Do you blame reps for the low WP adoption rates?

[DjiXas]

I am sure you've heard countless stories on how reps try to lure customers away from the Windows Phone, the most recent example:

AT&T talked me out of a 900 | The Verge Forums

Do you think that reps are the ones to blame here for lower than expected WP growth and as a result, lead to no interest from some of the developers (which is about to change with Lumia 900, hopefully).

If so, what should Microsoft and Nokia do, when they already pay commissions, offer special prizes and now, even did the special training?

[TVictory]

If i was working as CEO of WP i would be pushing to get coorporate and small business contracts left and right. When people use the phone at work, they will buy one for home and show there friends.

[Joe F.]

That's really weird. AT&T is supposed to pushing the 900 really hard.

I agree with you, but I was hoping that was starting to change with the 900.

[markaskey]

Its the not just the reps, but the companies behind them. Little or no sales support for WP7 in the stores and the reps will the product that has the path of least resistance. ATT sells a ton of Iphones because that's what people ask for.

Nokia and MS are doing better marketing this year and I think Windows 8 Launch (phone and OS) later this year will move the needle.

[themizarkshow]

Sad to hear. I hope they can get that turned around soon bc the average consumer definitely gives their salesperson more decision making weight than they probably should.

[techblitz]

Personal bias will always get in the way of phone buying decisions. Microsoft and AT&T have trained employees to push the Lumia 900, but every once in a while there's going to be a representative who pushes their own beliefs. This, in addition to the lack of advertising, have hurt Windows Phone; now with viral ads all over the TV and employee training, this is the time for Windows Phone to grow. Only time will tell if it does.

[achmeingott]

Oh it's definitely a huge part of the problem. When I went to buy my Samsung Focus, the AT&T rep tried to push me towards an iPhone. I went shopping for a phone for my father and landed on the HTC Titan, the rep informed me that AT&T didn't have that phone. My mom went in to preorder the Lumia 900 on Monday and they told her they weren't doing preorders. Seriously, they make it a challenge to buy a Windows Phone device.

[Tom Mohammed]

Here in New Zealand both the lumia 800 and 710 are being pushed hard by our largest carrier. Postpaid Phones | Mobile | Telecom New Zealand Here you can see it is currently the top featured phone on the website

[Ashley K.]

I absolutely think reps are the problem. The vast majority of people who walk into a store wanting to buy a new phone are not technies and know very little about the different nuances of each operating system. Instead of talking to the person and finding out what might work best for them, most reps start with, "Well the phone I use and I like best is.." and from there it's pretty much OS evangelism.

[techblitz]

I absolutely think reps are the problem. The vast majority of people who walk into a store wanting to buy a new phone are not technies and know very little about the different nuances of each operating system. Instead of talking to the person and finding out what might work best for them, most reps start with, "Well the phone I use and I like best is.." and from there it's pretty much OS evangelism.

Natural bias always come up, but why reps would be avoiding their Lumia 900 sales quota seems a little self destructive to me

[johnnyb]

I think having Windows Phone 7 come into the game so late (years after iOS and Android) is the cause for reluctance in adoption. People who have iPhones or Android devices simply don't want to switch to a different environment, for the most part. I don't think it has much to do with representatives.

[anoxy]

I think having Windows Phone 7 come into the game so late (years after iOS and Android) is the cause for reluctance in adoption. People who have iPhones or Android devices simply don't want to switch to a different environment, for the most part. I don't think it has much to do with representatives.

Came here to say this. Most iPhone/Android users are already happy/accustomed to their devices and their respective ecosystems. There really is no incentive for them to make a big change to WP7. The growth of WP is going to depend on the younger generations looking to buy their first smartphones.

[techblitz]

Came here to say this. Most iPhone/Android users are already happy/accustomed to their devices and their respective ecosystems. There really is no incentive for them to make a big change to WP7. The growth of WP is going to depend on the younger generations looking to buy their first smartphones.

I agree with this also! When Windows Phone gets a truly marketable, killer feature or app, there will be incentive for Android and iOS users to switch. Add that with good Nokia hardware, and you may be able to make waves in the crowd.

[achmeingott]

So I went down to ATT yesterday to help my sister pick out a phone, a year ago when I was in ATT, the salesman told me he'd never own a Windows Phone and told me he was a total Apple fanboy. Well guess who had a Lumia 900 in his pocket when I visted this time? The guy had nothing but good things to say about WP7 this time around. I guess after some time and hands on with customers' WPs, the temptation was just too much.

[johnnyb]

When I went to purchase a new phone last week I tested the sales reps on phones. Not only did they have no information on the Galaxy S 3, they also told me not to buy a Lumia. I had already settled on the HTC One X, but I was upset that they straight up told me the Lumia 900 was a bad phone. To name a few things they mentioned: poor camera, lack of apps, low specs. As true as these might be, it is the opposite of what they should be doing...

[DjiXas]

When I went to purchase a new phone last week I tested the sales reps on phones. Not only did they have no information on the Galaxy S 3, they also told me not to buy a Lumia. I had already settled on the HTC One X, but I was upset that they straight up told me the Lumia 900 was a bad phone. To name a few things they mentioned: poor camera, lack of apps, low specs. As true as these might be, it is the opposite of what they should be doing...

You should report location to ben

https://twitter.com/#!/BenThePCGuy

[achmeingott]

That's really weird. AT&T is supposed to pushing the 900 really hard.

Unfortunately, that doesn't stop a lot of the low-paid reps from pushing their personal agenda. I've talked to a few too many iFans trying to push me away from everything that doesn't have an apple on it.