Subscribers fume over what has become yet another bungled Sprint launch
Why can’t Sprint launch a handset? That’s the question countless subscribers are asking themselves as the release of the BlackBerry Tour 9630 continues to look more and more like a paper launch. A fair number of people who ordered the handset have received it by now and many were able to snag a unit at retail locations, but it seems that for every happy new Tour owner there are three enraged subscribers looking for answers. At this point, you can’t find a Sprint or BlackBerry forum without reading post after post from people fuming over the bungled Tour launch. Since July 12th, the official launch date, we’ve also received countless emails from Sprint subscribers venting their frustrations and recounting various horror stories. The consensus among them: Sprint can’t launch a handset to save its life — or business, as it were.
Beyond a few emails we have from people who got their Tours at retail locations and couldn’t activate them, the biggest problem being reported is a seeming lack of candor with regard to inventory. We have tons of emails from people who ordered the Tour within the first hour of online availability — within the first 15-30 minutes even. Despite the website showing the handset as being in stock and ready to roll, they received a backorder notice immediately after ordering. Here is an example of an email received by a Sprint customer shortly after submitting his order online about a half hour after the Tour went live on Sprint’s site:
Product ID: SP9630RIM Description: Blackberry Tour 9630 Qty: 1 Order Date: 2009-07-12
Status: Your order or a portion of your order is in backorder status. If you would like to select an alternate product or cancel your backordered item, please call 866-789-8292 between 8:00 a.m. EST to 11:00 p.m. EST Monday to Friday or 9:00 a.m. EST to 9:00 p.m. EST on Saturdays and Sundays.Please note that cancellation requests may not always process successfully due the speed of warehouse processing. If you cancelled your backordered item but still received a shipment, please refuse the shipment or call us to process a return within 30 days of receipt.
Why is it that Sprint just can’t seem to stock a handset — and perhaps more importantly, why was the handset listed as being available if in fact it was not? It has gotten to the point where the carrier even confirmed to us ahead time that the Palm Pre launch would be a mess. Fast forward to the Tour, Sprint’s next flagship handset, and we’re seeing the exact same mistakes all over again. We understand it was a big deal for Sprint to finally get a hot new BlackBerry out to market at the same time as Verizon. Great. Golf claps. If doing so simply means the carrier is going to have to snub half of the people who want to buy the handset however, we have to think waiting for shipments would have been the wiser move. In fact, we’ve received several comments from people who decided to switch to Verizon for the Tour because of this mess. If you’ve looked at Sprint’s numbers over the past couple of years, you know the last thing the struggling carrier needs to be doing right now is giving subscribers another reason to jump ship.
Of course Sprint isn’t the only carrier plagued with launch issues, it just happens to be more in need of smooth sailing than any other at this point. Trust us — we want nothing more than to witness and report on a great and successful launch at Sprint. The company has made plenty of good moves of late in an effort to strengthen its network and focus on better customer service training. It shows, it really does, but it’s all for naught if Sprint continues to stumble where top-level strategy and execution are concerned.
This is not Sprint hating. This article is based in reality, Sprint has fumbled the launch of their two biggest phones in less than a month!
They are really shooting themselves in the foot. IMO, they should have ordered the Tour early and in mass quantities. If there is any device that a carrier can bank on selling it’s a Blackberry!
Only reason to stay with Sprint is for your plan savings. And as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. All of these LOSERS bluffing like they’ll jump ship are full of sh-t. Because you have to wait for a device for a few extra days you’re going to go pay $30/month and possibly an early termination fee? Nobody believes you, because if you were so quick to leave you prob would have jumped ship for the Bold. But you didn’t, because you’re broke and are happy to pay $30 less than Verizon/AT&T customers per month. So stfu.
*Full disclosure, I’ve been with Sprint since May ‘00.
Also, Sprint losers who make fun of AT&T and Verizon customers paying too much… you do know companies pay for a lot of people’s devices right? So the cost is written off! They don’t care how much it costs, they just want a reliable service with good customer service and product launches. Sprint is the red headed step child in this game, deal with it and shut up.
wtf?? Where did the whole chinaman eggroll thing come from? You sound like the real 40 year old virgin.
Each persons experience is different with all the carriers. People pick their carrier for whatever reason they find important. If a company pays for someone’s phone, great. I know people who do not have that privilege.
Was Sprint wrong here, depends who you ask. For those who got their TOUR, its great. For those that don’t, it sucks.
VZW, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, my experience with as well as my wife and close family, They are all the same shit! Not one ever stood out. We pay our bills, and that’s it.
Yah, I was told mine shipped Monday, so I sat home all day Tuesday, no phone. I called to cancel my order today and they told me it was too late. Leaving the state tomorrow for a week, so a $700 phone will be sitting on my doorstep.
I ordered my Tour on Monday morning and received it Tuesday afternoon. The only issue I had was the internet set up.
Provide your address so I can retrieve it for you!
J/K, hopefully a good neighbor gets it or better, they require a signtaure and hold it!
Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time for class. Today’s discussion is reading critically.
We will use this blog post (notice I didn’t say ‘article’) as an example.
First, take a moment to read the blog post and then make a note of the following things:
1. What is the ultimate point of the post?
2. What evidence (facts, figures, numbers, comparisons, etc.) are used to support the ultimate point of the post?
So, now that you’ve read the post, let’s answer the questions above.
Answers:
1. The ultimate point of the blog post is that “Sprint has somehow made a mistake or multiple mistakes in relation to the Blackberry Tour’s launch.”
