How a current O2 customer with cash in hand couldn't get an iPhone!

[barkmonster]

I went into O2 on my 3:20 break at work to enquire about how long it takes to change from a current contract to the iPhone.

As I'm already on their rolling 30 day "Simplicity" tariff, I was told the whole process would take 10 mins as I just needed to put my current SIM in an iPhone and do the paperwork but they close at 5.30.

5pm, I walk in, SIM card in 1 hand, cash in the other.

3 of the staff are sat with customers already.

There's 1 customer hovering around the empty counter near the entrance.

The member of staff who's usually behind the till there is at the iPhone display in the middle of the shop, talking at great length to a very attractive girl in her early 20s about the iPhone and other stuff that suggested they were friends socially anyway for 10+ minutes while she ums and ahhs.

They finally shut up blathering on and walk behind me, presumably to do something sales related and at no stage did the O2 employee ask if I needed any help.

I turn round, the cute girl had gone and he's now back behind the counter.

A fat woman and her spoiled kid are now at the end of the line that had formed behind me and the guy who was there before me.

she turns round and starts blathering on about different phones for 15 mins and goes for the iPhone.

5:25 one of the other O2 employees have finally finished with their customer and call me over.

No apology for the wait.

I produce my SIM card and £87.11 cash, asking to be transferred onto the 24 month iPhone contract for the 16Gb 3G S.

The guy says, "Sorry, only the 32Gb model is in stock at the moment, they're in demand but only sent 3 to our shop today, you could try after 12pm NEXT FRIDAY"



I walk out of the shop in disgust!

 

[Tex-Twil]

Well, if they have no iPhones in stock there's not much to do about it. I went in at least 7 shops before finding the 16 GB 3GS this summer.

Sorry for that. Hopefully you'll have more luck the next time

Tex

 

[sananda]

Sounds very distressing, people talking and being fat. And they didn't whip up an iPhone from the air!

 

[barkmonster]

It's the fact they did have "one" left till fatty jumped the queue and bought it after the guy who was supposed to be behind the counter flirts with some tart instead of doing his job.

Next week I'm there at lunchtime and not leaving till I have a 3 G S in my hand!

 

[GoCubsGo]

A fat woman and her spoiled kid are now at the end of the line that had formed behind me and the guy who was there before me.

she turns round and starts blathering on about different phones for 15 mins and goes for the iPhone.

It's the fact they did have "one" left till fatty jumped the queue and bought it after the guy who was supposed to be behind the counter flirts with some tart instead of doing his job.

Awesome attitude there buddy.

I walk out of the shop in disgust!

I am reading your posts in disgust.

Next week I'm there at lunchtime and not leaving till I have a 3 G S in my hand!

Way to take a stand!

Bottom line is I see the fault here and perhaps you were owed an apology but your attitude towards it and others is appalling and something tells me you had a similar attitude in store. I hope the phone is worth it but just because you were already a customer and you had cash doesn't mean you should get special treatment.

 

[Gav2k]

Stop calling people fat. If u had opened your mouth rather than standing there then u wouldn't have missed out

 

[molala]

They shouldn't have let her jump the queue. You shouldn't have let her jump the queue either, stand up for yourself in store instead of on a message board. The passive aggressive never win.

 

[GoCubsGo]

But it is so much easier to stand around and be passive aggressive so you can come take your stand online while insulting virtually everyone who purportedly stood in his way of obtaining his cell phone!

 

[PhightinPhils26]

Sounds like you have no one to blame but yourself for not speaking up and standing your ground.

 

[scaredpoet]

It's the fact they did have "one" left till fatty jumped the queue and bought it after the guy who was supposed to be behind the counter flirts with some tart instead of doing his job.

Next week I'm there at lunchtime and not leaving till I have a 3 G S in my hand!

Chances are, given your attitude, your body language while standing in line probably gave away the mood you were in and your contempt for the whole situation, which is probably why you ended up with such bad "luck." I certainly wouldn't have gone out of my way to help you.

 

[iPhone 62S]

iPhone stock is very low ATM, I couldn't find any at all in 2 Carphone Warehouse stores and 1 O2 store. I ordered one in the end and was lucky enough to get it the next day!

