The T-Mobile G1 Pre-Orders racked up so quickly that earlier this week they were forced to momentarily halt all new orders. It didn’t take long to get the system back up and running but with a message that will thrill some and devastate others:
Already ordered your T-Mobile G1? If you ordered before October 3, 2008 it will be delivered right to your door as early as October 22, 2008*.
That’s truly great. But what about folks who have yet to order it, want to order tomorrow or whatever?
Order yours before October 21, 2008, and it will be delivered as early as November 10, 2008.* After all, as a loyal customer, you deserve to get what you want—when you want it.
Okay… so as a loyal customer what if I want mine before November 10th? Like… by October 22nd when all the other loyal customers are getting theirs? Too bad.
So did HTC really have to go back to the drawing board and up the production levels to fulfill unit demand by November 10th? Did they purposefully create a shortage to build hype and buzz? I’m not sure we’ll ever know.
But whats REALLY crazy is that this demand is ONLY for EXISTING T-Mobile customers. What happens when the floodgates open? Will Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, Alltel, etc… customers flock to T-Mobile to get their hands on a G1?
There HAS to be a lot of strategizing and plotting behind the scenes – there IS a method to this madness – but we’ll never know what the raw, untamed conversations behind corporate doors contains. I imagine they want the G1 to create a spectacle. Only allow a select group to own it and in the time frame of when THEY get it and its available at RETAIL, start a ridiculous marketing push that will have everyone wanting one but nobody selling them.
People want something they can’t have. Especially when they see other people have it… and those other people are showing off all the awesome features to them.
Its a good move and I assume thats what they’re doing. Of course, I’m just speculating as to what I’d do if I was marketing the device… I think they’re playing their cards well. What do you think?
[Via T-MobileG1.com]