From the looks of it Google has failed not once, but twice with the launch of the Nexus 4

[sean76]

Yup, sad but very very true...Google has failed with this launch, and miserably! Now when I say failed, I'm talking about how many units they've sold, I'm talking about how launch was handled. Most of us we're part of the 1st debacle on Nov 13th, but it looks like lightning has struck twice here with Google trying again today to basically relaunch the Nexus 4 at 12pm PST. I had about 5 phone calls within minutes of getting an email today saying the Nexus 4 would be in stock and ready to order this afternoon, so a couple of friends were pretty happy to hear that they would get a chance to snatch one up today from the play store. Well Guess what, nobody I know was able to get through! They were greeted with the same errors so many were seeing on the 13th, and the same nonsense with the orders not being able to be processed.

Honestly I'm pretty sad as I type this right now, Google who I once thought of as a super search giant that would eventually become a giant in the retail market similar to Apple, is pretty much an afterthought at the moment.

I think they owe a lot of people an Apology for this terribly dropped ball in customer service.

 

[zenicanin]

Yea it's a big fail on their part.

 

[Bob Loblaw1]

I remember reading in another thread someone saying that the launch debacle was way overblown and that it would all be forgotten in a month or so. I wonder if he still feels that way. Pretty sure this is gonna leave a mark.

 

[sean76]

The best part about all this is how Google is saying 4-5 weeks for the 8GB model to ship! Are you kidding me right now Google...That's basically into the New Year! Wow, major fail!
Apple who sells millions upon millions of iPhones with a launch says 2 weeks to ship, where on Earth is Google getting 4-5 weeks from? This can only mean one of 2 things...

1- Google is really terrible at customer service and processing orders?

2- LG didn't make enough Nexus 4's

Hmm, I seem to think it may be a combo of both...However Google's customer service has never been stellar, but at the moment it looks worse then ever!

I wonder what the repercussions will be because of all of this...This is a pretty BIG launch to mishandle.

 

[sean76]

I remember reading in another thread someone saying that the launch debacle was way overblown and that it would all be forgotten in a month or so. I wonder if he still feels that way. Pretty sure this is gonna leave a mark.

A BIG mark! Kinda Huge...

Very Disappointed...

 

[yfan]

I remember reading in another thread someone saying that the launch debacle was way overblown and that it would all be forgotten in a month or so. I wonder if he still feels that way. Pretty sure this is gonna leave a mark.

Not going to leave a mark, seeing as how they're STILL available in the Play Store.

The best part about all this is how Google is saying 4-5 weeks for the 8GB model to ship! Are you kidding me right now Google...That's basically into the New Year! Wow, major fail!

Yeah, but I still got the 8 GB model. Maybe it will take 4-5 weeks to ship, maybe it won't. Maybe it was a typo. I know, I know, I'm just hoping.

But in all seriousness, I don't care if my Nexus 4 gets to me around new year's. I can wait. I'm just glad I was able to put in my order.

 

[MT Rotor]

I'm still trynna proceed and its giving me the high demand notifier

 

[Speeds03]

I'm still trynna proceed and its giving me the high demand notifier

2 hours and 40 minutes later and I'm still doing the same thing your doing and STILL, STILL I keep getting the same error message. I'm done!

 

[JunBringer]

I'm surprised they went ahead with it today without fixing anything on their website. They've had a week right?

 

[sean76]

I'm surprised they went ahead with it today without fixing anything on their website. They've had a week right?

Honestly I'm just baffled at all this... A company the size of Google should not be looking so Amateur right now!

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

This can only mean one of 2 things...

1- Google is really terrible at customer service and processing orders?

2- LG didn't make enough Nexus 4's

Hmmm, Alex, what is option (1)? Yeah, obviously the various parties involved seriously underestimated demand and therefore supply is short - but what kind of retailer isn't prepared to accept backorders? Rule #1 is "sell what ya got". Rule #2 is "tell 'em you can get it and TAKE THE ORDER!".

I honestly can't fathom why Google couldn't have figured out - by now - how to ramp up their order entry system so that prospective buyers could have knowingly entered in backorders. Just like they say at the tile store, "it's not in stock, but we can get it.".

My order got through today, after 2 hours, for 2 16GB N4's but if it's going to be 1-2 weeks before they ship they clearly aren't "in stock". Why go through this charade and needlessly frustrate customers (and potential customers)? I understand I won't get the instant gratification - I'm OK with that, just let me easily enter the damn order and then keep me informed about the availability. Hell, why weren't we allowed to - gasp! - PRE-ORDER? Lots of online retailers, and even brick and mortar, take pre-orders for all kinds of stuff. How the heck did the latest Call of Duty title sell $500 Million (that's half a Billion) worth in 24 hours? Hint - they weren't using the Play Store, that's for sure.

