I purchased a SE W350i on 23rd July 2008 from Wavetel, Adyar, Chennai. I was also charged 1.5% on my Credit card. Within 2 days I started experiencing problems. First the screen changed to Blue color and after sometime the phone just hanged. So next day I took it to the shop. They informed me that it might be due to some wrong Theme settings. They made a Master reset of the phone and gave it back to me.
One week it was working fine. Then the phone became very very hot as though it will explode and it automatically got switched off. I could not turn it on again . once again took it to WAVETEL. They informed me that I should take the phone to Sony ericsson service centre personally. On insisting that they only have to send it to the service centre as it was hardly one week old, they accepted. They did not give any acknowledgement for taking back the phone. When I asked for it, I was told that I can take a xerox copy of their bill for my record. That time I was told it will take ONE WEEK for sending and receiving the same from the service centre as they collect such mobiles from all their branches and send it to their H.O for further forwarding to SE Service centre.
My nightmare started now. I patiently waited for One week and then started perusing my case. Initially I called them up over phone. By that time the Branch manager also changed. The new BM informed that he has to check up with his colleagues. Then each time different person will take the call and give the standard reply that it is still with the service centre. So this went on for another week. Then the weekend holidays came. Nothing could be done. On Monday, I personally went to their shop to find out the position. They made the necessary calls to find out where the phone is etc. etc. I was told to wait for half an hour as the BM will be bring the phone from the H.O. I waited for 2 hours – the BM arrived. He gave me a shock by saying that he brought an Ice blue piece(mine is Black), which was taken by a different branch. He did not know the color of my phone as I had not given to him in the first instance. He however assured me that by evening he will get it delivered and will call me.
The call never came. Next day I called his mobile and he never bothered to take the call. I called the shop, I was assured the they have sent a person to collect it. As soon as he comes back he will call me. The whole day I was franctically calling them up. NO RESPONSE.
On the Third day, I went to the shop again, thinking that by now, they must have collected the phone. But no. they have done nothing of that sort. I insisted that they give a new piece. The shop person then requested me to wait so that he will go personally to collect the phone. So I waited for 4 hours and finally I got the phone. On receiving the phone, frankly speaking there was no proof that it has come from the service centre. There is no label or sticker affixed on the phone by the SE centre. When I asked for this, I was told that their H.O will be having the record and the SE Centre will have it on their PC.
Last but not the least, when I purchased the phone, I was given a coupon from Airtel- Rs.500.00 worth free downloads. On returning home, I came to know that the last day was June 30th 2008. I called Wavetel to enquire about this. I was assured that Airtel has extended the time and that I can use it. But again NO. The validity of the card had expired.
Friends – Beware- Don’t be lured by Low prices, Free offers. The Quality and Service suffers.