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!
Keep calling the # from the post on the other page and keep calling until you get a representative who will take the pre-order. I had to call twice. 1-888-324-3310
@ JustMe I see what you’re saying and with that I agree.
BB_Storm4me I already acknowledged that they did not say come and get your storm or that it was on sale.
However, both of you fail to realize that if it is a private sale they do not have to list the price of the item. If someone was to walk into the store they could just tell them what the price is. Maybe that is why the sale was private? And to take that even further not only was the Storm an issue but all the other phones on there as well because several of the people on this post have already stated that the places Verizon listed on the flyer had no clue what the flyer was for when they got there. So is that not a lie too? Verizon basically picked any Verizon retailer in your area and said go there for exclusive deals. No one was notified or anything and you don’t call that a lie? When they went there as someone said they got the “deer in a headlights” look so who’s the stupid one BB_Storm4me?? Maybe you do not know what a lie is. Disregard even the Storm for a second. If I don’t go out looking for a bargain and you go out of your way to tell me there’s a bargain, through direct mailing mind u, and I get to your store and you have no idea what the fuck is going on or what the bargain is about that’s not a lie? Maybe we define lying in different terms but in layman terms that’s a lie buddy. They might as well have just said take this flyer to any Verizon retail store because none of those stores would’ve had any idea what the fuck the flyer was about to begin with and neither did the stores they hand selected like it made a damn difference. Even when the people called in not only did the reps not have any idea what the flyer was about but anyone who had a clue basically just gave them information about the Storm that they could’ve found here on BGR or on the VZW website. So I fail to realize how I’m the stupid on BB_Storm4me…
@JustMe,
Aren’t you an existing VZW customer? How did you get it for $100 off?
Hey Likeabite: We can argue all day about the meaning of “lie.” I’d like to think of the “Private Sale” as a clever deception at the worst. My definition of a lie as having a more clear intent to deceive. Such as, “pre-order now” and they won’t allow you to or as in “I did not have sexual realtions with that woman.”
As for the VZW store clerks and managers not having a clue, you can blame that on the chain of command. Somewhere in the vast layers of VZW management and marketing, someone failed to communicate the program, hence the “deer in the headlights” look at the store. It could be a national, regional, or local problem. You’d have to ask several store managers in different locations to see who knew what and when.
I work for a corporation and sometimes my boss or his boss fail (or are late) to pass on marketing programs. I usually find out from my peers in other locatioins or from customers when they get emails or direct mail from the “home office” I have no idea as to what is going on. The little people are always the last to know.
FWIW – I sent an email to Lowell McAdam, CEO and President of VZW to inform him of the POS the “Private Sale” his marketing people launched has created. I already have received a confirmation email that a member of the executive communications staff will be in touch shortly.
I called and just said I wanted to get the blackberry storm and asked if I had to wait until friday and he was like no we can take a preorder now. He asked for my cell # and was like we have a special for $100 off and also the $50 mir. And then we took care of plans and what not and he said it will be sent out friday.
The first time I called they asked what special i was calling about and I mentioned the $100 one, and the guy told me I have to wait until friday. But just use the link on page2 of this thread in case they question you. But I never had to mention anything.
I was also up for a new contract though. Maybe that was why I was eligible for the $100 off special. Doesn’t hurt for you to call and see what they say.
Yeah that’s what I thought. You were up for a new contract lol. We have only been with VZW since April. THANKS though, I appreciate the info.
Oh Marketing knew very much how this little flyer would be read by people I’m sure.
Customer knows the release date of the Storm, Customer sees “private sale” before release date, Customer sees Storm on the front (nothing saying you’ll be able to get one – just saying Verizon is the exclusive home of the storm…)
Customer shows up at Verizon expecting pre-release of Storm!
Customer gets pissed.
Now Marketing Pissed because they thought they’d have happy customers… yeah right.
Marketing never knows anything – they make empty promises to make you want to buy. I know – I’ve seen the unhappy customers because of something Marketing says.
They aren’t the salespeople – they just bring people to the salespeople!
I don’t know how anyone that looked at this flyer thought that the Storm would be available on Nov 17. It was clearly for other handsets and the Storm graphics were just to announce that it is coming soon. It was not misleading at all. If you turned over the card that was attached to the mailer, it spelled out exactly what you could buy on the 17th.
@likeabite GET ‘EM KID!!!
@bb_storm4me Yes it’s misleading, and obviously the flier was cleverly designed to sell inventory that needs to be pushed out the doors. However, a picture is worth a thousand words, and that picture surely implies availability whether it’s accompanied by text confirming it or not.
@no one in particular this flier did exactly what it was supposed to do. Generate interest in the storm. Whether it’s bad press or good press, all of this being posted by all of us is doing nothing except garnering attention for VZW’s new BB.
