[Official] Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE Pre-release thread - Sprint official launch is Saturday, June 2

[3volut1on]

This launch screw up is its own deal.

As for the Evo, supply was regional. I got one right away, but many, many others waited weeks and in some cases months for a phone after it was released.

That's what I mean by same thing as the poor Evo planning.

The preorders for this phone were strong, they eventually cut them off.

What would they have done if there wasn't a customs snafu on the launch day? Imagine the outcry.

Although, I bet they didn't place more orders until the customs snafu cleared. So, once the preorders were spoken for, they still couldn't act normal and just stock up.

Same here on the OG release. I was able to secure one on launch day, but after that they were non-existent around here for a good few months. After I got mine, I would pop in to the 3rd party retail Sprint store and RS here in the mall (drug there by my wife, of course ) to BS with the reps and ask them if they had any in stock. Their stance was to first ask the customer if it was a new line or upgrade. If upgrade, then you were out of luck as the answer was "No". They were taking advantage of the Evo to try and initiate as many new lines as possible.

I'm hopeful that doesnt happen with this phone for all the upgrade peeps waiting to get their claws on this baby

On another note, last night the wife somehow managed to drag me to the mall again and I stopped in the 3rd Party Sprint store. They were floored that I had one. One guy was flipping through my apps and noticed that I had quadrant installed. He asked if he could run it and I told him to go for it. Needless to say he was blown away. As he currently has a SGSII, he had his heart set on the SGSIII, until he played with the LTEVO ...

 

[Duffin]

EDIT: Wait...nevermind, apparently he misread inventory...they got LTE hotspots, not EVOs. Goddddddddddddd!

Just got an email from a rep at the Sprint store. My pre-order came in! It looks like the Sprint stores will finally be getting them today for everyone else, too!

 

[EarlyMon]

From Sprint's FB page....

We expect shipments of HTC EVO 4G LTE to enter the U.S. in the next few days.

Sadly confirming what I said.

 

[Rose4uKy]

I called my Sprint store today and was told they still don't have them. I was wanting to go in there and show them mine.

EDIT: Wait...nevermind, apparently he misread inventory...they got LTE hotspots, not EVOs. Goddddddddddddd!

Just got an email from a rep at the Sprint store. My pre-order came in! It looks like the Sprint stores will finally be getting them today for everyone else, too!

 

[Stubby1]

Here is what Wirefly posted on FB in case you did not see this. It was a great update and direct to the point. I say NICE job wirefly. IT is a bit lengthy, sorry.



First, let me say that I am very sorry for the inconvenience that Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE preorder customers have experienced through Wirefly. Although the situation was completely unexpected and out of our control, this is certainly not the sort of customer experience we endeavor to provide.

Each time we consider running a preorder for a device, we carefully weigh the information we have available to us and make a decision to support the preorder or not based on whether the customer experience will be a positive one. I can assure you that had we known the inventory challenges this device would experience, we would have chosen not to offer a preorder.

At this point, you probably know that inventory for the HTC EVO 4G LTE is severely constrained nationwide. It is our understanding that US Customs officials only released a fraction of the devices last week and that entire first shipment was just released (see article for additional information U.S. Customs Clears HTC One X, Evo 4G LTE for Sale | Gadget Lab | Wired.com). We are in constant contact with Sprint and will send preorder customers an email with the latest information as soon as we can.

In the meantime, we appreciate your patience. We think that we offer great value and a positive customer experience. This situation doesn

 

[Wirefly]

Here is what Wirefly posted on FB in case you did not see this. It was a great update and direct to the point. I say NICE job wirefly. IT is a bit lengthy, sorry.



First, let me say that I am very sorry for the inconvenience that Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE preorder customers have experienced through Wirefly. Although the situation was completely unexpected and out of our control, this is certainly not the sort of customer experience we endeavor to provide.

Each time we consider running a preorder for a device, we carefully weigh the information we have available to us and make a decision to support the preorder or not based on whether the customer experience will be a positive one. I can assure you that had we known the inventory challenges this device would experience, we would have chosen not to offer a preorder.

At this point, you probably know that inventory for the HTC EVO 4G LTE is severely constrained nationwide. It is our understanding that US Customs officials only released a fraction of the devices last week and that entire first shipment was just released (see article for additional information U.S. Customs Clears HTC One X, Evo 4G LTE for Sale | Gadget Lab | Wired.com). We are in constant contact with Sprint and will send preorder customers an email with the latest information as soon as we can.

In the meantime, we appreciate your patience. We think that we offer great value and a positive customer experience. This situation doesn

 

[Stubby1]

You are welcome and I can honestly say that this is just what I was looking for in terms of a response. I was on the fence about keeping the order but I like the fact that this announcement came out and said stick with us because this is what the deal is. direct and to the point.... Great Job!!!!

