Mobile Phones - ONE Per Customer Policy?

Johntea

Since when have Argos started doing the one per customer policy on mobile phones?

I know they had problems with people coming in and buying them out then sending them abroad (I saw this myself about a week ago!) but only since the new catalogue launch has the new sign been put up - Is it to prevent the fraudsters or just that they want everyone to have a fair chance at getting some sale mobiles?

Interestingly I couldn't find the policy at my next local store

sparx_90

I used to work at argos, and it deters certain individuals coming in and buying up the entire stock of the cheap mobile phones and selling them elsewhere. We had customers who would come in and buy them then exchange them at other store after the offer finishes for the full price. They would only get Gift Vouchers but still. I beleive it is up to the store whether they do this or not, but quite a lot of stores around essex are doing this.

Bladesharp_2

Yes this is a new policy introduced to us as from the other day. Argos for a long time had the policy of only 2 per customer but this just was not working. We had nearly every day the same familys coming in and buying 2 mobiles each and even them trying to buy more using quick pay which they were then refused at collection. The 1 per customer policy is to try and make this even more difficult for them. As soon as these phones are purchased by the individuals they are sent abroad and this money is leaking from our economy as we the networks etc then make no money from calls etc.

executiverocker

the one per customer rule for mobiles is also from a serviceability point of view, apparently there was a lot of lines out of stock with good deals, so with the 1 per customer deal, more chance of different people getting hold of a good deal

SomeGuy_2

Just as a footnote, the new policy is noted at the bottom of every page of mobile phones in the new catalouge.

I'm not keen on this new policy myself, the 'family traders' were a pain in many ways but it's quite a step to limit Argos' entire customer base to prevent them isn't it?

mhendo

I do agree with the new policy but i think as a member of management that discretion is also still important but the new policy does stop the 'family traders'.

rowantoad

Out of interest. Which ones are the cheap mobiles and where do they send them? I thought we had it bad here?

dazco

The price of these phones is subsidised by companies who then make money on the airtime.

The phones were being bought in bulk and sent abroad,usually Hong Kong believe it or not.

The companies that speculated on the air time end up losing money and would not be able to subsidise the initial cost of the phone any more.

By limiting the phones to one per customer Argos are helping to ensure we can all have cheap phones in the future.

MUHAMID

It's a good policy,atleast for me.b'cuz whenever i go for any good bargain i can never find them in stock.

on SAT i went to orange store for one good contract deal(Sony-Eri w800 in £125) they had 5 in stock when i asked them, but before i do the deal one guy who was before me in a queue bought all of them.so after half and hour's waiting i had to go back without phone.

Johntea

Isn't having much effect though

Saw two family traders come in today, one mobile a piece. And I expect they'll be back tomorrow as the staff will have probably forgotten their face by now (Especially if they change how they dress etc).

But I felt a bit happier when the member of staff carrying the phones dropped one of them from quite a substantial height

mhendo

I dont know how that seems to happen??

And thats what you can see. Wonder what happens behind??