Personally, I think big red is trying to create “iPhone*” like hype around this product so there will be news crews filming the lines around the block at Verizon stores to gain even more hype for their product.
* I’m not a fan of the iPhone, don’t own one, don’t want one. But apple did a tremendous job of creating want for that silly toy.
I was one of the many morons, I mean VIPs, who walked into three seperate verizon stores this morning, snazzy invitation in hand, feeling extra special, ready to pick up my very own Blackberry Storm before anyone can even think about laying their hands on one, only to be met by a sea of confused employees who had no idea what the hell I was showing to them. oh, and no Blackberry Storms. At first, I thought I was the dumbass for thinking I could take home one of the most talked about phones, three days before it’s release, but then I checked out the good ol world wide web and found quite a bit of angry people. …somebody’s getting fired. This was the worst marketing I have ever seen. First of all, they pissed off their so called most prefered customers by completely misleading them. But that’s not it. Let’s pretend the people in marketing weren’t complete jackass’ and they actually noted that the Storm wouldn’t be available until Friday, regardless. If you’re trying to sell one the most anticipated phones, why one earth would you send out an invitation to your most prefered customers, offering a private sale FOR OTHER PHONES??? Where the hell is the sense in that???? This whole thing was such a flop. I’m going to go write to verizon, not to complain, but to thank them for the laugh.
Yea, even B2B does not get an advance on the BB Storm over the Retail channel. Usually they get 1 week jump start.
Do I feel special- noooooooooooooooooooooooooo…
i work for big red and i think it’s a BAD marketing move. the initial release date of the storm was november 16th. the private sale fliers were mailed out before the last minute change to the 21st of november. the private sale does exist as the phones inside the brochure are at better prices than at the stores this week.
@ BB_Storm4me…that was hilarious so I’ll let it go…you’re right lmao.
@ Jeff that’s exactly my point.
@ TRV$ My thoughts exactly.
@ Duxfan…I feel your anger…join the club.
@ Neil…you’re an even bigger idiot than the guy who put that marketing stunt together if you don’t think it was misleading.
@drocka
You’re right about the tactic, but wrong about the etymology. Verizon doesn’t come from “veritas,” the Latin word for truth. It is a combination of “vertical” and “horizon.” Definitely stupid, but it isn’t going to stop me from being there at open on Friday morning.
Wait. It’s misleading because I get a flier that lists the price for 8 different phones – NONE of them being the Storm – and I think I can get a Storm because it’s NOT listed on the flier? OK, likeabite, that seems logical.
@ Neil…Ok so let me show up at your doorstep (or the hut you live in since you are pretty barbaric with no common sense) with news crews, a bentley keychain in hand, tell you you’ve won and go through the whole song and dance…then take your ass back to the dealership and hand you the keychain and tell you that’s what you’ve won and let me see your reaction then. Obviously you haven’t been around blog sites much because no one reported the private sale as a sale for a fucking voyager or a dare…everyone who reported about the flyer listed it as a Storm Private sale and for good reason buddy. If you can’t grasp that aspect then I don’t know what to tell you.
I called the 1800 number on the flyer that I didnt receive and someone answered asking me if I was calling about a promotion and I told them yes, then they asked about which one. Told them about the 100 dollars off, he looked up my account and my NE2 isnt ready till end of dec but he said they would honor that and he would send it out friday along with any accessories that I wanted. So it worked the first time for anyone that wants to try, other than that VZW are a bunch of idiots for mailing out the flyer and not having anything in stock at the stores or the damn employees not knowing the hell was going on.
Hate to say it, but that number on the flyer is not even really Verizon Wireless…it’s a communication center that handles “overflow” ONLY. I spoke to a REAL VIP rep and she explained to me that they’re always working to fix problems from them. I, too, was offered 100/mins/mo for 24 mos…but then told that the offer wouldn’t go through because of restarting my plan when I actually DO get the Storm. That said…in addition to the extra $50 VIP’s get, I was told that there IS a more ’special price’ in the store on Friday for those with the flyer. We’ll see…
Verizon is such a COPYCAT. Geez…AT&T and iPhone and iPhone 3G lines…great PR.
And to subject a trusted, proven, reputable solid business brand, and the name Blackberry, to this non-sense.
What a joke…
Crunch…this is a Storm rant post…if you have nothing to rant about then shut the hell up and don’t mention the iPhone or AT&T fool.
You MOTHERF,…
$50 is what the VIP’s get? haha…Might as well save your gas money.
What are the chances of walking in on the 21st and getting one? What is everyones thoughts?
@fergmatt All the small VZW stores I’ve asked are telling me they’ll have it by the latest monday but can’t guarantee friday so I guess the biggers chains should have it on friday.
All the stores I have talked to said they are only getting a limited amount (maybe 10 total for friday). I am wondering if I should just order it or go early on Friday. Thoughts?