 

[Duffin]

You are welcome and I can honestly say that this is just what I was looking for in terms of a response. I was on the fence about keeping the order but I like the fact that this announcement came out and said stick with us because this is what the deal is. direct and to the point.... Great Job!!!!

Exactly. Other companies could take a cue from this. I mean...we aren't asking for much. Some sort of acknowledgement...something. I mean, I know Sprint posted a short paragraph, but there was no acceptance of responsibility or apologies other than the standard corporate-speak. Have Dan Hesse put out a freaking announcement apologizing and saying he understands how frustrating this has been for everyone without resorting to canned responses!

 

[Stubby1]

Exactly. Other companies could take a cue from this. I mean...we aren't asking for much. Some sort of acknowledgement...something. I mean, I know Sprint posted a short paragraph, but there was no acceptance of responsibility or apologies other than the standard corporate-speak. Have Dan Hesse put out a freaking announcement apologizing and saying he understands how frustrating this has been for everyone without resorting to canned responses!

I couldn't agree more and My faith has been renewed in Wirefly. Others should take a page out of this hand book. We should be acknowledged and maybe now we are and will be going forward..

 

[Unforgiven]

Just as a follower along with this thread, they have earned a new customer in me. I upgraded all my devices in the fall, so no new phones for a bit, but I will be grabbing a tablet or two this summer and that is the first place I will look.

 

[EarlyMon]

Well - I get to upgrade on June 1, and was hoping to do the BB Evo trade-in to make it affordable right now - that offer ends June 2.

Fingers crossed!

 

[AntimonyER]

Cutting that close there EM.

 

[volfan72]

Hi. I'm new to this forum, but I preordered the EVOLTE from Costco through Wireless Advocates on 5/11. I've been getting email updates right before they once again miss their shipment dates. I'm really on the fence on whether to keep my order in with them or order through Wirefly or BB. On the one hand, their communication has been suboptimal, on the other hand, I don't want to lose my place & go to the back of the line so to speak. This will be my first smartphone (yes, I'm coming from the stoneage), so I can live if I have to wait a couple of weeks.

 

[3vodroid]

Well - I get to upgrade on June 1, and was hoping to do the BB Evo trade-in to make it affordable right now - that offer ends June 2.

Fingers crossed!

Hey em.... I commented on htc usa's Facebook Page just to tell them how happy I was with the phone and that after my friends all checked it out they all want one.. And how it's a shame they aren't yet available. They said the phones are shipping now and should be available VERY soon for everyone else who didn't pre order! Sounds like good news to me! I know sprint released a statement also... But it's good to hear it straight from htc as well

 

[EarlyMon]

Hi. I'm new to this forum, but I preordered the EVOLTE from Costco through Wireless Advocates on 5/11. I've been getting email updates right before they once again miss their shipment dates. I'm really on the fence on whether to keep my order in with them or order through Wirefly or BB. On the one hand, their communication has been suboptimal, on the other hand, I don't want to lose my place & go to the back of the line so to speak. This will be my first smartphone (yes, I'm coming from the stoneage), so I can live if I have to wait a couple of weeks.

Welcome to the forums! (And Android and smarphones!)

If I were in your shoes, I'd hold off a few days before deciding - we expect more shipping info very soon, and it's a good idea to not lose your place in line if supply is limited with respect to demand - andother factor we're guessing at right now.

Hey em.... I commented on htc usa's Facebook Page just to tell them how happy I was with the phone and that after my friends all checked it out they all want one.. And how it's a shame they aren't yet available. They said the phones are shipping now and should be available VERY soon for everyone else who didn't pre order! Sounds like good news to me! I know sprint released a statement also... But it's good to hear it straight from htc as well

My note on Sprint's FB announcement.

Air freight from Taiwan, plus customs (everything goes thru customs, I'm not trying to start a false alarm), plus Sprint expedition, plus ground shipping to stores takes at least a week - at least.

Shipping now means they could still be on a loading dock in Taiwan or over Hawaii right now - I don't think we know where that all is.

Cutting that close there EM.

Ja wohl.

 

[volfan72]

Yeah, I think I'll wait until a week from Friday to see if there is any update.

 

[3vodroid]

Air freight from Taiwan, plus customs (everything goes thru customs, I'm not trying to start a false alarm), plus Sprint expedition, plus ground shipping to stores takes at least a week - at least.

I guess I got alittle over excited lol

 

[Stubby1]

Well - I get to upgrade on June 1, and was hoping to do the BB Evo trade-in to make it affordable right now - that offer ends June 2.

