Mystery Shopper: High Wycombe

Mystery Shopper is looking for a QWERTY keyboard handset for about £100. Can one be bought for this price and what choices will be offered by store staff? 

5: Phoneland (Independent)

Product range – 2/5
Product knowledge – 4/5
Airtime knowledge – 2/5
Questioning ability – 2/5
Sales ability – 3/5
Shop appearance – 3/5 
Total – 16/30

4: Three

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

3: Orange

Product range – 5/5
Product knowledge – 1/5
Airtime knowledge – 2/5
Questioning ability – 3/5
Sales ability – 2/5
Shop appearance – 5/5
Total – 21/30

2: Vodafone

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

1: Carphone Warehouse

Product range – 5/5
Product knowledge – 5/5
Airtime knowledge – 2/5
Questioning ability – 5/5
Sales ability – 4/5
Shop appearance – 5/5
Total – 26/30

Summary

None of the stores were able to offer a demonstration of the handsets recommended, which was disappointing.

Gigi in the Three store wasn’t even allowed to take the phones out of the box for me to see properly.

There was one clear winner however: Paul in the Carphone Warehouse was knowledgeable and asked questions, so he was able to recommend the right handset, while the store had a good atmosphere and a product range better than any of the stores I visited. If you are looking for a QWERTY phone for under £100, Carphone Warehouse in High Wycombe is definitely the best choice.

Full review in Mobile News issue 496 (August 29, 2011).