Commission hungry sales bods reckon Korean maker’s devices are safer bet
A mystery shopper survey of UK high streets has revealed that Samsung’s smartphones are the most recommended by retailers, with BlackBerry and LG devices rarely suggested. The survey, by Informa Telecoms and Media, found that the Samsung Galaxy SIII and the Galaxy Note II were the most recommended, followed by the iPhone 5. Phones from other manufacturers such as ZTE, Motorola, LG, RIM and Nokia were rarely proffered to customers.
Said Julian Jest of Informa, “The most surprising thing was the way that, despite an in-store advertising campaign and recent product launch, Apple was recommended in only two stores, 3 and Phones 4 U.”
Eight leading retailers were visited as part of the survey including John Lewis, EE, Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4U.
Phone manufacturers were rated according to how well they were advertised at the stores, with sales assistants then asked to recommend three smartphones or tablets.
Apple and Samsung were equally likely to be promoted by advertising inside the store or in its window but sales assistants were far more likely to recommend Samsung, mainly because they perceived the Korean maker’s devices as more likely to yield greater commissions, suggests Informa.
Both Samsung and Apple reported quarterly earnings last week in which Samsung saw a 76 per cent increase in profits while Apple saw $50 billion wiped off its cap following weaker than expected iPhone sales.
Though the company sold a record 47.8 million iPhones in the last quarter, analysts had expected the figure to be higher.
Meanwhile Samsung is expected to launch its new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S IV, at an event in Monaco next month.
