Advice for first-ever cell phone provider shops
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There three things that help steady my nerves on a new shop: preparation, preparation and preparation. Reading the guidelines thoroughly as well as reading through the report questions before performing the shop are the best preparation for me. If you don't think well on the fly, prepare a good back story.
There are two types of people in this world: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
Practice the conversation before hand. Think of the questions that may come up. Have a clean work surface and a working pen ready to jot down the notes. Call another location ( a non assigned one) as a practice run and see how well you took the notes and retained the information.
It gets easier with every additional shop.
It gets easier with every additional shop.
Is this a retail cell phone shop at a store or a phone shop (recorded or non-recorded) done from the comfort of your home? I understood it to be a physical retail shop. If that is the case, you can't really write notes during the shop. But keep a hard copy of the report HIDDEN in your car. When you finish the shop, leave the parking lot so you will not be seen by any employees and then write your notes in the car before leaving for your next location. If it is indeed a phone shop from your home then MMMM's advice is a perfect suggestion.
If it's a retail shop at the actual store, check your guidelines to see if a picture is required. Some of them do. It's the little, simple things like that I would forget. Usually I write the word picture at the top of the guidelines to help me remember.
I bet after you do it, you'll say, "That wasn't so bad. Why was I so nervous?"
Have fun!
I bet after you do it, you'll say, "That wasn't so bad. Why was I so nervous?"
Have fun!
Kim
These must be different from the T-Mobile shops I've done. They don't require much narrative at all. But mine were in-store shops. I LOVE the idea to call another location and do a practice run. Also, if you are in a one-party state, I'd record the call so you don't forget anything.
They are easy but you may die of boredom.
When you can sell the phones better than the employees, you may have done too many phone shops.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
LisaSTL Wrote:
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> When you can sell the phones better than the
> employees, you may have done too many phone shops.
I was just "selling" my daughter this morning on the benefits of one mobile phone provider over another! I'm thinking I need to take a break from these cell phone shops!
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> When you can sell the phones better than the
> employees, you may have done too many phone shops.
I was just "selling" my daughter this morning on the benefits of one mobile phone provider over another! I'm thinking I need to take a break from these cell phone shops!
Thanks for the advice everyone. This is an in-store cell phone shop. After reviewing and reviewing I feel it will be pretty easy after all. I'm actually in the market for a new phone so hope I won't be bored and actually find it educational.
Great tips about driving away before taking notes and writing "picture" at the top of the form so I don't forget to take one.
MMMM, I would have never thought of calling another location to practice. Great tip for when I get a phone assignment from home.
Always learning
Great tips about driving away before taking notes and writing "picture" at the top of the form so I don't forget to take one.
MMMM, I would have never thought of calling another location to practice. Great tip for when I get a phone assignment from home.
Always learning
I have found that I really have to sell my intent to buy a phone to the sales associate to get them to go through the full sales motions at times. The contact would be so minimal that it would seem as if I didn't even attempt the shop. I try not to lead the employee, but I need to appear in real need to get them to make a minimal sales effort to report on. I've had them just walk away from me after two minutes of contact to go assist a pretty young woman who walked in. I'm talking about dropping me in mid-sentence and walking away. Yeah, I reported that!
If the shop guidelines allow it, I'd walk in presenting a 2-3 year old phone with a broken screen and declare that I really need to buy a phone today. A $15 Walmart flip phone is also another excellent prop phone to show them you really need to buy a new phone, if you can't go with the broken phone scenario.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/2015 04:32AM by scanman1.
If the shop guidelines allow it, I'd walk in presenting a 2-3 year old phone with a broken screen and declare that I really need to buy a phone today. A $15 Walmart flip phone is also another excellent prop phone to show them you really need to buy a new phone, if you can't go with the broken phone scenario.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/01/2015 04:32AM by scanman1.
My issue with some of the cell phones shows is the scenario they want you to do. First say you don't have a smart phone, you are a first time user. Then start asking very detailed questions about some of the unusual features like how it can take three pictures and average them to get the best photo. There are other very specific questions that a beginner smart phone user would not have a clue about. The most painful thing about the shop I did was that they didn't even understand the questions I was required to ask. Their best advice was to buy the pink one because it was so cute.
I do so many of these each year. I am just fascinated by these fancy new devices.
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
Yhe most bizzare ones are the T-Mobile shops in lower income neighborhoods (usually a franchise) where they don't even sell the top-of-the-line models with the features that you are supposed to ask about. The salesperson usually doesn't know anything about the models of features, and sometimes will just refer you to a Corporate store. I just report it as it happens.
I too know far too much about cell phones and calling plans from the Big Four companies.
IMHO, the best deals on cell phones are to be had at the kiosks at Costco. They have good prices, a price guarantee, and throw in accessories. [Sorry to have strayed off topic.]
I too know far too much about cell phones and calling plans from the Big Four companies.
IMHO, the best deals on cell phones are to be had at the kiosks at Costco. They have good prices, a price guarantee, and throw in accessories. [Sorry to have strayed off topic.]
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
scanman, you do realize it is not our job to get them to make even the "minimal sales effort." If an associate is not going to help a customer who does anything less than hold up a broken phone and say they really need a new one right now, the company needs to know.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
My best advice is to 1. Don't talk much. Let the sales associate lead the entire conversation. 2. Don't let the sales associate touch the current phone that you are using now (especially if its a SmartPhone). This protects your privacy, particular if you have saved your shop instructions on your phone. 3. Always get a business card, even if you aren't sure to get one or not. 4. Never do a credit check, unless specifically told to do so by the MSC.
Never permit them to do a credit check because it will impact your credit score. If the MSC requires that you permit a credit check, my advice is to decline the shop.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Thanks for all the responses. Thanks to your advice here, the assignments went really well and ended up being incredibly easy. I do have a phone that is several years old and am due an upgrade a few times over, so I'm sure that helped.
I'm so happy to be a part of this forum.
Thanks again!
I'm so happy to be a part of this forum.
Thanks again!
Way to go! Glad it worked out well for you. Soon you'll be cringing at the thought of yet another cell phone shop you can probably do in your sleep!
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