Honesty in Retail

Your shoppers have transitioned to customers. But 32 days later they aren't happy.

Why? Because they purchased a phone with an OS which is bloated, slow, and difficult to use.

Rather than simply avoid the reality of the fact that you are willingly selling your shoppers an inferior product why not embrace your shopper's opinions about these devices?

If Microsoft is unable to produce a mobile OS which is competitive shouldn't you be sharing this with your shoppers?

Uneducated shoppers see a name brand and assume competence but when they get home and unbox a "only-slightly-more-functional-than-a-brick" their frustration isn't only directed at the OS-developer and the firm who built the product. They are frustrated with the retailer who was willing to sell them garbage in the first place.

Let the market dictate your product selection. AND provide this knowledge on your retail floor.

There is no reason every retailer is not providing "Amazon"-type reviews in their stores so customers can confidently make purchases just as they currently do in their homes.

Are you afraid of what your customers might say about the product selection you're offering? You should be. BUT if you allow your customers to share with you, even though the truth hurts, you WILL gain relevance and credibility in their eyes.

If a shopper could tell a friend "Yes, just visit the Verizon/Sprint/Orange store - they've got all their phones rated - just don't buy anything with less than 3 stars" how much traffic would this drive to your store?

Currently retailers act as though every product they sell is a wonderful product. And they wonder why shoppers don't trust them.

Once again, an opportunity to build relationships with shoppers is being squandered by ignoring that shoppers do not trust retailers and are therefore seeking product advice and reviews elsewhere.

Retailers have less than 5 years to right this wrong.