Carphone Warehouse Fumbles iPhone UK Launch - Lies to customers
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Loading ...The Carphone Warehouse fumbled the iPhone UK launch, when hundreds of shoppers were unable to buy the UK iPhone for over an hour from the launch at 6.02 pm.
Their Chip and Pin payment system crashed and it took them till after 7.00pm to get it fixed, a number of stores that I visited in my city had the problem, and shoppers were left waiting whilst it was sorted out.
I went to another Carphone Warehouse store at about 7.30pm and was able to buy my iPhone, and there were only about 3 people in the store.
I was in the middle of purchasing my iPhone when I was asked if I would like insurance for my iPhone, I said to the salesman who was cashing up my purchase, that I would take out the insurance with O2.
I was then informed by the salesman that the only place I could get insurance for my iPhone was from the Carphone Warehouse and that o2 did not do insurance on the iPhone.
I explained to the Manager that I did not want the insurance, he then informed me that if I did not take the insurance and if I lost or damaged my iPhone I would have to buy a new iPhone and take out a new contract with O2, and continue to pay my existing one.
At this point I caved in and bought the insurance, which is a rip off at £40 (about $80) every quarter.
When I got home, and activated my iPhone I phoned O2 and asked about insurance, and I was informed that it was available for £7.50 (about $15) per month, as you can imagine I was more than a little annoyed with the Carphone Warehouse who basically lied to me to get me to purchase their overpriced insurance.
I am not the only one this has happened to, so my advice to anyone who is buying an iPhone in the UK, do not buy it from the Carphone Warehouse, go to an Apple store or an O2 store instead.
Via Gizmodo
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[...] I would reccomend if you are buying an iPhone in the UK you do not buy it from the Carphone Warehouse, I have written about my experince with buy it from them here. [...]
If you act quickly (within the next few days) you’ll almost certainly be able to cancel the insurance contract with CPW.
Thanks for the tip
I cancelled it today, I hope other people don’t fall for Carphone Warehouse’s appaling sales tactics.
I never get insurance with my phones usually but thought it would be wise to get it with the iPhone, as its a £300 piece of kit, you should never buy insurance over the counter as almost 90% of the time its over priced as alot of people will just say yes and not bother to look for a better deal elsewhere..
So if i purchase the iphone from Apple Store on Regent Street, who will be the provider of 18 month contract - O2 or Carphonewarehouse?
As far as the insurance goes look at the 2 products side by side, does the o2 insurance do the same thing? can you cancel the contract early without having to pay the rest of the line rental, does the o2 one cover call and accessory costs if lost or stolen? as for your question Wai Keong Lock; the answer is o2
Hi Fairkit
The O2 Insurance does exactly the same, you can also buy a stand alone policy from a lot of insurers for about £5 per month.
That is not the point though, the Carphone Warehouse salesman lied to me about the insurance, and I am not the only one this has happened to, I have received a few emails from readers of this site who it happened to.
I explained to the Manager that I did not want the insurance, he then informed me that if I did not take the insurance and if I lost or damaged my iPhone I would have to buy a new iPhone and take out a new contract with O2, and continue to pay my existing one.
Basically true except should have read “if you’re not insured you will need to take out a new contract if you still want a iphone”.
I was then informed by the salesman that the only place I could get insurance for my iPhone was from the Carphone Warehouse and that o2 did not do insurance on the iPhone.
Total lie, this salesperson should be shot!
I am not the only one this has happened to, so my advice to anyone who is buying an iPhone in the UK, do not buy it from the Carphone Warehouse, go to an Apple store or an O2 store instead.
The above statement is like saying all journalists are drunken slobs who would sell their own mother’s for a good story and couldn’t recognize the truth if it hit them between the eyes! Not all carphone warehouse store’s are like that!
Hi Fairkit
I understand that not all Carphone Warehouse stores are like that, but I am not the only one this has happended to by a long shot.
And if you loose your iPhone, and want a new one on your contract, all you have to do is buy another iPhone and O2 will activate it on your existing contract (they have confirmed this to me).
My whole point of this article was to let people know my experience with buying the iPhone from the Carphone Warehouse, so that if this happens again to them, they will not feel pressurised into buying the insurance, and beleive it is their only option.
I have no personal issue with the Carphone Warehouse, the reason I said that people should go to the O2 Store or the Apple store, is that they will receive a professional service and will not have to put up with these underhand tactics when buying their iPhone.
Hi I am kind of new to the iphone and was interested in buying one, however seeing your post has made me a bit confused about how the actual sale goes on. I dont normally buy phones with a contract and I am not familiar to how the procedure goes. Could you help me please? I am planning on buying my iphone from an apple store, would I need to take out the contract when I am buying it or would I simply buy it from the apple store then go to 02 and get my contract there?
Hi iphoner
You just buy your iPhone from the store, you don’t sign the contract there and then.
You activate your iPhone through iTunes on your computer, you will need to have an iTunes account, if you don’t have one you can set one up, and it will give you the option to choose from one of the 3 contracts available, which are £35, £45 AND £55 per month.
I hope this helps.
Hi
If I buy the iphone from an apple store and do not activate it, will i still be able to use all the features (music, wifi, etc) except calling and smsing ? I plan on buying one and then unlocking it to use it in Malta.