Mobile phone shop staff who accost shoppers in a Wolverhampton street have been stopped from using “aggressive” sales techniques after complaints to the city council.
Council chiefs intervened after complaints that Phones 4U workers outside their Dudley Street shop would approach people asking about phone use.
But after complaints from shoppers, the city council put a stop to the behaviour.
The Express & Star revealed in July that the mobile phone giant had been reported over the methods.
The street is already a haunt of clipboard salespeople, charity workers and catalogue representatives.
Council spokesman Tim Clark said: “It was something that people complained to us about and we did write to the company informing them of the complaints and asking them to stop their controversial sales techniques.
“We also informed them of our intention of creating a new touting by-law where the new maximum fine will be £500.” When the Express & Star contacted the Phones 4U shop, a staff member said: “We do stand in the doorway as it is our shop, but we have not been out in the street since the council said we could not.” The council is still looking into new bylaws to tackle over-zealous sales.
18 Comments
About time. After the 20th time being asked it gets a bit wearing. ‘No I don’t have a mobile phone and if I did, I wouldn’t tell you, it’s my business, thank you!’
If only they would do the same thing in walsall’s park street. i cannot walk down that road without being stopped at least twice! Phones 4 u are the worst, always a group of them ready to pounce!
Halleluyah!!! im sick of it, i avoid going down dudley street, up the top, just to avoid getting hassled!
At last. It is unpleasant to walk down the street between the catalogue sales, hawkers of all sorts AND the gangs of youths and young men. I hate walking down there with my teenage daughters.
What about the irritating vendors in the Merry Hill Centre?
When did it become okay to harass potential customers whilst they are doing their shopping?
West Bromwich could do with sorting out - and not just because it’s an election year, either. The sales techniques are aggressive and likely to cause alarm especially to older people. The sheer arrogance of some sellers makes me very angry.
One thing you could do - start offering them advice on goods and services. See how they like it.
I used to work there - i hated being forced to go and harrass people!!!!! I was unprofessional and bad business behaviour!
about time those people are so annoying if anyone needs a mobile im sure they know where to go there just isnt any need to be harassed in the street now if only they could do something about the gangs in front of a certain fast food outlet…..
Yay!
alison, if it happens again contact the public protection team at your council and tell everyone you know has been hassled to do the same.
This is a prime example of people pester power working!
Thank God for that - I Just nornally give them “THE LOOK” and that’s enough to turn them to stone!!!!
phones not 4u
I hope it spreads to Dudley by the market, you just cant walk 3 feet without being hasseled, Merry Hill is getting just as bad. I hate being rude to them as they are trying to make a living, but it gets too much. They should all be banned full stop!
It’s particulary annoying if you are on your lunch break, and you can’t walk through the town to do your shopping without someone hassling you. You don’t have time to stop - but they are just so persistent!!!
Also, whilst we are on the subject. I do not wish to have any home catalogues or have my childs portrait painted OR enter into any survey OR join any fitness club
Same needs to happen in merry hill, and Birmingham too.
thank goodness for that they ask you every time .
About time! People hassling me make me more determined not to shop there. And people that work there have told me they’ll tell customers ANYTHING to get a sale so be careful.