::RANT:: Upset about lack of availability

[willgill]

Dang it Microsoft, you just can't quite get it all together.
I wear my Band everywhere, all the time. At Starbucks when I pay with the app, they all say that's SO cool. 1. Because Starbucks doesn't take Apple Pay but it takes my Band, 2. Because they're mainly Apple fanatics that work at Starbucks and they can't believe Microsoft has such a cool device.

At the gym, I get asked all the time about what's on my wrist. I don't have time for much chit-chat, but I give them a 30 second run-down of features and they're usually impressed.

Yesterday my sister-in-law was asking about it. She immediately wanted to get one. I said we have two Microsoft stores 15 minutes away and I'd be happy to drive her since she is out of town. I call both of the stores. Neither store has the Band in stock. I'm sure most of you know where this is going. I go online to the Microsoft Store and of course it's out of stock. I then resort to Amazon.

Most prices are 50% to 100% higher than SRP. Microsoft, themselves, are charging $100 over their Microsoft Store price! That's just EXTREMELY poor marketing and short sightedness. Good job, Microsoft. You somehow managed to say, "We didn't plan for demand correctly." and "We'll happily gouge you because of our miscalculations." and "We'd rather stock Amazon than our own store." all in a singular Amazon ad.

The Microsoft Store says, "Where to find Microsoft Band.
Microsoft Band is sold exclusively at the Microsoft Store. Order online or visit your nearest Microsoft Store. Free shipping. Free returns. "
Ya,... like I'll keep visiting the Microsoft Store to see if it's in stock.

 

[Likwidz]

This probably won't make you feel better but the two MSFT stores here in Silicon Valley always seem to have them in stock. I am always surprised to hear other stores around the country sell out.

Wonder when Best Buy will start the selling Band, that might be an option for your sister-in-law down the road

 

[bigdog9586]

Sign up for the new Pebble.

 

[DavidinCT]

Well, Best Buy will have them soon, most stores. So MS needs to step up to bring up their game here. I don't think Best Buy would take it on if they were never going to have stock of them.

I think they did this on purpose. Why ? Because if the market if flooded with them, the demand goes down, if there is a lack of them, the demand goes very high on them. So for the first 6 months, make then hard to get, the demand sky rockets, then flood the market with them, They will sell a ton (sell a lot more than if the market was flooded with them on day one).

Personally, I didn't really want one because I am looking for a WATCH, not a fitness band but, if the market is flooded with them and after a few months, they will be on eBay for like $100-150, when I can score one (even used), for $100, I will give it a shot....

 

[willgill]

Sign up for the new Pebble.

Are you referring to the Pebble Time Steel? My opinion is that exemplifies why smart watches haven't gained ground. It doesn't have a GPS or HRM just step count.

It looks OK, but why do I need a tiny screen when I have a screen 8 times larger in my pocket?

I buy devices that enhance my minimalist lifestyle. My Surface Pro 3 eliminates carrying a laptop, tablet and phablet phone.

My Band eliminates wrist timepiece, GPS watch, chest strap HRM.

The Pebble just aggregates data from other devices onto a tiny screen. No thanks.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[NBrookus]

Well, Best Buy will have them soon, most stores. So MS needs to step up to bring up their game here. I don't think Best Buy would take it on if they were never going to have stock of them.

I think they did this on purpose.

I don't. I think they got caught with their pants down a bit and had a surprise hit on their hands for a piece of hardware that was just supposed to showcase a new software platform. If it was on purpose, they would have been dribbling them out all along. Instead all of the sudden we get a flush of new stock, just in time for a new production run to have come in.

 

[DroidUser42]

I then resort to Amazon.

Most prices are 50% to 100% higher than SRP. Microsoft, themselves, are charging $100 over their Microsoft Store price!

You might want to re-read that. The Band is "By" Microsoft, but I'll bet money that it's "sold by" someone else. The ones I saw said "SNOWMAN".

 

[Carlos002]

Dang it Microsoft, you just can't quite get it all together.
I wear my Band everywhere, all the time. At Starbucks when I pay with the app, they all say that's SO cool. 1. Because Starbucks doesn't take Apple Pay but it takes my Band, 2. Because they're mainly Apple fanatics that work at Starbucks and they can't believe Microsoft has such a cool device.

At the gym, I get asked all the time about what's on my wrist. I don't have time for much chit-chat, but I give them a 30 second run-down of features and they're usually impressed.

Yesterday my sister-in-law was asking about it. She immediately wanted to get one. I said we have two Microsoft stores 15 minutes away and I'd be happy to drive her since she is out of town. I call both of the stores. Neither store has the Band in stock. I'm sure most of you know where this is going. I go online to the Microsoft Store and of course it's out of stock. I then resort to Amazon.

Most prices are 50% to 100% higher than SRP. Microsoft, themselves, are charging $100 over their Microsoft Store price! That's just EXTREMELY poor marketing and short sightedness. Good job, Microsoft. You somehow managed to say, "We didn't plan for demand correctly." and "We'll happily gouge you because of our miscalculations." and "We'd rather stock Amazon than our own store." all in a singular Amazon ad.

The Microsoft Store says, "Where to find Microsoft Band.
Microsoft Band is sold exclusively at the Microsoft Store. Order online or visit your nearest Microsoft Store. Free shipping. Free returns. "
Ya,... like I'll keep visiting the Microsoft Store to see if it's in stock.

They do hace! Maybe you should have went instead of calling!

 

[TechFreak1]

Well if that is how you feel, imagine how users outside the US feel like lol...:grincry:.

 

[Shad0wguy]

I said we have two Microsoft stores 15 minutes away and I'd be happy to drive her since she is out of town. I call both of the stores. Neither store has the Band in stock. I'm sure most of you know where this is going. I go online to the Microsoft Store and of course it's out of stock.

Don't bother calling. They use a centralized call center for the stores that don't have accurate stock counts. Before I got mine I tried calling and they said they had none. Took the 40 minute drive the next day and they had quite a few on hand. No mediums, but the large fit well enough that I grabbed it. If you have 2 stores 15 minutes away it is more than worth the drive as you're likely to find them there despite what they said on the phone.

 

[TechFreak1]

Well, this should solve the OP's problem .

Microsoft Band is now available on Amazon's US site for $199.99 | Windows Central

Now that the Band is coming to the UK, I know what I want for my birthday present lol... the problem I have it... falls just after the billing cycle for almost all my bills.. bleh!