Best phone shop?

TescoJeans · 20-10-2013, 17:30

In all honesty I find it really difficult to go into phone shops like Phones4u, O2, EE, Vodafone and places like that because I just can't look around without being pestered. In some cases I've entered the shop and as soon as I'm inside somebody comes straight over. Give me a bloody chance! Do you know what I mean? I know they work on commission but give the customer a chance to breath before you pounce.

I find the Carphone Warehouse to be a very good phone shop and if I didn't buy my phone online I probably would have bought it from there. They give you time to enter the shop and look around before approaching you. Also because they're not tied to a certain network they're not biased and they actually offer realistic advice. I would definitely recommend them over other phone shops!

daclick · 20-10-2013, 18:09

Personally I think Vodafone are just sometimes trying to assist the customer and get them in the busy queue at my local Vodafone store at least anyway, they have a iPad to put names on to avoid people waiting. Whereas imo p4u are very sales obsessed

alan1302 · 20-10-2013, 20:01

Best shop is probably a big Tesco as they seem to have most phones in to look at.

Simi89 · 20-10-2013, 20:06

I found phones4u very aggressive, and yes I was a bit weak but I gave in and let them do their little assessment sheet, when I was given a quote that was far too expensive I made it clear and left but they kept ringing me every week asking if I had changed my mind, eventually I recognised the number and started declining the calls and they stopped trying.

Car phone warehouse is okay but find the music annoying and sometimes not enough staff. I do like that they don't pester you into a sale.

I eventually decided to get my current phone from the O2 shop they were okay too.

TheSloth · 20-10-2013, 20:22

I go to Carphone Warehouse if I have to actually fondle a phone (I probably wouldn't buy from them now as I'm strictly a SIM free, unlocked, vanilla firmware man these days). The last time I went in to look at the Note 2, Note 3 and Mega 6.3 I was left alone the entire time.

But I was wearing just a tutu and carrying a fake severed head...

jabbamk1 · 20-10-2013, 20:22

Phones 4 U is without a doubt the worst phone company out of the big ones.

Lidtop2013 · 20-10-2013, 21:11

It's annoying when the jump on you as soon as you walk in but all I normally do is just say "I'm just browsing thanks" normally sends them away

TescoJeans · 20-10-2013, 21:31

Phones4U are very sales oriented. My friend used to work there and it's a commission based job unless you're the store manager. My bad experience in a phone shop was there too. As my girlfriend and I entered a sales assistant immediately pounced on us rendering us both speechless at how desperate she was to land a sale. I understand that it was her job but you have to give the customer time to have a mosey about and feel welcome in the store or it drives them away.

machare · 20-10-2013, 22:03

If you want to browse, then IMHO the web sites are best. The phones on display in shops are normally dummies. If you want to see a working phone you have to ask the sales staff.

lost boy · 21-10-2013, 16:52

Best phone shop?

Well, for me it's (bizarrely) going to be Vodafone. My local Vodafone shop is quite frankly excellent, although I know the standard in Vodafone shops elsewhere is somewhat lower...

Worst phone shop?

For me, again bizarrely (and somewhat against the grain), I'm going to go for Carphone Warehouse

yes, they leave you alone, and yes their handsets are often unlocked, so if you know what you're after all well and good. However, if you actually need some help their standards are... erratic at best. I'm not going to mention their call centres.

Phones4u though, once you've dodged the ... um... wideboys (for want of a better term), can provide remarkable service and some surprising bargains I've found. As their notorious reputation isn't entirely undeserved though you must be on the ball with them, otherwise you'll walk out with half the store.

cnbcwatcher · 21-10-2013, 17:19

I haven't had any trouble with Phones 4 U. I found their staff helpful and they had the phone I wanted in stock when I went in to buy it. They even set it up using my Irish SIM card which wasn't a problem at all. They did the phone part and I took care of setting up my Google Account and installing apps and all that stuff. I had more trouble with Carphone Warehouse. When I went in there to buy my smartphone the staff ignored me and I tried several branches and none of them had the phone I wanted in stock even though they had it on display. Argh!

jabbamk1 · 21-10-2013, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnbcwatcher

I haven't had any trouble with Phones 4 U. I found their staff helpful :

Not in my experience.

Steven L Hunter · 21-10-2013, 21:58

I would say the 2 worst are Phones 4 U and Three I even saw someone being poached from outside when looking at the poster on the window in the Three store.

I went into the Three store once and they were telling me about a phone I said thanks and I was just looking for information then the manager came up and said "can you tell me why you're not going to take out a contract today?"its madness that you can't browse and get information without being pestered do badly in certain stores. I agree carphone warehouse are great for non biased advice and not pestering you. But I do agree if you go into phones4u knowing what you want and not accepting just anything you can get a really good deal.