 

[-aggie-]

I went into O2 on my 3:20 break at work to inquire (maybe it's a British thing to spell it with an "e." If so, ignore my fix) about how long it takes to change from a current contract to the iPhone.

As I'm already on their rolling 30 day "Simplicity" tariff, I was told the whole process would take 10 mins as I just needed to put my current SIM in an iPhone and do the paperwork but they close at 5.30.

5pm, I walk in, SIM card in 1 hand, cash in the other.

3 of the staff are sitting with customers already.

There's 1 customer hovering around the empty counter near the entrance.

The member of staff who's usually behind the till there is at the iPhone display in the middle of the shop, talking at great length to a very attractive girl in her early 20s about the iPhone and other stuff that suggested they were friends socially anyway for 10+ minutes while she ums and ahhs.

They finally shut up blathering on and walk behind me, presumably to do something sales related and at no stage did the O2 employee ask if I needed any help.

I'm thinking, where are my balls? Why don't I interrupt and say I need help? What's wrong with ME?

I turn round, the cute girl had gone and he's now back behind the counter.

A fat woman and her spoiled kid are now at the end of the line that had formed behind me and the guy who was there before me.

she turns round and starts blathering on about different phones for 15 mins and goes for the iPhone.

I like to add information to my stories that has nothing to do with my problem. Please disregard the last two sentences.

5:25 one of the other O2 employees have finally finished with their customer and call me over.

No apology for the wait.

I produce my SIM card and £87.11 cash, asking to be transferred onto the 24 month iPhone contract for the 16Gb 3G S.

The guy says, "Sorry, only the 32Gb model is in stock at the moment, they're in demand but only sent 3 to our shop today, you could try after 12pm NEXT FRIDAY"



I walk out of the shop telling myself next time, I'll stand up for myself. I've learned something from this!

Fixed it for you.

 

[creon]

But it is so much easier to stand around and be passive aggressive so you can come take your stand online while insulting virtually everyone who purportedly stood in his way of obtaining his cell phone!

Check & Mate.

 

[t0mm]

The 3G S is like Gold dust at the moment over here.

You'll be very lucky to find one around after your 'encounter' today.

The 16GB is extremely hard to find.

32GB is still hard, but not as hard.

This is why I got mine on launch.

 

[PDE]

Regardless of the OP's attitude, every O2 encounter I've had has been awful. Especially with the latest 3GS. THey often don't have them on display and when they do do all data is turned off or they only put out the 3G, not 3GS. When you ask why there are no phones, or why there is no data, the answer is always the same: CUSTOMERS! Yes, we're to blame -- we steal iphones and abuse free data on the phones. and thus they can't leave them out or enable data.

I've been consistently appalled at the attitudes I've encountered. They simply don't seem to have any interest at all in their customers, and even less interest in selling iphones.

Just venting.

 

[Scooterman1]

If it were a great looking sales girl, and it was you with all of the questions, would you have minded the sales person taking enough time to insure that all of your questions were answered?
In what way do you think they weren't doing their job?

 

[GR33NIE]

Judging on the amount of iPhones O2 have sold/selling they probably arn't that bothered about customer service

Existing customer or not they probably arn't that fussed considering the queue of people still wanting one

 

[barkmonster]

... every O2 encounter I've had has been awful. Especially with the latest 3GS. THey often don't have them on display and when they do do all data is turned off or they only put out the 3G, not 3GS. When you ask why there are no phones, or why there is no data, the answer is always the same: CUSTOMERS! Yes, we're to blame -- we steal iphones and abuse free data on the phones. and thus they can't leave them out or enable data.

I've been consistently appalled at the attitudes I've encountered. They simply don't seem to have any interest at all in their customers, and even less interest in selling iphones.

Just venting.

I agree with you there. O2 messed up the contract on my current phone and I didn't notice they'd not even altered my contract at all till the call volume increased and bills went up by £20+ a month!

3 of the staff are sitting with customers already.

Thank you literary genius! I didn't think people needed it spelling out that they were sitting, it seemed obvious and irrelevant.

