese are to passive and this is where they get shafted..
I had a simmilar experience wiht AU a few years back after trying to talk to them calmly for about an hour, over several calls, I really lost it and threatened to file an offical "consumer complaint" they did a 180 and fixed the situation very quickly.
Same wiht the NHK man. Haven't seen that parasitc peice of trash since...
My buddy has done so with the cops too with great results....
Oh and reason #4 to use Vodaphone, IT'S NOT AN NTT RELATED COMPANY! |
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nawlinsgurl
Joined: 01 May 2004
Posts: 363
Location: Kanagawa and feeling Ok....
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Switch to Docomo. I was screwed with Vodafone and had terrible service. Dropped calls and emails received days later. Going to Docomo was the best thing. They have great customer service in English and a nice selection of phones. I dunno about 3G but I'd say Docomo is the way to go. |
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Mike L.
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 519
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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It's an NTT company. By using them you support old style monopoly business practices that restrics proper competition through corruption and other nefarious means..
NTT is an evil parasite that must be slain!
Did you know that NTT refused access to public telephine poles on several occasions to the competition even when they were legally required to grant it?
Did you know that they intentially held up the paperwork of competing companies when it cam to NTT ines until they established a "market leader" position?
It hasn't worked out as Softbank, a la Yahoo BB, has come on strong but does that make it acceptable?
NTT, NHK, Japan Highways Corp, the LDP all the same deal! |
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osakajojo
Joined: 15 Sep 2004
Posts: 229
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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Though I have only had it a month, I have had no problems at all with my vodafone. Love it. Takes great pictures too! I suggest switching to what I have-the V602T Model.
My girlfriend just got a V603T today.
The picture taking quality isn't as good, but the TV reception is nice.
Man, I love technology! |
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