It CAN be done!!
5/30 - In store - was told I was eligible for my VZ upgrade, decided eventually on the DINC as my BB replacement. Was told...sorry we're out of stock..delivery date sometime mid June. I decided to wait. ( big mistake)
6/18 - Still haven't decided whether to go back yet or not, called store....no dice..I say damn and move on. Received a phone call from VZ telesales this evening offering me an upgrade/contract renewal with a $99 DINC if I do it over the phone. I hadn't committed as I wanted to see if I could get maybe a case or free minutes thrown in, but before I say anything, the supervisor interrupts the call and says "Sir, I can promise you a ship date of 6/23, putting the phone in your hands between 3-5 days if you complete your renewal over the phone today" I say hellz yes and off we go! I'm to get a confirmation email and tracking number via email soon after this call.
6/23 - No email, no tracking numbers...so I call CS. I hear "sorry sir, the DINC isn't shipping until 7/15" I say no way, look closer at my acct, I was promised 6/23 ship date but I haven't received any tracking number. CS supervisor gets on the line and says "sir, I'm not sure why you were told....wait...my apologies sir, I see the supervisors notes here stating a 6/23 ship date. Please allow 24 hours from this date to receive tracking information"....I say thank you and I'm on my merry way getting more excited as the hours tick away.
6/24 - It is now 9 p.m. and no email, no word, no tracking numbers so I call CS again. I hear THIS now from the supervisor on shift.."Sir, I have no idea why you were told you would have a 6/23 ship date. This phone has been delayed due to lack of stock and I can now give you a ship date of 7/26." Calmly I tell the man he's full of it and ask if telesales is in the business of lying to customers to get them to renew. He apologies profusely so I tell him it's not his personal fault but I would like to make a complaint against the woman that lied to me and out of sheer anger I cancel my order.
6/27 - After I finally stop fuming, my wife says (in her infinite wisdom)...."why are you so flipping mad? You're gonna end up getting the damn phone and it IS just a phone. Stop complaining, calm down, order it and wait like everyone else".......I surrender as I'm attempting to use my BB that is on its last legs. So I start to think....there has got to be a better way of getting this thing.
6/28 - Before I order online to hear a delivery date of August something, I start calling my local VZ stores AND BB stores. I ask two questions to each store 1) Do you have any in stock? (this was met with many chuckles) and 2) When are you expecting any in? I hear "sorry sir, we don't know when we'll get more in, we're filling backorders now and we haven't received any word of when more will be shipped yet"....I called 4 VZ stores total and hit paydirt on the 4th one after the 3rd store failed to answer the call. I now hear "Yes sir, we're getting 12 in this week, it won't be til the latter part of the week but this week for sure" I get excited and ping them with a barrage of questions "Are they real, are they refurbished, why you guys and nobody else and how can get my fat hands on one"....They answer "yes, they're real, not refurbished and we got them in cuz we're using a different supplier"...it doesn't matter to me, just put my name on the list please!!
7/1 - I walk in the store...it's a VZ reseller store so I paid an additional 50 bucks to get the phone (their markup)..45 minutes later..I walk out cradling my new DINC.
I have no idea as to why I got so lucky with this...I just know that I called and called and finally someone said "yes, we have that" ...BTW....this phone is simply put....amazing. Totally worth the efforts!!
I purchased the full body Zagg Invisible Shield for my DInc
