Used Simba (previously known as TPG) 50GB SIM only plan for GrabFood, is it good?

I know I've written about TPG 50GB SIM only plan before (read it here), and I mentioned that I didn't really enjoy its unstable connectivity. But this time round, due to some unforeseen event, I signed up for their 50GB plan again.  

Well, it's 100GB for $10/month for the FIRST month only and subsequent month will be back to 50GB per month for the same price.

50GB is more than adequate for GrabFood delivery, at least for my case. I only used up less than 600MB/day for 6-7 orders with some YouTubes while waiting for orders. 

I've been using this plan for GrabFood over the past few days. And I've summed up what I feel about the TPG this time round.

"Service Shop" and Customer Service

I went down to their store in Orchard Central to sign up for the plan. I was pretty surprised by the service I received. The CSO at the counter was very friendly, patience and took initiative to help me get my phone setup.

Apparently, TPG only support VoLTE calls and you need to set it up before it could be use. If you don't, you can't make normal phone calls (Whatsapp call will still work though).

I'm using my POCO X3 Pro instead of my iPhone this time round and there is a whole string of code needed to be entered to activate VoLTE, which the staff offered to help me do it without me requesting. There are also a few times we couldn't hear each other speak because of the facial mask and glass divider and she was patience with me. 

I must say, I'm pretty pleased with the young lady who served me.

Affordable Price

I actually did some research (not an in-depth one though) and I believe that the TPG offers the cheapest data plan in town!

I mean this TPG SIM only plan is just $10/month for 50GB of 4G data, 1GB international roaming Data, 30 SMS and 300 minutes of talk time.

You probably couldn't find any plan cheaper than this for the same amount of 4G data! And they also have a senior plan that provides 20GB of 4G data, 1GB international roaming Data, 30 SMS and 300 minutes of talk time for just $5/month! (you need to be a senior to sing up though)

Connectivity and GPS Navigation

Disclaimer: I only tried out in the location where I deliver GrabFood, so I can't really say for other areas.

To be honest, connectivity hasn't been the best but is decent. 

I do face some lag when I was underground while I was walking the underpass in a TEL MRT station. So on the map, I may seems to have "teleported" few meters down the road! I hope Grab doesn't think I'm faking my location though.

While delivering GrabFood, I do notice a few times when the indicator on the map navigation (both in GrabFood in App map and Google Map) will tend to "fidget" or jump around a little. While this could  be a phone's problem, I can't rule out if it's the 4G being unstable.

Anyways, if you're on a bicycle (which I did for a few trips), you might face some problem, as the "jump" could occasionally reroute the route. As for me, since I'm mainly on foot, these little "jumps" doesn't affect me much.

And I must say, I haven't have much problem delivering with this TPG plan. There are little disruptions in connection and I do find that it worked much better than previously. At least I don't have problem with connectivity in lifts nor do I suddenly received messages like "Welcome back to Singapore!" like I did the other time round.

Problem with OTP

This problem have existed right from the start when TPG first entered Singapore. That some users reported they couldn't receive OTP from certain apps on their TPG number. 

I didn't try that out the previous time round but this time round I did. I remember having to setup a few apps on my phone and I can receive most of the OTPs. However, when I was trying to setup Telegram, I couldn't receive the OTP. I've tried it thrice, and all 3 times I didn't receive OTP.

I didn't try to setup my DigiBank on this phone so I didn't get to try if OTPs from banks could be received.

TPG SG App 

TPG has make an app to make it easier for users to check their data usage and bills. If you're not paying by credit card and have to manually top up cash for your plan, you can do it via the app too.

However, the App requires you to enter an OTP every single time you log into the app and these OTP (in fact all OTPs) will use up your SMS count. I think it's a rather silly way to exhaust the SMS limit.

Billing Issues and Flexibility 

I've mentioned in my previous post that TPG have issue with their billings (like double charging) and they're extremely slow in terminating lines.

