Smartbro Prepaid: Plug and PRAY!!

Earlier today my mom had to pay her Sun bills so off we went to Megamall to take care of those cellphone bills. While waiting in line, I saw Sun's flyer on their wireless internet connection package. Of course I was intrigued because I figured I'll be needing this for times when I'll be in Cebu or Davao for product trainings, launches, reseller visits or simply to while the time away waiting in airports or catching up with friends (online) in my hotel room.

BAD NEWS: Sun only covers less than the 13 Metro Manila cities!! Which is really bad I can't use it in Visayas or Mindanao regions..

GOOD NEWS: The Smart Wireless Center is just a few cartwheels away - this has been a company known for its (relative) reliability and extensive breadth of coverage so I took a consumer sales ticket to buy myself a smartbro prepaid kit

This product didn't need much selling to me as I've been aware of their campaigns (with Sam and Toni running like crazy) and of course I understand the concept behind the product offering. It also helps that from the PHP 5,800.00 price from months ago, the kit is now down PHP 2,800.00 with 100 PRE-LOADED VALUE (The kit is actually only 2.5k, PHP 300.00 of that is regular load already). Sweet deal isn't it?

The transaction went fast, I paid through credit card at the cashier, and went on my way to shop shop shop some more before going home.

I didn't foresee any mishaps trying the smartbro but now I'm almost bordering on being a very disgruntled customer!!

First of all it wasn't really Mac friendly, had to search the web to find the download site for smartbro's Mac portal. When I finally installed it, the device could not be found!! Their FAQ cannot be found, the user's guide is not helpful at all, I have to rely on the feedback from fellow bloggers and the web community to make sense out of this.

So I tried installing the modem on my brother's Windows-based laptop, the signal was great (4 bars!) but Dialing always failed.

I called their customer service only to find out that the dialing failed due to zero balance!

WAPAKK!!!

Now how is that possible when I wasn't even able to connect in the first place??? Isn't it supposed to have been pre-loaded with PHP 100.00?? And then I asked what would happen if I'll load the extra PHP 300.00 here? She just told me it's better not to load it so that the "pre-loaded PHP 100" will not be forfeited!

WAAAAAHHHH!!!! It's just crazy!!!

So tomorrow I have to return to Megamall again (together with the laptop this time) so that they can fix whatever needs to be fixed before I go to Cebu!

Very frustrating...really...


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On the side:

I was proud pa to tell my Mom that smartbro was the brainchild of the owner of the previous company I worked for. It was actually Meridian Telecoms but the lady owner sold it to PLDT which even caused a rift between her (MV) and her dad (MJ). After that sale, it became known as Smartbro!

(My) Consumer Truth: Mario Badescu Drying (Pink) Lotion

I just want to say that it simply does not work, at least for me!

For the longest time I've been meaning to get me this special potion as I've been reading about it in the news, in femalenetwork, even in mags where beauty correspondents all over simply rave and gush about this product.

It promises the disappearance of unsightly pimples OVERNIGHT! Wow isn't it? For someone who've been suffering from pimples post-puberty this seemed heaven-sent. So with a Rustan's Gift Certificate (thank God it was not hard-earned PHP 1,200.00 I spent for it), I got myself a bottle with a promise of magic in it and dabbed the pink stuff on my pimples that night...naively believing (and hoping) that the next day i'll see a clearer skin.

The day after, it didn't happen but I decided to be more forgiving and patient and more naive. That dragged on for almost a year before I bumped my head to realize that maybe it just isn't for me...(sigh)

Now I'm back to my BP lotion (I think it's benzoyl peroxide) as prescribed by my derma, relatively cheap and available in different brand names and the best part is that it just does it job! I guess it helps that it's suited to my oily skin. A no-frills spot treatment (you put it only on your pimples) and literally the next day they flatten out!

Caution though, you have to consult with your derma as it might not be the best solution for your pimples/acne. As for me - I'm just so happy = )

Tuesday Marathon

I'm no track athlete but what happened yesterday truly felt like a marathon to me. I was rushing from one place to another to get things done:

7:45 Mandaluyong City Hall to get my cedula/Community Tax Certificate
I was there early to avoid long queues but I guess I was too early because they start serving only at 8am!! I guess I was lucky / or charming enough to get my cedula even before they started office hours = )
8:00 Seattle's Best Coffee (Tektite, Ortigas) meeting
I already informed Di that I might be a few minutes late cause I had to get my cedula. However, with some luck again, I was able to arrive there on time but I didn't see her so I just proceeded to the 18F and waited for her. Meeting went well but I was very challenged with the feedback she gave.
Reports to Cisco in between
1:00 Funnel Meeting, etc etc
Had to meet up with my girls to check on our funnels, forecasts especially since it's month end and almost quarter end for Cisco. We also had to discuss for our disti planning, their incentives and I had to relay the feedback I got
5:00 Reporting to boss
OMG I kinda wished I didn't get some snacks so that I'd get this done earlier. But I needed the nourishment for another marathon ..I set my sched so that I could leave by 5:15 which would give me ample time to get to school but there were last minute PRs which I still had to sign
5:30 Finally left the building
So absent-minded I clocked out!!grrrr..
Got on an FX to megamall nuninuninu...
But I got off somewhere near EDSA Shang and walked through Shangrila Mall to the MRT station
6:00 Boarded the south-bound train/MRT
Thank God for Stored Value Cards!!! And thank God for the kind man who let me have his seat = )
Been keeping a close eye on my watch as every second every minute counts!!
Walked briskly to the LRT station..
6:20 Boarded the north-bound train/LRT
After a few skip trains, I finally got on a spacious train.
6:30 Vito Cruz Station/DLSU
6:35 Arrived at Doc Nards' IMC Class!
Probably all sweaty (eeewww) and a few minutes late...
Anyway, just made bawi on my recitations, and group presentation for my much needed case points! In fairness, he said I can be a good psychometrician (whatever that is..hehe) = )
9:00 Andrew picked me up
Shared my frustrations and how my day went while on the road
10:00 Arrived home
Played with our puppies, got to talk some more, ordered Tapa King for dinner/breakfast - Tapa Queen for me (I like it a bit spicy) and Longganisa for him

It's nice to know that after a day's worth of marathon, you can slow down a bit in the evening and take stock...or simply spend time with someone very special over Tapa King delicacies = )