The Hunt is On... and It's Getting Ridiculous

[kindaskimpy]

I've been on the hunt for a good part of the evening for a RadioShack or Best Buy Mobile who hasn't run out of Friday's stock of the EVO. Here I sit, a couple of hours later having called 10 RadioShacks and 6 Best Buys and having gotten the same exact answer: "We're sold out already because of pre-orders." I know Sprint will have it but I'd rather not deal with their mail-in rebate crap unless I have to... and it looks like I'll have to.

Interesting and kind of unpleasant note though: The 10th RadioShack I called, the associate put the phone down and asked his manager about EVO stock on Friday as I listened in. The conversaton went something like this:

Associate: What do I tell him?

Manager: Well, I don't want to tell him we'll have some because then he'll tell people and since it's sold out everywhere else, they'll all come here and do you want to deal with that mess? Because I don't.

Associate: Okay, so what do I say?

Manager: Tell him to call the store at noon on Friday.

Associate: [gets back on the phone] Sir...

Me: I heard. Tell your manager I'll buy it at Sprint. Thanks.

 

[akarol]

Bahahah. You should show up there at 9:00AM with all your co-workers just to piss 'em off.

 

[storino03]

I called 8 radio shacks until one took my name/number and I got the go ahead today (called back) saying I could come at 8am. I initially called two days ago.

 

[kindaskimpy]

@akarol I feel compelled to go and squish his little head like a pimple.

@storino03 One RadioShack took down my name and number but made no promises. In fact, he all but assured me there was a bigger chance of Dan Hesse showing up at my house to personally hand me one.

 

[wallie223]

wow what a **** i would call corp and report that store and manager and you might get a free evo who knows

 

[DocPeanut]

Not trying to cause any waves, but why didn't you pre-order?

 

[bucc0303]

I've been on the hunt for a good part of the evening for a RadioShack or Best Buy Mobile who hasn't run out of Friday's stock of the EVO. Here I sit, a couple of hours later having called 10 RadioShacks and 6 Best Buys and having gotten the same exact answer: "We're sold out already because of pre-orders." I know Sprint will have it but I'd rather not deal with their mail-in rebate crap unless I have to... and it looks like I'll have to.

Interesting and kind of unpleasant note though: The 10th RadioShack I called, the associate put the phone down and asked his manager about EVO stock on Friday as I listened in. The conversaton went something like this:

Associate: What do I tell him?

Manager: Well, I don't want to tell him we'll have some because then he'll tell people and since it's sold out everywhere else, they'll all come here and do you want to deal with that mess? Because I don't.

Associate: Okay, so what do I say?

Manager: Tell him to call the store at noon on Friday.

Associate: [gets back on the phone] Sir...

Me: I heard. Tell your manager I'll buy it at Sprint. Thanks.

Why would they not want to generate more business at that location. Everyone in marketing knows that if you get a bigger customer base you get a lot more goodies from corperate to make your store more appealing. Sounds to me like this manager wants to have a very relaxed day and would not like to have any pre-orders period. I have been in sales for 8 years and that is just bad business.

 

[kindaskimpy]

wow what a **** i would call corp and report that store and manager and you might get a free evo who knows

I doubt they'll care very much but I'll give it a try because I don't think that's how they should be doing business. Just my opinion.

Not trying to cause any waves, but why didn't you pre-order?

Yes, that is the question. I take full and complete ownership over that mistake. Silly me. I thought supply wouldn't be a problem. I underestimated my fellow geeks. Lesson learned.

Why would they not want to generate more business at that location. Everyone in marketing knows that if you get a bigger customer base you get a lot more goodies from corperate to make your store more appealing. Sounds to me like this manager wants to have a very relaxed day and would not like to have any pre-orders period. I have been in sales for 8 years and that is just bad business.

Bad business, for sure. My brother works in retail management and when I told him this, he just sat there with his mouth open and kept repeating, "If any of my employees did that, they wouldn't have a job."

 

[bucc0303]

I doubt they'll care very much but I'll give it a try because I don't think that's how they should be doing business. Just my opinion.



Yes, that is the question. I take full and complete ownership over that mistake. Silly me. I thought supply wouldn't be a problem. I underestimated my fellow geeks. Lesson learned.



Bad business, for sure. My brother works in retail management and when I told him this, he just sat there with his mouth open and kept repeating, "If any of my employees did that, they wouldn't have a job."

Whats sicker is that it was the manager and not an associate doing the business bashing. I would call corperate if I was the originator of this thread

 

[Sincere_2010]

wow what a **** i would call corp and report that store and manager and you might get a free evo who knows

That's ridiculous. It was a legitimate answer the manager gave....

As a manager I would have told my employee the same thing.

 

[paga912]

Best thing to do is go to the best buy an just wait it out or make friends with a girl at either store and go from there…lol, thats what I always do. through one of the girls I met was a guy who works at sprint corporate and me an him been cool every since so i upgrade whenever I want and just refer him ppl

 

[wallie223]

That's ridiculous. It was a legitimate answer the manager gave....

As a manager I would have told my employee the same thing.

Legitimate lol yeah right if i was the person on the phone and heard you say that lets just say you would not be a manager and i would make sure of that just because you dont feel like working lazy lmao your a joke......

 

[kindaskimpy]

Best thing to do is go to the best buy an just wait it out or make friends with a girl at either store and go from there?lol, thats what I always do. through one of the girls I met was a guy who works at sprint corporate and me an him been cool every since so i upgrade whenever I want and just refer him ppl

lol I did that for the Wii. Camped out a full night before and met a bunch of really cool people but for the EVO, Best Buy has already done appointments and assured me I wouldn't be able to purchase one from them until the 11th.

 

[elas123]

i pre ordered 5 at my rs and someone in my family changed their mind about getting it. so maybe that will happen in your town and you can get one. lol

 

[kindaskimpy]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I contacted RadioShack corporate. I doubt I'll hear back from them but let's hope they at least care.

 

[BigKenW]

I think there was an article on Phandroid today about Walmart selling the Evo on release with an instant rebate to match RS and Best Buy. Might wanna look into that.

 

[C01E]

there is a reason why radio shack is going bankrupt and is desperate to have another company buy them out. This is one of the many reasons why it appears...

I really hope BBY buys them out and changes the store into a big BBY mobile stand alone, then takes the other crap and sells it through regular BBY stores.

 

[BigKenW]

Walmart Rolls Back the Rebate on the EVO 4G | Android Phone Fans

Here is a link to that article I mentioned earlier.

 

[bp3dots]

there is a reason why radio shack is going bankrupt and is desperate to have another company buy them out. This is one of the many reasons why it appears...

I really hope BBY buys them out and changes the store into a big BBY mobile stand alone, then takes the other crap and sells it through regular BBY stores.

Over 860 million cash on hand and stock price rose 40% in the last year... yea, that's going bankrupt.

Is that manager a tool? Sure. but they're to be found everywhere. It takes people to weed them out.

 

[Carioca_FL]

Don't worry about not having a pre-order. Just go to a Sprint store on launch day (at opening if you can, no need to camp, though) and you'd be guaranteed an EVO without any hassle.

Plus, you won't have to shell out anything, as you'll be able to bill to your account (unless you have a really low spending limit).

...so i upgrade whenever I want...

Sure you do.

Sure you do.