Sony Ericsson advises phone purchases only from authorized dealers

Sony Ericsson has strongly urged customers to purchase their handsets only from authorized dealers. Consumers are then guaranteed of the one-year warranty that comes with every handset and its accompanying accessories, including batteries and chargers, as well as curb the proliferation of possibly defective and non-warranty handsets from illegal channels.

In case of customer complaints directed to the Consumer Welfare Division of the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP), Sony Ericsson marketing manager Patrick Larraga advised consumers to check for the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) logo at the back of the handset since this is one possible way to identify a full-warranty unit. The logo signifies that the unit has been type-approved by the NTC.

According to Larraga, it is also advisable for customers to ask about the warranty period at the point of sale, as handsets and accessories offered with no warranty or with less than a full one-year warranty are most likely to have been sourced from unauthorized channels.

For consumer complaints brought to network operators, Sony Ericsson said it is working closely with them to deliver optimum service levels. In the past year, Sony Ericsson has expanded its service network to include 22 centers nationwide.

At present, customers may purchase legitimate Sony Ericsson handsets and accessories from authorized retail partners and its concept shops in the country. 

A list of authorized retail outlets may be obtained through the Sony Ericsson customer service hotline, 635-1860 to 61. 

Sony Ericsson concept shops, which offer both retail and customer support services, are located at Digital Exchange, Level 3, Glorietta Mall, Makati City; Cyberzone, SM North EDSA, Quezon City; and NCCC Mall, Davao City.