o2 To Extend Number of Franchise Stores

[Anonymous]

So o2 intend to increase the number of franchised stores and are talking to existing franchise holders along with potential new ones.

Will this result in a reduction of o2 owned stores?

Will this result in a reduction in quality?

http://www.telecompaper.com/news/o2-uk-plans-to-extend-franchise-store-network-report--1049548

[Anonymous]

Hi Nick

Thank you for sharing this.

I'm not sure how to tell if my local O2 stores are franchised ?

If they are I've only had bad service from one.

[Anonymous]

Hi BoB

I have seen posts on here from other customers talking about poor customer service sometimes from franchise shops and other times not sure.

Just thought I would put it out there. ..

[Anonymous]

No it's a good thread.

Are shops listed somewhere as franchised I wonder ?

[Anonymous]

This might help BoB

http://www.o2.co.uk/business/how-to-buy/franchisees

[Anonymous]

A Google search on their addresses don't indicate as such if they are a franchise and I'd feel cheeky asking the question.

I submit it shouldn't matter wether they are direct or franchise ,which I wonder if it's the reason it doesn't seem to be highlighted anywhere.

Anyway I'm sorry for going on about it. I just wondered on how to check.

[anticpated]

It's a basic analogy, if people are improperly trained or experienced/skilled in the expected areas in any field of industry then there's a high chance of poor performance or/and therefore the expected standards may go down.

Cutting corners only saves money not improve service.

[Cleoriff]

With any franchise they can (and often do) deviate from standard practice inbuilt into the original company policy.....

All I would ask is that employees are given a higher level of training and development than they get currently.

Slim chance of that happening.

I have found in the NHS when we contract or franchise out services...the standard is often lower than what the hospital requires...

[jonsie]

From what I've read on here, franchised stores seem to lack basic customer service, answer to an area manager and whilst in general they are supposed to follow the terms and conditions set out by O2, they apparently work some of their own into these.

So many corporations now franchise out, you only have to look at McDonalds, KFC, Allens and many of the big hotel chains. Service, attitude, and cleanliness will invariably change from store to store.,

[Cleoriff]

Exactly my point @jonsie ...resulting in a degeneration of company policy. They get hidden under the franchise sections own new 'rules and regulations'. A lack of any type of monitoring of standards end in poor practice