The member of staff who's usually behind the till there is at the iPhone display in the middle of the shop, talking at great length to a very attractive girl in her early 20s about the iPhone and other stuff that suggested they were friends socially anyway for 10+ minutes while she ums and ahhs.

They finally shut up blathering on and walk behind me, presumably to do something sales related and at no stage did the O2 employee ask if I needed any help.

I'm thinking, where are my balls? Why don't I interrupt and say I need help? What's wrong with ME?

Not interupting someone in a shop who's with a customer, even if they do appear to be trying to get in their pants more than selling them anything is something I'd consider as rude as pushing in.

I turn round, the cute girl had gone and he's now back behind the counter.

A fat woman and her spoiled kid are now at the end of the line that had formed behind me and the guy who was there before me.

she turns round and starts blathering on about different phones for 15 mins and goes for the iPhone.

I like to add information to my stories that has nothing to do with my problem. Please disregard the last two sentences.

Without those last 2 sentences there wouldn't BE a woman to get the iPhone I was waiting to buy in the first place. Try engaging the brain before you attempt sarcasm next time

I'll draw a simple diagram for you:-

5pm:

[counter] -> [customer] -> [me] -> [iPhone display] -> [Employee flirting with girl]

5:14 (all while my back is turned waiting in line to see the employee at the iPhone stand):
[counter] -> [woman who joined END of queue] -> [customer] -> [me] -> [iPhone display] -> [Employee flirting with girl]

5:15:

[counter - Employee who WAS flirting with girl] <- [woman who joined END of queue] <- [customer] <- [me]

Does that make it simpler or do you need pictures?

If it were a great looking sales girl, and it was you with all of the questions, would you have minded the sales person taking enough time to insure that all of your questions were answered?
In what way do you think they weren't doing their job?

They were clearly friends and just blathering on about random stuff for 10+ minutes in between the girl umming and ahhing about getting an iPhone or not. She left the shop after 15 mins.

 

[thelatinist]

BarkMonster, it is clear that you've got some problems. Stop blaming your issues on others.

 

[barkmonster]

BarkMonster, it is clear that you've got some problems. Stop blaming your issues on others.

That's the kind of armchair psychology that made me bored of Dawson's Creek after simply having Katie Holmes in it wasn't enough

There are 3 problems/issues but only 2 are CAUSED BY others:

1) A Customer pushing in the end of a queue that reversed then not having the decency to step aside and let the other people who were waiting before her see the sales assistant first.

This is basic social etiquette you experience in a bar or pub ALL THE TIME without issue. Any personal insults about her looking like an extra from Shameless are simply anger at what she did.

2) Attitude of O2 staff. All the other staff were busy, the guy should have at least being aware of the growing number of people waiting right in front of him and served the man waiting before me, then me, then the woman who'd literally just got there.

Again, this is a situation anyone in a public facing job of any kind should be able to manage without issue.

3) I am blaming those "2" issues on others, the 3rd one is that I've being after an iPhone for a while but was always put off till the changes they made in the 3GS version. I have battery life issues with both my 4 year old Nokia phone and my first generation iPod Nano. Just that morning my phone had frozen for 5 mins loading a simple text only google search and that was my motivation to finally bite the bullet and get an iPhone to kill 2 birds with 1 stone!

 

[WeegieMac]

No-one jumped any queue from what I read.

You were simply standing there and despite your best "help me" face, not a single member of staff approached you ... or perhaps you had a "piss off" face after a hard day at work. It happens to the best of us, and the irony is that when we walk into shops and staff immediately leap on us, we also complain.

Either way, in this world if you're not fast you're last ... and if the woman offended you by skipping you so much, you'd have spoken your mind there and then.

But you didn't, and instead settled for a rant on here which won't get you a 3GS any quicker. I'm afraid speaking out against this woman being served would not have been seen as rude on your part, it would simply have been your right and while it would have caused a minor scene ... so what? You were there first, so speak up ... not enough people do in this PC world, and by that I mean Politically Correct.

 

[barkmonster]

No-one jumped any queue from what I read.

You were simply standing there and despite your best "help me" face, not a single member of staff approached you ... or perhaps you had a "piss off" face after a hard day at work. It happens to the best of us, and the irony is that when we walk into shops and staff immediately leap on us, we also complain.

