I'm 12 today!!!

Well if you are wondering as to what am talking about, as of today I complete 12 years of work experience. To start with I didn’t realize it till noon when somebody mentioned that its 2nd of June, when it struck me!

It was today way back in 1999 on this very day when I kick started my career with entering the world of advertising. From India's no. 1 food brand, Britannia to Tanishq, India's largest jewellery brand; from Lux India's largest soap brand, to Godrej Securities, India's leading brand in safes and security systems. And this was done working with two of the country's leading advertising agencies - Lowe Worldwide and JWT. Over the 7 plus years I spent in advertising I was lucky to work with some of the best people in the business...creative directors, photographers, studios, production houses and most importantly some of the most memorable pieces of work!

After 7 1/2 years with advertising agencies, I decided to move on...from Mumbai back to Bangalore as I was newly married. And from advertising to marketing as I felt that its time for me to play a bigger role. Joining Air Deccan originally I was part of the historic merger with India's favourite airline, Kingfisher Airlines.

3 more years and after domestic, international & low fare businesses I moved to the ever dynamic telecom space with Idea Cellular in Tamil Nadu to help replicate its successes elsewhere in the most challenging marketplace in India today.

Today when I look back have some really mixed feelings. Memories of some great work, making some really good friends (most of them are busy in their own world) and most importantly learning and contributing to the success of the businesses I was part of.

And every year apart from other days June 2nd has become a day of celebration, reflection on the past, contemplating what next etc etc. Much to the amusement of my colleagues and friends right from the first year, I have celebrated this day like my second birthday!!!

As one of the wishes went and like everybody else I'll continue to work towards a successful and fulfilling career!

First Rains of the Season

With the first rains of the season hitting Chennai, penned a few lines....

First rains of the season

Have waited for long,
to get a relief from the sunny days.
Along with the farmer and the villagers,
for irrigation and drinking water.
Along with the plants, birds and animals,
to drench their thirst.

The clouds rumbled…
The birds chirped & danced…
The thunders roared…
And the lightnings flashed.
Finally it did come…
The first rains of the season.
Soaking the land,
gripping you with its aroma.
Everybody ran for cover,
while kids danced in joy.
Trees looked lush green…
And everything had a new sheen.

First rains of the season...

Life is (not) good!

Well before you start wondering whats wrong, if you take a close look at the title you would realise that's its the now famous tag line for LG Electronics! Wondering what's not good? Well this is another classic case of poor customer service.

We had bought an LG Split AC 1T, after a lot of R & D and seeking opinions from friends, comparing prices and brands. Given it was the first time I was buying an AC I didn't want to rush it up too! After a lot of comparison and thinking we (Reema & me) planned to go for LG. 3 days later the LG team came down to install the AC in our bedroom. About 2 hours later it was all done! And we were celebrating. After living through the hot summer of Chennai for almost a year that too on the top floor of a residential building, I was relieved to have the AC hoping to have a peaceful sleep then on. All was good till a couple of months ago...There would be days when the AC temperature would remain at room temperature. Not bothering too much about it thinking some loose contact or something we let it be. About 4 weeks ago the temperature control stopped functioning completely. Given the summer was setting in I got flustered and went to the terrace to look for any noticeable faults. Not finding any I finally decided to call LG customer care as the AC was still under warranty. Like most of the customer care teams their back end is also located in Gurgaon / Noida belt. It was a Sunday and I was told that I would get a call in 2 hours and a visit in 24 hours. Consoling ourselves we were waiting for action to be taken.

24 hours had passed by

Forget the visit even the call had not happened! When contacted (obviously) a different executive picked up the phone with the same standard templatised conversation ending with the assurance same as earlier. 24 went to 48 hrs to 4 days to a week. And through this time I had made enough and more calls, screamed at the customer care, tried speaking to their local office here in Chennai. In between all this we were suffering with sleepless nights... A whole week later I get to know that the service centre assigned by the call centre doesn't cater to the area I stay in and the complaint has to be registered all over again. I rather obviously lost my cool!!!!

1 week gone - Engineer Visits

Finally after a lot of begging, pleading, shouting and screaming the engineer did visit much to our relief. After doing a few checks he confirmed that the problem is a gas leak and the same needs to be filled which he did. A few minutes later the AC was switched on. And all looked fine! We were happy...dreaming of a peaceful sleep. And we did have...only for couple of days before the AC temperature control conked again!

