Need to buy a new mobile, want impartial advice? Then this is the place to go!
If any of you reading this have seen my previous opinions on the Mitsubishi Geo & Mars mobile phones, then you may be wondering where I got my info from. Voila! The Link is the place that I shop at.
I initially ... Read review
Advantages: friendly staff, good range, loyalty scheme Disadvantages: is there one in your area?
...impartial advice? Then this is the place to go!
If any of you reading this have seen my previous opinions on the Mitsubishi Geo & Mars mobile phones, then you may be wondering where I got my info from. Voila! The Link is the place that I shop at.
I initially went there a few years ago to buy my very first mobile. Knowing nothing at all about what type, tariff, network etc I eventually after much window shopping went ... ...on you as you enter the door. As I walked around looking at different mobiles/tariffs, the staff seemed to allow to peruse the shop without interference. When I approached one for some help, I was greeted with a friendly smile and impartial advice, something sadly lacking in the other stores I had been in.
After making an initial purchase, I returned 12 mths later to upgrade my phone. Had anything changed? Apart from the staff, nothing. ... more
Need to buy a new mobile, want impartial advice? Then this is the place to go!
If any of you reading this have seen my previous opinions on the Mitsubishi Geo & Mars mobile phones, then you may be wondering where I got my info from. Voila! The Link is the place that I shop at.
I initially went there a few years ago to buy my very first mobile. Knowing nothing at all about what type, tariff, network etc I eventually after much window shopping went into my local Link store in Liverpool cIty Centre. That was 4 years ago, and I still go there now - you may be asking yourself why.
Upon entering I found one very noticeable thing - no salesperson jumping on you as you enter the door. As I walked around looking at different mobiles/tariffs, the staff seemed to allow to peruse the shop without interference. When I approached one for some help, I was greeted with a friendly smile and impartial advice, something sadly lacking in the other stores I had been in.
After making an initial purchase, I returned 12 mths later to upgrade my phone. Had anything changed? Apart from the staff, nothing. Same friendly smiles, willingness to help and no bias. Was this possible? Same good customer service - this was mobile heaven!
After buying my new phone, problems occured. The phone would not hold a signal, the battery kept going dead an hour after a full charge. So I returned to the Link with my purchase, obviously not happy, so what did they do?
Upon airing my problem, the cust service staff looked at me and said "no problem, we shall exchange that for you now". Within 5 minutes I was presented with a replacement phone, and a £10 credit voucher towards any inconvenience caused. Talk about good service, all I wanted was a phone I could use. I was even presented with a new receipt so that my guarantee was not affected, giving me a full 12 mth guarantee on my replacement phone.
All in all, a very pleasant experience. I would recommend The Link to any first time (or second time) mobile phone purchaser. A good range of phones and networks are available, plus accessories such as covers and hands-free kits. They also have a loyalty scheme for all customers. Simply buy your top-up cards from them and for every 10 you have bought you recieve one absolutely free (but keep those receipts). I am shortly buying another phone and I know where I'll be going. I advise you to go there too
Advantages: In every High Street Disadvantages: In every High Street
...about there, as anybody but the worst writer should manage it. Well, yes and no, there are very few things about Sussex that theediscerning would wish to discuss with his audience.
What he can narrate, however, is a selection of anecdotes from his mother's interaction with the High Street mobile phone sellers, The Link.
Everybody with a TV who has seen an advert break in the past 24 months must know The Link. They used to have that awful singalong ... ...must be revealed to make the following make sense. She is rather a technophobe, for one. Never used a PC, doesn't own a microwave, has to have every video instruction manual explained so she can rewrite it in her own language (none of that put tape in slot, press record stuff for her, oh no, she daren't experiment...) - theediscerning could go on.
Anyway, having a close friend with a well-used texting digit, Mum decided to get a mobile phone last ...
theediscerning 16.01.2003 (17.01.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Link
Advantages: Excellent service and Manager's Specials Disadvantages: Do not stock Vodafone
I went to The Link to purchase my new phone yesterday and I was extremely impressed with the service. I chose The Link for a particular reason, they were advertising the Nokia 3310 (on the Orange network) for 99.90, for one week only. This was the lowest price I had seen (including on the net), so off to the store I went.
