AT&T store reps still turning away prospective Windows Phone buyers

Microsoft and Nokia have invested a lot of time and money in training and motivating AT&T retail staff, but it seems there are still some who are turning buyers who are interested in a Windows Phone away and steering them to iPhones.

Guy from Fort Lauderdale dropped us this note:

Only took me 10 minutes at my local AT&T store to witness a huge FAIL. Was all by myself playing with a Lumia when I heard an older woman say she wanted a smart phone. She was pretty oblivious to what she wanted, knew nothing about smart phones. The sales rep left her to look at some phones and checked her account. When he came back she asked about the Samsung Focus because she wanted something simple. The sales rep immediately steered her over to an iPhone. I had to leave before I threw up.

Ask your readers to do some spying and see what’s going on out there. Nokia and Microsoft should spend their money on non AT&T evangelists to get people to buy their phones.

Fail. So sad.

The store was not an affiliate store, but a corporate store in the Fort Lauderdale region, which makes it even less forgivable. This is the exact scenario Microsoft and Nokia had been trying to avoid. We suggest Microsoft call the regional managers in the area and make sure AT&T’s corporate goal gets filtered down to the rank and file.

Given that it seems more buyers are convinced by recommendations by current users, maybe Microsoft need to be giving that $25 referral fee to current Windows Phone evangelists, rather than disinterested and biased AT&T reps.

Have any of our readers witnessed similar behaviour by AT&T store reps? Name and shame below.

Thanks Guy for the tip.