Samsung Launches Galaxy A8 (2018) & Galaxy A8+ (2018) at Newly Revamped Samsung Experience Store

Hi Huneybees,

New Year, new gadgets eh? Who's looking for a change for their mobile phones? Last week, Samsung debuted their latest smartphones - Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018). Both phones have a sleek and stylish design, just nice to fit into a firm ergonomic grip with a premium metal frame and a curved glass on the back and front.

What's best is the large Infinity Display Screen for all those endless Kdrama nights! Coming in 5.6-inch² and 6.0-inch² respectively, with an 18.5:9 display ratio that goes beyond the bezel. you can experience the ultimate cinematic experience when streaming movies or dramas.

The new Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018) boosts of the new 16MP + 8MP F1.9 Dual Front Camera in addition to an impressive 16MP rear camera. Selfies will never be the same, now with two separate cameras on the front, you can choose to take close-ups with background or portrait shots with the clear and crisp background. Together with the advanced Live Focus feature, you can easily create the bokeh effect before or after taking a picture.

The camera also ensures vibrant and clear images even in Low-Light Conditions with the low-aperture lenses. Shaky videos will also be a thing of the past with the Video Digital Image Stabilisation (VDis) technology. Additionally, with the added hyper-lapse feature, users can now create time-lapse videos to share longer stories with loved ones.

See how thin the phones are...

Both the Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018) are equipped with IP68-certified water and dust resistant capabilities, allowing them to withstand rain, sweat, sand, and dust. They also support microSD cards storage for additional storage capacity.

And like all Samsung phones, these smartphones are equipped with Samsung Pay for fast and secure mobile payments. Lastly, these 2 mobiles are also fitted with facial recognition security features, where you can easily unlock your Galaxy A8 (2018 ) and Galaxy A8+ (201) with just a look at the phone.

The Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) is already available at a recommended retail price of $648 and $798 respectively, including GST. Available in Gold and Black, the devices are available at all local telecommunication operators, selected consumer electronic stores, authorized mobile retailers, Samsung Experience Stores and selected online marketplace.

There are also a series of accessories available for you to dress your smartphones and you can find them at the completely revamped Samsung Experience Store at VivoCity. Spanning 463sqm, the store has recently undergone an extensive revamp to showcase a more contemporary feel, complimenting the stylishly designed products by Samsung on display. 

The Samsung Experience Store at VivoCity now features an inviting and wide-open façade, where customers are welcome to step into the store and experience Samsung’s innovation and cutting-edge technology.

Additionally, the store also offers a personalized customization service where customers can customize bags with created designs using the Galaxy Note8 or even personalize your purchases phone covers from the store with the available engraving services.

Samsung Members

Samsung is not only looking at providing the best in-store retail experience for consumers; consumers can look forward to the same excellent service online as well with the newly launched Samsung Members app. Officially available and preloaded on the Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018), this new mobile app is the one-stop solution for consumers to keep track of their Galaxy device towards optimal working condition. Users can perform diagnostics through the app to optimise settings and RAM storage, test the device hardware and uninstall unused applications to ensure that the device is always in top-notch condition.

Additionally, Samsung Members also includes a comprehensive FAQ section equipped to answer any questions that users may have, from battery and applications to device and system settings. Beside being a platform for technical support and expertise, users can also receive benefits from exclusive event invitations to discounts on services throughout the year through Samsung Members.

Opening Promotion
In celebration of the revamping of the Samsung Electronics Store at VivoCity, customers who purchase any Galaxy smartphone or tablet at a recommended retail price of $400 and above will receive a $30 Mapletree voucher9 at the point of purchase. Customers who purchase a Galaxy Note8, S8+, S8 or Tab S3 will receive a $50 Mapletree voucher9 instead. This promotion will commence from 18 January 2018 on a while stocks last basis.

