The Official Release Date Speculation Thread

[ZuneNinja]

I used to work at Best Buy (Shakopee, MN) as well and still have friends that do. They do take the employee discount seriously, but as long as you don't say anything about it or literally take your friend with you and tell the cashier your employee ID as your friend uses his credit, you're pretty much good.

 

[SpaceHippie]

The safest thing to do is give him cash and have him use his card. Card transactions are less suspicious.

 

[rigorx]

It's only a mess because that's what you people are making it. I mean jesus, VZ hasn't even announced anything yet. You are all just drawing conclusions derived from your delusional hopes. Guys, just relax... you'll see it soon, it's a phone.

Bravo. Nice to see I'm not the only sane one around here.

 

[panicprone77]

i could care regardless, but its weird when they say that BB has "exclusiveness" and wirefly also says that they get it on the first day.
why stop taking preoders a week before the phone comes out? and why say youre have exclusive rights when they obviously dont?
its weird to say the least.

They have exclusive retail in-store rights to it. Online, not so much. And in regards about the pre-order date ending, i think that date is as firm as the actual release date for the phone.

 

[twistedjustice81285]

I just got off the phone with the union, nj BB - they still say the 14th

 

[Edwill86]

I just got off the phone with the union, nj BB - they still say the 14th

If thats at all true ill be down Rt. 22 on the 14th..but at this point.. I don't think its gunna happen that day:'(

 

[twistedjustice81285]

I find it weird too - I called every day this week at different times so I would get someone different. All of them said the 14th.

 

[TBolt2011]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the iPhone pre-order still to have the devices delivered on the 10th? So, nobody actually received the device before the actual release date.

A LOT of people got it on the 8th, actually.

 

[hagalah]

I find it weird too - I called every day this week at different times so I would get someone different. All of them said the 14th.

me too...told to the store manager. He is so firmed about the 2/14 release date

 

[TBolt2011]

I think Verizon is being smart in this, although it seems that I'm in the minority. I said much earlier that Verizon would be stupid to release the TBolt so close to the iPhone so they could capitalize on both devices individually -- thus making more money.

To me, this makes no sense. Why wait until the return policy is over for the iPhone to release the Bolt? If they went 17th, people could hype the Bolt up HUGE for a week, and VZ could capitalize on the fact that they'd make $70/exchange. essentially selling the Bolt for $350/$390/$820 a pop.

 

[twistedjustice81285]

me too...told to the store manager. He is so firmed about the 2/14 release date

Which store did you call?

 

[DolfanCole]

To me, this makes no sense. Why wait until the return policy is over for the iPhone to release the Bolt? If they went 17th, people could hype the Bolt up HUGE for a week, and VZ could capitalize on the fact that they'd make $70/exchange. essentially selling the Bolt for $350/$390/$820 a pop.

It's not the waiting until the return period is over. It's simply giving each device their own time in the spotlight, thereby increasing the overall sales of each. As you know, there's more discussion of this in the other thread.

 

[hagalah]

Which store did you call?

BB, Santana Row CA (Store 851). Talk to him directly this morning. Not by phone.

 

[TBolt2011]

It's not the waiting until the return period is over. It's simply giving each device their own time in the spotlight, thereby increasing the overall sales of each. As you know, there's more discussion of this in the other thread.

THIS makes sense, yes. But to say it's about money... The potential for making more money is MUCH higher the way I laid it out. If even one person were to return the iPhone for a Bolt, that's $70 more for VZW then they would have had the way it appears to be playing out.

I feel like I've discussed this with you or someone else on these forums once before, lol.

 

[twistedjustice81285]

Now my head is spinning. Could some Best Buys be getting this phone before others? I find it very odd that certain stores are still convinced it's the 14th.

 

[Edwill86]

Now my head is spinning. Could some Best Buys be getting this phone before others? I find it very odd that certain stores are still convinced it's the 14th.

everyone is very confused..including myself..we just have to wait and see... right now my $ is on the 24th..but if the 14th or even the 17th holds true I know everyone will be happy as can be!

 

[macewank]

this theory is of course based on the belief that vzw postponed the launch of the thunderbolt because if the iphone, which isn't true.

people in the know have already said the delay was due to an issue with LTE tower handoffs. had nothing to do with apple or their phone.

 

[anon(157335)]

THIS makes sense, yes. But to say it's about money... The potential for making more money is MUCH higher the way I laid it out. If even one person were to return the iPhone for a Bolt, that's $70 more for VZW then they would have had the way it appears to be playing out.

I feel like I've discussed this with you or someone else on these forums once before, lol.

However, from that $70 you need to subtract the cost of the now used iPhone. They can't sell it as new anymore, and many people won't buy even slightly used electronics.

 

[Chris Kerrigan]

I also wouldn't think too much into HTC asking for the information to be kept confidential. This is pretty normal with FCC filings. I see more with the confidential label on them than not. Like Jerry said, there's no indication that this is the Thunderbolt, either.

 

[Gage]

I am new to the forum so I apologize if this is misplaced or redundant...I walked into my local VZW store today (SD, CA) and asked the sales associate about the Thunderbolt. I was directed to a different salesperson (maybe a manager though I didn't see any demarcation on his name tag) who told me this: they are expecting the release date next week with information about 4G pricing coming middle to late of next week...this is inconsistent with the 24th release date but seems to mesh with the 17th...just my two cents of what I've gleaned