for the News story in Dutch click here.
Translated Text below:
Apple discontinues contract with Switch as 'premium reseller'.
The Switch name will disappear and be replaced by Hubside.Store with a focus on new and refurbished devices and other services.
According to RTL, Switch's 21 Belgian stores will disappear from the street scene. Apple has unilaterally annulled the contract with the chain of stores, which means it can no longer operate as a 'premium reseller'. The breach of contract is the result of abusive practices around unclear insurance policies that were sold with devices.
"We are disappointed with the way Switch has misled customers," Apple told Belga news agency. "As always, we will continue to do our utmost to provide our Belgian customers with the great user experience they deserve."
After a reorganization in 2019, Switch stores were sold to French insurance company SFAM. Since then, 'services' are very often sold with new purchases. It rained complaints at Test Purchase, where it went to financial regulator FSMA. Apple Care, Apple's own certified program, was rarely if ever offered. FSMA, after investigation, demanded an immediate halt to its own insurance offerings.
"They did not collect information to gauge their insurance needs, nor did they propose products that took that into account," FSMA spokesman Johan Corthouts said at the time of the ruling in early March. "As a result, customers were saddled with products they did not want. One has to propose an insurance product tailored to the customer".
Hubside.Store as the new name
Switch is now starting on as Hubside.Store, a store specializing in new and refurbished devices and other services. Management could not be reached for comment when the news was announced. Trade unionist Bart Leybaert says that according to management there would be no impact on staff. He does worry about the fate of the technical department that repairs Apple devices today.
Parent company SFAM was previously ordered to pay a €10 million fine in France in 2019 after similar complaints from consumers. SFAM works with electronics chain Fnac in France.
Translated Text below:
Apple discontinues contract with Switch as 'premium reseller'.
The Switch name will disappear and be replaced by Hubside.Store with a focus on new and refurbished devices and other services.
According to RTL, Switch's 21 Belgian stores will disappear from the street scene. Apple has unilaterally annulled the contract with the chain of stores, which means it can no longer operate as a 'premium reseller'. The breach of contract is the result of abusive practices around unclear insurance policies that were sold with devices.
"We are disappointed with the way Switch has misled customers," Apple told Belga news agency. "As always, we will continue to do our utmost to provide our Belgian customers with the great user experience they deserve."
After a reorganization in 2019, Switch stores were sold to French insurance company SFAM. Since then, 'services' are very often sold with new purchases. It rained complaints at Test Purchase, where it went to financial regulator FSMA. Apple Care, Apple's own certified program, was rarely if ever offered. FSMA, after investigation, demanded an immediate halt to its own insurance offerings.
"They did not collect information to gauge their insurance needs, nor did they propose products that took that into account," FSMA spokesman Johan Corthouts said at the time of the ruling in early March. "As a result, customers were saddled with products they did not want. One has to propose an insurance product tailored to the customer".
Hubside.Store as the new name
Switch is now starting on as Hubside.Store, a store specializing in new and refurbished devices and other services. Management could not be reached for comment when the news was announced. Trade unionist Bart Leybaert says that according to management there would be no impact on staff. He does worry about the fate of the technical department that repairs Apple devices today.
Parent company SFAM was previously ordered to pay a €10 million fine in France in 2019 after similar complaints from consumers. SFAM works with electronics chain Fnac in France.
