The Sweet Service Award goes to Pick n Pay, and its Aramex courier service, which I experienced at Pick n Pay Camps Bay yesterday. Store Manager Xoliswa assisted me in following the steps to use the courier service to send a copy of my SwitchBitch Book to a friend in Knysna. First, I had to buy a plastic pocket with the documents and courier bag at the till, at R99,99. Then I had to complete the document with sender and receiver details, and photograph it for the tracking number. Then I placed the book in the bag, kept two copies of the documents, and placed the remaining three into a pocket on the outside of the courier bag. Lastly, I slipped the parcel into a special slot at a counter as one enters the store. The Book is likely to be delivered to my friend’s door by tomorrow, an amazing Store-to-Door service!
The Sour Service Award goes to Discovery Bank, for the difficulty in signing up its members to its new Banking Service. For the FICA verification process the Bank required a utility bill or other proof of the home address. I scanned a bank statement with the street address, and kept receiving automated messages as to what I had sent being unacceptable, and that I was to redo it. I did this repeatedly, and then called to understand the error. The first operator told me that a piece of the bank statement was missing, and that I should send it again. An operator on a second call to the Bank told me that the address that I had entered did not match the address on the bank statement. I found an invoice with the correct street address, and then my application was done. I received a congratulatory message from the BANK, but no further communication, other than to invite me to visit its website. When I tried to, it was out of operation! I have received no Bank account details to use to provide to suppliers for payment. No details have been provided as to how to bank with this bank without branches or a personal human interface.
The WhaleTales Sweet & Sour Service Awards are presented every Friday on the WhaleTales blog. Nominations for the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be sent to Chris von Ulmenstein at chrisvonulmenstein [at] gmail.com. Past winners of the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be read on the Friday posts of this blog.
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein
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