When I talk to my colleagues, their opinions are divided. Some think that the closure of corporate stores was caused by the pandemic, and others that it was inevitable even if COVID had not happened. I still think that the pandemic only accelerated something that would definitely happen, I'm just wondering to what extent? How big is its actual impact on closures?
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Shrinking footprint: Verizon had 2,330 corporate stores in 2015, compared to today’s 1,600.
Wave7’s Moore points to comments that Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg made at the beginning of his CES 2021 keynote as indicative of where the company is headed.
As Covid began to spread around the world, “we leapfrogged five to seven years in the digital revolution,” speeding up the timeline for work from home, distance learning and telemedicine, Vestberg said. “We knew it was coming, but it was closer than we realized. Now, instead of being our future, it’s our present.”
Those statements, combined with other things Moore has heard, lead him to believe that a bigger transformation is happening in Verizon’s retail presence, which is to say: It’s shrinking.
“When I put the whole picture together, the big picture is completely clear,” he said. He sees a major retail reorganization underway, including the elimination of indirect account manager positions.
Wave7 Research has described Verizon as the most cautious carrier in dealing with the pandemic. In its most recent report, the firm described a situation where a store rep was observed repeatedly telling a customer to resolve an issue by calling customer care. Ultimately, the customer persisted and was allowed into the store.
Moore said he’s keeping an eye on Verizon’s public stats, including number of employees, which was 132,200 as of January 26, and number of stores. By way of comparison, Verizon had 2,330 corporate stores in 2015, compared to today’s 1,600.
It’s worth noting that corporate stores are separate from authorized retailers and independent dealers. According to Wave7, Verizon corporate stores only represent about 20% of the stores that sell Verizon. It’s also often difficult for the average consumer to ascertain whether a store is corporate owned or an authorized retailer, and that’s by design; the idea is to remain consistent across the brand.
For me. Ill only go to the Apple store to check out yhe newest iPhone.... but won’t buy it there. Ill then go home and eventually buy it online. Been doing that for 10 years. I haven’t been inside a Verizon store in over 15 years. No need. Nuf said. Drop the Mike.
There are a lot of ppl who love going to Verizon retail stores. They’re generally mo–ns who can’t transfer their own content. Or they’re looking to get something now and not wait for shipping.
Either way there will always be a dumpy indirect store for them to go. Corporate retail has hit the iceberg and if you’re still on the ship, you’re F’d.
I don't know anyone who has set foot in a cell phone store in years, like at least a decade. What purpose do they serve? Phones are easily purchased online, SIM cards eliminate the need for a complex process of programming a new handset and activating it, APPS handle the transfer of names, numbers, photos from one device to another. Accessories may be purchased for pennies on the dollar online too. Amazon has same day delivery ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Stores are dying because no one wants some Gen Z clown with a ratty tattoo sleeve and a mealy goatee trying to sell you Hum, a watch, insurance, etc when all you need is a new phone.
I go online, I pick what I want, and I check out. All while playing COD and with my feet up.
It was inevitable, but the pandemic has accelerated things for sure.