Sprint: Palm Pre shortages are speculation but demand could exceed supply
As the Palm Pre fiiiiiiiiinally nears launch, there has been plenty of talk with regards to supply and demand lately. Is the Pre going to be as popular as everyone thinks? Did production issues prevent Palm from having enough units ready for launch? Are Palm and Sprint shorting deliveries to help ensure a sellout? Here at BGR we’ve gotten some pretty firm intel regarding Best Buy’s stock of Pre handsets at launch, but what about Sprint’s stock? Can we expect similar shortages? The following is an official statement from Sprint:
At Sprint, we’re excited by the response to the Palm Pre, but what’s been posted is pure speculation. Because of the Pre’s popularity, it’s likely that initially we won’t be able to keep up with the demand for the device. If that happens, we will work diligently to ensure that everyone who wants a Pre can get one as soon as possible.
So, it looks like Sprint and Palm are doing their best to meet projected demand but because the device is anticipated to be so desirable, it’s entirely possible — nay, likely — that demand will exceed supply. In that event however, Sprint will do everything in its power to step things up and get units out to everyone who wants one as soon as possible. There you have it folks, straight from the horse’s mouth.
Cedric, since you know who is and isn’t beta testing, that qualifies you to know of the serious shortage. You have no proof of your claim and any person w/this phone will not risk thier spot to prove something to you all. Shortages is not the term, demand may be too high, didn’t that happen w/a particular 2 years ago
Don Luie, my guess is you and Jerry are one and the same.
You have people saying Jerry is obviously not a beta tester for clear reasons. He is talking about Angelina Jolie as a relevant source.
As far as a serious shortage this long running story comes from Palm Executives, like the VP of Europe who said when asked about GSM prospects there would be a limit of one million in total of all pres produced in 2009.
Then you have Hess saying on three occasions that there were production shortfalls.
There are serious production problems, it is not a secret or a rumor.
In fact it is about the screens. It is all over the trade press. In fact that is wqy EOS is moving early.
“Don” if you want to support a foul mouthed troll go ahead, it speakes volumes about you.
Fact: Palm has had shortage and severe production and quality delays in its last three handsets. It is a fact of Palm’s recent history.
Fact: The shortage and production problem stories all come from Palm and Sprint.
Cedric, I spelled your name right, you do realize Sprint is CDMA so a GSM production thing is pretty much a non-issue and I was on buddy’s side (on there being people w/the phone not him being one of them) til the celebrity quotient and and rabid misspelling came in. Around 6/12 but most likely sooner we wil find out is all I’m saying, apparently you and plenty others don’t like anything about the carrier or manufacturer so why harp on it when you won’t be recommending anyway?
I don’t see the point of these silly whining attacks on Boy Genius, Bloomberg, or people on this site for Palm’s mistakes on production which Sprint has been complaining about fairly
openly.
Palm diverting to GSM so quickly is also adding to their production shortfalls. The GSM are the same production line and 99% the same components, including the special capacitive screens that is causing problems.
The problem is serious and people blaming anyone but Palm and instead blaiming users here for a real and admitted mess is s(h)illy.
hey BGR- how about the facts on the $849 no contract price for the Pre. and how about the facts that its not for IT business centrics users…wtg
Fact: the 849 price was put in place only at best buy to deter people from buying the off contract pre and reselling it for huge profit. The actual no contract price is estimated to be about 549, which will be in place once there isn’t any major shortage of units.
Same thing about the IT centric comment. An internal document says not to sell to companies who would benefit more from a treo pro because there aren’t enough phones to go around at the moment
Ed
hashed out old news, yes. my point was bgr never followed this up. thats all. thanks
I just called a mall-kiosk store in my area and found out that they will have 20 units. BOOYA!!
@Ed,
The Sprint document that asks not to sell to IT is not “internal” but sent to all resellers.
It has nothing to do with not enough Pre to go around, although Palm surely blundered with their production schedule, but instead because the Pre is not for IT or enterprise.