Ready to log on and snap up a Palm Pre? Better get your walking shoes on instead. Sprint has quietly changed their plans and now the hot new smartphone from Palm will be available in stores only. That means customers wanting the device must head out to their local Best Buy, RadioShack, or Sprint store, wait in line, and hope for the best.
Sprint’s excuse is that they simply don’t have enough inventory. In fact they said they have no timetable on when the Pre will be available on their website. This could be a real blunder for them, as it’s bound to infuriate many who have been waiting months for the Pre’s release.
There’s no word on how much inventory each store has, but expect them to sell out quickly. Still want to buy online? Check out Ebay where they are popping up for a whopping $900 each.
If you’re heading out to buy a Palm Pre, leave a comment and share your buying experience with us!
Read[PCWorld]
For those current sprint customers,please be aware that the discounts sprint is offering you, applies to new customers and those who have had their old phone for at lease 22 months. (see sprint E-mail below) Otherwise you have to pay the full price of $542 dollars. Yup! they didn't tell you that! I was so upset at the store,I got home and E-mail sprint. $600 for a phone (w/tax)?? no wonder palm is failing.
In fairness to sprint, they did offer me a discount of 150 bucks but it still was not enough for me.I will just have to wait for the current hype to die down and purchase it online.
A word of advice for my fellow sprint friends. Always buy the phone on line!!!! and use their email system for any concerns or questions.You get a lot more discounts this way.
Sincerely,
Raul-Very Sad and Depress customer….for now….
Email from Sprint
Thank you for contacting Sprint. I am happy to assist you with your
query regarding the Palm Pre Price.
Sprint Phone Upgrade Program allows the current Sprint customers to opt
for a phone Upgrade at the same price as the new customers. To qualify
for this offer, the existing phone on the account should be 22+ months
old. Sprint customers with current devices older than 22 months receive
all the discounts and rebate offers listed on the Sprint website for the
new customers.
The current Samsung M300 Phone on line 646-228-2536 was activated on
your account on January 31, 2008.
Therefore, your subscription number 646-***-**** currently does not
qualify for the upgrade at the offer price listed on the website. These
upgrades offers will be applicable on your account on November 01, 2009.
Regular Price for the Pam Pre is $549.99. However, the discounted price
of Palm Pre is $199.99 with 2-year subscriber agreement.
To purchase the Palm Pre at a discounted price of $199.99, please wait
till your line 646-228-2536 becomes eligible for the same (November 01,
2009).
We value your business and appreciate the opportunity to address your
concerns. Visit Sprint.com/mysprint if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
***********
infuriate is right. I am a long time Sprint customer and I often shop online because I have a disability and waiting in long line is just not possible. Not only I am dissapointed in that the fact that I have to pay more for a phone than a new customer is just not fair. Figured they would take better care of their existing customers. I will wait a few weeks more, if not, it will be bye bye Sprint. I still have my first palm pilot and I had the Palm Treo, but I will not wait forever for the Palm Pre. I waited long enough for the release, not I have to wait to for it to be released online? Thanks Sprint
new customers sign new 2 year contracts
existing customers already have contracts
you are in contract because you already got a discount on the phones
why should you get another discount on the phones when every one else in the world only gets 1 every 2 years.
go ahead and cancel sprint, you will end up paying a cancellation fee and they get their money either way + 1 less bitchy fat sprint customer
As 1 bitchy fat Sprint customer, I totally agree with Teresa. I've been a Sprint customer for about 8 years and I think it sucks they won't allow everyone to get the Palm Pre for $199. While Sprint is giving customers the discount when they are eligible for an upgrade, some people may have to wait a whole 'nother year before they are eligible again. And who's to say that Sprint and Palm Inc. will provide the Palm Pre for $199 for a whole year so that we all have a chance to buy it for that price. So these are the customers like myself who are pissed off. Sprint should be able to give us a discount on this newly released phone, if not for $199 then maybe $299, not just say "oh it's $549, sorry you have to wait." And for that price you could give them their $200 and tell them to shove it up their asses as they cancel your contract and move over to AT&T and get the iPhone which is suppose to compete with the Palm Pre for basically the same price of $549…actually less if you get the 8GB iPhone which is the same amount of memory the Palm Pre has. Yeah like "blah" said they get their money but they might miss that phat check they get every month for my bill plus any money I might have spent on future phones. So yeah "blah" we will be some bitches cause sprint will be losing a lot of customers due to theirs and Palm Inc.'s lack of consideration for their already loyal customers.