If you recall, when I popped into the local Toys’R'Us Store and spotted the Elonex 10″ Tablet they refused my request to open one to see if it was of any use, build quality and so forth. While it is not law that they obey my every whim, I felt an object such as this tablet was the ideal object that should be out for all to see. I did write them an email and this post shall detail not only what reply I got back but also my thoughts.
What was the fuss about?
I saw this ultra cheap 10″ tablet for sale on a stand in Toys’R'Us and it seemed it ‘might’ fit the bill as a device that I can watch streams on and do everything else my phone does already (bar making calls of course). I had asked the only person I could find (had the word Manager on his name tag as it goes) if I could take a look at one of these devices. He went on to explain that he would be unable to open the box and show me the item, there was none out on display and maybe I should ask some of the other sales staff what they think of them.
Now some might say that at £150, I could have just bitten the bullet, bought the thing and either made do with it (as long as it did what it said on the tin) or took it back, after all consumers are covered by such a thing right. I did not see why it was such a big issue myself, it would have taken me all of 10 minutes to have a quick look around the device, got a feel for the built quality and been on my way home – happy with what I had bought or put it back and stopped wasting his time any more.
Writing an Email to head office
I did write an email via the internet site which finally got passed to the corrrect person:
I would like to thank you for you for your e-mail, of which has been forwarded for my attention.
I am sorry that you were unable to see a working display model of the Elonex e-Touch in your local store.
The reason for this were because the Elonex tablets have been/are in such high demand that it was thought it would be better to sell the stock rather than tie up 75 display models in all our stores.
I am sorry if you have been inconvenienced by this decision, of which was never our intention.
Kind Regards
I may have missed something but they had a LOT of these on the shelf, there was no queue behind me and I did not have to fight someone to look at it.
Thoughts
Non-tech people are looking at this iPad they have heard about or even the Samsung Tab and they look at the price – £419 onwards. They then pop across to the ‘toy’ shop and see what looks the exact same thing, a 10″ Tablet with one button, says on the box it plays music, videos and so forth. At a fraction of the cost, they buy this device, probably for Christmas present which means even though Toy’R'Us may have been selling them faster then they could place them on the shelves at first - I can see that this will slow down a lot.
It is clear from the email that they are not really that bothered – it would be a case of me buying one or not – end of story. More Stores are starting to stock these and in 2011 a lot of tablets are due to come out of the door. With a limited battery life, no multi touch and cheap built tablet – this can only be seen as a cheap toy. I still feel that companies are ignoring the customer and will loose out to On-line retailers.