Week2: 2nd Engineer

After a follow up with the engineer & the service centre the 2nd engineer came 4 days and some more sleepless nights later. His analysis threw a different problem this time with the AC unit in the house! With the promise that the unit will be taken to his office the same day he left. By now I neither had hope nor belief in anything they were saying.

Pedestal fan a substitute for an AC?

By now I had 2 weeks of sleepless nights. It was showing a work as well. Not able to bear it anymore I went to Rathna Stores (http://bit.ly/iCl0is) in Pondy Bazaar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pondy_Bazaar) looking for immediate respite. After going through some cooler options which I didn't find any good I ended up buyng a good pedestal fan. Wondering how will it substitute an AC? Well it will not but help bring some respite to the heat during the night!

Meanwhile the ordeal continues

The service centre did send the engineer on Sunday (14 days & counting) to unplug and the carry the AC unit for repairs. When requested he informed that he will try his best to get it rectified and install on Tuesday! As if we believed him.... Tuesday became Wednesday (17 days & counting)...more excuses, pleading & screaming followed...

The D Day

It was Thursday...a whole 18 days after I had complained the rectified AC unit was again installed in our bedroom. Engineer tried to apologise for the delay. Even he realised it was futile. That night after 18 days we had our LG AC which was functioning!

The next few days were spent hoping its not a one off and everything is OK. We both realised it was not 100% OK. Cooling was not effective and fast as before, the sleep mode strangely is not working as it should, the power mode is not as intensive / effective. But given what we had gone through the last thing we were wanting to do is give another complaint!!

What we have gone through may be rare, as a percentage of all complaints in a graph inside the corporate boardroom (with perfectly functioning ACs) it may be minuscule but I still wanted to share my experience and just hope that nobody else have to go through this!!!

Customer Care(less)

"A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work - he is the purpose of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us the opportunity to serve him. - Mahatma Gandhi"

Am sure each and every on of you (especially in India) would have come across the above quote in one form or the other...in a bank, restaurant or any other big outlet mostly right behind the cash counter. Mostly with Mahatma's picture, framed and kept in pristine condition. Though I always wondered is it something which is looked at from time to time by the employees...forget organisations taking pain to inculcate them?

Wonder why am talking about customer service all of a sudden? Well over the last 40-45 days there has been two instances which have filled me with anguish, irritation, anger and even feel violent!!!!

1. United Bank of India - The Bank that begins with "U" http://www.unitedbankofindia.com/

Am sure not many of you would even believe that a bank by that name exists. But according to their financial results for 2009 - 2010 they have done business of more that Rs. 1 lakh crore! I got a corporate account with the bank courtesy Air Deccan. And during my stint their had taken some loans which were to be paid via ECS. All was well till I moved jobs and with that my salary account also shifted. Yeah yeah you will say whats the big deal when there is net banking. Let me tell you they woke up much later on this. So I have been habituated to transferring money physically. First there were some restrictions and then there was a fees I would pay every month. One of these days I made the usual trip to the branch in T Nagar, Chennai to make the transfer. It was a Saturday and I was late by 10 mins. I was not only not entertained even after repeated requests I was told about how they are perfect in their systems. Irritated I went home to come back again on the next Monday. I was there at 9.15 am and the counter only opened at 9.30 am though the timings were 9 am! Eager to get back when I asked why the delay pat came a rather cool reply...systems take time. What upset me even more was when I was told systems have changed and there are restrictions to the amount I can transfer!!! This time I was not going to take it lying low. When argued I was shown a faded photocopy which stated the rule! When asked and examples given of how I have been transferring for the 18 odd months prior to the day these were the statements made

1. The old cashier didn't know the rules

2. We don't know how she did the transfer

3. You would have cajoled her.

Already irritated at the nuisance this answer literally blew my top. I got into a high pitch argument. This is when their 20 something manager tried to sight how all other customers don't have problem with their service. Little do they realise these customers are with them for various reasons not customer care! I was not surprise that they had their say! I had to make another trip to make the reminder of the payment.

A month later when I had to make my next month transfers given the deadline was a weekday I went to their branch next to my office with the idea of doing partial payment. On checking with the cashier much to my astonishment I was told there was no such rule and above a certain amount I need to furnish my PAN card number. When I asked him if he was sure he smiled. I did quickly narrate my entire ordeal to him, made the payments and went back to work. Being part of a telecom company and having successfully rolled out Mobile Number Portability in Tamil Nadu, as a part of which customer could change the service provider without changing the number on my way back I was thinking if there is MNP can there be a BAP? Bank Account Portability!!!

