Look before you leap (subtext: Customer service is the differentiator, don't buy Worldspace)

Oh how I wanted that Worldspace radio - the promise of crystal-clear rock music of all kinds filling my room was a recurrent dream. At a measly 1500 bucks I could buy a receiver and a not so measly, but not bad either, 1000 bucks I could get a six month subscription. My brother already had a receiver which he was not using - so I took that and bought a subscription.

So you think everything was dandy - well not quite - Hours were spent in getting the antenna to face an exact 45 degrees in the exact south-east direction where their microscopic satellite apparently rests. Well that was not possible from just outside of my room, so I had to put the antenna on the roof (just above my room) - however antenna wire ensured that my radio had to be hanging in mid-air. Anyway I told myself - this is why they have customer care - and that is where the penny drops. Maybe the Airtel broadband guys have spoilt me with their free and great service, but in this case I reasoned that the need for a longer wire must be pretty standard with Worldspace given the directional constraints with its usage. But no, I have to pay for 'technical' assistance and also pay for the wire by the metre. They do not keep antennas with longer wires at the Worldspace showrooms so I have to get a third party wire otherwise. Anyway, I went ahead and asked for it and was told that it shall be resolved within 48 hours.

Right now it is 72 hours and counting - and this is after extra phone calls. What a waste of money. I guess this is why they sell the receivers so cheap so that they can annoy you with their customer service. They are not the only ones - my personal blacklist also contains - Reliance Webworld (Shudder at the thought of the days when I owned a Reliance - thank God I have an Airtel now). The good customer care people are Airtel and Dell. More as and when I think of them/deal with them.

Update: My Worldspace was finally fixed - another 4 days after this was posted. Time to face the music.