Vodafone HQ's got it's own Vodafone shop
A reasonably well known fact amongst anyone who’s been to the Vodafone Newbury HQ — or anyone who works there — is the presence of a fully functional Vodafone shop on site.
I’ve been hearing about it for years so it was with no small amount of child-like-wonder that I felt drawn to it after I’d got my badge at reception.
“That’s fine, Mark will be down soon,” said the receptionst.
“Er…,” I said, looking at the Vodafone shop, “Right. I’ll, er… I’ll just do a bit of shopping, OK?”
The receptionist nodded and I did the virtual equivalent of a hop, skip and a jump toward the shop.
I had a browse about and thought was very careful not to accidentally buy anything, such was the temptation.
Employees reportedly love the place. I looked on as a chap walked in and requested a huge pile of sim cards from one of the assistants behind the desk. Nice. Another lady at the desk was busy buying a new Samsung whilst some chaps who’d clearly just finished a meeting on-site were discussing the merits of one of the bluetooth headphone systems. The shop was, in short, doing a roaring trade.
Obviously your average Vodafone staffer has a good reason to patronise the place (especially with their price plan benefits). The shop is mega-up-to-date. You’d expect this seeing as it’s probably about 25m from top dog Arun Sarin’s office. All the latest and greatest handsets were on display and a lot of staff (identified by their badges) were checking out handsets and new offers. The shop’s sales advisors were, as you might expect, shit hot. More on that later.
As I browsed around, Mark arrived and said hi. I explained I was after a Blackberry and a look of comprehension spread across his face. He was remembering my various annoyed posts recently about me losing not only my E90 but my Blackberry too. We left to start our meeting. When we later returned to reception, Mark explained that one of the reasons they’ve got a shop in the Vodafone HQ is, quite apart from the real, valid benefit of helping out staff and keeping the company’s employees updated, they often get walk-ins. Because the Vodafone HQ is accessed from the A34 dual carriage way, it’s sign-posted ‘Vodafone HQ’. A lot of folk misunderstand and regularly used to walk into reception wanting to buy things. Heh. The Great British public. So, if you’d like to buy a phone or talk to Vodafone, you can do so at their HQ. Neat.
How many other mobile operators can claim this? 😉
In fact, how may other operators have a shop on-site? I’ve always admired the concept and I think it’s to be applauded.
After my meeting I walked slowly over to the shop and I was met at the door by a chap. His role, it seems, was to be point man. Understand your problem or issue and point you in the right direction. Smart.
I stumbled through an explanation of losing my Blackberry and then wondered out loud if I could add one to my account.
“Sure,” the chap said.
“Right, well I’ve already got two ‘lines’ on my account — an E90 and a mobile broadband stick.”
“That’s no problem, we can help,” he said, printing me out a numbered ticket for assistance.
“Er, right,” I said, a bit confused, “But I’ve already got two lines so, don’t you have to call customer services or something, check if you can give me another line?”
“It’s fine, Sir. We can fix that here,” he told me, pointing me toward an efficient looking chap by the name of Hasan.
“Yup, no problem. Wait just a moment while I look at your account,” said Hasan, “OK sure. Which one would you like?”
Smart. Bish bash bosh. I’m live now on a 8310 Vodafone Blackberry on a 12-month contract. Very good, knowledgeable service. Everything I’ve come to expect from Voda’s retail staff.
“You should be on this insurance plan,” he says to me as he finalises some account settings, “That way you’re only paying 3.50 per handset. Your stick is covered by the other line’s insurance.”
Nice. I’m razor-sharp on insurance now after my recent escapades.
I probed Hasan about the 120mb ‘unlimited’ data plan. For a company facing the very near possibility of massively declining voice revenues, one imagines that they’d like to take more cash of me for data. And I’d like to pay… Just not per meg.
Hasan politely explained that there was no news there… yet. I would pay a premium above the 7.50/month for higher quality, priority data — and for a larger ‘fair use’ allowance. Something like T-Mobile’s Web’N’Walk MAX at 20 odd pounds a month. Voda won’t quite take my money as yet though.
“Anything else I can help you with?” Hasan asks. Dangerous question to someone like me, that.
“Errrrrrrrrrr,” I mumbled.
“ERRRR yes. Nokia N95 8GB. Just… you know, off chance and the like… I’m in the market for one.”
“There’s a new model out tomorrow,” Hasan prompted.
“Aye, anything today? What can you do me an N95 8GB for?” I ask — giving up on being sensible.
Hasan consults his screens.
“Free on 35 pounds a month,” he tells me.
GAHHHHH. I blew 308 pounds on Vodafone last month so 10% more is just… I need to reign in my spend a little.
“You could give it to me on another line,” I ask.
“Sure.”
GAHHHHH. Difficult. I all of a sudden had visions of explaining to SMS Text News contributors James Whatley and Ben Smith that I really do need to have multiple devices. The E90 does this, the Blackberry does that, the N95 8GB does that..
Almost.
I almost gave in and did it.
Then I got control and moved on. Woe.
Anyway, smart idea that, a Vodafone shop in the Vodafone HQ.
Want to see some video? Here I am showing off QIK to Hasan. Not exactly smooth footage as I was busy demonstrating the app.
