Sprint no longer selling Pre over the phone

**substring** · 07-07-2009, 10:46 PM

Sprint no longer selling Pre over the phone

Too early to tell what this means. But it might confirm the earlier report the Palm Pre is not selling well at the Sprint Stores.

**andrewa124** · 07-07-2009, 11:11 PM

Well palm had a whole month. So long palm.

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**BlaqkAudio** · 07-07-2009, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by substring

Too early to tell what this means. But it might confirm the earlier report the Palm Pre is not selling well at the Sprint Stores.

IMO, that report was BS. There are still people on waiting lists to buy a Pre at a Sprint store. And then the report did not take into account Best Buys, Radioshacks, and Walmarts.

**tumer** · 07-08-2009, 05:12 AM

So what if people are on the waitn list that doesn't mean the report is b/s they are going to start to offer those people something else something new isn't thr a new bb coming out for sprint very soon each one of those people on that list is a sale they wouldn't just send them away think of it like a game of poker

**nem0nic** · 07-08-2009, 07:35 AM

I'm sure it's a combination of the issues mentioned in the article. We know that there is a shortage of stock right now, and getting the customer into a store allows a better opportunity to upsell them on accessories that they have a good margin on (like the Touchstone). Also, I know that Sprint is trying to change their image of having poor support, and one on one attention for an in demand product is one way to differentiate it in the marketplace.

Also, from a purely support oriented standpoint, it's a sneaky way to check the phone beforehand and verify that it's working properly. It's also an easy way for Sprint to go over basic functionality that might not be covered in the quick start (and isn't in a printed manual).

I think it's a mistake not to sell it every way possible, but I'm sure we'll see this policy change when the device is released on more carriers.

**dd214** · 07-08-2009, 12:28 PM

I just broke the screen on my Pre and had a new one sent out. There is a 5 day back order wait for something that is usually done overnight. The Pre is selling well.

Also, if you have Sprint and get the $7 a month insurance plan, you still have to pay $100 deductible to get a new phone.......Kinda BS

**avt123** · 07-08-2009, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by dd214

I just broke the screen on my Pre and had a new one sent out. There is a 5 day back order wait for something that is usually done overnight. The Pre is selling well.

Also, if you have Sprint and get the $7 a month insurance plan, you still have to pay $100 deductible to get a new phone.......Kinda BS

That sucks. It was the same way with the Bold on AT&T (don't know if it's still like that). Had to pay $150 though.

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**Swoopster** · 07-08-2009, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by nem0nic

Also, from a purely support oriented standpoint, it's a sneaky way to check the phone beforehand and verify that it's working properly. It's also an easy way for Sprint to go over basic functionality that might not be covered in the quick start (and isn't in a printed manual).

I think it's a mistake not to sell it every way possible, but I'm sure we'll see this policy change when the device is released on more carriers.

The word sneaky implies that it's a pseudo-malicious move on Sprin't part...which it isn't.

There isn't anything "sneaky" about it to me; in fact it makes perfect sense to not offer the Pre through phone/telesales for now. I don't see it as a "mistake" to NOT sell it every possible way; I simply see it as a mistake to not ship out more units for in-store purchases (as it stands now).

**stuaw11** · 07-08-2009, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by dd214

I just broke the screen on my Pre and had a new one sent out. There is a 5 day back order wait for something that is usually done overnight. The Pre is selling well.

So because there's a 5 day backorder, that leads to it selling well? Do explain that logic how it could be NO other possible scenarios for a delay. That makes no sense to equate one to the other.

And I agree its incredibly stupid not to sell this phone any way they can. Great, they want to improve the user experience with the device, but that wont bring new customers in the door. If busy people cant order online or over the phone theyre going to choose another device or carrier and not put up with the hassle of having to trek to a store. Not everyone has a local store within reasonable driving distance either.

