Verizon Wireless Blackberry Storm “Private Sale” causes a furor
You all have probably seen this flyer floating around the Internet, in your neighbor’s mailbox, or maybe even your own mailbox last week. The flyer invites you, a most valued customer, to the Verizon Wireless Private Sale from November 17th to the 21st. Printed on the front right next to the invitation is a giant Blackberry Storm with the text “Introducing the Blackberry Storm. Exclusively from Verizon Wireless”. If you got this in your mailbox, what would you think? Probably what most people thought; that you were invited to a special sale of the Blackberry Storm. Imagine what your reaction would be when you arrive at the Private sale with your flyer in hand, only to be told that there are no Blackberry Storms in the store, not even demo models. You can’t touch one, never mind buy one and take it home with you. The best Verizon could do is put you on a list of customers that would receive a call on Friday to get a pre-order for the Storm. We bet that you would be pretty angry and go “storming” home to call that number on the flyer to give them a piece of your mind. Don’t bother as that line will just disconnect you and when you finally get through, after 4 tries and waiting 30 minutes on hold, Big Red will tell you to call back or go to one of our stores on Friday. We think one of our readers who detailed their aggravating experience sums it up perfectly “I don’t feel like a SPECIAL customer now.” You have seen the flyer evidence, you heard the testimony above, and now it is time to render judgment. Is this a case of blatant false advertising by Verizon or just a simple misunderstanding? They did list the private sale as going to November 21st, but still. We are leaning towards the former, how about you? Sound off in the comments and hit the jump for the rest of the evidence flyer.
Thanks to all who sent this in!
Even knowing that the phone wouldn’t be released until the 21st, I did go out to my local Verizon store this week. I figured what would it hurt and maybe I could at least see the phone before having to make a decision.
When I arrived at the store – flyer in hand – and asked about the Storm I was first told that it wasn’t available and then they didn’t know when it would be there. Referring to the flyer I asked why they would advertise it if it wasn’t going to be available, at which point I was told by the “manager” that it would be there on Friday and that they would be opening at 7:00AM. I should come earlier than that if I really wanted to get one and “bring my chair” as it could be a very long wait.
Come on Verizon. It’s a phone. This is insane, and frankly if the phone doesn’t meet the hype there’s going to be a lot of very, very angry people.
@BBStorm4me: I wasn’t calling you a fanboy for saying that Verizon has a better overall network. That’s a matter of opinion and I don’t believe that opinions should be considered fanboism. What I do consider fanboism is when someone defends a carriers wrong doing by excusing or down playing their bad behavior. This was, at best case, deceptive. At worst, an out right lie. This was not a misunderstanding or misinterpretation by the consumer.
@Evilhomer: I didn’t think my choice of words were a defense of what VZW marketing did. They are typical marketing morons who love to hype and probably intended to mislead some people into coming in the stores early. It sure pissed off some people and for that they should be burned on a stake or offer some type of apology (as in free stuff).
This flyer is an example of poor communication. That flyer meant different things to different people. Just because someone thought it meant they could buy a Storm early doesn’t mean that Verizon lied. It clearly does not say you can buy one. “ALL-ACCESS PASS” is vauge in what it really means. Words have written and percieved meanings. Not everyone receives the same meaning from the same words.
Bottomline: A lie? No. Deceiving? Yes (to many).
BB_Storm4me So how does that differ fromy you waiting until friday and ordering from their site like everyone else? Where does the VIP come in? This is the point we’re trying to make.
@ Evilhomer I completely agree with it. It was a blatant lie no matter what the excuse is. Nothing exclusive was being sold, no deals were being given so whatever you want to point out BB_Storm4me you’re wrong because they gave you an all access pass to nothing. The point is you will be getting the product at the same time as everyone else so why send the flyer?
My response is simply this:
B O L D . . . I’ve held off long enough and it’s time I gave AT&T a shot.
I’m a Verizon wireless customer,
Verizon may have a pretty decent network, they have once in a while have a phone worth owning.
That being said, their marketing department is just full of idiots. I’ve always thought the guys who call the shots in that department just either dont understand technology or just dont care.
I’ve been advised that the Storm will NOT be available thru all channels on the 21st. In fact, on Friday it will be direct fulfillment only. No retail locations will have the handset in stock. So much for the BGR ninjas.