2. The proof used is, and I quote, “A fair number of people who ordered the handset have received it by now and many were able to snag a unit at retail locations, but it seems that for every happy new Tour owner there are three enraged subscribers looking for answers. At this point, you can’t find a Sprint or BlackBerry forum without reading post after post from people fuming over the bungled Tour launch.” Unfortunately, this blog post fails at Step 2. The evidence used to support #1 seems to be…
“a fair number of people” = what does that mean? what is the actual #? what is the percent of total users who successfully purchased the Tour? where did the blogger get this info?
“it seems…three enraged subscribers” for every one happy? where did this stat come from?
Please, take your time to read the blog post again and ask the critical questions necessary. It would also be interesting to see the blogger do some actual work like creating a chart comparing the Sprint/Tour launch along with V/Tour, A/Iphone, etc. etc. using applicable and relative metrics. I won’t hold my breathe.
You are all silly if the was perfect nation wide coverage … there would be only one company … Alltel,Verizon and Sprint have roaming agreements (they all benefit from it)
They agree to do so all there coverage seems seamless
You are all silly if the was perfect nation wide coverage … there would be only one company … Alltel,Verizon and Sprint have roaming agreements (they all benefit from it)
They agree to do so all there coverage seems seamless
Wow.. What is Sprint doing?? I was told that I could go into the store in the 12th and order it from there as I do not like doing business over the phone or the internet. I went in on sunday and the two reps that helped me said my order would be in in 2-3 days. I have yet to get a call about the tour arriving, so I called the store and talked to another rep. He told me that I would have to talk to the other two that helped me out (and of course they are not in). I asked about my order and he told me that as of Wednesday the warehouse is all out of stock…. I told him I put my order in Sunday, how should Wednesday’s stock affect me?? He wasn’t sure but that maybe when the order was put in they were all sold out… I talked to friend who works for sprint (not in the same city I live in) and was told that the warehouse is expectng to get more in on the 20th… INTERESTING… Wasn’t that the original date the tour was to launch for Sprint.. I was also a palm pre owner (returned it cause didn’t like the sliding keyboard and touch screen) and had some issues with how sprint handled that.. I do not mind waiting for a phone because lets be real.. it’s just a phone.. but the problem is the way Sprint has handled their service and its been disappointing and after all we are paying not only for phone srevice but customer service. If you are not ready to launch, THEN DON’T. This is excatly how you loss customers.. Someone with the bright idea of launching when not ready needs to get fired. GET IT TOGETHER SPRINT!!!
the same thing happenned last year with the curve, sold out after launch day and backorder for weeks. I was lucky enough to have a curve on launc last year, and i got my tour tuesday!! phone is amazing, i also have a pre, both incredible devices
What are you talking about? I have had my phone (Tour) for two days now and I ordered on Sunday afternoon pacific time with Sprint. It is easily the best blackberry ever, but let us be honest it can not touch the iPhone. People need to stop hating on the iPhone even though that is not what this blog is about. Yes I agree that AT&T sucks and doesnt show the full capabilities of my primary phone (iPhone).
Sprint’s launching is pathetic… Seriously, I’d compare it to some kind of sexual disfunction… They get some worked up about a product and release it before their ready! I’d almost consider that false advertising. Seriously this “on paper” release shit is a joke… Give me the fuckin device on the same day! Don’t make me order it and wait 7-10 days or more… That’s pathetic! Sprints product launch decision needs to get their asses kicked to the curb.. Seriously, they’re awful!
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Findlay United States
Division… Not decision… Damn iPhone spell check
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Findlay United States
Hell Yeah. The Same thing HAPPENED TO ME WTH.
Verizon sucks donkey balls, too expensive and data too slow compared to sprint. You vzw people can cont. getting the big red one up your asses if you like.
What was so bungled about the launch? It was known that it was online or telephone sales only (which always includes shipping) and that there would be a high demand. I would say Sprint is pretty happy with the launch. The people bitching are just too fing inpatient. Little babies, probably have a hard time when they don’t get their way.
The author of this article is a douche.
I received mine in two days flat, activate and had email and data working in 30 minutes. Sprint can’t turn morons into tech savvy people.
This is not just Sprint hating, I called Telesales to get my Blackberry Tour (switching from Tmo Cuve 8900) and they told me it was backordered. I was going to be a nice, new customer for Sprint, but they blew it
Got an email from Sprint saying my phone will be shipped early next week…smh they sent me my rebate form in the mail for what reason I do not know lol its just funny….I ordered my phone@ 1am Sunday morn and still it says backorder….but my friend ordered his Monday and he gets his phone Tuesday wtf…I have no prob with Sprint but they have to do business the correct way….I’ve had Verizon which was expensive and the service wasn’t good at the time I still wouldn’t come back unless they get something that’s outta this world hi-teck gadget…At&t I had twice they are just over charging people I don’t know how they landed the iPhone but that’s the only reason I have them that’s my toy lol… I wish they had it on Sprint or Verizon so I can get a bigger discount lol…but I like Sprint I’ve had them since 06 and the only problem I can say is that the lack or hardware but service is good money to me!!! lol so everybody is entitled to their own opinions but shit Sprint is still here for a reason….
Oh and another thing my Sprint phone works better than my AT&T and I get so many drop calls on my AT&T phone and rarely or barely on my Sprint do I ever get my calls dropped….Internet is faster on Sprint…and if I’m roaming on Verizon so what I still pay less so it makes me no diff…Sprint been around to long to go out like that… Tell me one thing can anyone beat a simply everything plan? The only other carrier I would go to would be Verizon but they plans sucks phones too..they phones are no different then Sprints collection…AT&T gets all the good phone but charge to much for crappy service…smh so backwards…lol
By 1 damn point. You’ve got to be kidding me. You have to have the phone for it work.
Sprint needs to throw down they’re cards. Fold. And walk away from the table.
this site is extremely biased towards certain carriers!