Get a Bargain at the Carphone Warehouse (Carphone Warehouse)

Member Name: thespurs

Product:	Carphone Warehouse
Date:	24/08/05 (754 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great phones and tariffs, good offers and easy to use website

Disadvantages: There aren't any major enough to mention

The Carphone Warehouse are one of the most established and well recognised providers of mobile phones in the UK. They have grown rapidly since they began trading in 1989, they have become the largest independent retailer of mobile communications in the whole of Europe. They operate in 10 countries and boast over 5 million customers. Their reputation is unrivalled and they are the first name that many people will think of when considering a new mobile phone for themselves or as a gift.




The Carphone Warehouse provides customers with a huge range of telecommunication products. They say that: ‘A product bought from the Carphone Warehouse will be the most appropriate for the customer's needs.’ It is not only the provision of a product that fits well with the customer that the Carphone Warehouse endeavours to provide. They also claim to have, ‘A comprehensive range of products, services and after-sales care that cannot be found elsewhere.’




I have recently dealt with the Carphone Warehouse both on the high street and online. On both occasions I was purchasing mobile phones on a twelve month price plan. I had pretty much made up my mind that I wanted to connect to the 3 network, having been with them previously. I did look around at the other offers available on other networks, just to make sure that I was making the correct choice. This was easy for me to, especially online, as all of the offers are clearly displayed. They are detailed, yet simple and easy to read and you can really make a quick decision on what else is available to you.




The homepage of the Carphone Warehouse website displays a range of the latest offers that they are running. These tend to be exclusive to the website, so they aren’t available in store. They are able to offer slightly better offers to online customers, because they don’t have to cover the overheads of a shop front. It is definitely advisable to shop through the Carphone Warehouse online. The offers include contract and pay-as-you-go telephones, so there should be something for everyone.




If nothing immediately catches your attention, you can define your search to find something more suited to your needs. You can select either contract or pay-as-you-go phones and then choose the network and handset you are after. You will then be provided with a comprehensive list of the offers available to you. The handset details are listed in good detail. There is a box on the left hand side that gives a very brief summary, using symbols. The list of networks that the phone is available on, are listed on the left. When you select one network, a list of different price plans available will appear. They include: inclusive minutes, contract length, monthly line rental and the handset price. If you find a tariff that you are happy with, tick the box and proceed.




When you have selected your mobile phone, you should proceed to the checkout. If you haven’t previously shopped online at the Carphone Warehouse, you will need to complete a simple task to create an account. The next stage is to enter the billing name and address. If the delivery address is different, you also have to enter that. Then you will move onto the payment and credit check section. You can set up a Direct Debit from your account, once you have passed the credit check. The rest of the process is pretty much a formality. They will ask for a £75 holding fee whilst your phone is in transit. It should arrive the next day and you will receive confirmation through of the deal.




The delivery of my handset was ‘Next Day’ and I received it about 20 hours after placing the order. The product arrived as described, with everything as it should have been. There was no damage sustained during transit, the box looked as good as new. The documentation was also correct, the contract details and the payment options all as they should have been. As far as setting up the phone and getting it ready to use are concerned, it was pretty straight forward. You should follow the instruction manuals provided. I was thrilled that the phone arrived so soon after I had ordered it and was as I expected, possibly even better.




The after sales service that you are provided with, is more than adequate. I had a query regarding a handset that I couldn’t resolve by referring to the instruction manual. A quick email, followed by a phone call, was all it took to put my mind at rest and be at ease with the handset. There hasn’t been a need to make any further enquires to the Carphone Warehouse since, such are the standards of the original service that they provide. There should by no reason why even the most obscure of queries that you may have, won’t be solved by contacting the Carphone Warehouse.




The overall level of service that the Carphone Warehouse provide, is very high. They do live up to their promises, making sure that you have everything you need when buying a phone. Having used the Link and Phones 4 U, I can safely say that the Carphone Warehouse provide you with the best deals, most efficient processing and connection and after sales service. I did shop around for better offers and was only able to find them on less well known sites that I wasn’t too sure about. Nothing is more comforting that the assurance that you feel when buying through the Carphone Warehouse.

Summary: A company that I would reccomend using as they have been great for me