This buying-an-iPhone business is getting a bit annoying.
I’m accustomed to the great capitalist mode of operation. That is, I pay, they deliver. THEY being anyone who wants my business.
I specifically looked at the o2 website to check that their Basildon shop was one of the lucky few favoured with iPhone stock.
“They’ll probably only have iPhone 3G 8GB models,” warned fellow SMS Text News contributor, Ben Smith, this morning.
“Ah that’s fine,” I said, pointing out that I’m quite comfortable swapping data around. 8GB is enough, I reckon.
And if it’s in stock, well… so be it.
But it’s not in stock in Basildon:
How totally embarrassing. It’s mega-embarrassing walking into a shop and, standing next to some bod buying a Motorola, asking if there’s any iPhone stock — and receiving a negative response.
In today’s hot shot communications age, how utterly appalling does your inventory infrastructure need to be when I can’t query it live to see how easily I can give you money?
Boring.
Next.
I even went into the Carphone Warehouse. But I changed my question and used, “When will you be getting iPhones in stock?”
See what I did there? Reduced my disappointment level, assuming they had nothing in stock. I can’t be disappointed now, can I?
“We get deliveries on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” said the chap behind the counter, in his most effective ‘computer-says-no’ voice.
Right.
So, how should I use that information, Mr Salesman?
Dear me.
You’d think it was costing them money to retail them.
CPW in Lakeside had stock on Sat – 8Gb mind.. and they have an O2 store there as well.
K
You must be the most irritating person in the world.
Quite possibly, Nick
Nick, that seems a little harsh – though probably fair!
I am starting to think that being brain dead must be a requirement for many jobs in the retail sector these days. It's certainly not confined to the mobile sector.
My wife went into the Wokingham branch of a large car and bicycle retailer. “Is this the smallest size of child's cycle helmet that you have?”
Response, accompanied by blank stare: “Err, I think so”. My wife couldn't even be bothered to help him sell to her. It was easier to walk out.
The genuinely helpful seem to be few and far between.
Sorry this is off the topic of mobile but had to vent a little 🙂
I feel your pain, Andy
I totally agree in these times of 'the credit crunch' and 'recession' – you'd think ANYWHERE would be crying out for business – alas no.. Its a general 'F**k Off customers' in most directions. Shame.
K
I am starting to think that being brain dead must be a requirement for many jobs in the retail sector these days. It's certainly not confined to the mobile sector.
My wife went into the Wokingham branch of a large car and bicycle retailer. “Is this the smallest size of child's cycle helmet that you have?”
Response, accompanied by blank stare: “Err, I think so”. My wife couldn't even be bothered to help him sell to her. It was easier to walk out.
The genuinely helpful seem to be few and far between.
Sorry this is off the topic of mobile but had to vent a little 🙂
I feel your pain, Andy
I totally agree in these times of 'the credit crunch' and 'recession' – you'd think ANYWHERE would be crying out for business – alas no.. Its a general 'F**k Off customers' in most directions. Shame.
K
CPW in Lakeside had stock on Sat – 8Gb mind.. and they have an O2 store there as well.
K
You must be the most irritating person in the world.
Quite possibly, Nick
Nick, that seems a little harsh – though probably fair!
I am starting to think that being brain dead must be a requirement for many jobs in the retail sector these days. It's certainly not confined to the mobile sector.
My wife went into the Wokingham branch of a large car and bicycle retailer. “Is this the smallest size of child's cycle helmet that you have?”
Response, accompanied by blank stare: “Err, I think so”. My wife couldn't even be bothered to help him sell to her. It was easier to walk out.
The genuinely helpful seem to be few and far between.
Sorry this is off the topic of mobile but had to vent a little 🙂
I feel your pain, Andy
I totally agree in these times of 'the credit crunch' and 'recession' – you'd think ANYWHERE would be crying out for business – alas no.. Its a general 'F**k Off customers' in most directions. Shame.
K