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MTS Online Store
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The Agony of Saving Money: How We Tried to Scrimp on a Deal, But MTS Had Other Plans
summarizeEditor's Summary
I'm always on the lookout for a great deal, but sometimes you get what you pay for. I recently tried to save some cash by buying a phone from MTS, but things didn't quite go as planned. I was excited about the initial savings, but I encountered some issues that made me question the value for money. The phone case included with the purchase was a nice touch, and it matched my phone's color perfectly. The 25% discount on screen protection was a great incentive, especially since we were planning to buy it anyway. The process of buying online and picking up in-store was convenient and hassle-free. The staff at the MTS store were friendly and helpful, answering all my questions about the product. The phone itself was in good condition, and I was happy with the build quality. The battery life was longer than I expected, which was a nice surprise. But despite these positives, I encountered some major issues that made me regret my decision. The product we received was damaged, which was a major letdown. The prices listed on the receipt were incorrect, which caused some confusion. The promotion we were offered was misleading, and we felt like we'd been taken advantage of. The customer support team was unhelpful and unresponsive to our concerns. The return process was complicated and time-consuming. The shipping time was longer than expected, which was frustrating. If you're considering using MTS services, make sure to carefully review the details of your purchase and be prepared for any potential issues.
settingsSpecifications
KararKötü
brandMTS
modelUnknown
priceUnknown
HizmetKalite8/10
İnternetHizmeti9/10
MüşteriDostluğu7/10
I'd never actually dealt with the MTS company before, but I'd heard mixed reviews from friends who'd used their internet and phone services. To be honest, I'd never even been to an MTS store before, but when I was looking for a new phone, their prices on Yandex Market were the lowest. It seemed like a no-brainer, right? I've bought a few iPhones from Svyaznoy in the past and had a good experience with their quality and customer service, but MTS won me over for two reasons.
First, they included a phone case in the same color as my phone.
Second, they were offering a 25% discount on screen protection, which we were planning to buy anyway.
I love buying tech online and picking it up in a nearby store, where I can check it out and ask any questions I have about the quality. But I prefer to browse and make my final decision without any sales pressure from consultants.
One thing that really stood out in this order was the glass deal. It was only available online and only on a specific type of glass, which was automatically added to my cart with a discount when I added the phone as well. If I wanted to remove the glass from the order, I could, but I couldn't add a different glass with the promotional discount.
I ordered the phone, glass, and case, and I was pretty happy with myself for putting together this bundle at a lower cost. I chose a convenient store for pickup. When selecting the delivery point, not all MTS stores were listed in the dropdown menu, so I'm guessing that only stores with all the order components available or in stock were included.
Just 10 minutes after I placed the order, an MTS operator called me to clarify some details. She told me that the case and glass weren't available in any of the Penza stores, not just the one I chose for pickup, but anywhere in the city. Apparently, they do plan to restock, but I have no idea when.According to the operator, I had three options:
I was a bit miffed by the whole delivery process. To get courier delivery, I had to pay for the order in full on the website and then separately pay for shipping. That pretty much negated the discount, and I was left wondering if I could even open the package with the courier and check if the item matched the website description before accepting it.
Buy the phone and a different screen that's in stock. This option isn't ideal, but it's better than the first one. I'd have to give up the case, though.Cancel the order. That's what I did, deciding to either pick a different screen or switch to a different store. I could've also waited for the screen to be back in stock in Penza.But what really got me was that the email I received about canceling the order had changed the delivery and payment method without my consent:
MTS Online Store Review MTS Online Store Review As you can see from the screenshot above, the order was picked up for self-pickup and paid upon collection. After canceling the order, it wasn't a big deal, but it wasn't exactly a pleasant experience either.Things get even more interesting from here. The website still says the glass is available in one of the Penza stores, so I place a second order, this time for the phone bundle with the promotional glass. A different manager calls me back, and we have the same conversation all over again. This time, I want to know at least an approximate date when the glass will be available, but I get a response that's straight out of left field: 'Why would you want to wait for it? Maybe the promotion will be over by then?' Apparently, they think it's perfectly fine to have the courier charge more for the discount on the product, but if I want to buy the glass at full price, that's somehow surprising to them.
I thought I'd had enough of MTS at this point, but my husband suggested I just order the glass at full price, since we wouldn't be losing out on anything. A few minutes later, the manager calls back to confirm the order and tells me that the glass from the chosen store is available for pickup today. What a fun promotion MTS has - 1:0 in their favor.
I was surprised to find out that there's no discount on the glass, but you can get it right now without the discount. After thinking twice about wasting a trip to the store, we called the online store and asked them to confirm that the glass is in stock at the specified address right now. The operator politely offered to wait while she called the store we chose through their internal connection, and then assured us that everything was okay. We smiled to ourselves and asked to add a Samsung J7 to our order, clarifying that the glass price should be recalculated. For a split second, we were taken aback by the inconsistency in the cart update, but the operator confirmed that everything was processed with the discount in mind, and we should wait for an SMS about the order's readiness for pickup - 1:1.
After a couple of hours, we received a call from MTS, where they told us the full cost of the glass. They mentioned the 25% discount promotion, but said that for some reason, the price recalculation didn't show up in their system, although they could see the promotion for the glass model themselves. They offered us only one solution to the problem - to reprocess the order, and then told us that the glass was out of stock (just kidding), that everything was okay, and we should wait for an SMS about the order's readiness.
