What a letdown (Stock Quantities)

[miyanc]

Re: What a letdown

I am not sure how long it takes to make one, but there really should be any excuses. isnt that why you get preorders in. They should structure the preorder date and release date so they can produce enough phones. None of this means anything tho. they do this on purpose. Just like apple does. keep it looking like the demand is high, makes people think its a cant miss item, makes people get in line, pay more. Do you think apple worries about people getting other phones. Google is trying to replicate this idea. Yes sure i bet they are trying to make the best device they can, but on there terms.

 

[miyanc]

Re: What a letdown

It wouldn't totally surprise me if the shortage is a "marketing" ploy as look at all the free press Google is getting over it.

And a "shortage" of other hot consumer electronic devices (Iphone's and Samsung's from time-to-time) never appeared to hurt those products. In fact, one might surmise it helped build those brands.

Samsung had the hottest new device and look what it got them. sorry couldnt help myself. I still want to keep my note

 

[Jeremy8000]

Re: What a letdown

I agree with the OP. I didn't pre-order because the local Verizon store I have gone to for years told me for 2 weeks before launch that they would have all models and sizes in stock on launch day. Guess what? I walked into the same store yesterday morning and they said, sorry, we never got in any 128 GB XLs. The quickest way to get it is to pre-order.

Actually, your experience gives a great deal of weight to the argument that the demand for the Pixels far outstripped reasonable expectations not only of Google, but of the largest US carrier's anticipation of need. Verizon anticipating sufficient supply for their stores but selling through so many in preorder that they are out-of-stock of select variations at retail launch points strongly support of this.

As another poster pointed out, the impact of the Note 7's removal from the competitive marketplace (and the stigma now associated with the Samsung brand, at least to the less informed consumers who aren't aware that S7 and S7 Edge are proven as safe, reliable quality units) has dramatically increased the demand for other top tier handsets. This change happened too recently for Google to engage HTC to increase production to a scale that would meet new launch demand, resulting in massively exacerbated inventory shortages.

I suspect that Google has been working with HTC to increase production as a result, and that within the next 30-60 days or so we may well see substantial inventory becoming available as their supply chain adapts to the unforeseen demand.

 

[Citizen Coyote]

Re: What a letdown

It seems like this happens every year with Google's phones, be it the Nexus or the Pixel. Eventually you either decide to accept it and wait for your phone, or you vote with your wallet and buy something else.

Does it suck? Yeah. Is it outside of the norm for what we as a consumer culture expect? Yeah. In the end, does it really matter? No. At least not in my opinion. Life is too short to fret over a two-week delay in getting a new phone.

 

[Jde2466]

Re: What a letdown

The problem is that Google has no way to forecast demand on the Pixel phone. The Nexus line up wasn't a huge seller but I would imagine that they based production somewhat on Nexus numbers. From what I can tell there is more demand for the Pixel phone which would mean a shortage. I would expect the 2nd generation of the Pixel to have more initial inventory since they will have solid numbers to base production on.

 

[Don Chill]

Re: What a letdown

Shipping date of a month from the order date is a bit too long. But this is probably part of the growing pains for Pixel. Don't expect it to reoccur from next year.

 

[buzzy3970]

Re: What a letdown

When I bought my galaxy note 2, note 4, s6 edge, S7 edge and lg v10, I got it within 2 days. They, especially the S7 edge were incredibly popular phones too. There really is no excuse.

There is an excuse. It's Google's first true phone that launched on only one major carrier in the U.S. The devices you mentioned came out on numerous carriers and they were not the first variant. I'm sure Google wanted to get a fill for the demand before they massed produced phones they may not have been able to off load. Plus I'm sure they didn't see the note 7 fiasco coming which has help them generate sales that they wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

 

[miyanc]

Re: What a letdown

The problem is that Google has no way to forecast demand on the Pixel phone. The Nexus line up wasn't a huge seller but I would imagine that they based production somewhat on Nexus numbers. From what I can tell there is more demand for the Pixel phone which would mean a shortage. I would expect the 2nd generation of the Pixel to have more initial inventory since they will have solid numbers to base production on.

isn't that what pre-orders are for. Now maybe HTC could not produce phones fast enough, god knows they have never needed to, well not never but in some time. They also had advance warning the note 7 customers would be jumping ship. I just believe they like things just the way they are.