I got there, found the Orange pay as you go display wih no difficulty whatsoever and noted that this particular model was still ... ...that I had seen the ad in the paper. I recieved an apology as the phones were indeed at a lower price for the week and I was relieved to find that there were some in stock. I wished to purchase insurance too and chose cover for theft, loss and accidental damage priced at 29.99. Not the cheapest quote I know, but I saved time by signing up there and then. Plus, the discount on my phone covered it and I recieved a "Manager's Discount" in the form of ...
MISSBISHI 01.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Link
Advantages: Good range of phones Disadvantages: See op
I'll be the first to admit that I use my mobile phone too much, so when I buy my top-up cards I like to get something back through loyalty schemes.
When I saw a notice in my local Link shop I started to regularly purchase my vouchers there... The scheme enabled you to save your recipts and exchange them for gifts depending on how much you have spent. One point for every £1 spent. The one in particular which caught my eye was the offer for a free ... ...could choose an album from the chart of my choice for free! So, once I had accumulated £180 of recipts I filled out the form and sent it away.
The form stated that it may take upto 28 days for delivery. I started to get a little curious when I'd heard nothing for 6 weeks.. I hadn't seen an aknowledgment, never mind my free CD. After 7 weeks a letter arrived saying that my application had been received, and asked if I would be so kind as to inform ...
tw1314 02.05.2001 (21.05.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Link
Advantages: None! Disadvantages: The staff must have targets for each phone, not all net's covered
The Link, operated by the Dixons Store group, is one of these mobile phone retailers who offer "Impartial Advice", which is really quite funny seeing as they don't stock the most popular cellular network in the country and are owned 80% by Telecom Securicor Radio Ltd, or, to you and me, BTCellnet!
When I went in to buy my first phone it was in response to an ad in the paper advertising a Philips Cellnet phone for £50 (when pay as you go mobiles ... ...lot. I called in at the bank and got £50 out and walked up to the Link in the Arndale Centre. The staff were most unhelpful and, not knowing where to go to buy the phone I asked the man at the desk if I could just buy the phone at the desk or if I had to go and sit down and discuss my options at one of the tables conveniently situated around the shop floor. The assistant told me I could "buy it here" (the only three words he said!) so I queued up ...
killip 31.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Link
Advantages: The staff wear uniforms (all i can think of) Disadvantages: No customer service or product knowledge, poor stock levels
...integrated mobile phone, having seen the adverts for the Link, I thought I would give them a try. I wish I had never bothered.
Walking into the shop, there were a few customers, about 4 staff members, none of them serving. I started having a look at the display models, thinking that just by hanging around someone would approach me, I was sadly mistaken. I was there about 5 minutes and all the sales consultants seemed to be doing was catching flies.
... ...could tell me more about the handsets, and at first he literally just pointed at a pile of catalogues, not understanding this gesture I repeated my request, to which he replied there all in there, just have a look and come back, I explained that I didn't have any idea about PDA's and could he help, the only reply was that if I wanted to buy something he would sell it, but I had to look through the catalogue first and they don't usually stock this ...
tergwin 06.05.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Link
Advantages: They sell some items you just cannot get elsewhere Disadvantages: Price that little bit too high for everyday shopping
seems to be just a few pennies more expensive, which can add up somewhat at the till if you shop the way I do (as if rationing is just around the corner!).
Nevertheless there are a few items that I cannot find anywhere else. For instance, red leicester cheese with walnuts. It is delicious and the nearest thing I can find elsewhere is cheddar with walnuts, which just isn't the same! They also sell a good range of serve yourself deli bits and pieces like roasted yellow peppers etc. which I have yet to find as tasty from any other supermarket.
This is a slightly quirky store, with perhaps a slightly old-fashioned range of products. They are good enough to compete with the big supermarkets, but unfortunately I think they are the weakest link. I hope that doesn't have to mean 'goodbye', although in the cruel world of commerce I suspect ...
witchwaysup 12.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Waitrose (Shop)
Advantages: Many ways to collect points Disadvantages: Poor advertising on how to get and spend points
about. This has meant that I am not spending points for the sake of it, or getting things which I really do not want or need.
Of all the loyalty schemes currently running in the UK, this is one of the best. If I purchase things via the website I can collect both enhanced Nectar points, and get an additional 1% cashback on my credit card. DOUBLE BONUS!
My only concern is that it is still not easy enough for people without web access to learn about all the opportunities, this needs to be addressed.
OK, I have removed the personal link as I have been told it is against Ciao rules. Please let me know if this is wrong. You can get TRIPLE POINTS by signing up via Bzz or someother schemes. ...
pob0782 06.07.2007 (07.07.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Nectar Card
