Imagine you are a naive customer who has recently heard about a wonderful new device called the Palm Pre that might be better than the new iPhone and costs 1200 dollars less over 2 years. Imagine you are charmed by what you’ve heard but would like more info. And so off you go to Best Buy where you are informed that before getting the phone you must join a waiting list. And that for the privalage of joining that list you must pay $50. How would respond? By stabbing the face of the person telling you this ridiculousness, and buying the nearest iPhone. Me too.
Yes Best Buy have come up with the genius policy of charging customers $50 to join the Palm Pre waiting list.
Terrific.
EDIT: By charge i did mean deposit. Apologies for being unclear. The $50 goes toward the cost of the phone. It’s still a deterrent to the average customer though.
3 Comments, Comment or Ping
Brian
This is crazy! Next we’ll see this virtual place in line up on ebay disgusting people even more.
Jun 25th, 2009
B
According to reports, the $50 isn’t a “charge”, it’s a deposit. People who want a place in line pay $50 and are given a $50 Best Buy gift card that can then be put towards the Pre (or anything else). I think that’s a key distinction … it’s not a charge for the privilege of standing in line, it’s a deposit to be sure that those who are serious about buying the phone aren’t edged out by others. Still kind of unusual, but I’ve heard reports that certain stores (did I mention that this isn’t universal BB policy, but one that just certain stores are adopting?) did this with iPhones, too. So, to summarize, I think that Best Buy isn’t really as evil as the reactionary headlines on this might suggest.
Jun 25th, 2009
Elaine
I would be afraid Best Buy wouldn’t last long enough to fulfill their end of the deal, and bye bye $50. They are on shaky ground anyway.
Jun 25th, 2009
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