We received the SMS the next day, and we were excited to go pick up our phone with the glass. They pulled out the last available glass from under the counter, but it turned out to be cracked or smashed. Already frustrated, we called the hotline to ask how they could have assured us yesterday that they had contacted the store. We got a response: "Sorry and bla bla, we have another glass in stock at a different store in Penza, and we can reserve the order there". Hmm... excuse me, but it's not like we couldn't find any glasses like that in Penza yesterday, and now there are two stores with them. What a miracle!
I stopped by another MTS location, where the website had shown my case to be in stock, so I didn't bother preordering online. Instead, I bought it in-store, since I knew it would be available.
When we arrived at the store, we were finally greeted with a normal screen and a phone that wasn't damaged. The salesperson had been alerted to our situation, and they offered us a free year of phone insurance as a goodwill gesture - 1:2 in our favor.
It wasn't until I got home and checked the receipt that I realized I'd been shortchanged in two ways.Take a close look at the receipt. My purchase was supposed to come out to 12,439 rubles (11,990 for the phone and 449 for the screen - that's with a 25% discount). But when I looked at the total, it was 13,538 rubles, with 1,090 rubles attributed to the free insurance policy that we hadn't actually paid for. Since we'd paid by card, the insurance was listed as 'cash' in the receipt. In reality, we'd paid 12,448 rubles instead of 12,439 rubles (the difference being 9 rubles - that's the insurance, and I'm still not sure why we were charged an extra 9 rubles). The policy itself lists the total insurance value as 1,099 rubles.
MTS ripping off customersBut that's not even the worst part. I mean, just look at the receipt. The phone's cost is broken down into four separate items: 10,105.15 rubles, 884.85 rubles, 919.49 rubles, and 80.51 rubles. And get this - the phone itself is only listed once, while the rest are either unnamed or vague payments.
MTS ripping off customersThis is a major issue because if you need to return the phone to the store, you're only going to get a refund for the amount listed on the receipt next to the phone item - 10,105.15 rubles.I've never seen anything like this before. Even on the website, the price is listed as a single number without any breakdowns or notes. And check this out - the glass and insurance are split into two separate payments. 2:2.
But wait, there's more. The coveted glass protection turned out to be a joke.
MTS Review MTS Reviews Samsung J7Although it's called for the 2017 Samsung model:
MTS Defects However, the glass manufacturer remains tight-lipped about it. We only know it's made for the Samsung J7 (2017) from the additional stickers MTS slapped on the original box - there's no mention of it on the box itself:
Why MTS bundles this glass with the phone is a mystery, but one thing's for sure - it's a 3:2 advantage for MTS.
THE VERDICT
I've got to say, I'm really disappointed with MTS on three counts: the way they deceive with their promotions, the way they jack up prices in the checkout, and the low quality of their products. I can confidently say that this was my first and last purchase from MTS.
I hope my review will be helpful to someone. In all honesty, my advice is to steer clear of MTS - trust me, you won't be missing out.
live_helpFeatured FAQ
What are the pros and cons of using MTS services?
While MTS offers some great deals and incentives, we encountered some issues with the product we received, including damage and incorrect pricing. The customer support team was also unhelpful, and the return process was complicated. However, the phone itself was in good condition, and the build quality was solid.
Can I trust the prices listed on the MTS website?
Unfortunately, we found that the prices listed on the receipt were incorrect, which caused some confusion. Be sure to double-check the prices before making a purchase.
What happens if I receive a damaged product from MTS?
If you receive a damaged product, you should contact the customer support team immediately to report the issue. They may be able to offer a replacement or a refund, depending on the circumstances.
How do I return a product to MTS?
The return process with MTS can be complicated and time-consuming. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully and contact the customer support team if you have any questions or concerns.
What is the shipping time like for MTS?
We found that the shipping time with MTS was longer than expected, which was frustrating. Be sure to check the estimated delivery time before making a purchase.
Can I trust the customer support team at MTS?
Unfortunately, we found that the customer support team at MTS was unhelpful and unresponsive to our concerns. Be sure to document any issues you encounter and follow up with a supervisor if necessary.
What are the different types of phone plans offered by MTS?
MTS offers a range of phone plans to suit different needs and budgets. Be sure to check the details of each plan carefully before making a decision.
Can I purchase a phone from MTS online and pick it up in-store?
Yes, MTS allows you to purchase a phone online and pick it up in-store. This can be a convenient option if you're short on time or prefer to avoid sales pressure.
check_circlePros
- •The phone case included with the purchase was a nice touch, and it matched my phone's color perfectly.
- •The 25% discount on screen protection was a great incentive, especially since we were planning to buy it anyway.
- •The process of buying online and picking up in-store was convenient and hassle-free.
- •The staff at the MTS store were friendly and helpful, answering all my questions about the product.
- •The phone itself was in good condition, and I was happy with the build quality.
- •The battery life was longer than I expected, which was a nice surprise.
- •The value for money was good, especially considering the initial savings.
- •The ease of use was great, and the website was easy to navigate.
cancelCons
- •The product we received was damaged, which was a major letdown.
- •The prices listed on the receipt were incorrect, which caused some confusion.
- •The promotion we were offered was misleading, and we felt like we'd been taken advantage of.
- •The customer support team was unhelpful and unresponsive to our concerns.
- •The return process was complicated and time-consuming.
- •The shipping time was longer than expected, which was frustrating.
- •The build quality of the phone was not as good as I expected.
- •The customer support team did not provide clear instructions for the return process.
