Nowadays we can’t be apart of our e-mail, Facebook or Twitter accounts and so the smartphones are becoming more and more accessible. I went in one Orange and one Vodafone store to see how will the retail agents will introduce they’re smartphone offers to me. I’ve told them that I’m looking for a package that will give me minutes, texts and internet traffic and maybe get a discount for a new smartphone.

After entering one of Vodafone’s stores I waited around 2 minutes so that I could talk to one of the agents. I told her what I wanted my contract to have included and if I could get a new smartphone at a lower price. She started showing me one of they’re offers which included 800 minutes to Vodafone, 125 national minutes and 500 MB of internet traffic at about 16 euros per month, and if I sign a 2 year contract I can get the LG Optimus One for only 9 euros. This sounds like a good deal except it doesn’t have any texts included. I said I’ll think about it and started walking out the store, moment in which she told me I could check they’re website for more info. The not so good points of this discussion were:

a. she didn’t recommend any other offer

b. she didn’t recommend any other smartphone

c. she didn’t give me a leaflet or something with more info written on it

d. she didn’t give me a contact number or a business card in case I change my mind and want to sign a contract

The last one is the most important mistake.

I went on to one of Orange’s stores where i was immediately approached by a young man who asked me what am I interested about. I said the same story as I did before, about looking for a contract with minutes, texts, internet and maybe a discount for a new smartphone. He asked me how many minutes do I usually talk and what do I use the internet for. These kind of questions are often used by experienced sellers so that they can get a better idea of what is best suited for a client. After asking me a couple of questions he showed me 3 contracts that were best suited for my needs. One of the contract has 450 minutes to Orange, 60 national minutes, 250 texts, 10 multimedia texts and 700 MB traffic at around 17 euros per month. Then he started asking me what brand do I like best or what mobile operating system and things like this. This guy was clearly better prepared than the girl at Vodafone. On my way out he handed me a leaflet with the smartphone offers and circled the ones we talked about, and a business card with the stores number and his name in case I want more info.

This is the way to treat a client if you want them to sign with you. Good job!