Last time I checked this phone was supposed to be a "savior" of both Sprint and Palm. Palm will be ok, theyll sell the phone to other carriers eventually and make money. But if sprint doesnt sell the device any way they can, theyre in for the same hurting theyve been taking the past 2 or 3 years straight now. This was really their last chance turn around point with the Pre. They have no other mass market "hot" device in the near future to offer (Tour and Touch Pro2 only cater to a small crowd, not mass market appeal).

**BzB** · 07-08-2009, 03:41 PM

sprint probably can't wait to get a new blackberry. i bet the pre is turning into a disaster for them.

**xxxxpradaxxxx** · 07-08-2009, 03:49 PM

Why do you think that BzB?

**nem0nic** · 07-08-2009, 04:23 PM

Sprint doesn't care if phones have wifi - several of their phones do (including Blackberries). Was the Tour supposed to have it? It isn't mentioned on the product website.

**Ethrem** · 07-08-2009, 04:33 PM

I hope Sprint wises up and stops selling this phone altogether until the QA issues get fixed. They probably moved it to the stores because of all the returns due to defects and such, particularly in the screen.

And before anyone calls me a troll, I had one from launch day til Thursday morning. I burned myself constantly talking on the thing while it was charging or while doing heavy web browsing, both phones had screen issues with the second being the worst of the two and the phone froze on 3 separate applications. When the 1.0.3 update came out, reception went wild... I was over it.

**BzB** · 07-08-2009, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by xxxxpradaxxxx

Why do you think that BzB?

Because the blackberry is their bread and butter smart phone. The pre came along and gave them a temporary boost in subscribers and sales, but I'd bet (based on the news, my experience, and reading comments from various other owners) they're seeing a lot of returns, support nightmares, and lost subscribers. A new blackberry would probably result in the same net sales and fewer support nightmares.

I feel for sprint. I was also hoping the pre would be a hit instead of a dud.

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**dd214** · 07-08-2009, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by stuaw11

So because there's a 5 day backorder, that leads to it selling well? Do explain that logic how it could be NO other possible scenarios for a delay. That makes no sense to equate one to the other.

And I agree its incredibly stupid not to sell this phone any way they can. Great, they want to improve the user experience with the device, but that wont bring new customers in the door. If busy people cant order online or over the phone theyre going to choose another device or carrier and not put up with the hassle of having to trek to a store. Not everyone has a local store within reasonable driving distance either.

Last time I checked this phone was supposed to be a "savior" of both Sprint and Palm. Palm will be ok, theyll sell the phone to other carriers eventually and make money. But if sprint doesnt sell the device any way they can, theyre in for the same hurting theyve been taking the past 2 or 3 years straight now. This was really their last chance turn around point with the Pre. They have no other mass market "hot" device in the near future to offer (Tour and Touch Pro2 only cater to a small crowd, not mass market appeal).

No, because the normal time of getting a new one out is backed up by 4 times the normal wait time. The lady on the phone also told me they were selling out all over..

**stuaw11** · 07-08-2009, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by dd214

No, because the normal time of getting a new one out is backed up by 4 times the normal wait time. The lady on the phone also told me they were selling out all over..

And your point? Production problems, short natural supply because too few were ordered, quality control issues, lots of returned/swaps, etc. Many other reasons it COULD be besides selling well. Your facts do not automatically lead to your conclusion. In fact, every arrow points to just natural short supply which Hesse announced before it even came out. There were only so many to go around in the first batch they ordered and itd be weeks until they got more. So it sounds like a natural shortage, not indicative of it selling "well" per say- in fact I believe there were 300k in the first batch, a decent number but not up to other phone sales yet. Demand seems to have died down a lot.

"Selling out" could be 2 phones per store, we have no clue what selling out really means in terms of how many they actually had on hand.

and we should all believe what a rep says to protect their own company's image right?

Of course theyll say the problem is its selling out, theyre not going to tell you they screwed up and just cant get you one for one of many reasons. They want you to have that warm fuzzy feeling of what youre getting is "so cool" that its selling out.

RazorMan · 07-09-2009, 12:54 PM

I have been using the pre for a min now and i can say is wow!!! hands down if the blackberry came with true mms the blackberry would have a fighting change. The Pre is very good i have no issue with this phone. And i have gotten my phone on the day it came out.

