S4 Delayed?

[Anonymous]

Hey all.

As usual a complaint has brought a new member to the forum. I do apologise about that.

Being a bit of a tech nut I've weighed up the benefits of my 3rd HTC in a row, with it's consistently poor battery life but overall great experience against the plastic, but awesome UI of the S4.

I really liked the S2 so I decided I'd give it a go, it's got loads of great features I'd never use  which sounds appealing to me.

I went in earlier this week to my local O2 and preordered the S4 and I was told I'd get it in store on Friday (today) and I just had to wait for a text. I called O2 yesterday to see if they had any news on the preorder as tomorrow is the only morning I could really take a couple of hours off as I'm busy working Saturday and Sunday.

They had no idea about the order and told me that the store runs like a franchise and they don't share information. What? I was assured by the store when I preordered that I'd recieve it today as they hadn't had many pre orders so I trusted that information.

I call up this morning and no, they don't have any phones and they 'SHOULD' get them tomorrow. This is one of the biggest tech launches in the calender year, how can they delay it by a day? 

Did anyone else get this from their local store? I guess I should be happy that I'm going to get it tomorrow (if I can get away) as I read that many wont be getting there's for a week or so, but still, if you're guaranteed something and then they don't deliver it's annoying whatever the case is.

[MI5]

Unfortunately it seems typical these days. I think the manufacturers need to take the blame as it was the same with the iPhone5 launch and HTC are having supply issues with the One !! It's all down to marketing spin and over hyping of the product but it's the consumer that suffers ultimately......

[Bambino]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/apr/25/samsung-galaxy-s4-release-supply-shortages

[Anonymous]

I honestly think that phone manafacturers are happy to not have enough supply initially to meet demand, or maybe do have the stock, but limit it's relaease onto the market.

It prompts the news articles and bloggers to go into overdrive resulting in even more free publicity, and people rushing to get one that may otherwise have waited so that they don't 'miss out'. Surely a global manafacturer such as Samsung can churn these bad boys out at an astounding rate if they really wanted to?

Always sounds good to say something has 'sold out within hours', doesn't it?!

[Anonymous]

From The Guardian article.

The global release of Samsung's blockbuster Galaxy S4 phone on Saturday is being hampered by supply shortages so severe that customers will not be able to take home a device from most Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U stores during the launch weekend.

This doesn't include the main networks. I've seen them talk about the US networks but not so much about the UK.

I'll call them in the morning I guess, but it seems silly, games and the like don't have this problem. I'm not proportioning blame, but I  don't get how you can be told 'Yes, You'll recieve it tomorrow' and then not recieve it, it's one day... What happened???

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

From The Guardian article.

I'll call them in the morning I guess, but it seems silly, games and the like don't have this problem. I'm not proportioning blame, but I  don't get how you can be told 'Yes, You'll recieve it tomorrow' and then not recieve it, it's one day... What happened???

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Yeah, blaming the suppliers is just a cop-out. They will of known exactly how many handets they where going to have and should have adjusted there pre-order limited to suit... 

I'm going to my local O2 store tomorrow to try and snatch up one of the handets. Or move to EE as they seem to have stock still

[Anonymous]

Same problem here, I ordered mine on April 10th got a firm guarantee it would be del;ivered today. I had a text from a courier to say it would be delivered yet now it seem it wont!!

Courier denies having it, O2 are faffing about making all sorts of excuses.

I have arranged my whole working week around being home today to take delivery of it, I get the feeling they really dont give a **bleep** about the customer and will say anything to keep us quiet!!

[Bambino]

I really don't understand this obsessive desire of people having to have a newly released phone on the very first day. Not just this phone. It happens every time any other interesting phone or new iPhone is released. Maybe it's just me, or I'm getting too old, but I just don't understand all the ranting. There is a supply shortage which has most likely been instigated by the manufacturer to make the phone more desirable. Does anyone really think that O2, or any of the other networks want their Customer Service lines jammed with people complaining that they haven't had their delivery? It's a phone. You'll have it when they can deliver it. Earth won't stop turning if you don't get it until next week. 

[Anonymous]

It's the principal of the matter.

I can't stand unreliable people or unreliable companies.  If I say I am going to do something for someone, I stand by my word.  I expect the same from others.  If they cannot stand by their word (short of being hit by a bus, or the sky falling) they shouldn't promise what they can't deliver.

Trouble is, most companies are all the same.  Good old fashioned customer service is hard to come by these days, even if they all constantly bleet about it.

[Anonymous]

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@Bambino wrote:

I really don't understand this obsessive desire of people having to have a newly released phone on the very first day. Not just this phone. It happens every time any other interesting phone or new iPhone is released. Maybe it's just me, or I'm getting too old, but I just don't understand all the ranting. There is a supply shortage which has most likely been instigated by the manufacturer to make the phone more desirable. Does anyone really think that O2, or any of the other networks want their Customer Service lines jammed with people complaining that they haven't had their delivery? It's a phone. You'll have it when they can deliver it. Earth won't stop turning if you don't get it until next week. 

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You're missing the point. It's not about having a new device on day one, it's about being promised one thing, and then it not being fulfilled. 

O2 knew the numbers and clearly messed up. On top of it, have neither compensated nor even publically acknowledged.

People have had to organise their day around delivery and just had their time wasted.