 

[Jde2466]

Re: What a letdown

To a degree yes. Most of the people I know did not pre order the phone immediately after release. I ordered mine on 10/14 but even with some pre order numbers the manufacturing of the phone takes time. Getting the pieces from suppliers takes time. Could Google have built a bigger inventory? Yes, but that would expose themselves to massive overstock as well.

 

[buzzy3970]

Re: What a letdown

isn't that what pre-orders are for. Now maybe HTC could not produce phones fast enough, god knows they have never needed to, well not never but in some time. They also had advance warning the note 7 customers would be jumping ship. I just believe they like things just the way they are.

They didn't have advance notice. The event was on the 4 of October. I know it doesn't take long to make phone but you have to be more realistic. This is new for Google. Sure they had nexus phones but never their own phone with only their logo's and no other manufacturer branding. Things will get better. This is only the beginning. Let's save judgement for their next phone release.

 

[Almeuit]

Re: What a letdown

Before you start to crucify me, let me explain. I'm not dissapointed with pixel or pixel xl, but with Google for pulling the same crap they did with the 6p. I just retired from a very successful supermarket chain in the northeast after 47 years of management positions. Our success was due mostly on 3 things. 1-great customer service, 2-have your advertised items IN STOCK, and 3 great pricing. So you see where this is going? Googles new pixel was going to be successful. We knew that. Forget great pricing, we knew that too but were still willing to spend our money on it. They should have had tons of them available AT LAUNCH. Under no circumstances, should I place an order and be given a ship date over a month away. Retailers (verizon, best buy etc.), should also not already be OOS. Hell, im probably not going to wait a month. I'll wait for the S8. Like our philosophy at store level, never allow your customers to go to the competition, THEY MIGHT STAY THERE. Nice going Google.

Sorry -- retail stores that have X amount of customers doesn't amount to the entire US / world trying to get these phones. The supply and demand doesn't really equal and so therefore there are pre-orders and backlogs. This is no different from Samsung, Apple, HTC, LG, etc. -- They can't have a phone for every potential customer on day 1. As you said you worked in this field a long time .. Are you saying you NEVER once had a shortage? Or never had an item being advertised but ran out mid day because people saw the great deal? Come on .. Let's be real .

 

[m3lover1]

Re: What a letdown

We tend to give Google some leeway because the Nexus lines were not marketed to the mainstream. Pixel is different. To take on Apple and Samsung, you have to meet the expectations of an Samsung/Apple customer. Walk in or go online at launch, and have a new phone in hand or a delivery scheduled within a few days. There are no stockouts when they launch new phones. You are trying to flip their customers but have no inventory. That is a fail.

Yea well Apple isn't faring much better. My mom finally got her iPhone 7 plus last week, preordered the day it went live. My brother is still waiting for his to be shipped, also preordered the day it went live, with no estimated date of shipping yet. So apple isn't immune to this issue as well.

 

[Rumblee1]

Re: What a letdown

The problem is that Google has no way to forecast demand on the Pixel phone. The Nexus line up wasn't a huge seller but I would imagine that they based production somewhat on Nexus numbers. From what I can tell there is more demand for the Pixel phone which would mean a shortage. I would expect the 2nd generation of the Pixel to have more initial inventory since they will have solid numbers to base production on.

What about the pre-orders?

 

[jlangner]

Re: What a letdown

I see advertising on TV every night for the Pixel. With that much advertising you want people to see ad and go buy. If someone sees ad tries to buy and told, oos for 1 month...nevermind.. Other issue I have with ad is it says only at Verizon. I would say available at Verizon or Google Store. Average person sees and thinks, oh well, I am T-Mobile/ATT, etc, nevermind.