**avt123** · 07-09-2009, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by RazorMan

I have been using the pre for a min now and i can say is wow!!! hands down if the blackberry came with true mms the blackberry would have a fighting change. The Pre is very good i have no issue with this phone. And i have gotten my phone on the day it came out.

Glad you are enjoying the Pre. It is a very nice device.

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**toeknee76** · 07-09-2009, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by XxXjacobXxX

welp im trading in my Shi*ty blackberry 4 the Pre so im happy to get rid of this thing its been nothing but trouble science i got it! and my friend has a pre and she let me use it 4 a day and i dont see what everybody conplains about!

i guess you'll find out when you get it! just be "pre"pared to carry the charger around with you everywhere you go. and have fun typing on the tiny keyboard. get used to opening the phone just to see if you missed a call/text (since there is no indicator light)

i wanted to like the pre, but the curve just feels solid and the keyboard is really easy to use (even one handed).

after you get the pre....be sure to update us in 3 months when is not working!

**pkcable** · 07-10-2009, 10:28 AM

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**BigRick10#WN** · 07-10-2009, 05:23 PM

Yeah lets keep on topic

**stuaw11** · 07-10-2009, 07:57 PM

Also interesting from antoehr thread here is Walmart is selling them. Are you getting the "great customer experience and setup" from Walmart? How different is that from orderig over the phone or online?

I think Sprint is just making excuses and there may in fact be a lot of returns and swaps that they dont want bombarding their warehouse.

Something fishy is definitely going on, but Sprint should be trying to move any devices they have any way they can. Theyre the ones slowly sliding into the red, Palm will sell Pre's to other carriers across the world and phones to other carriers and will come out OK.

**substring** · 07-10-2009, 09:06 PM

Keep in mind that Walmart and BestBuy et el have contractual agreement with Sprint and Palm to sell the Pre. Sprint cannot just pull the plug without getting sued.

On the other hand, the ordering phone line belongs to Sprint themselves. They can pull the plug whenever they want.

Don't think that Palm is out of the wood yet. If they are not selling enough Pre, the investors will start to have second thought. Then the whole thing will go downhill from there. Investors do not care if it is a good device or not. All they care is the Return on Investment.

**Pimp Lucious** · 07-11-2009, 12:25 PM

Wow, the lack of common sense in this thread made me break down and finally register. I have a Curve which I just gave to my wife and a Pre. I thought the iPhone crowd was bad, but I expected that. Sprint ends telesales shortly after they begin equates to the Pre not selling well? Every Sprint store in my area is still selling out, some still working through waiting list a month after the device drops. Who knows why they stopped telesales, but it damn sure isn't for lack of demand. I tend to believe its ongoing shortages and a desire to meet in store demand. The Pre is the best thing Sprint has had going in awhile, and it's the only device that is not dismissed outright as competition to the the iPhone. The hottest phone out outside of the iPhone and Sprint is preparing to drop it? Seriously, if you doubt the sales, call around or walk into to a few Sprint stores. The one in my neighborhood sold out again, and my Iphone 3G loving coworker bought it because he was sick of the fact that AT&T didn't offer 3G in this area.

I loved my Curve for the year I used it and now my wife is enjoying it much more than her previous Centro. She plans on switching to the Pre also when the upgrade allows for it.

P.S. I use the same screen name at sprintusers.com forum if anyone doubts my Curve ownership.

**Semantics** · 07-14-2009, 11:12 PM

Seems they are selling at about a 40,000 a week clip according to several articles. Google it yourself. The thing that amazes me beyond belief is how fanboyish grown people get over something as ridiculous as a cell phone. I have had my curve for almost a year. Its a solid yet unspectacular phone. The BB OS is a dinosaur and the browser is trash. The battery life is terrible if you do anything more than just check emails or send texts.

I'll be getting the pre in two months when I get my upgrade. Bottom line is its just a phone. The fanboys here act like it raped their mothers.

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