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Loblaws “The Mobile Shop” launching Postpaid, Full-service stores soon

By on October 26, 2011 at 2:10pm in Mobile News


A month ago we wrote that the Loblaws’ “Mobile Shop” brand was possibly getting ready to move past the basic kiosk and open a full retail experience within their supermarkets. The main reason behind this was that Loblaws recently grabbed 3 Best Buy retail veterans who were in some way responsible for building out their Best Buy Mobile stores.

The Mobile Shop offers various wireless devices and Pre-Paid plans from 9 carriers: Bell, Solo, Virgin, Fido, Virgin, Public Mobile, Wind Mobile, TELUS and PC Mobile. Taking a look at “The Mobile Shop” website today ensures a transition is in the works, one that echos their ultimate goal of becoming one of “Canada’s major retailers of mobile phones”. Noted on their site says “Postpaid Full-service (coming soon)”. There’s no word of when this will happen, but you can expect to see your local Loblaws outfitted with reps waiting to sign you up on a contract from one of the above carriers. Perhaps the relationship will be contracted out to Glentel, owners of Tbooth, Wireless etc, wirelesswave.

More soon!
(Thanks Alex!)

Related posts:

  1. Loblaws poaching Best Buy execs, “The Mobile Shop” full retail store coming soon?
  2. “The Mobile Shop”… A Loblaws idea that brings 9 wireless brands into their supermarkets
  3. Distribution is the next battleground in Canadian wireless (Loblaws sends out request to carriers)
  4. Best Buy Canada set to launch Mobile stores

Discussion

23 comments for “Loblaws “The Mobile Shop” launching Postpaid, Full-service stores soon”

  1. Is there an advantage to getting your cellphone through Loblaws or any other third party “Mobile Shop” like Wireless Wave?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1

    Posted by barry | October 26, 2011, 2:20 pm
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    • Yes there is. Sometimes they offer in stock credit & also they offer plans that are not able to be offered from the Carriers ( i remember this from 2 years ago so i could be wrong).

      They also give you discounts on phones like lets say bell has the samsung galaxy s2 for 169 ( lets say) sometimes they offer the phones lower then the carrier does. I have noticed this.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1

      Posted by Dimitri K. | October 26, 2011, 2:24 pm

    • @barry: If this Loblaws Mobile shop’s credit card terminal using the same Grocery Store merchant code, then one could get higher rewards like 5%/3% Cashback by paying for their cell phone purchase (top up cards/etc) with their MBNA Smart Cash Card. :)

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0

      Posted by djino | October 26, 2011, 2:28 pm

  2. Yeah, I’ll never buy a phone in a place like Wal-Mart or Loblaws. Reps don’t know a s**t about phones and promos.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 18

    Posted by GENERAL WONG | October 26, 2011, 2:26 pm
    Reply to this comment

    • Gen Wong> Does anybody who is a regular member of this site actually go to ANY phone retailer without prior knowledge of every phone and plan available plus all rumoured phones planned for release in the next 6 months? ;)

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 0

      Posted by Stimulator | October 26, 2011, 3:13 pm

  3. There are a few reps from my company that are leaving to work at these locations; they’re being offered better wages. I don’t think pricing will be any different aside from new activations, upgrade pricing is always set by the carrier anyways so all they can usually offer is in-store credits for existing customers.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0

    Posted by hfx_nick | October 26, 2011, 2:50 pm
    Reply to this comment

    • better wages???

      I applied to work for The Mobile Shop and I was ONLY offered $10.25/hr yet I have extensive experiences in the cellphone business. FS + Bell + The Source and I end up with $10.25!!! no thank you!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 2

      Posted by Basem | October 26, 2011, 2:55 pm

  4. When you get a new activation a place like this [or FS/BB Mobile] can offer discounts but when you’re doing a renewal, their hands are tied so the prices are the same.

    It used to be that retailers could offer special plans but not anymore.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0

    Posted by Brian | October 26, 2011, 2:50 pm
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  5. Best Buy Canada has a Reward Zone promotion, with bonus offers sometimes, not to mention the INQ Chat 3G Koodo promotion.

