Pre sells out nationwide, best launch ever for Sprint 20
Sprint was obviously excited by the Palm Pre, and with good reason: this launch weekend ended up as the best ever launch weekend for any Sprint phone, both in terms of first day and first weekend sales. While Sprint has not released any official sales figures, with most analysts estimating sales of anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000. That is well short of the nearly 150,000 iPhones moved during the first weekend it was available for sale, it’s still an impressive accomplishment for Sprint and the financially-strapped Palm. Not a Sprint Store in the land had a Pre in stock at the end of the weekend, and even with the short supply, that’s still a good sign.
Now, if you're still lookng for a Pre yourself, take heart, last we heard each store is getting re-upped with Pre phones on a regular (and in some cases daily) basis. Wouldn't hurt to bring some coffee and donuts to your local corporate Sprint store and make some friends is what we're saying.
20 Comments
I got 3 of them myself to partially upgrade my family plan (4th will probably be purchased by month's end). While I'm enjoying the Pre, I wonder what will happen to these sales figures over the next 30 days since Sprint allows that as a trial period. NO plans on taking mine back...just wondering since I've seen a couple forum entries indicating people were returning their here and there.
Actually when I went into the Grand Junction, CO Sprint store they still had some left.
Though, they informed me that they were the last store to have any. Afaik they may still have one or two.
Why this CONSTANT comparison to iphone? Who cares!!!
If they sold out, then they sold out. If they had 10 phones and sold out, then why compare to someplace that had 15 phones and sold out? Does that make sense? If Sprint had 150,000 phones and sold out, does that make it all better? If Sprint has more phones going to stores, then why didn't they have more available for the weekend? Was their goal just to be able to SAY they "sold out"??
Geeeze.
I never liked the term iPhone killer or that it was compared to it. I think can survive side by side no problem... Its a great phone period
It crushes the iPhone in a side by side. I don't like the term "iPhone killer" because why would I care about killing the iPhone anyway? The term gives the iPhone too much credence. I would rather have a BB Storm... well, really a Palm Pre.
The camera is better in the Pre, than even the iPhone 3GS. I haven't seen a camera this good except on high end Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones. Those are pretty much expensive camera sensors strapped to phones though.
The direct-facebook upload from within the photo browsing app is nice too.
Palm's way ahead of Apple in this game, I agree that "iPhone killer" is sorta out of whack. The interface is not gimmicky, it's different, and it works really well.
I have to call back to double check I got a replacement in. Mine was missing the the protection lens for the camera. Yes, I compared it to my brother's, it was missing.
Congratulations Sprint! More power to you!
Someone needs to do a poll and see how many SERO accounts did not "upgrade" to get a Pre.
As much as I want a Pre, I'm not letting go of my low monthly plan. Sorry Palm, you lose on this one.
I also have at least 4 friends who did not get the Pre due to Sprints mandatory upgrade to unlimited everything plans. Thats at least $800 in sales minimum for Palm.
Hopefully SERO accounts will have enough numbers to justify Sprint in re-evaluating their policy. ARE YOU LISTENING SPRINT?
At some piont you have to realize that you will have to upgrade your plan. Yes it is low cost and understandable that you want to keep it but do you also want Sprint to go out of business? Then you won't have a SERO plan to keep and will be paying through the nose at Verizon or AT&T.
Well considering they sold all units, you and your 4 friends didn't matter. I'm not dissing you or anything; I can understand you want to keep your plan. But from a business point of view, if they sell all products despite the fact that a minority did not buy it, there isn't really much they "must" listen to. That is, if you didn't affect sales, you have no real effect.
All comments are welcome and no offense taken at all.
I've been with Sprint for over 10 years now. I've had the retentions department manipulate my plans in ways you wouldn't believe. No, I was not one of those harassing customers, I just simply asked each time my contract was up if they had any deals to retain current customers.
Do you really beleive they kept SERO available for over 2 years because they didnt know about it? If they were losing money on SERO they would have closed the door within the first 6 months.
This upgrade to an all everything plan is just another marketing technique thats currently in trend.
I had the 2000 minute, two line, all data, unlimited phone-phone, plus N&W at 7 for $85 since it became available 6 or 7 years ago. Add in my 23 percent discount and it was a fabulous deal.
Did I want to drop it for a plan that's $40 more? Nope. But I needed phones now, so I couldn't wait for the Touch Pro 2s to come out, so I had to suck it up because even with a 40 percent hike in my monthly bill, I'm still getting MORE for LESS than I would pay with ANY OTHER CARRIER.
So, do Sprint know they would make some people skip the pre with these enforced plan changes? Yep. But those people weren't serious customers for the pre to begin with. They're either bottom feeders, who don't bring in enough revenue to justify the hefty subsidy on the phones, or just fashionistas looking for the next new, cool phone whether they need it or not. If they were serious customers, they would be looking at the iphone as well and realizing that Sprint is still a better deal.
To answer your question, yes, they're listening. But the reality is they're saving money by not selling you a phone.
I did'nt want to wait for a PRE. Was at my Sprint store 4;4am last saturday and first to get a phone. I knew that Sprint stores were not gonna be well stocked past that day. The early bird catches the worm!!!
"Now, if you're still lookng for a Pre yourself, take heart, last we heard each store is getting re-upped with Pre phones on a regular (and in some cases daily) basis." Really? I'd like to talk to the person who told you that. Here in the Greater Boston area, it's Tuesday, and I cannot find a Pre to buy, whether from Sprint or Best Buy. Amazing! Nothing like putting the breaks on a good thing.
Come to Western Mass then. The corporate store here got two shipments on Monday, and their waiting list isn't that long.
If you read the slickdeals.net forums there are probably hundreds of people who didn't upgrade because of the SERO restriction. I know myself and several of my friends did not either. It is depressing but it's just no in the budget to pay more for phone service.
My Sprint store in south Atlanta had 25 units and didn't sell out till late morning.
They were expecting more today.
My local radio shack had 1 unit in-stock at 4:30pm on Sunday. Yoink!
I got mine today at the san diego downtown sprint!!!!!!!! Im cant wait!