Why is it so hard to buy SkypeOut credits?

As you can well imagine, we here at EQO use up a fair bit of SkypeOut credit.  Almost every one of our thirty or so employees has a Skype account with SkypeOut credit.  We also have a whole pile of demo accounts and test accounts as well.  I would estimate that the number of Skype accounts we have that require SkypeOut credit is around the fifty mark.

Now, I’m not sure if you are aware of this or not, but Skype has some pretty strict rules about buying SkypeOut credit.  One such rule is that only one credit card can be associated with one Skype account.  Imagine getting your hands on fifty different credit cards just to top up your SkypeOut credits!  We pretty much had to hire a contract worker to track down credit cards and distribute SkypeOut credits.  Needless to say, it was not an enjoyable experience.

Now, this is where those of you who know a thing or two are thinking that I’m an idiot because we could have used Skype Groups all along!  Go on thinking I’m an idiot, but don’t base your opinion on my not trying Skype Groups because I most assuredly did.  Back then the only way you could stuff credit into Skype Groups was via Moneybookers.  But then Moneybookers only allowed us to put in fifty euros every three months, and that fifty euros didn’t stretch so far.  To quote Stewie Griffin, Blast! 

Last week, my purchase of Skype Voicemail left me running on fumes so I sucked it up and headed to the Skype website to reload.  I was overwhelmed with euphoria when I saw that I could now use PayPal to buy SkypeOut credit!  After success with my account, I ventured to refill another… success again, Herbal Essences commercial commence!  Boy was I happy, shall I dare try again?  Is three accounts too good to be true?  Turns out yes it is, cue Detroit Pistons vs Indian Pacers 2004 and I’m Ron Artest.  Yes folks, it was a wild day in my cube.

Wait, there is a glimmer of hope, you can use PayPal to buy credit for Skype Groups.  I tried purchasing once, all seems to be going well, I try again, also seems to be going well.  As I write this it appears as though my purchases have gone through, I’m hoping to be dishing out SkypeOut credit in a matter of minutes.  I’m about as nervous as those guys landing on Omaha beach back in 1944, okay, maybe only as nervous as the paintball reenactment.  Alas, here comes the refunds one after the other.  I’m torn asunder, defeated, beaten to a pulp, you win again Skype, I’ll keep me money.

Seriously, I’ve never encountered a company from which it is so hard to purchase a product or service.  Skype, I want to give you money!  I can purchase firearms and illicit drugs more easily than I can buy SkypeOut credits.  Not that I have or ever would purchase such things (I’m one of only six Vancouver residents never to have smoked our gift to the world), but there is something terribly wrong with this picture.  Please Skype, I beg you, let me buy SkypeOut credit.

Chris
EQO Customer Evangelist