[ssbtech]

My uncle is now eligible to upgrade his phone, a Curve something with Rogers.

He went into the Rogers store to look at phones. I've been telling him to look at the Torch 9810 but he was pushed really heavily by the rep towards the Samsung Galaxy III. The Rogers rep even said to stay away from BlackBerry. My uncle has three BlackBerries on his account and quite likes BB.

I wish retailers would stop hiring punks who push the flashiest technology and instead actually listen to the consumer's needs and wants and help them pick a phone that's right for them.

I think once RIM launches BB10 they need to set up a few kiosks/retail outlets of their own because the current retailers are probably hurting them more than helping them.

[sinsin07]

Every Crackberry totin' registered member should set aside some of their own time when BB10 drops to stand outside their local cell phone carrier and help promote BB10.

They can hang around in the store and when they see someone looking at BB10 or here the word Blackberry from a customer, they can immediately escort them to a sales person and speak for the customer.

Their time should be recorded by CB and within a certain time frame the CB member with the most volunteer time/sales should win a prize from CB and be crowned el supreme fan of fans. Maybe an acknowledgement from RIM for their efforts.

[sevoman]

rim needs to open up retail stores in major cities as they have been doing in india. they need to offer their full phone lineups for all carriers, their playbooks, their accessories and support and service. similar to apple, maybe on a smaller scale. that way you don't get an AT&T ignoramus trying to sell you the latest and greatest in 5 inch slab phones.

[jafobabe]

@sinsin07, I think that would be a good idea, if the person is retired or has a lot of extra time on their hands.

But I also think that the RIM Sales or Marketing Teams need to be extremly more visiable at the different carriers to promote it. And not just in the larger cities.

EDIT: and from the post above.... the kiosks at large shopping centers too.

[ridemaster]

i agree with the OP

[lnichols]

Carrier store clowns have done more to kill Blackberry sales in the US than any other factor. Look at the countless stories of people posted here where the stores do everything they can not to sell you a Blackberry. I know it happens with other phones too (my dad was talked out of an iphone4 and into a DroidX) but you never here someone trying to talk someone into a Blackberry. I'd love to see if the carriers if pushing down orders to the stores to discourage Blackberry sales, and if so why. This is what concerns me about the BB10 release is that if the carriers don't get behind it and discourage customers from purchasing it like they have done the past two years then it won't sell well.

RIM needs to hire a temp force to camp out in carriers stores at release with a display and showing people how great BB10 is because I seriously doubt carriers are going to give phones hero status.

[dagerlach]

The retailers only know what they have been told and what they have read. I can't blame a single retailer for turning people away from RIM and a Blackberry based on the present situation. While I like my Bold 9900, I wold not buy the device under the current RIM situation. A Samsung Galaxy S III is a good recommendation and puts someone into a phone with a much brighter future than a 9900 has if you have to keep the phone for a couple years.

[mikeo007]

The retailers only know what they have been told and what they have read. I can't blame a single retailer for turning people away from RIM and a Blackberry based on the present situation. While I like my Bold 9900, I wold not buy the device under the current RIM situation. A Samsung Galaxy S III is a good recommendation and puts someone into a phone with a much brighter future than a 9900 has if you have to keep the phone for a couple years.

This. The rep was recommending a much better phone with a much brighter future. When (if) BB10 comes out, we'll see. But for now, he did the right thing.

[XDrew42]

Every Crackberry totin' registered member should set aside some of their own time when BB10 drops to stand outside their local cell phone carrier and help promote BB10.

They can hang around in the store and when they see someone looking at BB10 or here the word Blackberry from a customer, they can immediately escort them to a sales person and speak for the customer.

Their time should be recorded by CB and within a certain time frame the CB member with the most volunteer time/sales should win a prize from CB and be crowned el supreme fan of fans. Maybe an acknowledgement from RIM for their efforts.

cheers dude that is funny and i would do it lol


Sent from my BlackBerry 9850 until my kick a$$ BB10 is released ! I'm stickin with RIM til one of us dies.

[XDrew42]

This. The rep was recommending a much better phone with a much brighter future. When (if) BB10 comes out, we'll see. But for now, he did the right thing.

Hahaha as if we knew the future. he was merely working on a few brain cells.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9850 until my kick a$$ BB10 is released ! I'm stickin with RIM til one of us dies.

[mikeo007]

Hahaha as if we knew the future. he was merely working on a few brain cells.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9850 until my kick a$$ BB10 is released ! I'm stickin with RIM til one of us dies.

We do know the future of BB7 devices: there is none.

[JasW]

The 9810 is a year old phone that actually is what the 9800 should have been -- and the 9800 was released two years ago. I love my 9810, but I wouldn't buy it today, nor would I recommend that anyone else do so. This is RIM's problem -- all they have until next year are OS 7 devices.

[darkmanx2g]

RIM needs to open up more stores. People who want to buy a blackberry with no hassles. Heres a store that I saw that Charlotte airport. Attachment 113722

[sleepngbear]

This. The rep was recommending a much better phone with a much brighter future. When (if) BB10 comes out, we'll see. But for now, he did the right thing.

I don't agree with this at all. When the customer knows what they want, it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks. I do not want an iPhone, I do not want an Android anything. If I were at a retailer buying a phone today and had my mind set on a 9900 and one of these people tried to steer me toward something else, I'd turn around and walk out and probably not ever return. I'm there giving them my business; and as such, they are there to help me. Telling me I want something I really don't want isn't helping me. Unless I specifically ask for their opinion (and it is always just that: their OPINION), when these people start talking to me like they know more than I do, conversation's over.

I know the future looks bleak at the moment for RIM; but it doesn't change my preference for a phone. Not to mention that a better phone for you or for that rep is not necessarily a better phone for me. At this time, nothing works better for me than a BlackBerry. That's what I want, and don't dare try to tell me I don't.

[sleepngbear]

We do know the future of BB7 devices: there is none.

Really? You know this, huh?

[mikeo007]

RIM needs to open up more stores. People who want to buy a blackberry with no hassles. Heres a store that I saw that Charlotte airport. Attachment 113722

There are 8 of those in the USA, 7 of which are in airports.
Also, they're not run by RIM, but by a 3rd party company.
If RIM opens their own stores, they need to be owned and operated by RIM.
They also need to give customers a reason to go into them, or they'd be a sad, empty joke.

[mikeo007]

I don't agree with this at all. When the customer knows what they want, it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks. I do not want an iPhone, I do not want an Android anything. If I were at a retailer buying a phone today and had my mind set on a 9900 and one of these people tried to steer me toward something else, I'd turn around and walk out and probably not ever return. I'm there giving them my business; and as such, they are there to help me. Telling me I want something I really don't want isn't helping me. Unless I specifically ask for their opinion (and it is always just that: their OPINION), when these people start talking to me like they know more than I do, conversation's over.

I know the future looks bleak at the moment for RIM; but it doesn't change my preference for a phone. Not to mention that a better phone for you or for that rep is not necessarily a better phone for me. At this time, nothing works better for me than a BlackBerry. That's what I want, and don't dare try to tell me I don't.

That's your prerogative. If you know what you want, then go get it. Most people have no clue what they want and it's up to the reps to offer them the best option.

Really? You know this, huh?

Well RIM has already stated it, so you tell me.

[dbmalloy]

Actually.... it is up to the salesperson to determine what the client wants.... not the other way around..... I found that in sales if you take the approach of helping the client decide what they want... and povide it..... you end up with a return client... Where as when you sell what the salesperson wants... you run the risk of losing the client because they did get what they needed......

[bungaboy]

. . . . . Most people have no clue what they want and it's up to the reps to offer them the best option.

Ahhh so that must be the reason why the iPhone sales are so high.

Seriously, don't you think consumers do some research before they buy. Or are people right when they say iSheep and teenyboppers buy the majority of iPhones?

[bungaboy]

There is a thread here today about Dave Thomas the founder of Wendy's.

I would love to see RIM send out "secret shoppers" to these high volume retailers and get the scoop on what is happening there.

[sleepngbear]

Well RIM has already stated it, so you tell me.

RIM has stated that they will continue to sell and support BB7 devices even after BB10 is introduced. BB7 will be around for awhile.

[mikeo007]

Ahhh so that must be the reason why the iPhone sales are so high.

Seriously, don't you think consumers do some research before they buy. Or are people right when they say iSheep and teenyboppers buy the majority of iPhones?

Have you ever worked retail? Most people have no clue. Their friend has an iPhone, so they want an iPhone.

The poster about you is right, if you want to be a good sales rep, you ask probing questions to figure out what the client wants.

[mikeo007]

RIM has stated that they will continue to sell and support BB7 devices even after BB10 is introduced. BB7 will be around for awhile.

There is still no future for it. Much like WP7 devices, which was antiquated as soon as it was announced that current devices could not be upgraded to WP8.

Just because they will "support" the device does not mean that it will not be antiquated. HP still "supports" touchpads.

[XDrew42]

We do know the future of BB7 devices: there is none.

then why are you here? You obviously have a lot to do with your BB hating life. i suggest you go do it. Or do you not have a BB to DO things with?


Sent from my BlackBerry 9850 until my kick a$$ BB10 is released ! I'm stickin with RIM til one of us dies.

[ajst222]

That is my experience with Verizon. They don't listen to what you want, they just either suggest the most expensive phones. "Oh I think you should get the Droid Razr/Maxx/4 or the iPhone 4s". A store full of phones and those are all that ever get sold because the salespeople just constantly push those models.