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MobileNXT.com Launched - A Review
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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Here joins another online mobile retail store from around the block. After The Mobile Store going online, it is finally the turn for MobileNXT to start pitching for its services online. It seems, after the investment of TV 18, MobileNXT has been riding high in the market. However, while I checked out the website, I was much less than impressed.
MobileNXT claims to be “India’s first and widest pan India chain of retail store” whereas, if I’m not mistaken, The Mobile Store has been in the online market for quite a few months now. Moreover, MoneyControl.com reports that the website “is built with Web 2.0 features which encourages user generated content; making it social and interactive.” Personally, I feel the only person who generates content on MobileNXT.com is the admin himself.
Comparing eBay.in & The Mobile Store with MobileNXT, I found it pretty lame. What more, they haven’t even incorporated a search feature on their site. When they happen to come up with thousands of mobile phones and accessories, as they claim, I wonder how they expect thir users to figure out which mobile phones they might want.
While getting myself registered for the site, I found I need to compulsorily input my mobile number. Now, what if I am planning to buy my very first handset? How do they expect me to come up with a mobile number? I can use a friend’s or family member’s mobile number, you can say. But the question is, why should I be forced to make my relations’ phone numbers public?
Check out the picture above. It is a combination of screenshots taken from respective sites (sites’ names written below), trying to gauge the price of Nokia 6300 in the Indian market. One can note that the price at which the mobile is offered is the highest for MobileNXT.com. Not just so, they also report the highest MRP for the mobile phone, making the consumer believe that he/she is saving the most by purchasing from them. Reminds me of the time when I was searching for a Acer Aspire 5920G which was priced at approximately Rs 39,000 in the market but I managed to get it for 37K. A month later, I found HyperCity showcasing the very same model stating the MRP as Rs. 52K whereas they are selling it for Rs 42K, while the consumer saves a whopping rs 10K. It makes me wonder, is there any law that might prevent these marketeers from quoting something so wrong? Just wondering…
I see from the prices of Nokia 6300 that Mobilenxt.com is selling it cheaper than ebay.in, just take a relook at your own pics and also compare the shipping price+Vat (if any) in all three websites before we can decalre the winner. Thanks
Hi Abhishek,
Yes, I accpet my mistake. MobileNXT is actually offering the mobile at a cheaper rate. What I actually tried to convey is not the price that they are selling it for but rather the MRP that they post and actually making the consumer believe that they are getting a much better bargain in MobileNXT.com whereas the actual MRP is much lesser than what they advertise. I hope I could put my point through.
Hello Shayon,
There is nothing called “actual MRP”, MRP is Maximum retail prices which is printed on box and in this case Nokia has provided that, but nobody sells the phone at “MRP”.
Consumers are smart enough to know the difference between MRP and actual selling price. (Hope so)
My intention was not to correct you but to emphasise on point that the actual price comparison should happen between sites based on Price+Tax+Shipping.(Shipping and tax are usually shown at checkout)
Thanks
eBay.in has this buggy system of adding Vat and shipping at checkout.
There are sellers on eBay charging 12.5% VAT (against 4%, that too for grey market goods) and cheating the buyers.
Online shopping has a long way to go, if consumers are looking for genuine and original goods.
it is very easy to sit back and find faults;
i personally feel http://www.mobilenxt.com is one of the clean and neat sites i have come across after a long time.
moreover the web2.0 & community aspect is the ‘rate your phone’ feature they have… i feel it could be pretty handy research tool for the mobile phone prospective buyer; in atleast gathering information & feedback directly from the users on the handsets rather than going with the word of the manufacturer or the sales man.
The UI is good; it all depends on how they continue to innovate & how well they are able to manage the backend & deliveries.
Though i agree to your point Shayon, that their search functionality needs to improve.