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Google's Nexus 4 smartphone sells out in the US in 50 minutes

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Re: Google's Nexus 4 smartphone sells out in the US in 50 minutes

#111

Post by backprojection »

gutnor wrote: post #78
paulgb wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is nice in theory. I think this doesn't happen because when you take people's money they're suddenly your "customers" and think they're entitled to a phone ASAP and if there are any unexpected delays you have upset the hoard. As soon as you take someone's money, they're a customer support liability.

It does not seem to cause any problem to Amazon, Apple, or the vast majority of other shops out there. The biggest shop debit your card when they ship and let you cancel at any time. Google is crafting buzz like Apple is doing with the queues at the Apple store or their irritating "reserve your iPhone" that in reality does not reserve anything. A difference though, if you don't want to bother, you can simply order on…

On the other hand, why not just wait a week 'till all the fervor is over. If you're cool-headed enough to realize this is all to build buzz, then surely you can wait a week.

Re: Google's Nexus 4 smartphone sells out in the US in 50 minutes

#112

Post by DannyBee »

nullvoyd wrote: post #10

Luckily, I got my order through albeit with a good share of issues. -> Google Wallet pane opening empty -> Google Wallet pane opening with an error message -> Google Wallet pane not opening and me receiving a top of the window notification saying they are working hard on resolving the issue -> Google wallet opening, with info. I then clicked purchase and it wouldnt go through. After multiple times trying it, losing m…

So they successfully replicated the online apple store rush experience then?

Re: Google's Nexus 4 smartphone sells out in the US in 50 minutes

#113

Post by jff »

kmfrk wrote: post #102
edw519 wrote: post #63

1922: heroin 1932: alchohol 1942: nicotine 1952: amphetamines 1962: marijuana 1972: acid 1982: crack cocaine 1992: crystal meth 2002: X 2012: smartphones

2002: Internet? :)

I think he was referring to MDMA when he said "X"

Re: Google's Nexus 4 smartphone sells out in the US in 50 minutes

#114

Post by jbail »

hnalien wrote: post #98
hnalien wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Update at 10:30 AM PST - 16gb model said 'In Stock', I added to cart and the message says 'There was a problem with your order' with a big blue button saying 'GO SHOPPING!' I would expect better E-Commerce management from Google, who claims to have the brightest people working for it.

Update at 11:30 PST - Bought the 16GB successsfully. Took 2 mins. I believe the 'Sold Out' news in the morning drove more customers curiously to the Google Play website, thus letting them buy it today even if they wanted to wait. No one wants a supply issue like the iPhone 5. As I thought, Google is way smarter than Apple to be prepared for high volume sales on it's platform. Well played, Google.

I don't think this was well played by Google or intentional at all. The Google Play website is still down. Tarnishing your brand in front of current and potential customers just to try out a guerrilla marketing tactic is just plain stupid.

A much better tactic would be to have a site that's up, responsive and presents a simple, joyful order process. That would win evangelists. People could point to the Nexus 4 launch and say, "Look everybody! When Google launches a phone, they do it right. It was a painless, awesome experience."

That is the complete opposite of the Nexus 4 launch we experienced today. Google bungled it big time (and I say that both as a consumer as well as an owner of Google stock).

Re: Google's Nexus 4 smartphone sells out in the US in 50 minutes

#115

Post by ryanhuff »

backprojection wrote: post #111
gutnor wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does not seem to cause any problem to Amazon, Apple, or the vast majority of other shops out there. The biggest shop debit your card when they ship and let you cancel at any time. Google is crafting buzz like Apple is doing with the queues at the Apple store or their irritating "reserve your iPhone" that in reality does not reserve anything. A difference though, if you don't want to bother, you can simply order on…

On the other hand, why not just wait a week 'till all the fervor is over. If you're cool-headed enough to realize this is all to build buzz, then surely you can wait a week.

That would be fine if Google made an announcement that they expect to take orders again in n weeks.

Re: Google's Nexus 4 smartphone sells out in the US in 50 minutes

#116

Post by Lewisham »

datasage wrote: post #99
hnalien wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Update at 11:30 PST - Bought the 16GB successsfully. Took 2 mins. I believe the 'Sold Out' news in the morning drove more customers curiously to the Google Play website, thus letting them buy it today even if they wanted to wait. No one wants a supply issue like the iPhone 5. As I thought, Google is way smarter than Apple to be prepared for high volume sales on it's platform. Well played, Google.

I suspected it has more to do with duplicate orders getting canceled. I was able to snag one as well about 30 minutes ago.

Oh some sort of rate limiting on Wallet being enacted at the Play end. If you stop people putting the thing in the cart, they can't get to Wallet and have it choke and die, as it did this morning.

Re: Google's Nexus 4 smartphone sells out in the US in 50 minutes

#117

Post by dredmorbius »

nsns wrote: post #70
edw519 wrote: post #63

1922: heroin 1932: alchohol 1942: nicotine 1952: amphetamines 1962: marijuana 1972: acid 1982: crack cocaine 1992: crystal meth 2002: X 2012: smartphones

So now capitalism itself is the opium of the people?

Given my fascination with things dopamineagenic and their interplay in modern consumer commerce, that is a very insightful observation.

Note that Marx's version is usually given as "the opiate of the masses", but still.

Re: Google's Nexus 4 smartphone sells out in the US in 50 minutes

#118

Post by dredmorbius »

gergles wrote: post #24

The fact that it is 2012 and stores still refuse to just let you give them money and then have them ship you a product is ridiculous. I don't want to sit here and wait for a store to open or for things to come 'back in stock' to buy a phone. That's why we invented computers, to automate boring tasks. I give you money, you put my name on a list, as phones come in, you ship them in the order of the names on the list. P…

At many stores you can. "Sorry, that's not in stock right now, but we can order it for you".

Especially bookstores, what few record stores still exist, some clothing stores, hardware stores, and more.

This is actually my preferred form of shopping. I don't care for online purchases generally, shipping and returns are a hassle (you have to be there for it, there's always the question of refunds getting properly processed, and there is simply no online presentation which is as comprehensive as having the product in your hands to assess its qualities).

For electronics, which are readily produced, it's a real sham if you aren't able to do this.

Re: Google's Nexus 4 smartphone sells out in the US in 50 minutes

#119

Post by overshard »

Just a heads up, it's not sold out, I got mine just now which is 3 hours after people are saying it's sold out. The sales keep going up and down I'm not sure if it's due to server issues or they are adding more stock here and there as they get them but you can still get one if you try.

Re: Google's Nexus 4 smartphone sells out in the US in 50 minutes

#120

Post by Karunamon »

kalleboo wrote: post #80
wmf wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The concept of "we charge your card when the product ships" was invented how many years ago? It sounds like Google is retrofitting physical products into a store that was never meant to handle them.

Even if they only take a hold to ensure the funds are on the card, many (most?) banks won't tell you that the money wasn't charged yet, and they'll make it unavailable.

Holds usually only last for a week, tops.
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