How does one feel when a 13-year relationship comes to an end? Especially when one has remained fiercely loyal despite persistent temptations from relentless suitors?
Anger and Betrayal! These are the two emotions I strongly felt…
For Nokia!
This was the only brand of phone I had used since I went “mobile” 13 years ago. And not for a fleeting moment in all those faithful years did the Blackberrys and iPhones of the world manage to lure me away from my beloved Nokia.
A few weeks ago I decided to become “smart” like the rest of the world and bought myself a Nokia N-97 Mini. Well, suffice to say that it turned out to be a “dumb” decision! I spent a couple of stressful months with Mini. But thankfully, before the problems could become major, I saw my saviour arrive amidst unprecedented media blitzkrieg. Nokia unleashed its long overdue answer to the iPhone… the N8! I promptly bit the bait. And then cursed my fate.
My “power struggle” with the phone started the moment I switched it on. 11 harrowing days later, it was DEAD!!!
The retailer was kind enough (by Indian standards) to replace the departed instrument with a new piece… 8 days later this was DEAD too!!!
8 days!!! Was the phone living up to it’s name??? I wonder…
Now the retailer started interrogating me like a murder suspect. After all, I had slaughtered two innocent N8s in a matter of 19 days. What was my modus operandi, he wanted to know. And my sinister agenda. He just wouldn’t believe that the phone would get switched off automatically atleast a dozen times a day and then take about 20 minutes before it could be switched on again. Apparently he had sold large numbers of N8s within days of its mega launch and the only two phones that had met their untimely deaths were under my evil custody. The judgment was loud and clear… I was guilty!!!
Before I decided to turn myself in to the cops, I did what the rest of the world does when all else is lost. I turned to the one who knows all… Almighty “G”.
Google, that is!
My prayers were answered in precisely 3 minutes. People of the world, here’s an article and a video that prove my innocence. Nokia N8, indeed has power problems! And I am not talking about it’s power to dominate competition!
From being a die-hard brand advocate to blogging about my disappointment with Nokia, this story once again confirms that consumer patronage cannot be taken for granted. Unlike diamonds, customer loyalty is not forever!
