Disappointing Launch

The long anticipated Samsung Galaxy S3 has finally reach the shores of Malaysia with the launching handled by the big 3 telcos only end of this week. It is very disappointing that both SME and the Telco did not really promote as much as what other countries did to push the sales of the S3. In fact, most of the time, the consumers were kept in the dark not knowing anything about the product except for the launch by the three telcos.

It makes me think whether SME really want to sell the phone to us in the open market. Apparently, the telcos are the only customer they have and they prioritize them ahead of the mass market. Even the RRP was kept till the very last moment and no further information about launching were given. 

Furthermore, most of the users preferred a pebble blue unit, including me but all the telco only offered the marble white variant. With rumours and recent confirmation from Samsung that the delay of pebble blue unit is due to manufacturing defects, SME never bothered to make any statement to clarify to the consumers the availability of the the pebble blue stock. In fact, they published widely in printed media and online media that both variant will be available.

Hence, it really makes me wonder that, if they published both variants to be available, and never clarify that the pebble blue unit is not available or delayed. Can we, as the consumers, complain to the Consumer Body that they are cheating on us? Having think that I can get my phone by this week, and then now being delayed a month with no explanations officially from SME and no compensation for the delay. The launching of the SGS3 in Malaysia is very disappointing. 

An email inquiry written to them is only replied with a brief answer of only white available and only through telco. They totally ignored my request of the pebble blue availability and the compensation to the customers. In fact, this is not the first time of them being ignorant. Just go ahead to their facebook fanpage and you will find out many disgruntled customers raising issues about the availability of ICS for SGS2 users before this and they reply with just a mere copy and paste and playing hide and seek with the customers. Can't they act more professionally and admits to their mistake and don't give empty promises which end up delaying the delivery?

Once again, SME has failed in their customer service, both pre-sales and after sales. I still love the product, but hate the local sales service.