Massive Props to Nokia
Nokia as a company has plenty of customer service issues. I believe you remember my adventure trying to get a warranty service done on my N75 earlier this year. I’ve also had an N73 sitting on my desk for months because the power button stopped working, but it’s an import, so I don’t have a warranty technically.
However, there’s some places that it excels, and I like to point out the good stuff on occasion, as well. The Nokia Flagship Stores in NYC and Chicago. The service is tremendous, as is the staff. First off, when I went to the store in Chicago this past summer, I was impressed with not only the displays and store setup, but also the staff. They knew what they were talking about! Have you ever gone shopping for electronics and been baffled at the lack of education in the salesperson?
I know for a fact that the Nokia people go through tons of training and hands-on so that they can really know the product well. Also, they offer waiting lists for new and hot products. This is something that I’ve RARELY seen in retail America, and even more rare to see actually carried through. With the Nokia N95-3 and now the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet, I’ve heard nothing but positive experiences.
I’ve also talked with employees who state that when they get new product in, if there’s a waiting list, the people on that list get a phone call before any of the product hits the shelf! Now, to me, that makes a HUGE statement, it really does.
Those two things sound little, but in this day and age, it’s extremely rare to get killer customer service, and I just wanted to point out a positive. I do have some suggestions for Nokia, though:
1. Firmware Updates in-store - Pretty please?
2. More stores - Dallas?!
3. International Warranty - PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE?!
+1 to international warranty. Most laptops and mobile devices MUST start offering international warranty whenever feasible.
I second Dallas.
I’ve heard before that International warranties are impossible because of different warranty laws in each country. What they SHOULD do is honor their different warranties everywhere. Some companies do that. And Los Angeles needs a flagship store first!
Ricky…they do actually perform firmware updates in store… last weekend I went downtown with my buddy to get his e50 updated…he was having reset issues…they updated it no problem…
Yeah more flagship stores, LA, Toronto, Miami etc.
“1. Firmware Updates in-store - Pretty please?”
Ricky,
I am amazed to know that that item in on your wish-list, as Nokia India offers that kinda service! I got my N73-ME updated at Nokia Care Center in Mumbai (Bombay), withing 30 minutes of setting the foot in there! (even i was pleasantly surprised)
Ricky - I’m surprised that you got good service at the Nokia flagship stores. I had an issue where bubbles were appearing under the screen of my N80 and in the course of investigating the issue, amazingly, a crack appeared on my video conferencing camera… while the phone was not in my possession and not in sight. So I had three days of warranty left and was told to go take a hike. To emphasize this point, while I was arguing with the store manager, the Nokia security guard came up and started breathing heavily down my neck, telling me to take it easy or else.
My N80 is my 12th Nokia phone or tablet I have bought for my own use and at least the 18th or 19th in my immediate family. There will be no more Nokias in my family.