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ADSL South Africa - Good vs. Bad
Advertising
It can be difficult to
distinguise between good and bad advertising, especially when one has no or little knowledge pertaining
to a relevant product/service. In
addition, it doesn't help when advertisers take it upon themselves to 'hide' the bad stuff relating
to their packages/offerings and focus mostly on the good stuff. This can however be expected, given
the tendency of many to hide or to try and hide the bad stuff, especially if it can have undesirable
effects (loss of income, etc.). Needless to say, it's no different with Broadband Service Providers and the packages/offerings
they advertise.
What we mean with 'good
advertising'...
When we write 'good advertising' we mean advertising that helps the
consumer to make an informed decision. It's definitely not about advertising that is seen as 'good,' simply because
it helps service providers to screw over as many consumers as possible in the shortest possible space of time. In
addition, advertising do not necessarily have to be misleading to be bad.
Given the above, here's a list of stuff ADSL South Africa
(Broadband South Africa) deem as good or bad when it comes to the way Broadband Internet Service Providers
advertise their packages/offerings on their websites.
Good
Advertising
-
Prices are advertised as VAT
inclusive - ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) sees it as good advertising when a
Broadband Service Provider is registered to pay VAT (Value Added Tax) and advertises its prices
as VAT
inclusive.
We like this, because it gives a good indication of
what the final price tag is going to be without having to make any tax-related
calculations.
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) likes to see Broadband
Internet service packages advertised with comprehensive info. We like this, because it definitely makes it
easier to compare apples with apples and is also a sign that the relevant Broadband Service Provider can be
trusted (although not always the case).
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) likes it when a
Broadband Service Provider allows for the carry over of unused bandwidth. We like it, because the unused
bandwidth is paid in full, and not allowing such transfer is a form of bandwidth theft after
all.
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) likes it when
Broadband Service Providers give their subscribers at least 30 days notice before any negative price changes.
We like this, because it not only helps with personal budgeting, but also gives the subscriber peace of mind
(to a certain extent) that he/she will not be caught off-guard by sudden price
increases.
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) likes it when a
Broadband Service Provider offers month-to-month contracts. We like this, because it tells the subscriber that
the relevant Broadband Service Provider places a lot of trust in their ability to deliver a quality service. It
makes it easy for the subscriber to get out of a contract when he/she is not satisfied with the service
received.
On the other hand, it can be difficult and expensive if a
dissatisfied subscriber wants to get out of a long-term contract (6-36 months).
I
t is
therefore no surprise that ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) is strongly in favour of the abolishment
of long-term contracts. We feel such a change will help to keep Broadband Service Providers on their toes,
forcing them to improve and maintain the quality of their services or risk going out of business
alltogether.
The above is the reason why we recommend time and time again that
our fellow Average Joes should not lock themselves in long-term
contracts.
ADSL
South Africa (Broadband South Africa) likes it when a Broadband Internet service subscriber is allowed to
cancel his/her subscription without having to give notice 30 days in advance. We like this, because like with
month-to-months contracts, it tells one that the relevant Broadband Service Provider places a lot of trust in
their ability to deliver a quality
service.
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South
Africa) likes it when a Broadband Service Provider offers technical support on a 24/7 basis. We like this,
because it means chances are good, that they won't leave subscribers out in the cold when help is needed,
especially after
hours.
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) likes it when a
Broadband Service Provider offers more than one payment method, especially when credit cards are accepted.
Despite the risks attached to making and receiving credit card payments, it remains a convenient way of
transacting
online.
ADSL
South Africa (Broadband South Africa) likes it when a Broadband Service Provider offers instant service
activation, despite the fact that for most of the time the subscriber has to wait for a considerable amount of
time to get for example an ADSL line installed/telephone line upgraded. We like the notion of instant service
activation, despite the mentioned limitations, simply because it shows that the relevant Broadband Service
Provider is not keen on wasting your or their time, but is rather serious about
business.
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South
Africa) likes it when a Broadband Service Provider offers its Broadband Internet services on a pay-as-you-go
basis. It gives subscribers the freedom to easily and cost-effectively move from one Broadband Service Provider
to another without having to experience the lock-in effect of a long-term
contract.
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South
Africa) likes it when a Broadband Service Provider give subscribers the option to up or downgrade at any time,
especially when there's no penalties for downgrading. This makes it easier and more affordable to switch to
better
packages.
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