Mystery Shopper: Wolverhampton

Mystery Shopper is looking for a free Apple iPhone 4S on the cheapest per-month contract. Will they find what they’re looking for in the West Midlands?

5: Three

Product range – 4/5
Product knowledge – 2/5
Airtime knowledge – 5/5
Questioning ability – 2/5
Sales ability – 2/5
Shop appearance – 5/5 
Total – 20/30

=3: O2

Product range – 5/5
Product knowledge – 2/5
Airtime knowledge – 5/5
Questioning ability – 2/5
Sales ability – 2/5
Shop appearance – 5/5
Total – 21/30

=3: Orange

Product range – 5/5
Product knowledge – 2/5
Airtime knowledge – 5/5
Questioning ability – 2/5
Sales ability – 2/5
Shop appearance – 5/5
Total – 21/30

2: Vodafone

Product range – 5/5
Product knowledge – 2/5
Airtime knowledge – 5/5
Questioning ability – 4/5
Sales ability – 4/5
Shop appearance – 5/5
Total – 25/30

1: Carphone Warehouse

Product range – 4/5
Product knowledge – 3/5
Airtime knowledge – 5/5
Questioning ability – 5/5
Sales ability – 5/5
Shop appearance – 5/5
Total – 27/30

Summary

All the stores offered a free iPhone 4S handset on particular tariffs, but it was Carphone Warehouse which scooped first prize.

They had the lowest-priced tariff with a good minutes, text and internet allowance. They had plenty of staff on hand to help, and Teon was knowledgeable with great customer care skills. Vodafone came a close second – the customer service and the package were good but the tariff was £5 more than the one offered by Carphone. At the O2 store I was surprised to be told that I couldn’t order a handset until the middle of November.  Only the Three store had the iPhone 4S in stock, but the customer service was disappointing.

Full review in Mobile News issue 501 (November 7, 2011).