Will share the next incident in a few days...

My Top 10 World Cup 2011 Magical Moments - India

Its been almost 4 days now...Thanks to the repeat telecasts, media frenzy, interviews and otherwise, the moment which has since been etched in the Indian cricket folklore is somehow still fresh in my mind. And heart too...Am sure same is the case with the Indian cricket fan! Having taken the following Monday off while watching TV I kept going back to the repeat telecasts and the interviews to soak up the achievement! And then unlike the 'live' telecast there was no anxiousness as I knew the outcome!!! As I recollected Team India's performance from match day 1 ten moments stood out. Ones which will stand out as My Top 10 World Cup 2011 Magical Moments - India.

1. Sachin Tendulkar 6th time lucky - Being carried around the field

As India won the World Cup if I recollect correctly Harsha Bhogle said 'His resume is complete!'. Sachin 'God' Tendulkar, the face of Indian cricket for over 2 decades with innumerable records to his name. Like every other fan of my generation have watched him right from his first series in Pakistan way back in 1989. His highs...his lows...His milestones...his match winning performances...Today 22 years later after finally making the summit he was full of emotions...joy & relief. But mind you he was not a bystander. Opening the innings in all the 9 matches he just missed out on being the highest scorer in this edition of the World Cup!

2. MSDhoni lifting the Cup (that counts)

If not for Sachin this of course would be topping my list. What a man, what a captain. There has been enough spoken and written about him already. For me its a great story of focus, performance and marshaling of your resources to achieve the ultimate objective.

3. MSDhoni's Six

11 balls left, 4 runs to win. A fullish delivery by Kulasekara and Dhoni smacked it over long on for a Six starting the celebrations across the World!

4. Yuvraj Singh - Man of the Tournament

Not one for a series of consistent performances leading to him receiving the coveted prize. He was there taking catches, getting wickets, saving runs, scoring runs...barring the semi final in almost every match. But for me the best was the 5 wicket haul against Ireland and his gesture celebrating the same.

5. Zaheer Khan - 3 maidens in a row: Finals

What made it even special is the fact that it was the same 'Zak' as he is popularly known who had bowled a string of wides and no balls to give 15 runs in his first over in the final of the 2003 edition. Though he went for a few runs later on the match he did take 2 wickets to take his tally to 21 scalps for the tournament - a joint first!

6. India vs Pakistan in World Cups 6-0

Each time they meet emotions run high. World Cup clashes are even worse. And then this was in the knock out stages at Mohali where Pakistan's record is much better than India's. Thanks to an overall performance India maintains a clean sheet!

7. Beating Australia in the QF

Well we have beaten a lot of times in the past in neutral venues, at home and in Australia. But this was sweet. In a way revenge of the 2003 loss. Billed as potentially the last match for two legends Sachin & Ponting at the World Cup stage, there was lot at stake. With half centuries from Sachin, Gambhir and Yuvi we did manage to win with 14 balls to spare!

8. Virat' Kohli's gesture

Going back to the celebrations after MSD scored the winning runs. Not many were aware till it was shared on the news channels that Virat Kohli quietly picket up one of the wickets and handed over to Sachin! He also carried Sachin through the victory lap. When asked pat came the reply, '' He (Sachin) has been carrying nation's burden for over two decades. Now it was our turn to carry him." Sweet!

9. Opening Match Sehwag: 175, Kohli: 100*

First match in the World Cup. Opponent: Bangladesh. A team capable of springing surprises. Has been the reason for India getting eliminated in the first round of 2007 edition. But as the match progressed witness a swashbuckling 175 from Sehwag. Was threatening Sachin's record for highest ODI score. Sadly missed out. Keeping him company and scoring a century on World Cup debut was Virat Kohli. What a talent for the future of Team India's cause.

10. Yusuf Pathan's unassuming sixes

An unsung hero as far as am concerned. A pinch hitter, an all rounder, a committed fielder. Favoured till the quarter finals till he was surprisingly dropped what I'll always remember are his towering sixes which brought a sense of relief and joy on every Indian fan's face especially the 3 sixes he hit against Ireland. So this is it. These are my top 10 magical moments. Moments which will be etched in my memory for my lifetime. Thank you Team India.

Photos Courtesy: http://www.espncricinfo.com/