Beware of Univercell. Review on Univercell, Chennai

This is a review of Univercell, Thyagaraya Road(Pondy Bazaar), T. Nagar, Chennai.

Parking

The store being bang in the beginning of the shopping district, parking is not to be expected anywhere in that area.  OK for two-wheelers.

Store Range

The store has a good range of mobiles, but the staff will be reluctant to show you comparable mobiles, if they believe you are close to making up your mind on a model you have already seen.  My recommendation is that give an overview of what features you would like to see on a mobile and ask them to show different models.  Pretend to be dissatisfied with each model until they show you an optimum number for you to choose from.

Value for money

The prices are too good to be true.  That is because they aren't . true.  In my experience, the two mobiles I bought had been used, re-packaged and sold as new.  As a first-level filter, tell them you need to see a working model:

1. The staff will make a fuss about how pristine they would want their mobiles to be and that the package has never been opened.

   
   




2. Tell them you can't buy what you can't test and threaten to walk out.

   
   




3. Once they load their SIM and show you its music and jazzy features, take it and scroll through the address list.  An unwrapped one should have an empty Address Book, right?  In my case, wrong.

   
   




4. Smarter ones delete the addresses before re-packaging.  Go to the BlueTooth feature, saying you want to see if it can pair with your other mobile.  If you get to see some "other mobile devices" it had already been paired with, it is time to call their bluff.

   
   

Customer service

If you walk in looking for a rep to welcome you, be ready to be ignored.  Instead, walk straight to the high-end mobile section and look disdainfully at the selection.  Ignore the first request offering help.  To the next one, ask for a model that doesn't exist.  Slowly, climb down and set forth your specification.  Keep looking hurried and wanting to leave, but don't be.

Looking eager to finish off your transaction will make the sales people lethargic as they know you won't go elsewhere.  Last: If something about the whole transaction/interaction doesn't feel good, trust that intuition and walk out.