Mystery Shopper: King’s Lynn

Mystery Shopper is going on a three-week trip to Australia and his current deal blocks roaming, so he needs either a 30-day SIM-only deal or a competitive prepay rate to minimise his charges while he’s there

6: Phones 4U

Product range – 3/5
Product knowledge – 2/5
Airtime knowledge – 0/5
Questioning ability – 2/5
Sales ability – 1/5
Shop appearance – 3/5
Total – 11/30

5: Carphone Warehouse

Product range – 2/5
Product knowledge – 1/5
Airtime knowledge – 1/5
Questioning ability – 4/5
Sales ability – 3/5
Shop appearance – 4/5
Total – 15/30

4: Vodafone

Product range – 3/5
Product knowledge – 1/5
Airtime knowledge – 2/5
Questioning ability – 4/5
Sales ability – 3/5
Shop appearance – 4/5
Total – 17/30

3: Three

Product range – 3/5
Product knowledge – 2/5
Airtime knowledge – 4/5
Questioning ability – 4/5
Sales ability – 3/5
Shop appearance – 3/5
Total – 19/30

2: O2

Product range – 3/5
Product knowledge – 4/5
Airtime knowledge – 4/5
Questioning ability – 5/5
Sales ability – 4/5
Shop appearance – 3/5
Total – 23/30

1: EE

Product range – 5/5
Product knowledge – 5/5
Airtime knowledge – 5/5
Questioning ability – 5/5
Sales ability – 5/5
Shop appearance – 3/5
Total – 28/30

Summary

When it came to roaming in Australia, none of the operators could get anywhere near the 55p per minute offered at T-Mobile.

Vodafone’s rates were shockingly expensive, with £1.65 by far the most costly quote.

Overall, the shop assistants dealt well with a request they clearly don’t get often, though none was able to offer a guess without checking the computer system.

Impressively, none of the network stores told me to “go online” as is a regular recommendation during these types of queries with everyone at least trying to help in-store.

Full article in Mobile News issue 542 (July 1, 2013).

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