Comments on: Helio is a Purple Cow http://yanpritzker.com/2007/05/29/helio-is-a-purple-cow/ photographer, entrepreneur, software engineer, musician, skier Mon, 14 May 2012 16:09:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: lokimikoj http://yanpritzker.com/2007/05/29/helio-is-a-purple-cow/comment-page-1/#comment-8337 lokimikoj Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:53:35 +0000 http://skwpspace.com/2007/05/29/helio-is-a-purple-cow/#comment-8337 Hi Hi, man! Your site is cool! Hi

Hi, man! Your site is cool!

]]> By: bruceg http://yanpritzker.com/2007/05/29/helio-is-a-purple-cow/comment-page-1/#comment-7086 bruceg Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:32:53 +0000 http://skwpspace.com/2007/05/29/helio-is-a-purple-cow/#comment-7086 As one who has been in the service industry (Advertising/Marketing) for more than 20 years, I sadly say that I have never had an account of customer service (CS) so awful that I have written a letter. The ultimate verdict is in the balance currently - I am 14 phone calls and roughly 10 hours of concentrated phone time invested in this project. At this point, I have to call it a process - here is why: The product I purchased (Helio Ocean), a Qualcomm product made by Pantech in South Korea, and I am extemely limited as to service carriers that can fill in for the great deal that is offered at Helio. Here's the rub: * Helio offers excellent service plans that provide gratis web-enabled experiences, and affordable phone time inclusion * Has the worst customer service in the world. What started off as an inquiry about terminating my program with Helio, has ended up such an absolute catastrophe that, 2 weeks and some $250 worth of Helio-expensed discounts (battle pay) later, I am still with out service. Yet I cling to this exceptional product. I have used an iPhone, and the cost benefit ratio greatly favors the Ocean device. Approximately half the cost with approximately 30% added benefits, the Ocean is - hands down - a better device. I know that I may get blow back from this statement - but I don't remotely care. I implore anyone with an iPhone to try out the Ocean. It will bring you heartache - unless you take advantage of Apple's 30 day customer service stance. I am hoping that Pantech starts dealing with the big boys, and that Helio ascends to less obismal CS ratings. I hope this does not encroach on your product endorsement statement. I just like the Ocean. Bruce As one who has been in the service industry (Advertising/Marketing) for more than 20 years, I sadly say that I have never had an account of customer service (CS) so awful that I have written a letter.

The ultimate verdict is in the balance currently – I am 14 phone calls and roughly 10 hours of concentrated phone time invested in this project. At this point, I have to call it a process – here is why:

The product I purchased (Helio Ocean), a Qualcomm product made by Pantech in South Korea, and I am extemely limited as to service carriers that can fill in for the great deal that is offered at Helio. Here’s the rub:

* Helio offers excellent service plans that provide gratis web-enabled experiences, and affordable phone time inclusion

* Has the worst customer service in the world.

What started off as an inquiry about terminating my program with Helio, has ended up such an absolute catastrophe that, 2 weeks and some $250 worth of Helio-expensed discounts (battle pay) later, I am still with out service.

Yet I cling to this exceptional product. I have used an iPhone, and the cost benefit ratio greatly favors the Ocean device. Approximately half the cost with approximately 30% added benefits, the Ocean is – hands down – a better device. I know that I may get blow back from this statement – but I don’t remotely care. I implore anyone with an iPhone to try out the Ocean.
It will bring you heartache – unless you take advantage of Apple’s 30 day customer service stance.

I am hoping that Pantech starts dealing with the big boys, and that Helio ascends to less obismal CS ratings.

I hope this does not encroach on your product endorsement statement. I just like the Ocean.

