Motorola UK: Is it worth risking a purchase from their website?

CFELH

If Trustpilot, Reddit, and several other platforms are to be taken seriously, Motorola's customer services in the UK appear to be at best failing. Having looked at a range of phones on their website, the Google search shows they're not in stock, however, the Motorola website allows you to at least place them in the trolly with no stock warning. At random intervals, the basket with show a watch as been added free of charge which then disappears a few hours or days later. I've contacted them on several occasions via their web form, whatsapp, and through their BOT and have yet to receive a response.

So, not looking good so far. However, this is the only place I can buy this particular model. Has anyone had a positive experience with Motorola direct (both buying and warranty repairs)?

Grumpy_chap

Are you definitely on the genuine Motorola website?

Is the "free watch" an actual offer that is being promoted?

I have often found Motorola phones cheaper at Argos (other High Street retailers are available) than from Motorola direct. I note you say that the direct website is the only place you can find the particular phone but the reality seems to be that you have not as the website shows "no stock" and won't allow an order to complete.

flaneurs_lobster

I've had a few dealings with Motorola's CS, not exactly positive. They were early adopters of the "chatbot" and it shows.

Simple queries about "how long will updates be supplied for model x" were completely beyond them, and trying to get a warranty fix for a blown battery was fruitless. Even getting products registered was a chore involving multiple websites.

I gave up on their phones when a (not cheap) handset ceased getting updates after 15 months.

Just seems that Motorola Mobility (the phones bit) has been slapped onto Lenovo's overall business since they bought it from Google, and just doesn't seem to be fully focussed.

The actual products might compare well against Samsung/Apple but the overall support and CS is nowhere near their standard.

EDIT : I've just bought a Lenovo laptop, rather hope I don't need to test out how the rest of Lenovo's CS works.

tinker411

I've only had cause to contact Motorola customer service the once (this is going back years now, but was after they were bought by Lenovo). I rung them, they were reasonably efficient and they did resolve my issue, albeit not entirely intentionally, but let's not go down that road.

I will say though, IMHO if you want updates Motorola is the last manufacturer you should go for. My experience was thus; I bought a G5 (like I said, years ago) not long after it came out. About 6 months later I got a Xiaomi Mi 8. 15 months later the G5 got it's first update, a security one. Within that same time period the Xiaomi (which I got 6 months after the G5) had 5 security updates and went up an Android version. Shame really as, aesthetically, Motorola handsets look great - updates though, meh.

As such, in direct answer to the question in the OP - probably not, certainly for updates let alone after sales support which is probably worse now than it used to be which is usually the way.

CFELH

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057015#Comment_82057015

Deffo the correct site. I took screen shots of the free watch and stock notification (see image). I can get the phone cheaper than Argos (although Argos shows it out of stock) as I qualify under their education scheme. The is no information across the net suggestion a watch promotion, it just pops up in the basket.

Grumpy_chap

That is odd.

When I just viewed the Motorola site, the G56 is not marketed as having a free watch offer - there are other phones that do.

The G56 is at £160, so the same as you are seeing (before the educational discount). I suppose the free watch could also be because of the education discount but, overall, the 10% discount plus the free watch is a lot on a phone that starts fairly cheaply in the first place.

Why can't you just complete check-out from that page you have linked the image from?

When does the free watch vanish?

Do you actually want the free watch?

CFELH

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057318#Comment_82057318

The cheapest new G56 (8 x 256gb) I can find on a reputable store is Argos at £199, so £143.99 is a decent price. The watch I don't need, that and the out of stock notice highlights the unreliability of the Motorola site, hence checking around before completing the check out .

The watch comes and goes, one minute it's there, the next gone.

Along with the all the poor feedback about CS has put a cloud over dealing with them.

Grumpy_chap

The cheapest new G56 (8 x 256gb) I can find on a reputable store is Argos at £199

Argos also seem to be out of stock.

Is this a run-out model?

safe_hands2

The g56 is an older model now. Be careful too - software and security updates would run out probably long before you're ready to stop using the phone.

If you really want to buy a Motorola, Argos or John Lewis are good places to look.

safe_hands2

You can select the product on this page and see when security updates run out - https://en-gb.support.motorola.com/app/software-security-update/g_id/7112#gs=eyJndWlkZUlEIjo3MTEyLCJxdWVzdGlvbklEIjo0LCJyZXNwb25zZUlEIjoyMiwiZ3VpZGVTZXNzaW9uIjoieXV5dFJ6QnIiLCJzZXNzaW9uSUQiOiI3enJxUnpCciJ9

CFELH

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057529#Comment_82057529

Motorola swap models around. Argos is always out of stock lol