Low inventory is forcing Best Buy Mobile to launch the Palm Pre in two phases
Contrary to the naysayers, looks like those rumors about Best Buy Mobile having low Palm Pre inventory are indeed true. In fact, thanks to one of our ninjas we now know that Best Buy Mobile’s own Pre launch guide lays out a two-pronged launch: Phase 1 will be from June to July where inventory will be extremely low and marketing will be minimal. Best Buy Mobile is warning stores that “customer demand will outweigh inventory and stores may go weeks after launch with little or no replenishment.” Stores are being instructed to not sell the Pre early, not to make hold lists prior to the launch date and to limit sales to one device per customer. Sorry BBYM employees — no employee purchases until August. A ticketing system will be used to handle any lines on launch day and a running waiting list will be created when the Pre has sold out. Folks on the waiting list will get the Pre if when new shipments arrive.
Due to the low expected inventory, only 300 specially selected stores will have working demos of the Pre. The remainder of the stores will sell their entire inventory of the Pre and will not have a live phone on display. Inventory will be allotted to stores based upon their Sprint sales and their past successful launches of other high profile phones. The only good news in this launch guide is that this time of dearth is expected to be followed by a time of bounty in late July or early August when the inventory of the Pre is expected to increase. Take home message here: if you really, really want a Pre on the launch date or soon thereafter, you may have to forgo Best Buy and Radio Shack and seek out a Sprint store where Pre supplies are said to be a bit more robust.
I too feel like Palm isn’t ready yet.
Also, this reminds me of what Sprint did last year around June, they rushed to release the Instinct in order to compete with iPhone 3G and it ended up being a big failure.
I hope they don’t make the same mistake twice.
We can all speculate that palm does not have enough units or that this is being done to artificially create a high demand but the fact is that none of us know what the truth is. 6 months from we will all look back at this and say “wow what brilliant move” (apple fanboys exclude) or “Damn what were they thinking” (apple fanboys include.
@Dan:
What that guy said. It makes alot more sense to do web orders than to have Best Buy sell them. I would really rather purchase from Sprint anyways, of course with the $100 Instant MIR.
So in other words, the REAL launch is in July or August, but by “launching” in June you prevent your product from being completely eclipsed.
How juvenile.
Damn, this kinda sucks. I have a feeling that since im in a major city (NYC) that there is no chance of me scoring one of these at launch. Too many people here know about it, it’s times like this that it may be better living in the boonies. In all honesty though, i guess it will prevent me form making another impulse purchase and allow me to see what the other carriers have to offer this summer.
Palm is obviously underfunded on this project. With the competitive timing pressures, eg 3.0 IPhone, Storm2 and 9630, and all the other feature phone that are pushing the envelope, there is no other rational explanation.
Putting almost all their eggs in the Sprint basket is extremely risky with their shrinking marketshare and inability to convert customers from competing carriers in numbers that ultimately matter.
I’m still interested in the Pre, but from a safe distance.
Either sprint and palm are playing the best marketing trick ever by showing themselves as idiots, meanwhile they have more than enough to meet the demand, and now everyone is reportig on the device, or they just rushed this thing and ruined the best chance of redeeming themselves. I say its the latter.
Personally, I think it’s a two fold deal. Palm needs to up inventory and, neither Sprint nor Palm can handle a fail at this point. Both would sink together.
Anyone remember that Sprint is venturing into simultaneous voice and data on this one. This is unchartered water for both. Any network, iPhonish/At
Better to sell a few and work out the bugs then sell mass quantities and have an epic fail on there hands. Although I do think that this is palm’s last dance as a solo company. Someone is going to gobble them up very soon. (Not Dell hopefully)
I highly doubt this is being done for artificial demand, since Palm’s direct competitor is launching their newest handset a month after the Pre, in the new iPhone dropping in July.
So it looks as though Palm released the Pre earlier than they wanted to get as many people as they can before the new iPhone hits, which is a good move, but might back fire if potential customers who can’t get a Pre opt for the new iPhone.
So far 3 people in my office have stated that if they cannot obtain a pre on launch day that they are going to get an iphone. This sentiment is echoed across comment sections similar to this one. I REALLY hope sprint can pull this off.
Disclaimer**
I will not get an iphone as a substitute for a pre.
I like the “Epic fail” posts followed by “Posted from iPhone”
If this rumor is accurate then it means the leadership of Palm and Sprint are exceptionally incompetent.
I see alot of talking but all I hear is Wahhhhhh! Geez, please realize that the company was almost gone! They have a great idea that they want to try and sell. Obviously is a hit because we are all talking about it.
I am sure these same kind of talks were occurring when there were major Wii shortages. Either they have the funding to have the device in full force by 6/6/09 or not, try to be one of the first people to get one or not but honestly juvenile conversations like the ones prior, that do not add any sort of value, really do not portray the ideology or personality of the corporate heads who made the decision to release before end of 1st half of year. I for one am just happy just to be getting rid of my Treo 700P.
Ok, Im good now…
> …please realize that the company was almost
> gone!…
Wrong verb tense.
the question may have been rhetorical but how can it be answered when all the numbers are imaginary and rumor. Taking a note from my archenemy, stop trying to pass innuendo off as fact
No it was the correct verb tense. Their stock price was at $1.42 as of 12/5/08 and as of today they are at $10.23. I just think that its not fair to count them out as some people do to wish that they fail. I mean come on the economy is jacked up enough as it is. I hope they succeed even if no one else does.
As Palm is the perfect example, viability of a company has nothing to do with stock price.
Ok, well clearly my point was lost in the translation.
You know, the Instinct wasnt a huge failure. The aggressive marketing and the insistence that the Instinct actually was a REAL competitor(when its not) to the iPhone made the Instinct the best selling 3g phone Sprint ever had. So from a business standpoint the Instinct was only a failure to us who know its not a smartphone and judge it on its features/specs. Hopefully Sprint can actually win back some market share with a good phone. Cus they have such horrible phone options in comparison to the other carriers.
I totally agree!
Written from my antiquated Palm 700p.
I don’t get all the bitching and moaning about not getting a Palm Pre at launch because BEST-fuckking-BUY won’t have a huge stock. No comments on the fact that EVERY Sprint Corporate or indirect dealer will have WELL beyond that number in stock, because obviously the uniformed would rather bash Sprint than realize that anyone can walk into an Authorized dealer and pick it up..
told you so. sprint wants to see what kind of influx of data usage with the Pre will impact their network…
I wouldn’t put it past these guys to create these rumors just so more people will go out and get one that first day.
I’ll definitely be there early to get one, but only cuz my instinct is all scratched up and I can’t take it anymore.
People People People!!!
Come on!! Do not fall for these BS rumors about low inventory.