Have you ever heard of a Verizon Wireless Private Sale before? Me neither… I always thought that when you wanted to get a new BlackBerry into the hands of a VIP right before it launches you either called their pulbicist or held a Launch Party and hope that at least a few A-List people showed up.
I guess you learn something new everyday, but, I digress… If you just happen to be one of Verizon’s “most valued customers” you get to buy Verizon’s hottest devices at their best prices. I wonder if paying your $278.37 bill every month for the last 4 1/2 years makes you a “most valued customer”? Somehow I doubt it.
If I had to guess I’d say those Verizon customers that they don’t value most are looking at the week of Thanksgiving coming before we can get a BlackBerry Storm.
[Via BlackBerry News]
Even though there is a picture of a BlackBerry Storm on the flyer and I am guessing that it says Introducting the BlackBerry Storm down near the bottom, the BlackBerry Storm isn’t listed by name in the part where it says you can buy it during the private sale.
Is this just inferred by the picture, or, is Verizon leaving themselves an out in case the device isn’t ready?
You know, I wonder if it will be ready by that time…
I went to a BlackBerry Storm Launch event this morning and I got to spend a fair amount of time playing with a couple pre-production units.
To make a long story short they were a lot more buggy than the vodafone version that I played with a couple of weeks ago.
They’re just trying to run the “Apple hype machine” and it’s working — everyone’s talking/blogging about it.
I agree with Richard; RIM is trying to create this buzz about the device, and indeed, it’s working.
Now if RIM is smart, they send out this invitation to a large group of people…maybe everyone who’s expressed interest in the device. That’s the way “private sales” should work: they make people feel special and exclusive, when in reality it’s meant for the masses.
I think its a fantastic idea…. that’s only probably because I’m considered a VIP member. However after getting the curve I’m questioning if I need to upgrade for the few extra features.
I spoke with Verizon this afternoon and they told me that the V.I.P. sale is for items that they are going to place on sale for black friday. The private sale just gives big spenders an early shot at those sale items so they dont have to wait in line on black friday. I also asked about the Storm because it was on the invite and I was told that it is not available for sale during the private event. She informed that the est. date is still scheduled for Nov 23rd and that pricing has not yet been provided. Most managers are willing to call you as information becomes available.
I know I’m off topic here but I’m interested in the LG Dare and have a $100 Verizon credit coming to me on Nov. 23. Does anyone have some insight into price drops on existing phones on Black Friday? Or will I have to wait pre/post Christmas for the $200 price to come down? (My current phone is duct taped and powers down randomly but I’ll be damned if I don’t make it last until I can squeeze a good one out of Verizon.)
Been talking w/ Verizon all day. They swear the Storm will not be available at the VIP Private Sale — not foe salw to anyone until 11/21.
in order to become a verizon “VIP customer” you must have some extra package with verizon, (ie internet on your phone or the auto save numbers online)
this deal is really good, but what does “debit cardless $50 VIP discount” mean?
I just tried to convince the Verizon sales reps at the Private Sale (I got a flyer) to sell me a Storm, and apparently it does not come out until Friday. Even though the storm is on the cover of the flyer, and the first inside page, it is not part of this sale. Talk about misleading!
Was the Dare on sale? What price?
The Private is a SHAM it’s nothing no more than a bad ugly attempt to get people in their stores to reduce their inventory of phones that are not moving by misleading their best customers into thinking they can walk away or pre-order the Storm. Can you say…bait and switch!? Oh did I forget to say that the phone number they gave to call…doesn’t work, that it’s not actual Verizon employees when you do happen to get through after a couple of hours trying 1-800-723-9195 try it.
I must admit that I was a little skeptical as to whether or not they would be selling the Storm today. I received the VIP spam-letter myself and was trying to be optimistic about the early sale date, eventhough everywhere else has said it won’t be released till the 21st.
So I went to my local VZW Store this morning (I actually took the day off…. (@$$) . The people in the store told me they had never even heard of “The Private Sale”…. I was so mad. I went out to my car and called the 1-800-723-9195 — 34 minutes later the auto-attendant dropped me (This pushed me over the edge!!!!!!) I went back into the store and asked for a regional or companywide complaint line – They don’t have a complaint line.. I highly doubt that — but whatever. (The people in the store were great, but someone way up in Verizon’s marketing department is going to have a real crappy week with the thousands of the blog entries about this screw up) My wife wants to go pickup to iPhones – If you think I’m upset you should hear her! I’m going to take my $295/month over there. Nick/NY.
Same thing. I went at 9am to the place, after getting their 730am. They didnt have it for sale, they didnt have it for demo. They claimed the Private Sale was for LG products. Then why did they have the Storm as the feature item. I am upset. I felt like I got hit in the face with a big can of disappointment.
this is the biggest false advertising I have ever seen. I think I am more pissed that my wife threw it away and I looked through 4 bags of trash thinking I was special and could get it before everyone else. What a farse.
I went into the store only to be told that I couldnt purcahase it today. I brought in the flyer, and the sales ass told me “there is no price next to it. We are just introducing it.”
I thought he was on crack or didnt know what he was talking about, so I called one of my contacts over at VZW (customer of mine) and asked whats going on. He stated the same thing and that I couldnt get it until Fri (if they ship).
Only time will tell, but I am angry that I went to the store on false advertising.
Arghhh…..
About VZW new phones that come out well one thing the date that they originally post is the date that it is on sale online and it actually takes a week to get it in ur local stores if u have not noticed. Same thing happened to me when the Dare first came out i actually waited 2 hours outside of the store for it and when it opened people looked at me like i was retarded because they have not heard of the phone before which is stupid because who wouldnt know about the latest updates that happen at the place that u work. You guys do know that there are privately owned VZW stores right so they might not be offering the same deals as the original stores might be offering. so yea keep that in mind in the mean time im still a valued VZW customer and i will continue to be unless they screw me over like AT&T has in the past though they do got that sick as IPHONE OMG lol o wells lol
I have been mulling over whether or not I want an iPhone bad enough to end my contract with Verizon and just eat the early termination fee. This insulting “Private Sale” marketing ploy may provide me the motivation to switch carriers and get an iPhone or even the Blackberry Bold which is only available through AT&T. At the least I am gonna bitch and moan to someone from Verizon about this B.S.and see if I can’t get them to throw me a better rate or something for my wasted time.
Went to a VZW store a week ago – they asked me if I wanted to be on a “referral” list – so a phone would arrive in my name…. they said check back 11/20 which I did and they didn’t even check my name or number and said “yeah we have the storm, but not many” – in another words – a ploy to build a list (referrals) to beefup their demand and delivery to that store, but not actually making any promises to you (which they made it sound like) – another ploy like the “private sale.”