Wow, over here anything other than "I'd like to take out a new contract" is usually met with a response of "Ring customer services" from the store drones. My old carrier (Orange/EE) insisted their store stock of nano SIMs on iPhone 5 launch day last year were for new customers only and I should ring up and request one to be delivered by post. Going off contract with an unlocked phone is the best thing I ever did.