Fingers crossed!

Good luck and I'll cross mine too. Can't have to many EVO users out there.

 

[Duffin]

Wirefly did say that there was left over parts of the shipment at customs which was only just released. Sounds like there are more phones in the country, to me. Maybe not a LOT, but perhaps enough to finish off pre-order people and others on waiting lists at Sprint stores.

 

[EarlyMon]

Wirefly did say that there was left over parts of the shipment at customs which was only just released. Sounds like there are more phones in the country, to me. Maybe not a LOT, but perhaps enough to finish off pre-order people and others on waiting lists at Sprint stores.

The core of the Wirefly claim seems to go back to this story (follow the links in the Wirefly post above) -

U.S. Customs Approves Some HTC Phones for Sale, But Blockade Continues | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

And that story is full of spin. That's turned into "customs released some of the phones, but there are more in inventory (of our phone) that they've not released" instead of "it's likely that customs cleared phones in batches, and the batches in the shipment were the One S for T-Mo, the One X for ATT, and the Evo 4G LTE."

Sprint said it's waiting on phones to come in to the US - Wirefly thinks that customs is trickling them out.

I'm going to stick with - waiting for them to arrive in the US now, because all preorders were filled and they cut off preorders before shipping even started, because they were all spoken for.

Not trying to be a pessimist - just a realist on what we get if we add up all of the statements.

If there was a batch of phones just waiting for Wirefly, sitting on a palette in customs, right next to the hypothetical Sprint batch, and the hypothetical Best Buy batch - then somehow, the full Best Buy allotment and Sprint pre-order allotment got shipped over a week ago, yet somehow, Wirefly's allotment sits languishing.

Sorry. Not really buying it. Anyway, let's hope I'm wrong.

 

[EarlyMon]

From our Google Wallet catastrophe thread -

Okay so HTC just called me, while I was on the phone with sprint customer service..HTC is aware of the google wallet issue and apparently they were afraid this would be happening...and apparently ALL of the devices have now been cleared by customs.. the pre orders were only cleared because of how much revenue was on the line.. so apparently all the devices as a whole were cleared from customs 100% yesterday and now HTC is calling my local sprint corporate store and they are notifying them that they will be sending me a replacement device to that store so I can go there and swap out my device with the defective google wallet phone thankfully so boys and girls be careful because apparently a device swap is the only true fix as of the time being

So - maybe it was all politics and economics after all.

C'mon, shipping!

 

[Orion]

Its amazing that I still have all this money saved up for this phone and still waiting.

 

[Duffin]

The core of the Wirefly claim seems to go back to this story (follow the links in the Wirefly post above) -

U.S. Customs Approves Some HTC Phones for Sale, But Blockade Continues | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

And that story is full of spin. That's turned into "customs released some of the phones, but there are more in inventory (of our phone) that they've not released" instead of "it's likely that customs cleared phones in batches, and the batches in the shipment were the One S for T-Mo, the One X for ATT, and the Evo 4G LTE."

Sprint said it's waiting on phones to come in to the US - Wirefly thinks that customs is trickling them out.

I'm going to stick with - waiting for them to arrive in the US now, because all preorders were filled and they cut off preorders before shipping even started, because they were all spoken for.

Not trying to be a pessimist - just a realist on what we get if we add up all of the statements.

If there was a batch of phones just waiting for Wirefly, sitting on a palette in customs, right next to the hypothetical Sprint batch, and the hypothetical Best Buy batch - then somehow, the full Best Buy allotment and Sprint pre-order allotment got shipped over a week ago, yet somehow, Wirefly's allotment sits languishing.

Sorry. Not really buying it. Anyway, let's hope I'm wrong.

Problem being, they /didn't/ fill all pre-orders. There are still people who pre-ordered with Best Buy and Sprint close to day 1 and they still haven't received theirs. Sure, it's possible the initial shipment didn't have enough to cover all the pre-orders, but I find that really difficult to believe.

 

[EarlyMon]

Problem being, they /didn't/ fill all pre-orders. There are still people who pre-ordered with Best Buy and Sprint close to day 1 and they still haven't received theirs. Sure, it's possible the initial shipment didn't have enough to cover all the pre-orders, but I find that really difficult to believe.

I understand that not everyone got theirs - and that the other side of the coin is as you say.

We'll see. If you're right, then everyone should have theirs by Friday.

 

[Stubby1]

From our Google Wallet catastrophe thread -



So - maybe it was all politics and economics after all.

C'mon, shipping!

Sure sounds like politicking to me but am glad to hear that HTC is aware and maybe fixing the wallet issue. I would like to use it since it is a feature that was paid for.