 

[Jde2466]

Re: What a letdown

You can walk into a Verizon store and purchase every phone but the 128GB XL around my city.

 

[miyanc]

Re: What a letdown

They didn't have advance notice. The event was on the 4 of October. I know it doesn't take long to make phone but you have to be more realistic. This is new for Google. Sure they had nexus phones but never their own phone with only their logo's and no other manufacturer branding. Things will get better. This is only the beginning. Let's save judgement for their next phone release.

I am not saying they knew it would fail the second time, but I bet they knew more then we did. But from the first time people were jumping ship and I decided on the 11th, but the recall news was out already at that point. I can't think it would take more then 7-10 days to make a phone.

So lets use round fake numbers to make it easier. Lets say they thought they would need 5 million phones at launch. so in theory if they wanted to do right by the customer they should have had all 5 mil or approaching 5 mil at launch. Anything less and they believe in keeping the hype. Because even if the phone stinks they should sell thru initial estimates. OK now the news about the note 7. Well lets make another 1 mil phones. we know samsung said 2.25 mil phones made. I bet the second go didn't get much past a mil. so at most they are looking for another mil phones.

The phones were sold out long before all this and the people griping were from the original list of pre-orders, not those jumping on after the note7.

Look I get that I am making this seem easier then it looks. and that we all want to say things like this is there first phone but it isn't. They have made many phones, good bad, high supple and low. Also THEY DID NOT BUILD THIS PHONE htc did. I am sure they put as much into this as they could but in the end it was a phone made by the largest cell phone operating system, working many years with many manufacturing, owning one of them and produced by another.

in my opinion what you are seeing is exactly what they want to happen. Sorry for those still waiting or having to wait, but they have us all right where they want us to, just like apple does.

Doesn't mean its a bad thing, just reality of the situation.

 

[Almeuit]

Re: What a letdown

Also THEY DID NOT BUILD THIS PHONE htc did. I am sure they put as much into this as they could but in the end it was a phone made by the largest cell phone operating system, working many years with many manufacturing, owning one of them and produced by another.

They definitely put in as much as they could. They basically designed it from the inside out. They handed it to HTC to mainly supply the parts / build it how they said. That is why people are saying "Designed inside and out by Google" online.

 

[gone down south]

Re: What a letdown

The iPhone 7/7Plus had the same long wait times at launch.

 

[lokey]

I agree with buzzy3970 above. Nicely put.

 

[SugarMouth]

Re: What a letdown

Before you start to crucify me, let me explain. I'm not dissapointed with pixel or pixel xl, but with Google for pulling the same crap they did with the 6p. I just retired from a very successful supermarket chain in the northeast after 47 years of management positions. Our success was due mostly on 3 things. 1-great customer service, 2-have your advertised items IN STOCK, and 3 great pricing. So you see where this is going? Googles new pixel was going to be successful. We knew that. Forget great pricing, we knew that too but were still willing to spend our money on it. They should have had tons of them available AT LAUNCH. Under no circumstances, should I place an order and be given a ship date over a month away. Retailers (verizon, best buy etc.), should also not already be OOS. Hell, im probably not going to wait a month. I'll wait for the S8. Like our philosophy at store level, never allow your customers to go to the competition, THEY MIGHT STAY THERE. Nice going Google.

I understand but doesn't that also happen with Apple every release? What if your sale was for Fruit Loops and you made sure to have stock and ordered 100,000 boxes but all 100,000 boxes sold in the first 5 minutes? Your next sale you have two for one loaves of Wonder bread and order 100,000 but only 20,000 go out before they have to be drastically reduced or expire.

It's a guessing game and also with manufacturing a phone you are at the mercy of the supply chain from screen manufactures, CPUs, RAM manufactures, etc. Add to that the percentage of throw backs that don't meet quality control.

I get the frustration but I see this with every popular phone at launch and set my expectation accordingly as it's nothing new.