If I were running Google Play, this is what I'd do....

[XDCX]

Like a lot of people here I did a "pre-order" through Google Play for a Nexus 7 and now have to deal with the frustration that not only did I end up paying more for my tablet (shipping expense) I'll end up getting it later than people who didn't do a "pre-order."

I like Google and I'm sure I'll love my new Nexus 7 when it arrives. On a scale of 1 - 10 the whole Nexus 7 launch debacle isn't that big of a deal to me.

That said, if I were running Google Play I'd capitalize on this mistake and turn it into a huge PR win for the Google Play store. Here's what I'd offer to the "pre-order" customers:

1) Provide an extra $25 in Google Play credits that expire in 90 days
2) Provide an extra $25 in Google Wallet funds for NFC transactions that expires in 90 days
3) Provide a $100 voucher good for any Nexus Device purchased via Google Play in the next 90 days
4) Provide "Guaranteed First Access" for the next phone and/or tablet released by the Nexus brand.

This solution would provide many benefits to Google:

1) Allows Google to issue a Press Release touting their vision for the Google Play store and how important the Android loyalists are to Google
2) Allows Google an opportunity to apologize for the Nexus 7 launch problems - a little humility can go a long ways toward building a strong brand.
3) Attracts more developers to make applications for Android tablets since they know there is a pool of money that needs to be spent on apps and games.
4) Gives Google Wallet and the whole NFC concept a needed shot in the arm - Google needs to establish Wallet as a player in the NFC market before the carriers launch their own NFC payment service.
5) Allows Google to dump Nexus tablets on the market without being subject to a lawsuit from Apple.

Of all the benefits to Google, the last one is the one that's most appealing to me from a corporate perspective. As I've stated in other threads, Google doesn't need to make a dime off of the Nexus 7 to have it be successful - all they need to do is steal market share away from the Kindle Fire and make the "mass-market" aware that there's an alternative to the Apple iPad.

That said, if Google were to sell the Nexus 7 below their cost they could be subject to "predatory pricing" lawsuits from Apple and other OEMs. But if Google is just making an atonement for a failed product launch the basis for a "predatory pricing" lawsuit goes away.

So come on Google, step up and turn lemons in to lemonade and watch Apple squirm as wait for the next tablet market share report.

 

[ryjb]

You should send in your resume.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[EnDroidable]

I like your ideas but how much money would you think that google is losing if they decided to do some of those?

 

[XDCX]

You should send in your resume.

Well, I am between jobs at the moment....

 

[tonofmort]

Am I understanding this correctly: you think it would be a reasonable thing for them to give each of the pre-order customers another $150 on top of the $25 Play Store credit they already included with the tablet that they are basically selling at-cost?

I understand why people are disappointed with the whole situation, and it's probably a good thing to voice your disappointment so that Google realizes it's made a mistake here, but at the end of the day, all of these threads and all of this whining is over $14 and a weekend without a new tablet.

 

[XDCX]

I like your ideas but how much money would you think that google is losing if they decided to do some of those?

That's a great question, and my bet is the cost to Google would be insignificant for the following reasons:

1) Most customers do not respond to coupons or rebate offers in a timely fashion - that would be the reason for the 90 day time limit. While most of the "pre-order" customers would likely appreciate Google's offers in reality a lot of the incentives would never be used because people live complex lives and incentives like these tend to fall through the cracks.

2) For the purchases of apps and games made through the Play Store, only a percentage actually goes to the developer. I think it's 70%; if that's the case then Google's $25 Play Store incentive would result in a net expense of $18.75.

3) Google could allocate 100% of the cost of the $25 Wallet incentive to the Google Wallet program. In my opinion Google Wallet has had several false starts and they're at risk of having the whole project fail. The future of NFC payments is huge and Google should jump at the chance to subvent Google Wallet and the Nexus 7 is the perfect platform to use since the carriers can't do anything to block it.

4) While the $100 Nexus Device incentive could prove to be costly, my bet is many vouchers would be used to buy more Nexus 7 tablets which ultimately allows Google to dump tablets into the market without being vulnerable to lawsuits. Additionally, many of the vouchers would likely be used when the new Nexus phones are released in November and the $100 cost would simply come out of the phone's profit margin. Google wouldn't be losing money, they just wouldn't be making as much. (Think of how many new phones get discounted within six months of launch - the voucher simply offers the discounted pricing during the early portion of the Nexus phone launch.)

