Just over a year ago, HT and DNA entered Mumbai. What they needed was readership, and mostly a big share from the then market leader TOI.
So what do they do ? They send sales persons door to door with highly discounted subsription rates valid for 2 years. Pay amount "x" and get a coupon booklet for a year; with a promise that as soon as the year is over they will send their sales person again with coupons for the next year. The amount had to be paid upfront for the entire period of 2 yrs. When the newspaper vendor came in the next morning, all one needed to do is tell him that one is now subscribing to HT/ DNA and give him the coupon for the current month.
Now, not everyone can keep promises and we all know that...don't we?! So while DNA stuck to their word and promptly sent a reminder and a sales person at the end of the year, HT slipped up. Our coupons from HT are now 3 months overdue. HT staff / customer contact are neither contactable, nor responsive. They have not sent any reminders or sales people to our doorsteps to provide us the balance coupons.
So although the content of HT seemed quite impressive at first, the customer experience has been bad enough for us to spread negative word of mouth and also not renew the subscription any more even if given an opportunity and heavy discounts.
Is anyone listening?!
So what do they do ? They send sales persons door to door with highly discounted subsription rates valid for 2 years. Pay amount "x" and get a coupon booklet for a year; with a promise that as soon as the year is over they will send their sales person again with coupons for the next year. The amount had to be paid upfront for the entire period of 2 yrs. When the newspaper vendor came in the next morning, all one needed to do is tell him that one is now subscribing to HT/ DNA and give him the coupon for the current month.
Now, not everyone can keep promises and we all know that...don't we?! So while DNA stuck to their word and promptly sent a reminder and a sales person at the end of the year, HT slipped up. Our coupons from HT are now 3 months overdue. HT staff / customer contact are neither contactable, nor responsive. They have not sent any reminders or sales people to our doorsteps to provide us the balance coupons.
So although the content of HT seemed quite impressive at first, the customer experience has been bad enough for us to spread negative word of mouth and also not renew the subscription any more even if given an opportunity and heavy discounts.
Is anyone listening?!
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