Customer Delight or Customer Surprise?

I needed a 2GB micro-sd card for my mobile Alcatel OT 517D. The mobile specs at the company site & seller site indicate that memory is expandable via Micro-SD upto 2GB.

Rant #1: Check the company site for mobile description at this link. Image is not visible on the page, as it points to an image asset that does not exist. How hard is it to track 404 errors on your site using G-Anl or any other tool?

I checked many sites on data storage, but none of them clarify whether adding a 4GB card will be rejected or will only allow 2GB to be available. I ordered a 2GB micro-sd card with adapter at snapdeal site - see link. The adapter was to allow easy tranfer to laptop via SD Card slot.

Rant #2: Why does the page title on browser say 'Pay Rs 177 ... worth Rs 599 ...' while the details below indicate price as Rs 179 on MRP of Rs 499? How hard is it to ensure consistency of information, especially when using some sort of a CMS for such sites?

Interestingly, I received the package with an invoice slip indicating '2GB Micro-SD Card with Adapter', however the actual product is 4GB Micro-SD card with Adapter with MRP as 699! It looks closer to another product - see link (with offer price as 275 on MRP or Rs 999).

Rant #3: Why lie on the MRP to fake the discount, when the ugly truth will be evident the moment the customer opens the package? Is this a legitimate practice?

Finally, I'm not sure if I can use the free 'upgrade' at all. I have asked them to check if this error was intentional or an oversight, but there has been no response within 24 hrs. Will update once I hear something from them.

Update on 22-Feb-12:
I was informed that the complaint has been forwarded to concerned dept. Then I was asked to rate on the support received!!! What was the support that needs to be rated???

Update on 25-Feb-12:
I was asked to pack the product & label it for return, then call BlueDart with some account number & send the AWB to them. Great! Then what??? I have asked them what to expect after I follow their instructions, as I don't see any step where the correct product gets delivered.
Just saw a newspaper ad of a magazine covering Snapdeal v/s Flipkart. I think the snapdeal guys are clueless about whom they are trying to compete with...

Should there be a penalty for false information on websites???

I chanced upon this website by an enterprising Auto Driver in Chennai.

Everything looks impressive & I decided to connect with him explaining my tentative plans & requesting for his availability & pricing.

I send him a mail at his id as mentioned in this link. The mail delivery just failed!!!

Since the banner indicated www.tuk-tastic.com (instead of www.tuktastic.com), I tried this id as well, but that failed as well.

What is the point of investing in a website & e-mail if it does not work!!!

TTDC Online - Do we need RTI for everything???

My Rant #1: Why have multiple domains for achieving the same objective?
There is a TN Tourism website, and there is a TN Online Booking website. Of course, over time information (contact info, room rates, etc.) between them will be divergent. Does anyone care about the end user? Is it really easy or convenient or cheaper to maintain 2 sites? Or is it just taxpayer funding the ego massage of 2 different babus who refuse to talk to each other?

My Rant #2: Why have hotels listed in the same group when online booking is not available for all?
Check the Chennai TTDC Hotel listed in this link. Tariff indicates Double Room A/c for 750 INR & being bang opposite the Chennai Central Rly Station, it is the best choice for those with inconvenient arrival/departure timings. Now check the TTDC Online Booking hotel list in this link. This specific Chennai hotel is missing - by design or oversight, no one knows!

My Rant #3: Why have e-mail ids for commercial establishments when no one intends to read them at all?
I sent an e-mail to this ID, listed on the TN Tourism hotel page, asking for clarification on how to book online, but received no response for 2 days. Next, I forwarded the mail to this ID, listed on TTDC Online Contact Us page, but received no response for 2 days. Now I have forwarded the mail to this ID, listed on TN Govt site - Tourism Dept page. If this does not work, I would have to look up some more mail-ids to find the chain of command...
I know, it is easy to make a phone call (perhaps that's what I'll do eventually), but why is it so hard to maintain the web presence for these organizations?

Update on 17-Feb-12:

Finally, the 3rd level resulted in a response. They indicated that it has to be booked by calling the hotel directly & sending a DD (for those of new-age banking generation, that is a Demand Draft).

I finally called the hotel as advised, and was informed that rooms are available for the category on the dates I wanted. They suggested that I visit TTDC counter in my city & make the booking there, which was much appreciated.

Here is the list of such counters: See link & scroll down to 'Sales Counters', or see this link.

Update on 18-Feb-12:

I visited the TTDC counter as suggested & managed to book the hotel as suggested. Cheers!

My Rant #4:

The phone number for TTDC counter in Bhubaneswar (0674-2430169) kept ringing on Friday evening & Saturday morning with no response.

I reached the TTDC Counter (it is within OTDC Panthanivas complex) on Saturday at 10:30AM & noted it was closed. One person said it will open later in the day, another said it is closed on Saturday/Sunday, the reception at Panthanivas said it has been shifted to a new location (not too far away), the OTDC booking counter mentioned that it opens by 11AM (which thankfully was the correct information). How hard is it to post your timings on the door???

My Rant #5:

The counter was opened by 2 persons, one of them had to write a letter & another had to help him write the letter. Neither had the time to take my money & give me the receipt promptly. It took almost 30 mins to get my reservation done, despite me being the 1st (& only) customer. At the time of issuing the slip, the pen ran out of ink & they had to go out to buy a new pen! They accept only Cash (no card facility, irrespective of amount). Finally, there was a service charge of Rs. 50 for all the human contact provided for half an hour!

How can tourism be successful when there is no respect for another person's time and preferences? Perhaps it is just a numbers game (if you don't want it, someone else will).