Well shiver me timbers, hang out the bunting!  For ages the IMPDA has been saying, that whilst the poor old small dealer has been sticking to the instructions by the networks of 60 days allowed for customers to claim cash back, Carphonewarehouse still insisted on 30 days.  Was it the name and shaming that did it, we don’t know, but well done CPW for now bringing it to 60 days, better late than never?  All you have to do now is get your subsidiary E2save to comply as well, and then all dealers will be on a level par.

It is a shame that an important issue like cash backs can be overshadowed by a failure to tackle or acknowledge the issue and instead give a false impression.  In Jez Harris column “The sharp End” reference was made to dealers against the impda letter and their views.  It has to be said this was 5 members of one dealer forum, not a huge amount really, and is not the view of many more who called us direct. In fact the largest poll which is on the impda site is currently showing at time of writing 67.3% want a ban.  A radio 4 program “You and Yours” have reported on the cash back issue.  Our statement on the program asking the networks to arrange a meeting with a selection of dealers and the distributors still stands so that we can all come to some resolution on this and other issues, before ofcom carry out their threat to introduce severe regulations as reported by “Which”. So networks please accept our invitation to make contact and arrange a meeting soon with everyone, we must all work together to improve the industry and bring the trust back.

A couple of calls we have received brought up an interesting point recently during the cash back debacle, shop safety.  How many shop owners have value items near their store entrance doors, when they should be further in?  Having phone covers and accessories near the entrance is just asking for them to be pinched.  Know who is in your store, if you’re engaged with a customer, look around occasionally, what’s the group in the corner up to.  It can be very difficult to know all the time, especially when your describing and showing the attributes of the latest mobile.  These days it pays to get a CCTV installed, they are now to quote David Dickinson “as cheap as chips” but not only will it help to see what’s going on, if you are recording it will help police if anything does go missing.

Have you seen the latest Vodafone video on their site (Personally) I think it’s from the land of the living dead.  It was a good attempt to put over the attitudes of some bosses, but a little over the top especially Gerald who would have been more at home in the undertakers than an office. The word Ebenezer springs to mind.

On a lighter note, what is your most hated saying, in this political correct world (now who just did just start it off) could it be “At the end of the Day” or “The fact of the matter is” send us you’re most hated saying and we will compile a top list.  If you have anything else you wish to raise please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it