The iPhone is coming to Israel. I registered on the web to the waiting list of Orange to buy a new iPhone (3GS). Yesterday someone from Orange called me. So far, So good
Now comes the ugly part. They asked me to pay a fee of 9.9 NIS (2 dollars) to have the privilege to buy first the iPhone in Israel. I tried to understand if that was giving me something more beyond having the right to buy an iPhone? No - except a printed card with my name on it for which i absolutely do not care.
What disturbs me in that practice is that i have to pay something without having a single clue of the terms by which the iPhone will be sold: what price? what data package? what commitment?....Orange was no willing to share that over the phone. They just ask you to pay for the "Dmei retsinut" (literally "fee of commitment"). But i thing this is wrong. Worse: they called me again this am to offer the same thing again, after i complained (hello, have you heard about CRM???)
I cannot be asked to commit to something i have no clue about. I would even say this is not legal and i hope someone will bring light on it.
I love the iPhone but the hype around it is leading to this kind of abuse. Israelis are not "frairim". They won't pay to have the right to buy something.
Orange precised me that i could retreat at any moment and cancel this fee. But i don't care. I am not ready to give anything on a promise of something unclear.
Orange wants to make sure you are serious about your intention. I ask them the same: be serious about what you commit to.
Here is how they should do it right
> ask for a fee that will be deducted from any purchase at Orange
> precise immediately the price and availability date of the iPhone
> explain to the customer that the waiting list is too large to be treated at once and that enable them to garantee customer quality service
Someone at Orange listening? Change this now.