5) Although small, an added benefit to Google is if they offered these incentives they'd virtually eliminate 100% of the "rejected shipment" claims they're going to receive from "pre-order" customers who intend to reject their UPS shipment because they already bought a Nexus 7 via a retail outlet. Why pay UPS to ship the Nexus 7 back to Google and then pay people to re-stock the item and process the refund to the customer?

Bottom line - For a company like Google that measures revenues and profits in the Billions the cost of the program outlined above doesn't amount to peanuts and allows Google an opportunity to promote the Google Play store as the best place to buy Nexus products.

 

[Cubfan]

Nothing was wrong with the launch. This is silly.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[crackberrytraitor]

Nothing was wrong with the launch. This is silly.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

You're in some serious denial.


And to OP, 150 bucks credit is WAAAAY to much. 100 dollars towards another device? ARE YOU NUTS MAN? That would hit the media in like 2 seconds and everyone who got a pre-order would jump on this, with the 25 in play credits they have already included, plus your deal they would lose nearly 200 dollars PER TABLET. If they sold even a million pre-orders, that's like 200 million bucks dude. Seriously, like an extra 25 bucks in the play store plus another movies or something would do it for me. I'd be happy just to have the bogus 2 day shipping refunded.

 

[tonofmort]

The most reasonable thing, if they do anything (frankly, I would be more than content with them just saying "sorry some of you guys felt misled"), would be to offer free shipping on your next Play purchase or something. OP wants a free tablet, lol.

 

[tacsniper]

I don't think its necessary for Google to provide all those credits... but if they do I won't complain... even if they give everyone that pre-ordered a $5-10 credit or give them a free movie of choice I would be happy.

What's important to remember is Google is not a retail company. They lack the experience of retail launch of a product and logistics experience in compare to Amazon or Apple. I think Google will learn from this and make sure the next device launch will not be as epic fail as this one.

 

[keithz]

They should just refund shipping. If you're shipping channel fails and you disappoint the customer, at least compensate them that. It's egregious to charge high shipping and not fulfill the customer's expectation.

Here in Canada, shipping was $19.00.

If shipping was the $13.99 most Americans were paying, I wouldn't be all that upset. My Play order came to CA$312.66 At Staples, I paid $293.47. Quite the difference, and I got it at least 5-7 days before my pre-order would have come in.

They don't even need to refund shipping. Just give all pre-orders till this point, $15 in Play store credits. It doesn't cost them the full $15. Customers will be happy that they got compensated for the botched launch.

 

[keithz]

The most reasonable thing, if they do anything (frankly, I would be more than content with them just saying "sorry some of you guys felt misled"), would be to offer free shipping on your next Play purchase or something. OP wants a free tablet, lol.

If they want people to ever use the Play store again (and they should, because Play orders give them substantially higher margins than their retail partners do), they should be compensating pre-orders for this launch.

Free shipping next time? Quite a few may not be ordering through Play the next time.

 

[Irvgotti]

Nexus 7 problems, no adobe, please help! - YouTube

 

[dco50321]

Look. There was no guarantee people who ordered from the play store would get theirs first. The other people who got theirs already (like myself) also "pre-ordered" I just did mine from gamestop because it was close to my house and I didn't want to pay the shipping. Point being, it said 1-2 weeks on the play store and Google has lived up to that promise. No one has been mislead and should not be compensated. This was not a debacle at all. They announced the release date to be mid July at the I/O and they have certainly lived up to that promise. Please people stop complaining and just enjoy your fantastic device when it arrives.

Sent from my Skyrocket

 

[crackberrytraitor]

Look. There was no guarantee people who ordered from the play store would get theirs first. The other people who got theirs already (like myself) also "pre-ordered" I just did mine from gamestop because it was close to my house and I didn't want to pay the shipping. Point being, it said 1-2 weeks on the play store and Google has lived up to that promise. No one has been mislead and should not be compensated. This was not a debacle at all. They announced the release date to be mid July at the I/O and they have certainly lived up to that promise. Please people stop complaining and just enjoy your fantastic device when it arrives.

Sent from my Skyrocket

We didn't say we needed it first. It just would have been nice to have it at least SHIPPED by the time people without preorders can walk into a store and buy one. Seeing as we did pay 10% more for our devices.

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