Vaigai Express Madurai

I like Vaigai Super Fast Express, which goes from Madurai to Chennai.

This express train starts at 6:30 in the morning from Madurai. If I want to go to Trichy, this is an excellent train. I wake up around 5:15 am and get ready and come to the Madurai train station around 6 AM.

The train starts at 6:30 AM and reaches Dindigul at 7:30 AM. Then the train goes to Trichy at 8:40 AM. Without much effort I reach Trichy. Moreover, the train travel is great.

On the way, natural scenes are really nice. The train station is just couple of kilometers from my house, so it is easy to reach Railway station as well.

Also - If i have to travel by bus, I have to go all the way to Mattuthavani. This is far away for me. Even though the Roadways Bypass road is awesome, the road travel by Bus is sickening.

At any case, I am enjoying Madurai and Vaigai Express.

Madurai does not know what is customer service!?

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Here is one experience on a customer service of a small business owner.

I wanted to get a quote for my printing needs in Madurai. I tried to look up in Internet, which was not a fruitful experience. Then I decided and just went on a bike ride to find out a publications who would help me for my publication needs and printing needs.

I was told by an old person I should search near Arya bhavan in madurai town area. When I was going towards Arya Bhavan, I encountered one offset shop. I visited that shop and I was not greeted great. Even though I was identified as a great prospect, if I would have been treated well there, I would have proceeded on my business with that guy. But I was not given that treatment and I decided not to go with that business. As a small business owner, he/she takes over the business started by his/her father or grandfather. Hence they do not know about the customer service and the relationship.

The vendor had a frustrated face and was hesitant and frustrated for giving me a quote. Unbelieveable!!! Hello - I am giving you business. i don't feel that my business will be taken care if I do business with this guy....

Another scenario - I was asking a madurai based business person for my software needs. Again I am a customer - I asked for a quote and this person said he will get back to me and never came back - It is been one full day and I did not get any response. In fact, I have even mentioned that it is very important and I need this done very fast.

On other hand, I had to give this business/project to a Coimbatore based web design company - who has been very responsive and my business is being taken care very well!!

I don't think all of the business owners are like this, but some has to wake up. Madurai does not seem to be very friendly already for Business - on top of this some business owners have to wake up and learn about customer service in Madurai!!

I am surprised to see this kind of a thing happening in Madurai, where business had been done with very much customer centric focus.

Madurai experiences: Time sense is poor

Where I go and whatever I do I have to deal with people correct?
Well, in Madurai when I deal with people or do business with people as a customer or as a vendor - I have to deal with the Madurai people.

Well, nobody has the sense of time in Madurai. If you cannot be strict in the timing, then do not promise that you will be able to make it at this time. People say - I will be there in 15 minutes. But they show up after 1 hour. It is accepted and adjusted easily.

Starting from electrician, plumber, Web designer, Relatives, Sales representatives, doctors anybody you name in Madurai. I did not see a single person who had stick to their timings.

People tend to accept it and do not seem to worry too much about time strictness. If used effectively, it would be better for Madurai and its people. Everyone could use everyones time effecitively, instead of any kind of wait times.

Madurai Experiences: Terrible service of Airtel, Madurai

Well, this is very interesting guys...

The way these guys function is very odd. I needed a post-paid connection and I went to an Airtel center in bye-pass road. I was told someone will come to my place and they will help me in getting a post-paid connection.

I was glad at first place that someone will come and do everything for me. That became a nuisance for me. Two guys came to my place, and they were supposed to be for internet connection. So, those guys told me that someone else will come for Post paid Mobile connection.

Then came another guy - it is been 15 days I have not received a proper post paid connection. At last I had to change the connection to pre-paid to use the connection.
This has been a totally frustrating experience with that guy. I have not detailed a lot here, but it was frustrating for the fact that I could not get a normal post-paid connection in just a day.

At the first place, when I went to the Airtel office, I should have been able to complete my job there. Why should someone visit my place! I am surprised to see Airtel has such a man power, but doing poor customer service.

Another interesting thing is - when I went to another Airtel office in the same area - and explained my problem - they said - they cannot do anything about it - Only the agent who is working with me can help me in this, even though the Airtel office has written outside that - "Airtel Customer Relationship Office". I don't know what the ladies are doing there, wearing tight jeans and free hair - looks odd for those Madurai ladies. It is their independence on their looks, but I wish they do their duties properly or atleast the way these office function is terrible and it is not customer centric at all.

Again - this does not look like friendly for businesses!!!

Madurai Experiences: Terrible service of BSNL

I went to Thallakulam, all the way from the South part of Madurai for an internet connection at home in Madurai. There is no easy way of getting a phone number or a contact number to reach somebody to arrange for an internet. (Later I came to know other options like Reliance etc., who provide awesome internet data card (USB) in just 30 minutes).

Well, I went all the way to Thallakulam and searched for a Customer Service center. As soon as I enter the hall, I am by myself. Nobody approaches you for why you have come into that building. You search all the boards there and finally I reached a counter called Broadband internet connection. I was talking to a woman of my mother's age. Well, she was kind of enough and she got all the money I have to pay, but....

Interesting thing - when it comes to the service, nothing will happen.
It is been 3 weeks, from the time I applied for an internet connection for my home. Nobody showed up - though I was told that someone will come to my home within a week's time. Well, it is been 3 weeks. (I finally bought Reliance data card) yesterday to proceed with my work.

This is the situation of internet connection for anybody new to start a business. I had many dreams when I came here - but by this time I have not got internet the normal way!!

There is no easy way someone would start a business in Madurai. It is very hard to even get an internet connection!! Will I get an internet connection from BSNL at all! Let me count the days - when they would come to me for internet connection...

Rememering my Madurai Village Vadivelkarai - satti karugiya smell - Madurai Experience

While I was preparing dosa yesterday at my home kitchen, due to my vessel darkening(satti karugivittathu), I experienced a "satti karugiya smell" and I got remembered of Madurai and my sontha ooru Vadivelkarai.

My grandma gets excited when we visit the village. I am referring to "we", to my brother, cousin and myself. We go near the nearest railway tracks and do the required and get cleaned in a running water creek nearby - I am sure you know what I mean!! My Grandpa and us take bath in the lotus pond near this village(karuppu kovil) and come back to home to have nice tiffin(breakfast). The special breakfast items include panniyaaram, idly, dosa, idiyappam. All these are never equivalent in quality to what my mother makes, but definitely it has its own speciality of the rustiness and country side smell.

At this point, I smell all the "satti karugiya smell"!!:)

I love those days, where in we enjoy each and every moment and there are no responsibilities:)!
Even reminescence is FUN. I wish I close my eyes and get more remindings like this.