Bruce

]]> By: Mike http://yanpritzker.com/2007/05/29/helio-is-a-purple-cow/comment-page-1/#comment-7054 Mike Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:11:41 +0000 http://skwpspace.com/2007/05/29/helio-is-a-purple-cow/#comment-7054 I've had my ocean for about a month now & it has never once occured to me to try & return it. Not only is the phone very well designed, but the service has far exceeded my expectations. My Ocean has even passed the ultimate cell phone torture test: it doesn't drop calls when I get on an elevator. In fact, most of the time, the people I'm talking to have no idea I've just gotten on an elevator. As for battery life, I user my Ocean as an MP3 player at work all day (6-9 hours/day) and for browsing the web & text messaging in between and the battery easily lasts at *least* a day and a half. I realize that we've come to expect to not have to plug our cell phones in as much, but that's still better battery life than I was expecting when I bought the phone. Especially considering the size of the screen. Just plug it in at night before you go to bed & you'll be all set. I've read a lot of people complaining about the phone, and I agree with a small portion of it, but the good has far out-weighed the bad in my opinion. I think in the end it all comes down to what you use the phone for. I use it as a cell phone, I listen to music (constantly), I use the google maps, I use the AIM messaging on the go, and I take tons of pictures and videos of my kids ;) Throw in being able to look up quick info on the web from time to time, check my email, and amuse myself with Tetris if I get really bored and this has been a fantastic phone for me so far. I’ve had my ocean for about a month now & it has never once occured to me to try & return it. Not only is the phone very well designed, but the service has far exceeded my expectations. My Ocean has even passed the ultimate cell phone torture test: it doesn’t drop calls when I get on an elevator. In fact, most of the time, the people I’m talking to have no idea I’ve just gotten on an elevator.

As for battery life, I user my Ocean as an MP3 player at work all day (6-9 hours/day) and for browsing the web & text messaging in between and the battery easily lasts at *least* a day and a half. I realize that we’ve come to expect to not have to plug our cell phones in as much, but that’s still better battery life than I was expecting when I bought the phone. Especially considering the size of the screen. Just plug it in at night before you go to bed & you’ll be all set.

I’ve read a lot of people complaining about the phone, and I agree with a small portion of it, but the good has far out-weighed the bad in my opinion. I think in the end it all comes down to what you use the phone for. I use it as a cell phone, I listen to music (constantly), I use the google maps, I use the AIM messaging on the go, and I take tons of pictures and videos of my kids ;) Throw in being able to look up quick info on the web from time to time, check my email, and amuse myself with Tetris if I get really bored and this has been a fantastic phone for me so far.

]]> By: Eric http://yanpritzker.com/2007/05/29/helio-is-a-purple-cow/comment-page-1/#comment-6652 Eric Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:18:08 +0000 http://skwpspace.com/2007/05/29/helio-is-a-purple-cow/#comment-6652 I have had every possible provider over the last 8 years and I have to say that the customer service is spot on as mentioned above. It has always seemed that when I found a cool phone, the provider sucked...and vice versa. This time I seem to have stumbled on a happy marriage between service and product! As in any marriage, there are good points and bad points but hopefully the good outweighs the bad. With all the customer service going in the crapper these days, Helio has risen above the sludge and is forging a killer new concept. Let's hope they maintain the service level when they get big. It's always easy to provide good service when your the new guy but it's what you do after you've grown that makes who your company is. I give a thumbs up, 8of10, whatever, excellent rating for Helio and I would recommend anyone to try their 30 day Total Happiness Guarantee. I can't believe I found a killer Mobile Device with great service that meets all my messaging/email needs yet is not another 'windows' device to have to manage every day. I think I'll buy a couple extra batteries and go on with my life happy. :) I have had every possible provider over the last 8 years and I have to say that the customer service is spot on as mentioned above. It has always seemed that when I found a cool phone, the provider sucked…and vice versa. This time I seem to have stumbled on a happy marriage between service and product! As in any marriage, there are good points and bad points but hopefully the good outweighs the bad. With all the customer service going in the crapper these days, Helio has risen above the sludge and is forging a killer new concept. Let’s hope they maintain the service level when they get big. It’s always easy to provide good service when your the new guy but it’s what you do after you’ve grown that makes who your company is. I give a thumbs up, 8of10, whatever, excellent rating for Helio and I would recommend anyone to try their 30 day Total Happiness Guarantee.

I can’t believe I found a killer Mobile Device with great service that meets all my messaging/email needs yet is not another ‘windows’ device to have to manage every day. I think I’ll buy a couple extra batteries and go on with my life happy. :)

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