Signing off

I embark on a sojourn overseas next Sunday, and in my last Net-Picking for the foreseeable future, I thought I`d try and cast my mind forward to anticipate which local Internet offerings I`ll miss most.

Top of the list has got to be online banking with 20twenty (www.20twenty.com). In the months since this Saambou initiative was launched, its approach to customer service alone has swayed me into believing that bankers are people too.

Other banks in SA are slowly catching up in terms of functionality to their online banking offerings, though customer service levels still leave something to be desired, in my opinion.

Basheera Khan, Journalist, ITWeb

The nature of the bank means I`ll be able to service my 20one account from those far distant shores, and though I`ll be able to do quite a bit of online banking where I`m headed, I have a feeling I`m going to miss the warmth and dedication of the Wired Warriors.

Meanwhile, other banks in SA are slowly catching up in terms of functionality to their online banking offerings, though customer service levels still leave something to be desired, in my opinion.

I must admit I haven`t done much online shopping of late. However, I am sorely tempted to do some unnecessary grocery shopping, just to see if the Pick 'n Pay Home Shopping (http://homeshopping.picknpay.co.za) service is as good as everyone says.

I`ve mentioned them before in this column, but saying goodbye to service providers like Red Flag (www.redflag.co.za) and i-Fundi (www.i-fundi.com) does prompt a small twinge of regret, which makes them worth a second mention.

As for good quality products available at affordable prices and delivered before you can say 'non-repudiation`, I bid a fond farewell to Digital Planet (www.digitalplanet.co.za), The Shopping Matrix (www.tsm.co.za), EnergyZone (www.energyzone.co.za), and Digital Mall (www.digitalmall.com). I`ll also miss not being able to patronise the restaurants so temptingly arrayed on Eating Out (www.eating-out.co.za).

I receive some funky newsletters, the contents of which will hold little relevance for me as of next month. Nevertheless, honourable mention to these worthy efforts: Exclusive Books` Fanatics newsletter, Around The Web`s weekly update on the Net, the Greenclub`s seasonal gardening newsletter, and of course, ITWeb`s daily news round-up. ;)

Of course, there`ll always be those who continue to disappoint, even when online initiatives look to be finally finding their feet. Truworths online shopping customer service, for example - while often well meaning, I have found the efforts of this fashion retailer`s support staff less than satisfactory.

Government is another body whose Web strategy seems almost non-existent. While the Web site of the Department of Home Affairs leads the pack, the other ministries appear to have no real vision or indeed any great desire to communicate with the citizenship.

Despite these individual smears on the reputation of local Internet offerings, my belief is that the B2C side of the industry, having finally learned the ropes, is mobilizing for serious growth and expansion. I`ll wait in eager anticipation for the next opportunity to do some Souf Efrikan online retail therapy.