Who Is Actually Buying These 640s?!

[Witness]

I suspect that Walmart may not distributed very many L640s to their stores, but it's already sold out so soon and it has me wondering who is actually buying these mid-ranged phones?

BECAUSE I'M A WINDOWS PHONE USER GUY AND HARDLY ANYONE AROUND ME USES ONE, SO WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE BUYING THEM UP? I WANT ONE NOW!

Are there that many people out there buying this on the deal to try out WP? Did the Windows Central community deplete their inventory? It's a mystery. It's good for Windows Phone in general, but it better not be just a couple resellers buying it all up.

Anyways. Order more of them Walmart!

 

[Laura Knotek]

The stores might have had a very small stock. If they only had 5, that would sell out even if it's not a hugely popular device.

 

[Witness]

The stores might have had a very small stock. If they only had 5, that would sell out even if it's not a hugely popular device.

Even then, there's about 5,000+ stores in the US. Sales would still be pretty good at 25,000 units gone in just a couple days. I hope that's the scenario.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Even then, there's about 5,000+ stores in the US. Sales would still be pretty good at 25,000 units gone in just a couple days. I hope that's the scenario.

That would be nice, but I have my doubts. I don't think every store carried it.

 

[anon(9435020)]

I signed up on the website to be notified when it's back in stock.

 

[Kovaelin]

It's like they're Amiibos.

 

[Witness]

I guess I'll also sign up to be notified. It would at least give some metric to the amount of demand.

 

[Guytronic]

I think mostly the store people at some WalMarts may be knuckleheads.
I know most of these stores have the phones...they just can't find them.

The store I bought mine at has 4 of them in the case checking the WalMart app on my Android phone standing there indicated "out of stock"
A major store 4 miles from here had none last Friday, yet they had the stock cards out.
The app shows that location never having any, yet today they have four of the phones on the hangers.
This may settle down eventually...the stores do move their stock around continually.
WalMart is famous for that.

We don't know who to believe...trust no one...


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[perpleSlerp]

I suspect that Walmart may not distributed very many L640s to their stores, but it's already sold out so soon

There are well over 4,000 Walmart stores in the U.S. They certainly aren't sold out. The two nearest me both have the 640 in stock. I've been at the one store three times in the last five days, just got back, they had 2 on the rack and three of them two days ago. The other store had 3 or 4 about three or four days ago.

 

[Shad0wguy]

I called my local walmart last Thursday and they had one on the shelf and I ran down and got it. If I had a guess it's that not many were sent out due the the assumed unpopularity of Windows Phone. Maybe selling out of this initial batch in record time will be a wakeup call to the people who order product for Walmart.

 

[neodk]

I don't think people appreciate the inventory and risk management associated with maintaining stock levels of various products on a nationwide basis. I'm sure there are pockets of areas across the US where Windows Phone has a strong presence, others where they maybe average 1-2 activations a month. It's tough to gauge, I'm sure, by the fact that this is more of a niche product sought out by those on a budget who need a smartphone and by those that are more technically inclined that prefer the Windows Phone ecosystem.

There are not many devices around the $100 price point that (1) offer LTE connectivity and (2) have a fairly stable / if not mature mobile operating system that are not scant on features and build quality. I bought a Moto G 2014 retail at a Best Buy location and spent around $40 of my own money after gift cards. A week later I'm back at Best Buy returning the phone and picking up another Lumia 635. I was always worried I was going to break the Moto G, and camera aside there wasn't enough to justify the purchase. I wanted 'pure' Android, and I got it. But I also got a slower processor and 1GB of RAM when both don't play nicely with the OS. On Windows Phone another 1/2 GB of RAM would be ideal, but I'll live. I can play games on my phone (emulated or otherwise) and it is responsive. I can handle most tasks one-handed.

I wish there was a variant of the 640 series that combined the XL's cameras with a slightly larger build of the 635 with 1GB of RAM. And that battery. That's a phone I would love to have.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Didn't have an option for me to vote.

I bought four. One for my wife to use instead of or as backup to her L925. The other three are gifts. Two of those to current WP users (L521s), one to an Android user anxious to ditch it.

 

[Witness]

I think mostly the store people at some WalMarts may be knuckleheads.
I know most of these stores have the phones...they just can't find them.

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Well, I guess I'll be driving down to Walmart later today and ask one of those knuckleheads to dig one up. haha

 

[anon(9435020)]

Store employees at Walmart? yeah... When I asked where they kept the Windows phones, the guy said he didn't think anyone made those anymore...

 

[libra89]

Store employees at Walmart? yeah... When I asked where they kept the Windows phones, the guy said he didn't think anyone made those anymore...

Wow...

 

[fdalbor]

I worked briefly at Wal-Mart when I got back from Vietnam many years ago. Everything you have heard about Wal-Mart is true. I shop their from time to time; but try to avoid having to ask anyone about anything. If you know what I mean. But if you can find what you want you will get a good price. Trouble is finding it I hate to say it; but Best Buy is not much better.

 

[HG619]

I was calling every walmart within a 50 mile radius here in San Diego , ca. On Thursday and one of the employees told me that walmart no longer sells t mobile phones!!! Lol knucklehead... anyways the last store I had called had one in !! Jackpot! ! Great phone for 100 dollars! !

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Didn't have an option for me to vote.

I bought four. One for my wife to use instead of or as backup to her L925. The other three are gifts. Two of those to current WP users (L521s), one to an Android user anxious to ditch it.

Update: I went to pick up the second pair of 640s today. I ordered all 4 before dawn on the 1st day but the on-line order system would only allow two for the closest Walmart to me, so I ordered the other two for pickup at a different Walmart. When I got there today, they only had one. They were apologetic as all get out. They called over the employee who pulled the phone and he said there was really only one. The manager said, he should have flagged it so I got an email but didn't. So he gave me a $50 WalMart gift card for my trouble AND promised to get me the second phone ASAP, probably within a week and he would have it sent to my home if possible. Before the manager got involved another WalMart employee had called numerous other Phoenix area stores to see if they had one regardless of their inventory because (as I found out) the on-line inventory is not always correct. Almost forgot.... the manager's first suggestion was to give me two $150 android phones for the price of the 640s. I told him they were gifts and friends don't let friends use Android. His second suggestion was if I wanted, he would try to find me another 640 at a competitor such as Best Buy and issue me a WalMart gift card for the difference in price. But I asked for him to expedite a second phone AND give me a $50 gift card instead. I figured that put me ahead, not just even when the 2nd phone finally comes in or if I got one somewhere else.

 

[Sunstorming]

I bought two: one from Walmart on T-Mobile (sold it) and one from MetroPCS website (keeping it). Its too good a deal to pass up, especially at $70 from MetroPCS.

WalMart locally doesn't even have a place for them. The three other that I drive by occasionally I decided to stop into and all have place holders but no phones. The one I did get from WalMart last week before the official release was the only one in the store. Walmart is only ordering 3 or so at a time according to the employee with the scanning gun...

 

[Guytronic]

Is WalMart hiring?

I may be a good fit there...
:excited: