Grey zone strategy - China to Tata sky

The grey-zone is a metaphorical state of being between war and peace, where an aggressor aims to reap either political or territorial gains associated with overt military aggression without crossing the threshold of open warfare. It's the term of diplomacy. You may think that what it has to do with Tata sky? In fact, All giants service providers companies like Tatasky, Vodafone, uber etc. use similar tactics that Giant state use in diplomacy. I am sure that each of you become a victim of such a strategy at least once in your life, The case may be that you may not aware about it. Here is a small effort to make you aware.

Let me first explain with examples that what is the meaning of Gray zone strategy? China occupied over the whole South China Sea without firing a single bullet. How? All thanks to gray zone strategy. China is a hegemonic state, If a small tiny state like Laos or Vietnam opposes the move of China, they have to take a big risk, the risk of survival and it's quite rational than none can afford to do that risk. So the china exploits her unequal power status with aggressive policies to fulfill her interest without firing bullet.

Now let's come to corporate service providers. I know that all of you once got charged Rs.10 or Rs.20 wrongly by the service provider. You also though to file a complaint but later you opt to not do to do so cause it will take your precious time. Service providers know about the precarious lifestyle of ours and so they exploit our conditions for their profit. They will never charge a higher amount like Rs.500- Rs.1000 wrongly because they know that for such amount you will find some time from your busy schedule and they have to refund the amount.  Following are the infamous tactics use by service providers:-

Asking for the Aadhar card for sim card connection though it's not mandatory - If you give driving license as proof to Vodafone store, they refused to give Sim card. In that condition, You have to drive back home ( Patrol is 90/liter )- Contact Customer care and spend 30-40 minutes to file a complaint - the Second day have to visit the store once again to get sim card.  Vodafone knows very well that in our busy lifestyle none can find such time and its 90% probability that we handover them our Aadhar card to get new sim card though it's not mandatory.

Other infamous tactics is to charge double by the cab operator, Promising free engineer visit of by TATA SKY and then charged for that visit by reducing the amount from your balance, Automatically start some add-on facilities to mobile etc.

These service providers are giant as the china when we compare it with the power of the single consumer. Service providers have the force of thousands of employee, hundreds of lawyers, Latest technology and what not. It's quite impossible for the single consumer have to fight against such giants. They are very well aware that consumer will not going to challenge their position as same as Laos or Mongolia cannot challenge china.

But this is one type of appeasement. As Wiston Churchill rightly said that - Appeasement is like to feed crocodile in hope that it will eat you in Last. You cannot allow the predator to go scot free as it will increase his power and also morale which only increase predicament of others. China first made her strong position in east Asia where USA, Japan etc. allow her to went scot free. Later Expand aggressive strategy all across Asia where USA still remain passive and today china is challenging the power of the USA. All these thing without firing single bullet. !!

Likewise, If you don’t oppose the wrong charges of your service provider, it encourage them do embrace more such wrong practices. As of now, they are not as aggressive as china cause there is stiff competition and they have fear to loose customer otherwise they are very well aware about our precarious conditions. Here the market competition doing our job but there is not guarantee about the how long the competition last. We have to do our job just as In Doklam case; India took a strong stand against china. Though the standoff last for 72 days but at last china has to withdrew because India made clear that India is ready to fight the battle but will not allow the china to scot free. Believe me, Like china These big giant never want to shoot a bullet ( If consumer take a strong stand, they bang down) as they build their "Image" after long years and after spending huge resources. None want to put risk the goodwill of the company on the cost of the Rs.20 - Rs.100 rupee charge. So It's on you and me to raise voice against the wrong tactics employ the service providers.