Its 8.10 am now and I am ready with my business attire. It is going to be a very frenzied day for me with about 5/6 important meetings including a board presentation.
What the hell??? One car tyre is punctured. Delhi’s hot summer and I am standing clueless on a Tuesday morning (all shops will remain closed in South Delhi). I just couldn’t believe it. This is going to spoil my plans.
WoW…!!! I remembered my Crossword membership and can use it for the first time now. Obviously I patted my back twice for being so intelligent (to remember this silly thing). How often we really check if the driving license is in the wallet or not. It’s just the same as I forgot I have a CROSSROADS membership.
Welcome to crossroads. India’s first and largest road side repair assistance service provider for all cars and two wheelers since 1999. …. Blah..blah…
Next….if you are an existing customer, press……….
Next…Please stay online, our customer service executive will attend you
This initial sweet response became extremely irritating before multiple failed attempts to be picked by someone.
It is about 8.45 pm… Whoa!!!
Some one picked at last. Here are the outcomes…
Outcome 01: Your car number is not updated in the system and can’t take the request.
Outcome 02: Finally he could find my vehicle digit as XXX7 instead of actual XXX1 (poor me)
Outcome 03: He took all details and asked me to tell about my hobbies etc. (look the timing)
Outcome 04: Call transferred to a lady (without any hint) and she started asking the same again
Outcome 05: "Gussa karnese kuchh nahin hoga" / "Woh naya ladka tha, usko kuch pata nahin"
Now it is 9.25 am and I have missed my first meeting already.
Dropped the call and dropped the attire too (tie & jacket) on the driver seat to pick the jack and the Tyre is replaced in about 10 minutes with the help of a walker. Found a roadside mechanic on my way to do the job in 10 minutes for 50 buck to my tubeless.
I garlanded myself with my tie while driving to the second meeting well in time. I am lucky to see the first meeting postponed. The day was good, overall. Can’t say if it would have the same if I were emotional about the money paid and services expected from them.
Not sure….
I had a tiny gain of wisdom in this episode. If I am driving my car myself, I must be prepared to do some emergency management also. I must know the basic minimum matters which are going to happen in anyway. We should have some plans (& alternative plans) for the situations like Tyre puncture, vehicle start, fuel, sudden break down.
Now, I have decided to keep a bag in the boot with a chain lock to put everything (car internal accessories) in it and move on if there is any kind of exigency
If taking a crossroad membership is convenience, you are certainly going for the Freedom Plan by paying 1600 here is a logical reasoning before deciding to get bonded:
(1) How often we need such services? If max 4 times a year it costs 400. Is it cheaper?
(2) Service in 29 minutes after receiving the call (conditions apply). Check on my calls.
(3) Have you heard their reliability from someone you personally know? I didn’t.
(4) Can you avail their services without being a member? Yes, pay for it if availed.
(5) Level of our dependency on one car and alternative scenarios (metro/cab/etc.)
Although my personal decision is not to continue with Crossroads membership, I feel they will not survive in India if the experience is the same for the majority. Unsure of who will read the complaint, I decided not to protest with a mail.
A forum like this is the best place.