How my "buy a device but don't activate it" shop went.

ceasesmith · 2021-07-30T16:18:49+00:00

What a nightmare! A couple weeks ago, I was in the city where the shop was. So to do the company a favor, I stopped by the given address and snapped a photo of the house that's there (no store). I sent it to the scheduler, and to the "team" handling the assignment, with a note for them informing them the business didn't exist. I eventually got a reply that sort of implied I was out of my mind. The shop popped up again, with the same address, bonused to $150. So I self-assigned and set off on the 200 mile round trip (an already-profitable route, so I wouldn't lose anything). Went to the same address -- surprise, surprise, the house is still there! Snapped a couple new photos. Pulled up a newspaper article that touted the opening of the "new store", so (being an earnest and honorable -- but probably stupid -- shopper), I went to the second address. Surprise, surprise -- business not there, either. Woman working there said, oh, they only lasted here until last December, and closed. But I think they reopened, let me give you the address. So I proceeded to the THIRD address. Huge surprise -- there's a truck parked there with correct company logo and advertising on it, but the store front had a sign "This location permanently closed. If you have questions, please call our XXXXXX store at XXX XXX XXXX". Took a few more photos, and proceeded to file the report. OMG. That report was, pardon the language, a B**** (yes, capital B! ). Of course, there is no option for "The Store doesn't exist at this address". 100 questions, none of which will allow you to submit the report without answering the question. So basically told about 100 lies, including rating the store, the representative, the manager, the exterior and interior of the building, submitting dozens of photos of miscellaneous items (how can you take a photo of the display wall when there's no display wall, because there is no store? ), and in every comment section, stating "Store does not exist". FYI, the report is narrative-heavy. Now, mind you, I knew before I went there was no store. I advised the MSC of this fact two weeks ago, and they chose to disregard the information I so kindly provided. Think I'll get paid?

How my "buy a device but don't activate it" shop went.

August 27, 2021 03:22AM

It depends upon how they are being incentivized. Based upon quarterly reports, the stock market places great emphasis on the number of new customers. Customer retention is also reported, but the emphasis seems to be on new customers, now only for cell phone companies, but for media companies involved in streaming.

@ceasesmith wrote:

Salisbury, that's basically contra to best business practices -- it historically costs much LESS to retain a loyal customer than it costs to gain a new customer.

I'd say they are looking at it wrong.

(That's my B school case analysis background showing!)

Shopping South Jersey, Southeast Pennsylvania, and Delaware above the canal since 2008

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August 27, 2021 04:39AM

I swear by Timestamp Camera Pro, been using it for years. Photos & videos.

A Dad shopping the Ark-LA-Tex and beyond.

August 28, 2021 03:43AM

Yeah, I get this direction in analytics.

I still think they are wrong.

@myst4au wrote:

It depends upon how they are being incentivized. Based upon quarterly reports, the stock market places great emphasis on the number of new customers. Customer retention is also reported, but the emphasis seems to be on new customers, now only for cell phone companies, but for media companies involved in streaming.
@ceasesmith wrote:

Salisbury, that's basically contra to best business practices -- it historically costs much LESS to retain a loyal customer than it costs to gain a new customer.

I'd say they are looking at it wrong.

(That's my B school case analysis background showing!)

August 28, 2021 04:56AM

I agree it costs less to keep a customer than to get a new one.

But I would also guess that the commission is higher on signing up a new customer than it is for upgrading an existing customer's phone.

August 28, 2021 07:05AM

Yes.

Penny wise, pound foolish.

@wrosie wrote:

I agree it costs less to keep a customer than to get a new one.

But I would also guess that the commission is higher on signing up a new customer than it is for upgrading an existing customer's phone.

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How my "buy a device but don't activate it" shop went.

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