Skunkers,

Is it just me or are most of the mobile phone dealers unqualified to handle the items they sell.

The other day I walked into a shop looking for  a phone with 3g capability. As I pointed to a phone model and asked if it had
3g the somali lady ( who could not understand english or swahili properly)  replied "hapana sisi iko to na Nokia na Samsung"hapana iko simu ya 3g .

Today I had another similar experience where while looking for a USB bluetooth adapter the salesperson who coincidentally was again Somali
asked whether I wanted it in 1 or 2gb ( he thought I was looking for a flash disk and had no clue what a USB adapter was.)  I do suspect he does not even know what bluetooth is. 

This can easily be replicated across even electronics stores  where many a time I have found myself educating shop assistants on features of items they sell
eg region coding for dvds, what a set top box  what is HDTV . It is not a surprise that until recently many people had been duped that their LCD TVs
were digital until KBC switched on its digital signal at which point the story changed. Having traveled abroad, the level of engagement with an assistant at Dixons, Currys or Crutchfield electronics stores in the UK and shop attendants in Kenya  like day  and night. Most of the shop assistants you meet abroad  are fairly technical people who know their stuff.

Shouldn't the government demand a minimum level of qualification  or literacy for  such vendors or even more companies  like Nokia/ Samsung  demand this of their distributors/Agents / Outlets.

It bothers me because over 70% of people selling IT hardware as well  electronics equipment have no clue over what they are selling..
 

Kevin Omondi
Disclaimer : Please I do not wish  to come across as being xenophobic and have nothing against my cushitic brothers who I believe are  excellent businesspeople.