Third Customer Service Centre
As Samsung’s third customer service centre in Singapore, the Samsung Experience Store at VivoCity emphasises on providing customers with an enhanced overall in-store and customer service experience. With extended Service Centre hours from 11am to 9pm daily, the store boasts full-fledged services such as in-store repair service for smartphones and tablets. With the new Quick Repair Service10, consumers can also expect their devices to be repaired or serviced within an hour, while they enjoy browsing our store or engage with the different experiential zones.
Alternatively, customers can choose to wait in comfort in a cozy lounge setting to enjoy drinks from our in-house café and even charge their device wirelessly while waiting for their turn or for their device to be ready. The newly revamped store’s minimal and open-concept design also provides a space for product consultations and trainings for customers and private events.

For more information, visit http://www.samsungmobilepress.com, news.samsung.com/galaxy, www.samsung.com/galaxy or http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/apps/samsung-members/.

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

Read More

What Do You Think About the Service Level In Singapore?

Hi Huneybees,

Customer service in Singapore does not seem to be good enough, according to a new survey. The toughest on lacklustre service quality were local customers with 56 per cent of those interviewed indicating that service staff could ‘go beyond the call of duty’ to make their service experience more memorable.

The survey was carried out by market research group Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) to get a better insight on the service debate in Singapore. With a representative sample size of over 460 participants, the survey was conducted earlier this year over a period of one month. The survey is supported by the Go the Extra Mile for Service (GEMS) Up project, a joint movement involving SPRING Singapore, the Singapore Tourism Board, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, the Institute of Service Excellence at the Singapore Management University, and the National Trades Union Congress.

About 60 per cent or more of local customers, service staff and managers surveyed considered service in Singapore to be just acceptable, and nothing more. These results could concern those working to position Singapore as one of the world’s leading global cities, where service plays an integral part of the overall experience.

A more positive picture was painted by tourists visiting the Lion City. Some 74 per cent of the tourists interviewed acknowledged that service in Singapore was ‘above average’, with almost half – 49 per cent – going as far as saying the service in Singapore was better than in their home country (in Asia, the UK and the United States).

What is the root cause for the apathetic attitude to one of Singapore’s more important industries?

The managers and service staff attribute this to demanding customers. Some 73 per cent of managers and 64 per cent of service staff said increasingly demanding clientele was the main barrier to delivering good service.
They also believe that the government has a role to play. Some 87 per cent of managers and
91 per cent of the service staff agreed that the government can help drive service quality by promoting service-sector businesses as an employer of choice, attracting more talent into the industry.

Reinforcing this point, 53 per cent of managers said finding the right staff was the main obstacle in providing quality service. As a result, even though almost all agreed that service quality is important to their business profitability and customer loyalty, more than half were reluctant to invest in training their existing talent pool as the return did not merit the extra effort.

The survey brings to light one of the biggest challenges facing the service industry, and highlights the gap in the understanding of the role that everyone (customers, service staff, managers and the public sector) plays in the overall service quality equation.

All in all, the survey suggests the need for an attitudinal change where customers, managers and service staff need to play their part towards understanding and acknowledging the importance of quality service as well as work towards building a culture of compliment.



After travelling to several countries, I would love to say, Singapore is one of the best countries in terms of service level. I'm not being bias 'coz this is my home country, but seriously we do have more pros than cons as far as I have experienced.
Like the video above from Sam Driscoll, Singaporeans would try to go the extra mile to please the customers. I know in certain countries, I would have been shoved out of the restaurant if I had asked for more stuffs or if made the waitress walk a few more steps, I would feel her backstabbing knife!
The service level in Singapore has been improving over the years and I applaud those working the service lines. One such good example happened to me just a couple of weeks back when I visited Kinokuniya at Liang Court. I've been searching for a particular book and all I had was a coverpage image, the staff immediately recognize the book (she definitely know her thing) and checked her inventory telling me that she found 1 in their Ngee Ann City branch and have made a reservation for me. She then went on to recommend more books in the same genre to me and so, I was a happy customer. 
I went back the next week as my friend wanted another copy of the book and the staff greeted me, knowing exactly who I was and which book I was referring to. (Thank you lady!) This is an example of good service where it was not just displayed in the shop, but going the extra mile in after sales service.
Just 1 thing to point out though, maybe it will be nice if the staffs greet us like the Japanese do? A "Good day, welcome to our shop!" would definitely brighten my day more and raise our service level a notch up?

So what do think of Singapore's service level? Any stories to share?

Read More