@likeabite: First off, I didn’t get the flyer, I saw it on BGR. I did get the call today from VZW and he called me a VIP customer. What I got is they called me and now I don’t have to wait in a line or keep checking the website to see if I can order the Storm.
IMHO “blatant lie” would be wording that clearly states you can get the Storm during the promo period. Where is that wording?
The flyer had “Exclusive Deals” and “Best Prices”
Voyager: $79.99 Flyer – $129.99 Website
Glyde: $49.99 Flyer – $149.99 Website
Kinda sounds like a deal to me and exclusive to someone who got the flyer.
Vague? Misleading? Yes.
Blatant lie? No.
I think that it was intentionally misleading. I went in person to one store and they had no idea what to do with the flyer that I was holding. I called another store and they had never heard of the “private sale.” When I explained what the flyer said, they were down right obnoxious and stated that the phone will be available on Friday for everyone at the and that nothing will be available before then.
I called the number on the flyer and that didn’t get me anywhere. I customer service twice, because the first time they didn’t know what I was talking about.
The second time that I called, the woman knew of the flyer and told me that she apologized for the misunderstanding but that the sale EXCLUDED the storm…the sale is for the other phones listed…the ones with the prices listed. The storm would go on sale for everyone at the same time on Friday.
Great to see that others had the same frustration of what I had.
OH am I storming!
I think its total misleading, I received in the mail, I went to a Verizon store they stated on the card… yeah also only the number that’s on the card… but the rep told me they won’t have storm until the 21st. Nothing is mentioned on the card that the Storm won’t be in store for “the very special customer”. I haven’t even tried calling the number from the card.
Just for the record, Im an employee for big read, and we all received a copy of this mailer and everyone on my team thought the same thing, the storm is going to be let out early, after diving in to the details of the mailer, we were just as disappointed. I agree with this was just a really bad marketing mistake. So when you call angry into customer service, try to give us a break most the time people reading this form know more then the reps answering the questions
southbay11 Said:
Just for the record, Im an employee for big read, and we all received a copy of this mailer and everyone on my team thought the same thing, the storm is going to be let out early, after diving in to the details of the mailer, we were just as disappointed. I agree with this was just a really bad marketing mistake. So when you call angry into customer service, try to give us a break most the time people reading this form know more then the reps answering the questions
_______________________________
Your honesty is refreshing. I hope you don’t get too hard of a time over this… Good luck.
@dante
the November 21st release date was NOT a leak from a “ninja”. It was from press release straight from Verizon (http://news.vzw.com)
The text from the press release is below and “available beginning Nov. 21 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores” doesn’t sound like direct fulfillment to me. You better check your sources. Here is the rest of the official press release:
BlackBerry Storm Available In U.S. November 21 Exclusively From Verizon Wireless
11/13/2008: The BlackBerry® Storm™ (model 9530) from Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) – the first touch screen BlackBerry smartphone with the world’s first “clickable” touch screen – will be available beginning Nov. 21 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at http://www.verizonwireless.com for $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. For additional details and specifications about the BlackBerry Storm, please visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/storm.
The problem is there isn’t a single message from Verizon employees. Telesales gives people a different answer every time you call. Store employees give different answers every time someone asks.
Some people that called telesales and stores about the flyers were told they could pre-order the phone or pick it up early from the 17th-21st.
Even Verizons employees were misinformed by Big Red about the launch of this device. There is nothing like taking what could be a positive PR opportunity and using it to piss off your customers.
@ Dante
There was a commercial last night on TV that displayed the November 21 date..aside from the press releases, etc. Sounds to me like it’s going to be out there, no matter what channel or means of distribution.
Can’t knock BG for the date.
@BB_Storm4me
The flyer had “Exclusive Deals” and “Best Prices”
Voyager: $79.99 Flyer – $129.99 Website
Glyde: $49.99 Flyer – $149.99 Website
Kinda sounds like a deal to me and exclusive to someone who got the flyer.
Vague? Misleading? Yes.
Blatant lie? No.
———–
Very well stated.
@bluehorseshoe
I never said that the Storm wouldn’t be released on that date. What I did say was that you would not be able to pick one up at a retail location on the 21st. It will be dfill only.
@ baaadandy:
Here’s the other one I was referring to: http://forums.crackberry.com/f86/have-you-seen-96405/
^dunno if we’re allowed to post links, if not sorry.
