View all newsletters
Have the short, sharp Spear's newsletter delivered to your inbox each week
  1. Wealth
May 14, 2009

iPhone, uPhone, noPhone

By Spear's

It turned out that somebody had ripped off ’ quite literally, for once ’ two iPhones. The staff were unperturbed.

The O2 where I bought my wondrously sleek iPhone is on the Kings Road, across the road from Marks & Spencer and just across Markham Street from Boots. It’s also within easy reach of Waterstone’s, the Gap, Caffe Nero and, of course, Starbucks so it’s slapbang in the middle of Brandland. As indeed are most of us much of the time these days.

This outlet is small, spic-and-span and there are usually a couple of staffers there. They are youngish and helpful but there is usually a bit of a wait and most of the customers, at least whenever, I’ve been there, are seeking instruction on some I-Phone capability or other. As – some ten days ago – was I.

I had finally reached the front of the queue and was sitting opposite a young woman with my back to the door when there was a sudden commotion in back of me and the automated wailing of a siren. It turned out that somebody had nipped in off the Kings Road and ripped off – quite literally, for once – the two demo iPhones that were on a table right in the front only a few feet from the open door.

I was struck by the demeanour of the young staffers. They were quite unperturbed. ‘It happens every week,’ my instructor told me.

She added that the instruments were attached with crazy glue so were almost certainly fractured and useless.

The following week I was back in O2 for further instructions. It happened again.

This time I caught a glimpse of the back of the fleeing perp. He wore a dove-grey hoodie.

Content from our partners
Spies and secret ops: How espionage has inspired London’s most exciting hotel
High-flyers: TAG Aviation explains that it's not about the destination, it's about the journey
Finding a purpose for family wealth during uncertainty 

Again the in-store alarm, again the unalarmed staff.

‘Why in the world don’t you just move the table,’  I asked.

‘Why not put it at the back?’

I was told that this was simply not possible, that Apple insisted that their goods be positioned up front. As I said, we are living in Brandland.

Later that day I telephoned an Apple department that handles media and asked for a comment. A young woman said she would try and get one. So far, not a peep.

Select and enter your email address The short, sharp email newsletter from Spear’s
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network