The electronics retailer Switch is changing the gun. The 21 stores will continue as Hubside Store, specialising in refreshed second-hand appliances. The contract with Apple, Switch was a ‘premium reseller’, has been terminated.
Switch had been discredited for his controversial sales techniques. Consumer organisation Test Aankoop received dozens of complaints about it. After purchasing a smartphone, tablet or computer, customers were saddled with an insurance contract that they actually did not want.
The complaints led to inspections by the financial regulator FSMA at various points of sale. The FSMA found infringements and banned Switch from selling insurance. The chain eventually renounced its registration in the register of insurance intermediaries. The sale of the other by-products, Cyrana and Hubside, has also been stopped. At that time, at the end of February, Data News had already learned that the relationship with Apple was under pressure and that it was no longer Apple’s preferred partner in Belgium due to the malpractice.
The French owner of Switch, insurer SFAM, is now opting for a change of course. The contract with Apple has been terminated, according to Leybaert. According to a response from the company on Wednesday evening, it is Apple itself that has pulled the plug. We are deeply disappointed that Switch has misled our customers, and we have decided to end our relationship with them. “As always, we will continue to do our utmost to provide Belgian customers with the best user experience they deserve.”
According to the union official, Switch management assured us that there would be no impact on the staff. But he is concerned about the fate of Switch’s technical service, which repaired Apple devices.