    PC Mobile is an MVNO and sometimes offers discounts on its handsets. Even prepaid phones from other providers may cost less. But i’m not sure if PC Mobile will become a postpaid carrier or just stay prepaid.

    Anyway, Syrup, you forgot to say that Koodo is a new provider sold, but postpaid only, of course. i wish they would get rid of the Solo zombie. i’ve only heard bad things about them. :-(

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 4

    Posted by Alex Perrier | October 26, 2011, 3:02 pm
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  6. Thats pretty crazy. If Best Buy Mobile has trouble with their brand identity, think Loblaws might? People think “i need a cellphone” and go to the nearest Rogers, Bell or Fido store or whatever they want. If they thought of Best Buy Mobile first, obviously people wouldnt go to a Bell or Rogers store (not when we have the Bell GSII at 24.99 and the EVO3D for 0$).

    Might be a good idea but i dont think it will pan out the way they think it will.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1

    Posted by Tom@BBM | October 26, 2011, 3:13 pm
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  7. There was actually a MobileShop last year in the Milton Loblaws Superstore. From what I gather they did have a few decent promotions and plans and discounts that were not offered directly from the carrier.

    Regardless after a couple of months, it vanished.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0

    Posted by eugene | October 26, 2011, 3:21 pm
    Reply to this comment

    • maybe it was a demo or “testing” stages on how would the Mobile Shop would work out if implemented into an actual store

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0

      Posted by Basem | October 26, 2011, 3:35 pm

  8. WARNING: Anyone considering going here for Wind Mobile service stay clear. If you have any issues with a product wind will not assist you. “since you got it from a dealer we cannot help you.” Wind treats their dealer counter parts like crap.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 6

    Posted by Marco | October 26, 2011, 3:57 pm
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  9. I’d rather have discounts on plans (eg. 10% off + free CID/VM every month for the duration of the contract).

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3

    Posted by John Lee | October 26, 2011, 4:03 pm
    Reply to this comment

    • Mobi has many dealers like Walmart, some coffee shops, and some electronics stores

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

      Posted by chall2k5 | October 27, 2011, 10:15 pm

  10. why isn’t mobilicity part of the list?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3

    Posted by hugh | October 26, 2011, 4:06 pm
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    • maybe they dont want dealers selling their products and want ppl to go to them if they want too

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1

      Posted by Basem | October 26, 2011, 4:14 pm

  11. One of these stores has already poped up in my Lawblaws (ottawa West) it’s been there for a week or so

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

    Posted by luke Smith | October 26, 2011, 5:10 pm
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  12. The Loblaws Mobile Shops are being run by Match Marketing. THey are the same guys who ran the Rogers kiosks in Shoppers Drug Marts in the Ottawa are.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

    Posted by An Insider | October 26, 2011, 7:47 pm
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    • +1

      the whole interview was with them! and guess what for $10.25/hr and you have quotas and if you dont reach them you are out! lol

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1

      Posted by Basem | October 26, 2011, 8:33 pm

  13. I think the people here are very confused and actually have no idea what they are talking about.
    First off this company is new and not contracted by Glentel.
    Second the wages are higher than minimum wage so for those posting $10.25 also have no idea what they are talking about.
    Thirdly many of the mobile shop reps are highly trained in the wireless industry so they know there stuff.
    Lastly, it is a sales job so of course theres quotas, but your not OUT if u don’t make them.

    Cheers

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1

    Posted by Confused Rep | October 27, 2011, 4:34 pm
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  14. They’ve already been in my local Loblaws for a few weeks now.. There’s always 2-3 people working their counter.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

    Posted by Jack | October 29, 2011, 7:53 pm
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  15. These type of stores, meaning dealers, can’t offer anything special for plans. What they have the corporate locations have aswell. They just promote them differently. Yes sometimes you can in store credit’s from dealers, however most, if not all , corporate do have a budget to help “close” a sale and can match prices. Corporate store generally are more focused and better trained employees as they only have to worry about the one carrier and not, 4 or 5 or even more. Most policies for Carriers are similar however there are sometimes small differences that can make 100′s of dollars of differences to a bill if not understood properly. I’d always go to corporate first before going to a dealer.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

    Posted by musicguy88 | October 30, 2011, 11:10 pm
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