Lifestyle holdings launches dial-a-delivery ‘virtual shop’. It’s not an online shop

Reading through the Sunday Mail newspaper today we were met with an advert that, for second we believed was the launch of TN’s online shops. Finally, we thought. But we were wrong. This is no online shop. What the company has launched is a dial-a-delivery sort of service.

It’s called TN Virtual Mart. According to the advert, you register (by calling) to become an approved customer and once this is done you can start ordering your groceries by calling a range of 6 mobile numbers. Payment is done on delivery. The approval is probably means to filter out the pranksters.

Of course we think it would have made more sense to have a catalog of the products handy with the customer. You know, on, say, a website. Or mobile site. Or some feature phone app. Nothing in the advert suggests that but maybe it’ll come at some point. No, it should come.

So we called the numbers anyway, just to see if we could get a feel of the service, and maybe order some bread. The person on the other end told us the service is actually launching tomorrow.

Now the advert says “No order is too small or too big.” Nay! said our friend on the phone; minimum order value is US $3, so our one loaf order just won’t do. All understandable ofcourse; it costs money to move a car (or scooter). It has to be worth it for TN. Still, he confirmed, for the right calue, delivery is free.

And as for the catalog issue, he says they’ll tell you the prices over the phone, and the delivery guys will bring flyers so your next order is even easier. He also told us to save on the cost of calling, customers can just ‘beep’ the TN number and they’d be called back. Another option to get the catalog is to have it emailed.

In terms of the time it takes to get your order delivered, he said “at most 24 hours”.

Here’s part of the the advert: