delinquentwoody
12th May 2005, 09:23 PM
From The Retail Bulletin
Asda is the first UK supermarket to sell pay monthly contract mobile phones, with a new 'technology centre' opening at its store in Tamworth.
The specialist in-store area, opened in partnership with Vodafone UK, will be rolled out to other Asda supercentres across the UK from September if the trial proves successful.
The technology centres will sell a range of pre-pay phones from Vodafone, Virgin and T Mobile, as well as selling an exclusive pay monthly offering with Vodafone with a free phone offer.
Asda insists the technology centres we be a 'hard sell free zone', with none of the high pressure, commission-driven sales people that often seen in e phone shops.
Asda non-food director, Tony Page said: "We are determined to take the hard sell out of cell phones and ring the changes with prices that suit our customers needs and not the person who is selling the phone to them. If successful we look forward to taking the learning from this trial and using this knowledge to bring technology centres to our other supercentres."
Nick Read, chief commercial officer for Vodafone UK said: "Vodafone is delighted to have secured this exclusive contract deal with Asda, a business that shares our passion for looking after its customers. We look forward to our products and services being available to Asda's customers."
All technology centre colleagues have gone through training to understand customer needs. Wal-Mart interactive technology will be used on special terminals to credit check customers and to help provide customers with the answer to their mobile requirements.
www.theretailbulletin.com/index.php?page=5&u=41836&id=6502
Asda is the first UK supermarket to sell pay monthly contract mobile phones, with a new 'technology centre' opening at its store in Tamworth.
The specialist in-store area, opened in partnership with Vodafone UK, will be rolled out to other Asda supercentres across the UK from September if the trial proves successful.
The technology centres will sell a range of pre-pay phones from Vodafone, Virgin and T Mobile, as well as selling an exclusive pay monthly offering with Vodafone with a free phone offer.
Asda insists the technology centres we be a 'hard sell free zone', with none of the high pressure, commission-driven sales people that often seen in e phone shops.
Asda non-food director, Tony Page said: "We are determined to take the hard sell out of cell phones and ring the changes with prices that suit our customers needs and not the person who is selling the phone to them. If successful we look forward to taking the learning from this trial and using this knowledge to bring technology centres to our other supercentres."
Nick Read, chief commercial officer for Vodafone UK said: "Vodafone is delighted to have secured this exclusive contract deal with Asda, a business that shares our passion for looking after its customers. We look forward to our products and services being available to Asda's customers."
All technology centre colleagues have gone through training to understand customer needs. Wal-Mart interactive technology will be used on special terminals to credit check customers and to help provide customers with the answer to their mobile requirements.
www.theretailbulletin.com/index.php?page=5&u=41836&id=6502