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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

#71

would this be an indicator for any future trends in contract subsidized phones vs others?

It may be an indicator that the iPhone lifetime is now exceeding 2 years, and rather than being desperate to get the next Apple iDevice, people are instead casting around for cheaper cell-plans and thinking about moving to Android.

This just happen to be how the latest Android toy is sold. And probably has little to do with the cost of data plan or subsidy in general.

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

#72
post #58
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.

Some business charge customers only when the product is shipped.

In Denmark thats the law. Its illegal to charge the customer, if you haven't shipped the product.

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

#73
post #5

The Google store was extremely slow during this period. I tried to initiate a purchase around 5 minutes after they became available, but 95% of my clicks resulted in errors, and when it finally went through, the Wallet info collector hung for another 5 minutes. When that finally went through, my cart had had the phone removed from it, and they were once again out of stock. So the 50 minutes is probably somewhat infla…

Same thing happened to me, except when Wallet hung it apparently processed my order. I'm glad I checked twice since I had two orders (Nexus 10, not Nexus 4 - Had no chance of getting that guy).

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

#74
post #31

Google - I am sure you lost some sales by releasing the 4.2 update for Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7 on the same day as Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 were released! Not that I am complaining - this same day update is fast even for Google :)

I have an unlocked Galaxy Nexus and I don't see any system updates in settings. Do you have any sources for this?

Just follow this - http://www.androidcentral.com/gsm-galaxy-nexus-android-42-up.... AC tools link has adb for Win/Mac/Linux and that is all you will need in addition to the update zip.

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

#75
post #62
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.

This! Google just recently saw this happen with the Nexus 7 this summer. People were charged when they preordered and then the lack of a hard ship date caused Google to have to spend countless hours in customer support. Once somebody has paid you, the can of worms is open. They could also want to control the amount of unearned revenue on their books.

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.

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

#76
post #70
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?

Why are smartphones capitalism and not drugs. If anything drugs prove the workings of makets better then smartphones. The drugs market shows that markets work even in a state of anarchy.

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

#77
post #40
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's the price the eBay sharks are selling at. It's not the official price.

If people are willing to pay that, it's the market price.

No, this is price discrimination. There are _some_ people willing to pay more to have it.

It doesn't represent that the aggregate demand is at this price.

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

#78
post #36
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…

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 online and it get it delivered the old boring way once it is back in stock. The Nexus can only be bought online.

(disclaimer: a bit bitter after having tried to buy a Nexus 4 today)

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

#80
post #75
post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This! Google just recently saw this happen with the Nexus 7 this summer. People were charged when they preordered and then the lack of a hard ship date caused Google to have to spend countless hours in customer support. Once somebody has paid you, the can of worms is open. They could also want to control the amount of unearned revenue on their books.

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.
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