Thunderbolt - Best Buy Availability/Pricing/Ordering Discussion

[jd10984]

they have to. cause everything about this phones release an price is complete mystery lol. idk why verizon wants to torture us.

I personally think they are making us wait untill the Super Bowl (than we'll finally get our answer) It's kind of messed up since odds are it will be released 7 days later... But ah well.

 

[paulmike3]

it is actually nothing like your scenario because there has been zero dollars spent on any advertizing campaign, they have barely acknowledged it exists until recently and havnt even given a date for its release.

I dunno man, this looks a like they spent a little on advertising the ThunderBolt and their brand spanking new LTE network. I also guarantee a Super Bowl commercial (or 2) at $3,000,000 per 30 seconds. All so the very first device to utilize their trendsetting network can be absent from their B&M stores? HIGHLY unlikely.

Photo courtesy of jaxciz.

 

[sandoff]

This Sunday is the First day of pre-orders, just check at work (best buy) and was told by our mobile manager, as we looked it up in the system, that we will start taking pre-orders sunday and the phone will be in stock and on sale monday the 14th, make sure you pre-order tho because he told me that usually they only ship as many as they have pre-ordered to the stores and the next shipment will be shelved. FWIW

 

[edoublediz]

nice try! in your photo you cant even see one or any banner or anything but advertising for 4G. big difference. to your analogy that would be like advertising for the game of football in general, not the superbowl. of course it was there. a small portion of there display was dedicated to Bolt. still doesnt change the fact that they have barely acknowledged it exists until recently and havnt even given a date for its release. anyway.

 

[edoublediz]

This Sunday is the First day of pre-orders, just check at work (best buy) and was told by our mobile manager, as we looked it up in the system, that we will start taking pre-orders sunday and the phone will be in stock and on sale monday the 14th, make sure you pre-order tho because he told me that usually they only ship as many as they have pre-ordered to the stores and the next shipment will be shelved. FWIW

that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever! preorder on sunday then sunday night they ship a thousand plus stores what was preordered for arrival next morning. try again!

 

[hydroz_23]

that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever! preorder on sunday then sunday night they ship a thousand plus stores what was preordered for arrival next morning. try again!

preorder this sunday and then they arrive a week later, not the next morning

 

[paulmike3]

nice try! in your photo you cant even see one or any banner or anything but advertising for 4G. big difference.

so with all the LTE advertising and all the LTE commercials and all the publicity they've garnered over their LTE network and how it's going to revolutionize the mobilie industry -- when "Verizon's first LTE device!!!11111111!!11!!1!111SHIFTELEVENTYELEVEN" is FIIIIIINALLY here, it won't even be available from Verizon? 0.o

That's a nice thought if you're an out-of-work Chief Marketing Officer, since there will be a vacancy when the LTE campaign flops, but to anyone with any marketing knowledge, it's the biggest FAIL that could possibly take place.

 

[edoublediz]

gotcha, i thought you meant 13th

 

[thedeceiver]

so with all the LTE advertising and all the LTE commercials and all the publicity they've garnered over their LTE network and how it's going to revolutionize the mobilie industry -- when "Verizon's first LTE device!!!11111111!!11!!1!111SHIFTELEVENTYELEVEN" is FIIIIIINALLY here, it won't even be available from Verizon? 0.o

That's a nice thought if you're an out-of-work Chief Marketing Officer, since there will be a vacancy when the LTE campaign flops, but to anyone with any marketing knowledge, it's the biggest FAIL that could possibly take place.

Uhhh... I hate to break it to you but the Verizon marketing guru's have hosed up this phone pretty well. So, they've done a great job of pushing the iPhone and their LTE network but who, outside of the diehards, even know the Thunderbolt is coming? No one. And a Superbowl ad? Yeah, people will know then, kind of, but they should have pushed it hard at CES and then released immediately (just like iPhone).

All the news is about a possible release date for the phone, nothing about why the phone is a good phone.

Also, without understanding the financials, it's hard to say whether or not having the phone in Verizon's stores on Day 1 is important. Having it in their stores is an ego thing... Best Buy is perfectly capable of selling the device without having Verizon to do any of the logistics.