However, they seems to have that problem fixed and the lady at the counter told me that cancellation have to be done 7 days prior to the next billing. Anything later will see your plan continuing for another month. 

While TPG have fixed their billing issues, they are rather inflexible in the porting of their lines, even if it's within their own company.

Well, when I was there, there is this man whose line was cut due to late payment and he wishes to reconnect his line but TPG can't do it for him. It seems like they just cancel his line and he have to sign up a new line and he couldn't use back his old mobile number. 

There are also complains online that TPG doesn't allow users to port from one plan to another. So a user wishes to port his current line to TPG's business plan since he has been using it for his business calls anyways. But TPG couldn't do that and asked him to sign up for the Business plan and he will get a new number with that new sign up. That obviously defeats the purpose as he'll then have to change the contacts for his business. 

I feel TPG could work on allowing users to switch from plan to plan or upgrade without having to re-signup or get a new number. 

Overall, I must say I'm pretty happy with TPG SIM only plan this time round. I can see that they've improved their connectivity and customer service.

It's much more stable now and I feel it's comparable with my StarHub 3G and 4G line. Yes, of course comparing 3G to 4G is pretty unfair, but Starhub has been around for ages... so I do expect a little more from them...

For $10/month with 50GB data is quite a steal! Although 30 SMS and 300 minutes Talk Time may not be enough for some. 

Why I hate GrabFood Stacked and Group Orders

 

Well, it's December again and Grab have their annual Christmas Mumbo Jumbo again - well, it's a good thing because there'll be extra benefits for the delivery riders/drivers.

Well, they're their usual Team Mission but this year round, you have to opt-in. Which means, you can choose not to participate and face "team pressure". However, if you've a group of chiong-stars kakis (friends), you can form a group of 6 and chiong for the Team mission.

There are T&C though, like you can't have more than 2 Sapphire level members in your team and if you suay suay (unlucky) have inactive members in your team, also too bad, you cannot change team.

Oh I forgot to mention that if you cannot find kakis to form a team, you can fill up a form and Grab will form a team for you. Erm, I've no kakis so I went for the 2nd option, thinking I probably will end up not having a team, but erm... don't know is heng or suay, I got into a team. Grab opened a Telegram chat for us but ... no one is speaking inside.

I got a feeling they all think like me, just try their luck. LOL

Anyway, I think I got off topic. And I haven't even mention the lucky draws and some other Christmas bonanza which all riders/drivers have a chance to win prizes and gifts, just by doing at least 1 trip between 20th December to 2nd January.

Anyway, I really need to get back to topic. As I was in a team, I decided that I should at least try to contribute something, even if it's just a little.

So I tried to do more than usual, although to be honest, all of these walking have taken a toll on my joints. Sometimes, things that doesn't kill you, will just torture you for eternity. Plus, there's that damn thing called "age"... haiz...

As usual, Grab will have their "PowerUp Zones" and "Peak Hours" whereby you'll get more gems. I usually heck-care about them because, they NEVER apply to the area I deliver in. But this time round, I tried to fit my schedule around the peak hours, just to pick up a few more gems for the Team mission.

However, the peak hours are kinda short in the sense, they're about 3-4 hours during the brunch period, and 6 hours during the dinner period.

I tried to do as many during the brunch hours so I can enjoy dinner at home and then catch some TV time. However, Grab have other plans.

What they did? Stacked and grouped orders.

What happened was, on the first day of the Team Mission (20th), I've gotten a stacked order and I could only see the first order. (which is already quite far for someone on foot) I decided that I shouldn't waste my Acceptance rate (you should always try to keep it above 90%). I accepted it, only to realise that the 2nd of the stack order is WAY further than the first!

Worst is that the 1st order is already heavy (3 large meals with drinks) and I've to collect the 2nd order as well. 

No choice, cannot exhaust my cancellation rate on the first day, so I walked the distance which Google Map estimated to be 1.3km and will take 15-17 mins. But you know, it'll never be 17 mins with all that weight. So ended up reaching there in 30+mins and a little shy of 1 hour mark for the 2nd order.

