Samsung devices pushed by carriers far more than Apple or Nokia

posted by Michael H. / Aug 08, 2014, 4:14 PM

Samsung devices pushed by carriers far more than Apple or Nokia

Samsung is one of the best selling smartphone manufacturers in the world, even with a recent dip in sales, and the reason for that is usually chalked up to a combination of a huge marketing budget, and tons of different phone models at every price point. But, it turns out there might be something else at work, because Kantar Worldpanel has found that carriers tend to push Samsung devices far more than anything else.

According to the Kantar study:

63% of consumers who bought a device in [Q1 2014] were recommended a Samsung device, more than double the rate of recommendation for Apple, and almost 10 times more than Nokia... 59% of buyers who were recommended a Samsung phone went ahead and bought one while the rest opted for other vendors in the Android ecosystem... only 6% of consumers who were recommended Samsung walked out of the store with an iPhone.

Of course, the raw numbers don't really speak to the important why of it all. It has been a longstanding practice for manufacturers to offer small rewards to carrier employees for pushing their devices, but there is also incentive for carriers to not push Apple devices specifically. Apple already commands very high subsidies, and more Apple sales means more power for Apple, and possibly even higher subsidies, which are bad for carriers. Although, the same thing could be said about Samsung and its subsidies, so this is definitely a phenomenon that needs more investigating.

source: Kantar via BGR

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41 Comments

1. sip1995

Posts: 1771; Member since: Feb 07, 2014

Don't fight....you don't owns these companies, so stay calm. okay you chose android, IOS or Windows phone, but everyone gets what he wants.....so relax :)

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 4:27 PM 15

2. hurrycanger

Posts: 1761; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

Haha.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 4:30 PM 0

4. fouadqr

Posts: 326; Member since: Nov 21, 2012

War Has Already Begun

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 4:38 PM 2

9. motocraze

Posts: 5; Member since: Aug 07, 2014

Sh!t just got real lol

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 5:01 PM 0

13. TheMan

Posts: 494; Member since: Sep 21, 2012

Why should this be a surprise? Android is the dominant OS on the landscape and Samsung is the leader, at least in the US. But more to why, the Samsung phones are at the top of the ratings (or nearly so) AND are typically cheaper than the competing iPhone. It's an easier sell for a sales rep, even the ones I wished I never hired.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 5:46 PM 0

29. JakeLee

Posts: 1021; Member since: Nov 02, 2013

In the "animalia" kingdom, insects are the dominant species on earth, not humans. Are insects the superior beings? As long as the vendors don't make profits, market share is meaningless.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 10:20 PM 4

30. darkkjedii

Posts: 31042; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Good point

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 11:13 PM 0

31. neela_akaash

Posts: 1239; Member since: Aug 05, 2014

Here insects have more features and better value for money than the humans. Everybody knows this but only few accepts.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 11:15 PM 1

35. Cicero

Posts: 1129; Member since: Jan 22, 2014

So in this case you and dark will pay the amount (small, medium and large one) of what you considet right for your choice (phone, operating system, utility and social status). And don't be worried about company profit. Be worried about your pocket.

posted on Aug 09, 2014, 4:24 AM 0

38. Finalflash

Posts: 4063; Member since: Jul 23, 2013

Those two are "special" in that way. They think Apple making money and handing it out to shareholders is a good thing for them for some reason. But what can you do, Apple is the master of indoctrination.

posted on Aug 09, 2014, 5:16 AM 0

41. tedkord

Posts: 17357; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

You're confusing dominant with predominant.

posted on Aug 09, 2014, 4:28 PM 0

42. tedkord

Posts: 17357; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Samsung, which this article is about, is making tons of profit.

posted on Aug 09, 2014, 4:31 PM 1

24. engineer-1701d unregistered

i call bs i know people they push apple more bigger money on each unit over android . then there is personal phone of the employee they will push the phone they have

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 8:21 PM 0

33. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

not bs at all. I went in and had a specific set of features that I wanted. They kept showing me samsungs. Even after mentioning I didn't want one. The sales people got hurt because they had one, and then tried to state bad things about LG or HTC or even Apple. When I had more info than needed to put their phone in place, they simply stated, "i will be back" and helped another customer. This was just recently when I was testing some stores, brought in a old s2 to upgrade. And despite me dropping hints of other companies I was in the mood for they didn't like it. I tested 8 stores and 3 had good people, 5 were horrible shills

posted on Aug 09, 2014, 1:57 AM 0

36. Cicero

Posts: 1129; Member since: Jan 22, 2014

If you know exactly what you want why did you ask for showing you alternatives? Shopping tourism? Make your own alternatives online and after that go inside shops and see them "in flesh and bones".