Either way, in this world if you're not fast you're last ... and if the woman offended you by skipping you so much, you'd have spoken your mind there and then.

But you didn't, and instead settled for a rant on here which won't get you a 3GS any quicker. I'm afraid speaking out against this woman being served would not have been seen as rude on your part, it would simply have been your right and while it would have caused a minor scene ... so what? You were there first, so speak up ... not enough people do in this PC world, and by that I mean Politically Correct.

I agree with you there. I knew after 20 mins of waiting around, I wouldn't have had a very friendly tone if I'd spoken up and didn't want to make a scene.

 

[FXT 1]

I went into O2 on my 3:20 break at work to enquire about how long it takes to change from a current contract to the iPhone.

As I'm already on their rolling 30 day "Simplicity" tariff, I was told the whole process would take 10 mins as I just needed to put my current SIM in an iPhone and do the paperwork but they close at 5.30.

5pm, I walk in, SIM card in 1 hand, cash in the other.

3 of the staff are sat with customers already.

There's 1 customer hovering around the empty counter near the entrance.

The member of staff who's usually behind the till there is at the iPhone display in the middle of the shop, talking at great length to a very attractive girl in her early 20s about the iPhone and other stuff that suggested they were friends socially anyway for 10+ minutes while she ums and ahhs.

They finally shut up blathering on and walk behind me, presumably to do something sales related and at no stage did the O2 employee ask if I needed any help.

I turn round, the cute girl had gone and he's now back behind the counter.

A fat woman and her spoiled kid are now at the end of the line that had formed behind me and the guy who was there before me.

she turns round and starts blathering on about different phones for 15 mins and goes for the iPhone.

5:25 one of the other O2 employees have finally finished with their customer and call me over.

No apology for the wait.

I produce my SIM card and £87.11 cash, asking to be transferred onto the 24 month iPhone contract for the 16Gb 3G S.

The guy says, "Sorry, only the 32Gb model is in stock at the moment, they're in demand but only sent 3 to our shop today, you could try after 12pm NEXT FRIDAY"



I walk out of the shop in disgust!

Hilarious post man.

But, You didn't make it clear how the woman and her kid , jumped the queue. But I understand, with the layout of O2 stores, much like Apple's, it's kind of hit and miss whether you get an employee to talk to or you have to do some serious positioning and eye-catching and strong body language , plus you can't really cut in if they've already started interaction.

Quit bashing OP guys.

There's a difference between standing your ground and making a stir with (what others see as) a vicious tone.

IMO in those stores, there is no formal queue.

I agree with you there. I knew after 20 mins of waiting around, I wouldn't have had a very friendly tone if I'd spoken up and didn't want to make a scene.

I agree with WeegieMac also.

Maybe next time OP

 

[WeegieMac]

I agree with you there. I knew after 20 mins of waiting around, I wouldn't have had a very friendly tone if I'd spoken up and didn't want to make a scene.

That's the problem with society today though mate, people being afraid (for lack of a better word) of speaking up for fear of reprisal and, God forbid, violence/anger.

At the end of the day, you were skipped and while it's easy for me to sit here and say, "You should have said ...", not everyone can be outspoken. People nowadays are ignorant sods, and it's not getting any better unfortunately.

Fingers crossed you get your iPhone 3GS on your trip on Friday, but could you not perhaps pop into the store in advance and have an iPhone put by in your name, even if you pay the upgrade fee up front?

 

[FXT 1]

That's the problem with society today though mate, people being afraid (for lack of a better word) of speaking up for fear of reprisal and, God forbid, violence/anger.

At the end of the day, you were skipped and while it's easy for me to sit here and say, "You should have said ...", not everyone can be outspoken. People nowadays are ignorant sods, and it's not getting any better unfortunately.

Fingers crossed you get your iPhone 3GS on your trip on Friday, but could you not perhaps pop into the store in advance and have an iPhone put by in your name, even if you pay the upgrade fee up front?

OP may have not been afraid. He may have just been executing good manners, like any upstanding British Citizen.

But OP, grab the 32GB iPhone, perhaps you could find use for the space in the future IMO.