Mobile Exploration at The Shack

Posted by Professional Writing Services

July 5, 2011

Moving into mobile was part one of this series which you might want to read first.

My next mobile phone exploration took me over to see the helpful manager at The Shack (Radio Shack) because I was interested in talking to the guy who listened to me when I went in to change my cell phone provider away from Verizon some time back.

This manager was the guy who got me into Virgin Mobile. One of the things I liked about him was that he encouraged me to consider something else, but unlike the other sales people I encountered, listened to me closely, learned about my needs and then directed me to my options.

A big fan of Sprint, he made sure to share those options and encouraged me to ponder that option when I was ready to make a change. Since Virgin Mobile operates on the Sprint network, and since that network happens to be the other mobile service provider that works in the area–it was a good choice.

Virgin Mobile offers a prepaid cell that you can re-load every 90 days for as little as $20. Since I rarely used those minutes, it has worked out well for me up to this point. (In 2010 I purchased an updated little phone, loaded some minutes and was on my way.)

Anyway, Mr. Manager showed me a Sprint contract option that he thought might work for me. I am still reluctant to get into something that costs $80 per month but allowed him to run a credit check. At this time he bonused me with 300 extra minutes a month for the same rate, signed me up for a 10% discount through my credit union, and locked in the deal in for me since he knew I was not deciding that day.

This was great but this option was a bit of a decision for me since I’ve not used a credit card since the early 1990s and am a cash only kind of person. Plus, I didn’t really want to get into a contract. It is a personal quirk but one I had to ponder.

I came home with the feeling that I really want to give the Radio Shack manager my business but still wanted to explore options. He said to drop back by so I could experience some of the phones in action and I so I took him up on the offer.

So, although I came home with literature on the plan pricing and some of the phones from Verizon and Sprint, one of the reasons I love the Internet is that it allows you to research from the comfort of your own home and get answers that you are not getting in the stores.

Bit**, Bit**, Bit**
So why was I exploring online? Because I wanted more information. I am a mobile novice and (in general) I find that many staff members at these businesses are uninterested, short handed, or too busy to give me good service or the complete information I need.

Many just plain fail to listen to what you are telling them. In the past, I not only trained animals but sales people, so I find this especially annoying since I tell them what I want and my objections up front and give them the opportunity to address my specific needs and concerns.

Many businesses now lose their sales to online sources for the same reason I buy online–there isn’t any reason for me to want to give them my business based on the lousy service and little interest in me as the customer. This doesn’t make me loyal or willing to give up a better deal I can get online versus from them.

BUT, based on my experiences with the local manager at The Shack, it may be that he gets my business in one way or another.

Next…mobile phone journey & small business

Photo Credit: Evelyn Giggles