posted on Aug 09, 2014, 4:29 AM 0

3. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

Carriers are a joke they should promote different platforms in a more neutral manner, its ok in the future they may well come to realise their mistakes. Apple had them on edge a few years ago dictating prices and such. The hardheaded rarely learns. True Competition is healthy.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 4:37 PM 2

5. gnotch

Posts: 19; Member since: Dec 31, 2013

because carriers can put their bloatware on samsung because they're android devices ~ thats the real reason they push samsung more.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 4:43 PM 6

8. The-Sailor-Man

Posts: 1095; Member since: Mar 25, 2014

Ignorant iboy. LOL But not only Samsung is Android device. Right? Try again!

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 4:52 PM 10

10. bucky

Posts: 3784; Member since: Sep 30, 2009

To the average consumer it is, unfortunately.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 5:02 PM 8

15. Armchair_Commentator

Posts: 222; Member since: May 08, 2014

That doesn't even make sense, but I kinda do miss it, both my note 2 and G3 have bload galore lol

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 5:59 PM 0

19. gnotch

Posts: 19; Member since: Dec 31, 2013

nope but it the most popular android device so...yea my point still stands. whether android fans believe it or not, i know you all hate bloatware as did i. when i had android i was eager to root my device because bloatware was annoying ~ so you telling me carriers can put bloatware on apple and windows to?

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 7:14 PM 1

27. Damo579

Posts: 264; Member since: May 18, 2013

Windows phone has carrier bloat but you can uninstall it.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 9:50 PM 1

34. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

Not as much as others, tmobile has their apps, and it does come with stuff like slacker. But all can be uninstalled. Took less than 5mins to get rid of them. And about 30 mins to download 90apps to my 925 (did a reset as a instore example).

posted on Aug 09, 2014, 2:01 AM 0

37. Cicero

Posts: 1129; Member since: Jan 22, 2014

They put alot of bloatware only in US and UK. In the rest of Europe they are acting light with good quality stuff and you can remove that if your choice.

posted on Aug 09, 2014, 4:33 AM 0

6. The-Sailor-Man

Posts: 1095; Member since: Mar 25, 2014

What if the answer is , HOTESTY?? Ppl come and ask for the best phone for the money, and they get honest answer- Samsung phone. By the way I don't believe it because all the sellers in US(and not only) are fanatic iboys. Fanatics have not honesty.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 4:46 PM 2

7. motocraze

Posts: 5; Member since: Aug 07, 2014

I wonder how will the android silver program will work out.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 4:49 PM 0

11. A_Steal

Posts: 16; Member since: Feb 14, 2013

Honest answer from someone who used to sell phones for a living. It's about pay. Everyone knows that salesmen are paid commissions. Most retailers pay those based off of the profit margins of a phone. Apple charges carriers a higher price to get the phone, so there is less profit in it. Dealers will sell the phones that make them money. Management is there to make sure the company stays profitable, and if the iphone nets them half what the galaxy does they will push the galaxy. If both phones make an equal amount it will come down to dealer preference.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 5:14 PM 3

12. Jommick

Posts: 221; Member since: Sep 10, 2013

I also used to sell phones; I worked directly for AT&T. Samsung devices are pushed in telesales because they're generally on sale, the price has override options unlike Apple, and they're less of a fraud risk, so less chance of order cancellation and having a chargeback taken from you.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 5:35 PM 0

23. A_Steal

Posts: 16; Member since: Feb 14, 2013

Exactly. Charge backs are a huge problem. Most people don't realize that reps are punished for phones that are returned or that go on accounts that do not meet certain time requirements. Some companies even go as far as charging monetary losses to the sales rep on phones that are sold fraudulently even if the rep had no idea it was fraud. iPhones are expensive and no one would want that to come back on them.

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 8:20 PM 0

14. je2345

Posts: 63; Member since: May 05, 2009

Samsung phones are pushed more from carriers because Samsung gives incentives to employees and customers. Also Samsung devices are cheaper usually and Samsung's marketing is on par with Apple so now people walk in wanting a "Galaxy" not even knowing that it is an Android device (sorta like people wanting an iPhone but don't even know what it is) and employees go with it because its an easy sale vs asking the customer questions that better fits their lifestyle. Apps & what other people have is all people want nowadays vs what works best for that specific customer. Also...Samsung now pays us less than iPhones and even some basic phones, which is rediculous. Just saying!

posted on Aug 08, 2014, 5:46 PM 0

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