Carphone Warehouse

I needed a mobile phone charger, and I needed it fast. I popped in here hoping to be in and out in a matter of seconds, but both staff were already with customers. I could see what I needed but had to stand and wait for a good 5 minutes before being served. I had that internal rage going — «I need to be somewhere, get a move on!» — which normally would have ruined a perfectly good afternoon. But as I listened to both staff members help out challenging customers, I realised just how patient and lovely they were being.
When it was my turn to be served, the assistant was friendly and helpful, and showed me which charger I needed (I was buying for an android phone, not my usual phone!) and the transaction was smooth and quick.
While initial impressions about having to wait to be served were not so great, it was nice to see the staff taking the time to help out customers who might not be quite so tech savvy.

I’ve had a great experience overall at this store. They have always gone out of their way to help me. I’ve been into this location probably 3 – 4 times. They have a small amount of stock but it’s a rather tiny store compared to the city centre ones.

I do feel slightly guilty only giving this place three stars, but I’m not a fan of chain stores and this particular one has not been very helpful to me AT ALL in the past.
However, I am now willingly to reconsider it due to a recent experience with a friend. I lazily glanced around at the phones on display, quickly got bored and waited outside trying not to smoke (having recently fallen off the ‘quit’ bandwagon). A temptation which I managed to combat by popping into the nearby Curlers for a cheeky bottle of Brothers Lemon Cider. I reckon, if it looks like lemonade and tastes like lemonade then it’s pretty much lemonade. It well doesn’t count towards my weekly alcohol units. Wink, wink.
Anyway…
Meanwhile, in the comfy, warm and fuzzy land of Carphone Warehouse my friend spent a good half an hour browsing round, speaking to staff at length and eventually signing up for a new contract phone. From her later account in Curlers, the staff were very friendly, knowledgeable and didn’t mind taking the time out to fully explain various contracts as well as answer any questions she had.
So, even though I’ve not had a great experience in here before it certainly seems to be upping its game. Possibly due to the shiny new Vodaphone shoe? Maybe because my friend’s a good looking, flirty student? Who knows?
Whatever the reason, I’m now willingly to give this place another whirl. Though, knowing me and my phone buying habits it’ll be a while.

I have only used this store to buy accessories, so my analysis is partial, but the Carphone Warehouse is not a favourite. I did browse the catalogue when I last bought a phone, got fed up with the difficulties in comparing brands and ending up going round the brand shops instead, but did come and buy a new charger here.
Since these things are not cheap, I was disappointed that the staff did not really seem to know what charger I needed for my phone, and didn’t feel that they were really up on their products. They found the charger, then asked me if it was the right one. Well– I read the packaging just like they could have done.

Now normally i aint into writing reviews for these chain store places, however on this occasion i must make an exception. I recently had thee need to get myself a new phone after turning in my old work one. So, on the hunt for a contract i ventured down Byres Road to hit the trio of shops available to me.
With a strict budget in mind,£15 a month, and a strong will to not be budged over this i toddled into the three radiation wrapped in plastic emporiums. To cut a long story short i was offerd good deals in two of the shops and given a withering «you wont get much for that amount» in the third. With two good offers on the table, one from this place and the other from the new Vodaphone shop. Depsite the offfers being pretty much identical i opted to go for the Carphone Warehouse deal only because of the great customer service for the manager in here.
She spent a good whack of time with me, answering all my questions, going over my phone options and generally doing a good all round sale. So yeah, if your looking for a new phone then this place is a good shout to start off, it may not be as sexy as the new Vodaphone shop but there is a definite emphasis on customer service.