SLOT Consumer Awareness Campaign Educates Nigerians on Understanding Product Warranties.

Every genuine product comes with a warranty from the manufacturer. Ideally, a warranty could be defined as a written guarantee issued to the buyer of a product by the manufacturer of that product with promise of repair or replacement of the product under certain spelt out conditions and covering a period of time known as the warranty period.

In the attractive and competitive Nigeria technology market especially the mobile phones and mobile devices market, most Nigerians are uninformed about their rights and hence they do not know the right way to demand for such rights. In most cases, many are not aware of warranty period and policy that is attached to any genuine product they buy. This has often times made the consumers not benefit fully in the value of the products they buy.

Seeing this lack of knowledge and understanding of product warranties from the customer stand point, SLOT Systems Limited, a leading name in the sales and distribution of Mobile Phones and Mobile devices in Nigeria, with several branch networks, have taken it upon themselves to enlighten and educate the Nigeria consumers on what warranty is all about.

In a well attended Consumer Awareness Campaign organized by SLOT last week in collaboration with the Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria (CPC), the theme of discussion was Understanding Warranties. The event which was well coordinated by Mr.Stanley Uzoechina, General Manager Marketing at SLOT was a very interactive and educative session.

 In his opening remarks, the MD/CEO of SLOT Mr Nnamdi Ezeigbo states that Nigeria customers are very unique people, they love quality products and they appreciate value and that SLOT has continuously distinguished herself in providing quality phones and mobile devices with great value, customer satisfaction and experience at the core. “One of the critical success factors of our company is the ability to add value to our products as we realize that the customer is the King” said Mr Ezeigbo. He also made it known that Nigeria being one of the top markets in the world where high-end mobile devices are actually sold, has a great need to make the customers understand what warranty is all about. ’’As a responsible corporate citizen, we recognize the importance of consumer’s position to our operation; as a result, we are committed to ensuring and passionately pursuing the consumer’s wellbeing and satisfaction, in consequence of this, we have resolved to close the knowledge gap which has continually deprived consumers from fully enjoying the benefits of the warranty arrangement on mobile devices in Nigeria hence this public enlightenment campaign”

Mr. Ezeigbo further explained that the conditions attached to warranties are usually spelt out in written form in the receipts being issued the customer at the time of purchase of any mobile phone or devices from SLOT, most customers do not read them. He states that there are factory faults and user’s faults. And that if a device is seen to have a factory fault either on the hardware or software, the device will be replaced if the device is brought back to SLOT within the specified warranty period without physical damages or any evidence of having being dropped, a shock or liquid penetration.

In case of user’s fault like liquid penetration, drop, shock and other physical damages, the user is expected to pay for the replacement of the faulty parts. This applies to devices that are still within the specified warranty period. He also adds that for Blackberry users, SLOT being in a strategic partnership with Blackberry can swap genuine blackberry phones bought in Nigeria which has faults.

Mrs. Ngozika Obidike, who is the Head Lagos Office of Consumer Protection Council-an agency of government saddled with the responsibility of protecting and promoting the interest of Nigerian consumers, in her speech commended the efforts of SLOT in moving a step ahead in enlightening their customers on warranties. She said ”There is a great need to enlighten the Nigeria consumers on their rights and how to go about it, we are happy to partner with SLOT in this awareness campaign on understanding warranties in Mobile phones and devices, we hope to do more in enlightenment of Nigeria consumers, at CPC we are committed to protect and enhance consumers interest through information, education and enforcement of appropriate standards for goods and services and to promote an environment of fair and ethical trade practices in Nigeria”

Mrs. Obidike also used the occasion to solicit for support from the media in helping spread the message to the Nigerian consumers and also encourage dissatisfied consumers to bring their complains to Consumer Protection Council.

In a closing remark, the SLOT boss while thanking their esteem customers who continually believe in them and patronize them over the years, reiterates” We want to continue in our diligent service to our customers who is the King”.