Updated on 31 Dec 2021: A worst grouped order happened 2 days later, the 2 orders total up to 4.3km! Once again, one order that is already a little far for walker (1.8km) and another order that is over 2.5km! This time round, it took me 1.5 hours to get to the 2nd custom's house. Food is definitely cold already! 

I swear, I already tried my very best, so much so that I got cramp at the end of it. The route Grab had planned was just ... erm, how fast do you expect your walkers to walk? I mean, back in my school days, I did 12+ mins for my 2.4 leh... and that's running. Now I carry food and walk leh!  

So obviously, I didn't do too many jobs during the 4 hours brunch slot. Plus, stacked and grouped orders always pay lesser for similar distance, because Grab doesn't factor in the detour you've to take.

This happened for every single day ever since the start of this Christmas Bonanza, with the 2nd order out of the way from the 1st and I can only reached in around 45 minutes to 1 hour even after trying my best. I do feel a little bad for the customer but I still have to be a little selfish or I'll have to sacrifice my bonus. In order to receive the bonus, you can't have acceptance rate lower than 90% and cancellation rate have to be 10% or lower. That's basically just 3 missed jobs and 3 cancellations. 

I foresee myself getting slower as days pass due to accumulated fatigue. (I won't become a robot just because I deliver food) I'm considering to give up chasing the bonus or just doing that on alternative weeks. For my area, which is on the hill, riding bicycle kills muscles too fast!

Many people have asked "GrabFood can earn a living?" I think I've addressed that in some of my previous posts but I'll say it again ... Yes and No.

I can't say for other modes of delivery but as a walker, it'll be possible to earn 1K/month IF you're working for long hours (at least both the Peak hours) in Downtown area, 7 days a week and hitting at least the Tier 1 bonus targets for both weekends and weekdays. Basically, it'll be no different from a "full-time 8 hour job" and it's probably not very sustainable (depending on your fitness). 

I tried that for 2 months, not in the Downtown area though. I worked around 8 hours every single day, hitting all the bonus targets but I didn't make it to 1K still.

Extra Long Delivery Times for Taobao Items!! Plus "new" consolidation rules!

 

Well, I just have to say that my Double 11 Taobao shopping haul haven't arrived yet.

LOL, I've chosen Sea Freight and expected that it would take at least 3 weeks but it's like a month now and according to the tracking information, it has just arrived in the Singapore port at 15:00 on 10 December.

And there is no further actions till today. And this is just one of the package.

Well, Taobao seems to have a new rule for consolidation shipments. While, I'm not such about Air Freight, for Sea Freight, you can only consolidate up to a maximum of 30 packages per shipment.

Which means if you've more than 30 packages, you'll have to separate them into 2 shipments, which also means 2 (base) shipment fees!

However, do not confuse "Packages" with "Items". So let's say you bought 32 erasers from a single seller and she packs them into 1 package, it's counted as 1 package. However, I'm not sure if the seller, for some weird reasons, decides to pack them into multiple packages, will they count as a single package or not.

But, most sellers will try to pack them as one package, unless it's impossible to.

Anyway, back to the topic.

I've over 30 packages, so naturally, I've 2 shipments.

One, which was consolidated around 15 November, was the one mentioned above, and still sitting at the Singapore port.

The other, was consolidated around 20 November, and guess what...

It haven't left China port. Yes, for around 3 weeks, it's sitting at the port, probably playing Nintendo Switch while collecting dust.

Well, I know waiting time will be extra long during the Year end "Doubles" sales (11.11 and 12.12), but I really didn't expect it to be this looong.

Erm, I've ordered something again from Taobao on 12.12 ... let's hope it'll arrive before Chinese New Year.

Anyways, just a heads up for those who wanted to buy from Taobao during this period, waiting time can be CRAZY loooong!!