Ha! I just went to your link. I also got that flyer, but the $75 version of it…not the $100 version of it…and I have 4 lines that are probably putting someone’s kids through private school…bastards…
Who wants to bet that they already have the handsets in a big box in the back of the store with a huge NDA sticker on it and an even bigger “Do Not Break Street Date” sticker! It’s all hype! believe me, I want the storm just as bad (kinda fiending for it if you want to know the truth), but I think I’ll be waiting ’til 09 to pick mine up. Isn’t there a rule of thumb in regards to new electronics anyway, something about waiting at least 4 months? Avoid that early adopter tax?
I was told the Storm has Windows 6 Mobile. Is thias correct?
Right on, jawsnj! People were really kidding themselves if they follow BGR or any similar blog and thought that somehow the phone was going to be on sale 4 days early for some people. This was likely printed and submitted for mailing far in advance of the release date being frozen, as evidenced by the fact that the Storm didn’t have pricing, either. Plus, why bother running out to get it when Verizon’s saying they’ll have plenty in stock?
@ Jay Potter…what have you been smoking? Whoever told you that is on some shit
@ JustMe Usually we see eye to eye but this is where my problem lies with what BB_Storm4me said:
The picture on the front of the mailer is not any of the phones BB_Storm4me mentioned or what is being offered as part of the sale. The Storm is the picture on the cover. I do not care what they have to say inside and even with that they still had the picture of the Storm there. If you tell me I’m invited to a private sale and the first picture you show me of the sale is the Storm and the Storm is not a part of the sale that is a LIE…I don’t need someone telling me or blatantly saying, “Oh we’re lying to you” before I know what a lie is. That would make me stupid and I’m far from one.
That’s like if BGR was to have a post about winning a free phone and picture he uses is the Storm and when you read more you see another picture of the Storm and he mentions the Storm about 3 times in that post and the phone he’s giving away is a damn razr, don’t you think that would be a lie? Obviously he never said ok the phone you would be getting would be the Storm but he lied to get people to read the post because everyone who read the post was reading it for the Storm and nothing else so in that respect it’s a lie. When you deceive someone you lie to do it. It may be a different kind of lie but a lie nonetheless. Verizon lied with the flyer no matter which way you put it because at the end of the day they could’ve just put a picture of the Voyager on the first page if that’s what they were selling. False advertisement is lying and companies pay hefty fines for that if I’m not mistaken, which makes it a lie.
@Likeabite: I guess I have to say it, you are STUPID!!! Maybe your MO is to go around half cocked. I don’t know you, but I’ve read your words. Maybe you should reread your own words: “I do not care what they have to say inside and even with that they still had the picture of the Storm there.”
That’s it…you don’t care about details, you saw the picture!!!
WTF? Do you have trouble with reading text smaller that what was on the cover? Do you read headlines of articles and fail to read the article to get the whole story? Have you ever heard of the saying “the devil in the details”?
The frickin flyer doesn’t contain any details on the price of the Storm or even a “see retailer for price.”
I totally understand how a lot of people (obviously you’re one of them) ASSUMED the Storm was part of the sale. Yes the damm picture of the Storm is there, but where are the words that say it? I don’t see: “Come get your Storm” “The Storm is on sale” “The Storm is now available”
I contend that the flyer is both a “sale” and an “introduction.”
Again…
Misleading? Yes.
Deceptive? Quite possible.
A lie? Hell no.
Your example of a lie doesn’t apply here pal.
Reading? Perhaps its’ something you try. I didn’t read that I could buy one in the flyer. You might not be so disappointed when things are not what they seem by just looking at the pictures and SOME of the words.
Pay hefty fines for false advertsing? Give me a break.
If the fastfood chains can get away with showing pictures and videos of big thick sandwiches with the name of it right next it and when you buy one it’s it doesn’t look the same. And you say WTF? Where’s the meat and why is it so flat?
@likeabite
I can see where you are coming from but at the same time it isn’t exactly a lie, a bit shady – yes. BUT nowhere on the flyer does it say you can buy the Storm before the 21st (the 21st however, is included in the 17th – 21st). It doesn’t even list a price for the Storm. In both places the phone is shown it simply says introducing. It does, on the other hand, say “You’ll find our hottest devices at our best prices.” That wasn’t a lie. All the phones that they have shown with prices are much cheaper than you can get them online and they happen to be the most sought after devices.
I just called the 1-800 # and preordered it with $100 off plus $50 mir. It will be at my house on monday with free shipping!! Woo hoo!