20-10-2013, 17:30	#1
TescoJeans Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 980	Best phone shop? In all honesty I find it really difficult to go into phone shops like Phones4u, O2, EE, Vodafone and places like that because I just can't look around without being pestered. In some cases I've entered the shop and as soon as I'm inside somebody comes straight over. Give me a bloody chance! Do you know what I mean? I know they work on commission but give the customer a chance to breath before you pounce. I find the Carphone Warehouse to be a very good phone shop and if I didn't buy my phone online I probably would have bought it from there. They give you time to enter the shop and look around before approaching you. Also because they're not tied to a certain network they're not biased and they actually offer realistic advice. I would definitely recommend them over other phone shops!

20-10-2013, 18:09	#2
daclick Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,336	Personally I think Vodafone are just sometimes trying to assist the customer and get them in the busy queue at my local Vodafone store at least anyway, they have a iPad to put names on to avoid people waiting. Whereas imo p4u are very sales obsessed

20-10-2013, 20:01	#3
alan1302 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West Yorks Posts: 6,180	Best shop is probably a big Tesco as they seem to have most phones in to look at.

20-10-2013, 20:06	#4
Simi89 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 6,055	I found phones4u very aggressive, and yes I was a bit weak but I gave in and let them do their little assessment sheet, when I was given a quote that was far too expensive I made it clear and left but they kept ringing me every week asking if I had changed my mind, eventually I recognised the number and started declining the calls and they stopped trying. Car phone warehouse is okay but find the music annoying and sometimes not enough staff. I do like that they don't pester you into a sale. I eventually decided to get my current phone from the O2 shop they were okay too.

20-10-2013, 20:22	#5
TheSloth Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Under Your Bed Posts: 5,508	I go to Carphone Warehouse if I have to actually fondle a phone (I probably wouldn't buy from them now as I'm strictly a SIM free, unlocked, vanilla firmware man these days). The last time I went in to look at the Note 2, Note 3 and Mega 6.3 I was left alone the entire time. But I was wearing just a tutu and carrying a fake severed head...

20-10-2013, 20:22	#6
jabbamk1 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,759	Phones 4 U is without a doubt the worst phone company out of the big ones.

20-10-2013, 21:11	#7
Lidtop2013 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: West Midlands Posts: 2,450	It's annoying when the jump on you as soon as you walk in but all I normally do is just say "I'm just browsing thanks" normally sends them away

20-10-2013, 21:31	#8
TescoJeans Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 980	Phones4U are very sales oriented. My friend used to work there and it's a commission based job unless you're the store manager. My bad experience in a phone shop was there too. As my girlfriend and I entered a sales assistant immediately pounced on us rendering us both speechless at how desperate she was to land a sale. I understand that it was her job but you have to give the customer time to have a mosey about and feel welcome in the store or it drives them away.

20-10-2013, 22:03	#9
machare Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 901	If you want to browse, then IMHO the web sites are best. The phones on display in shops are normally dummies. If you want to see a working phone you have to ask the sales staff.

21-10-2013, 16:52	#10
lost boy Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Norfolkland Posts: 1,787	Best phone shop? Well, for me it's (bizarrely) going to be Vodafone. My local Vodafone shop is quite frankly excellent, although I know the standard in Vodafone shops elsewhere is somewhat lower... Worst phone shop? For me, again bizarrely (and somewhat against the grain), I'm going to go for Carphone Warehouse yes, they leave you alone, and yes their handsets are often unlocked, so if you know what you're after all well and good. However, if you actually need some help their standards are... erratic at best. I'm not going to mention their call centres. Phones4u though, once you've dodged the ... um... wideboys (for want of a better term), can provide remarkable service and some surprising bargains I've found. As their notorious reputation isn't entirely undeserved though you must be on the ball with them, otherwise you'll walk out with half the store.

21-10-2013, 17:19	#11
cnbcwatcher Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: At college, in L.A.'s office Posts: 54,221	I haven't had any trouble with Phones 4 U. I found their staff helpful and they had the phone I wanted in stock when I went in to buy it. They even set it up using my Irish SIM card which wasn't a problem at all. They did the phone part and I took care of setting up my Google Account and installing apps and all that stuff. I had more trouble with Carphone Warehouse. When I went in there to buy my smartphone the staff ignored me and I tried several branches and none of them had the phone I wanted in stock even though they had it on display. Argh!

21-10-2013, 17:37	#12
jabbamk1 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,759	Quote: Originally Posted by cnbcwatcher I haven't had any trouble with Phones 4 U. I found their staff helpful : Not in my experience.

21-10-2013, 21:58	#13
Steven L Hunter Guest Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 10,517	I would say the 2 worst are Phones 4 U and Three I even saw someone being poached from outside when looking at the poster on the window in the Three store. I went into the Three store once and they were telling me about a phone I said thanks and I was just looking for information then the manager came up and said "can you tell me why you're not going to take out a contract today?"its madness that you can't browse and get information without being pestered do badly in certain stores. I agree carphone warehouse are great for non biased advice and not pestering you. But I do agree if you go into phones4u knowing what you want and not accepting just anything you can get a really good deal.

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Best phone shop?