When were the phones sold in relation to our arrival at the shop?

The chosen answer indicates that the phones were sold prior to the moment of arrival at the shop. This is a clear indication that the selling of the phones occurred in the past relative to the arrival, aligning well with the phrasing of the question which seeks to establish a timeline.

Choosing this option conveys that the action of selling was completed before any actions associated with arriving took place. The phrase "by the time we got to the shop" specifically denotes that when the arrival happened, the event of selling had already been finalized. This gives a precise context to the sequence of events.

Other options do not fit this timeline accurately. For instance, the first choice suggests that the phones were sold simultaneously with the arrival, which contradicts the idea of prior completion. The choice implying the phones were sold while leaving suggests that the sale happened during the exit, creating confusion about the sequence. Lastly, saying they were sold before the decision to go to the shop implies a different contextual timeframe not directly tied to the arrival itself. Thus, the correct answer clarifies the relationship between the sale and the arrival within a coherent sequence of events.