 

[sandoff]

gotcha, i thought you meant 13th, like article i posted said.

sorry didint read the article, but our RSS system says that they will be onsale the 14, and BB can do 1 year's if you specifically ask, it will be more expensive than Verizons 1 year prices, but its possible

 

[edoublediz]

Uhhh... I hate to break it to you but the Verizon marketing guru's have hosed up this phone pretty well. So, they've done a great job of pushing the iPhone and their LTE network but who, outside of the diehards, even know the Thunderbolt is coming? No one. And a Superbowl ad? Yeah, people will know then, kind of, but they should have pushed it hard at CES and then released immediately (just like iPhone).

All the news is about a possible release date for the phone, nothing about why the phone is a good phone.

Also, without understanding the financials, it's hard to say whether or not having the phone in Verizon's stores on Day 1 is important. Having it in their stores is an ego thing... Best Buy is perfectly capable of selling the device without having Verizon to do any of the logistics.

agree 100% the only people that know exists are here! As usual the Verizon launch is just completely stupid and makes no sense. I have been with VZW for 8 years and other than great service and actually pretty damn good customer service nothing they do choosing phones or releasing phones makes sense, what makes you think they will start now. Also I agree BB is perfectly capable of selling and actually marketing the phone.

 

[paulmike3]

Uhhh... I hate to break it to you but the Verizon marketing guru's have hosed up this phone pretty well. So, they've done a great job of pushing the iPhone and their LTE network but who, outside of the diehards, even know the Thunderbolt is coming? No one. And a Superbowl ad? Yeah, people will know then, kind of, but they should have pushed it hard at CES and then released immediately (just like iPhone).

For one, no LTE phones were ready for release at CES or slightly after. So they could have scrapped the whole LTE CES thing and advertised more 3G phones, lose market share, poor showing, blah blah blah. Or they could build huge amounts of hype, design and setup a monster 4G LTE display, have by far the most popular keynote and press conference, and have dozens of hands on units to tease the 140,000 press and consumers with. That was a huge success in itself. Every mobile blog has been reporting any scrap of a rumor since CES. Another success. And yesterday, when the Best Buy ad hit, #thunderbolt was a trending twitter topic. There are PLENTY of people that want this device, and want it bad. Do a search on twitter if you don't believe me.

The point is, the very first 4G LTE phone (regardless of which model it is) will be available in their own store at launch. If it's not, they might as well start tearing down their LTE towers.

I'm done explaining why. And I won't be "that guy" that resurrects this thread with an "I told you so" on 2/14.

 

[Forgetful]

sorry didint read the article, but our RSS system says that they will be onsale the 14, and BB can do 1 year's if you specifically ask, it will be more expensive than Verizons 1 year prices, but its possible

How much more expensive do you know?

I'd really love pre ordering this phone but I need a 1 year.

 

[paulmike3]

Best Buy Grand Rapids South just outed Feb. 14th as the release date on their wall!

http://www.facebook.com/BestBuyGrandRapids/posts/143068162420699

From the site:

Best Buy - Grand Rapids South Here are the release dates for new phones & devices that are coming soon to Best Buy!!

– iPhone 4 – 2/10
– HTC Thunderbolt – 2/14
– Samsung Presto “Hotspot” – 2/17
– Motorola Xoom Tablet – 2/24

 

[edoublediz]

another good sign for your argument

 

[sandoff]

not sure on the exact price but prbly closer to retail than VZWs 1 year

 

[AlpineM3#AC]

If they are to stock them on the 14th, then when would pre orders start?

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[paulmike3]

If they are to stock them on the 14th, then when would pre orders start?

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Stock, how about sell?! Here are the... | Facebook

 

[SpaceHippie]

Ok im off work. Heres what my buddy from mobile said. He said he's not sure of a specific date, but we will definitely have them before the 24th. He's been hearing the 14th as well. As some know, BB mobile employees don't have alot of info so this is all he knows.

 

[SpaceHippie]

The guy at work told me they may mark up a little higher. It sucks since im paying full retail. But he said my employee discount may take it down to maybe 400. That's really good. Because im going to get the free buyback on it.