I'm wary of this shop. They've taken a very long time to fill in my area this month, and some are still open. The fee just went up to $100, and I self-assigned. You don't have to have cell service with the client; supposedly all you do is inquire only about a serviceable device; you don't complete the sale. I can't get to the shop guidelines. When you hit "view guidelines," you're taken to a page that says they're in the shop survey. So, you hit "view/submit," and you get an error message saying you can't view the survey until you download the guidelines from the "view guidelines" link. So it's impossible to get at the guidelines! I've emailed the scheduler, but I already have a bad feeling about this shop. I've done several mobile phone shops for them and all have been pretty straightforward.

Anybody who's done one: Is there something tricky or complex about this? It seems to me something must be amiss if they're having so much trouble filling them. Usually, their phone shops get snapped up at base or a little higher in my area.

HERE'S WHAT I SAVED AS THE GUIDELINES:


Shop Overview

This shop is intended to provide insights into the customer experience for prospective new customers inquiry about a new phone or service. You do will not actually complete the purchase of the phone or service for this
shop, just make an inquiry about a phone or new service of your choosing.

This shop will include an evaluation of the facilities, both inside and outside the store, as well an evaluation of
the interaction with your associate. Before you complete your shop, and in addition to reviewing this
document, please take the time necessary to familiarize yourself with this questionnaire, found in your shop log
Prior to visiting the store, you will need to call the location and at a minimum, verify their hours. There
will also be a few questions that you will need to complete, related to your current service, and research that
you have done related to the purchase affiliated with this shop. Also worth noting is the fact that you may
schedule an appointment, if you should wish to, but this is not a requirement.

Once you arrive at the store, you will evaluate the manner in which you are greeted, specifically if you are
greeted curbside, or in the store, or at all, being mindful to observe and report what the associates are doing if
you are not greeted that prevented them from doing so. At some point, you will also need to browse the store
to collect data on the displays, merchandise, background music and the general condition. This can be done
before or after the interaction but must be done at some point during the shop.

When you do finally begin your interaction with the associate, please present them the phone or service you
are considering purchasing, and listen very carefully to all that the associate says, specifically regarding the
service and products they suggest. Since we are very interested in capturing everything that the associate
presents, demonstrates and promotes, please be amenable to listening to any additional products or services
they present on their own. Do not guide them, or ask to learn about specific items, but do not do or say
anything that would cause them to assume that you are hurried or uninterested in learning about all that they
have to offer, or care to share with you. Please just be a mostly passive customer, and if offered more detail
about a service or product politely listen and record the service and the amount of detail provided and the effort
and thoroughness of any product demonstrations provided.


Timestamp Camera App
To help validate that the photos are from the assigned location, the client is requiring a longitude/latitude stamp
on the requested photos. We recommend the Timestamp Camera app; you can link to the one you need
below. ALL photos must be included and GPS stamped, or we may not be able to use your report!


Apple App Store Download Google Play Download

At some point you will need to collect a few images to upload into your report. Specifically, you will need
to capture the following:
• Purchase Receipt/invoice that includes address
• Exterior of building (this MUST include the exterior location signage, ie,
store/location signage)
• Exterior signage
• A-frame sign near the entrance
• Photo of the Samsung branded wall
• Any follow-up contacts (e.g. emails, texts etc)

Important Items to Note

• Be sure to take the time to review the questionnaire and familiarize yourself with the questions
that will be asked, prior to your completing your visit
• You must an inquiry about a qualifying product or service. Qualifying products are any new
service or phone.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/27/2022 02:12AM by wrosie.

I walked in and there were two employees and no customers. Almost fainted. I just said I was shopping service and a cheap phone. They asked if I wanted to port my phone over and I said no.

Pay attention to what the three plans are called, what differentiates them and if they offer or try to determine if you qualify for any discounts. Especially first responder if I recall the report correctly.

You need a picture of the Samsung wall display, window signs, A-frame sign in front of door if they have one, or empty space to show it's not there. I took plaza sign and store front. All time-stamped.

I also did a Geostamp/code in the app. It does ask what your proof of visit is specifically, multiple choice.

They can either e-mail or print out a quote for you. I asked for a business card, but a quote will be enough. They didn't have business cards.

Report asks if a manager came to assist the sales person. Neither employee had name tags so I don't know if the person who helped me was a salesperson or a manager. All I know is the other employee never came over. He was too busy on his phone texting. He was, however the person who greeted me when I came in.

Make note of the other type displays, speakers, TVs/service, were the pegs stocked, normal stuff.

Hope this helps.

Birdy, if you still need the solution in the morning, respond and I will add. I encountered the same problem last yr. and finally figured out the steps. I am making far too many mistakes attempting to type this late.

Thank you, @wrosie and @shopperbob! The scheduler got back to me and fixed it so that I could view the guidelines and the survey. Otherwise, I was going 'round and 'round in circles! It seems like the biggest difference between this shop and most of the standard phone shops is that there are a few more photos. Hope I can remember them all! It can't be harder than the comparison shop I did last month, for less $$.

Sounds exactly like the old shops where you purchased and returned an item or service.

I really don't see what purchasing and returning a phone would do that this shop doesn't. Other than take longer while they find a phone and activate it. Oh, and open the shopper to the agony of dealing with being charged for service even though they returned the device.

I won't do those anymore since I was burned by one carrier.

@wrosie wrote:

I really don't see what purchasing and returning a phone would do that this shop doesn't.

Apparently this is a new version of the purchase and return shop; there are two versions of the guidelines, one for the purchase scenario and one for the inquiry-only scenario. I wonder if they got tired of fielding complaints from all the shoppers who either had to fight for months to get a refund or who didn't get one and Intelli-shop had to step in. I've read horror stories on here about those shops! Would never do one. It's sort of interesting (to me, anyway) that they stress quite clearly in the short description and the guidelines that you don't make the purchase. Maybe they're trying to make sure that shoppers know this isn't the purchase shop. But there are still several sitting on the board in my general region.

That is exactly what happened to me.....ATT creates an account for you that is separate from your purchase. When you return the device, ATT keeps billing you for service. I went through hoops trying to get the plan cancelled and the "debt" expunged. It was a BIG problem.

The AT&T shops, with a purchase as a requirement, can literally be "A Tale of Two Visits." IF you need or desire the service, they have, in my opinion, quite a favorable work:pay ratio. IF, though, one intends to return and cancel, only a fee of several hundred dollars, and a high tolerance for aggravation, should be considered. In my experience, it took either six or seven calls and a refusal to accept anything less than what satisfied me. In the future, not a cent less than $400 would entice me to apply.

I did several of the inquiry shops last month for $100 pay each. They are very straightforward and easy. There is quite a bit of narrative but I found the pay was worth the effort.