 

[MT Rotor]

Im still trying to order it, im now using a labtop and keeps says that "Horrible" notifier

 

[Bob Loblaw1]

How the heck did the latest Call of Duty title sell $500 Million (that's half a Billion) worth in 24 hours? Hint - they weren't using the Play Store, that's for sure.

If you are trying to buy a Nexus 4, it's not the Play Store, it's the Pray Store or maybe even the Prey Store

 

[sean76]

Im still trying to order it, im now using a labtop and keeps says that "Horrible" notifier

Same thing happen to me on the 13th...

However I had my iPhone going, my Nexus 7, and my PC!

End result was even with all the errors Three orders were placed...lmaooo

Just a total BS experience, anyway long story short I was able to cancel the other 2 orders within an hour.

 

[MT Rotor]

It's still showing the HighDemand

 

[sean76]

Hmmm, Alex, what is option (1)? Yeah, obviously the various parties involved seriously underestimated demand and therefore supply is short - but what kind of retailer isn't prepared to accept backorders? Rule #1 is "sell what ya got". Rule #2 is "tell 'em you can get it and TAKE THE ORDER!".

I honestly can't fathom why Google couldn't have figured out - by now - how to ramp up their order entry system so that prospective buyers could have knowingly entered in backorders. Just like they say at the tile store, "it's not in stock, but we can get it.".

My order got through today, after 2 hours, for 2 16GB N4's but if it's going to be 1-2 weeks before they ship they clearly aren't "in stock". Why go through this charade and needlessly frustrate customers (and potential customers)? I understand I won't get the instant gratification - I'm OK with that, just let me easily enter the damn order and then keep me informed about the availability. Hell, why weren't we allowed to - gasp! - PRE-ORDER? Lots of online retailers, and even brick and mortar, take pre-orders for all kinds of stuff. How the heck did the latest Call of Duty title sell $500 Million (that's half a Billion) worth in 24 hours? Hint - they weren't using the Play Store, that's for sure.

This is going to be a Giant black eye towards Google in a lot areas.

One being the fact of them not being able to handle the amount of online traffic.

Two being the fact that they just can't seem to get the story correct with Yes they are in stock, or No they're not in stock at the moment...like why even try round 2 today if you don't have enough in stock?

And Three being how badly they are handling customer service, this has got to be the craziest thing for a huge giant of Google's size to not be able to handle having at the very least Good customer service.

This is going to create a fall out. And in my eyes as crazy as it may sound Google may like what's going on right now. Maybe to the point with them saying, wow look at all the attention this phone is getting, we can't keep them on the shelves because they're flying off so fast. Lol,,,,what these clowns don't understand is that the Nexus line is nowhere near the popularity as say an iPhone or the Galaxy S3, the Nexus is more of niche phone, one that caters to a much smaller footprint then the previous devices I just mentioned. So how on earth could you not be able to have enough phones to go around to the Android faithful would be my question?

 

[tmicrd68]

The one 16gb I want to order still hasn't been kicked out of the cart yet so ill keep trying.

 

[tmicrd68]

The one 16gb I want to order still hasn't been kicked out of the cart yet so ill keep trying. Hold on...

Successs!!!

Even got the google play confirmation within a few seconds!

Just keep on hitting proceed button & you might get lucky and exit purgatory!

 

[Bob Loblaw1]

...I was able to cancel the other 2 orders within an hour.

Bet you'd like to have that one back!

 

[acp]

This is going to be a Giant black eye towards Google in a lot areas.

One being the fact of them not being able to handle the amount of online traffic.

Two being the fact that they just can't seem to get the story correct with Yes they are in stock, or No they're not in stock at the moment...like why even try round 2 today if you don't have enough in stock?

And Three being how badly they are handling customer service, this has got to be the craziest thing for a huge giant of Google's size to not be able to handle having at the very least Good customer service.

This is going to create a fall out. And in my eyes as crazy as it may sound Google may like what's going on right now. Maybe to the point with them saying, wow look at all the attention this phone is getting, we can't keep them on the shelves because they're flying off so fast. Lol,,,,what these clowns don't understand is that the Nexus line is nowhere near the popularity as say an iPhone or the Galaxy S3, the Nexus is more of niche phone, one that caters to a much smaller footprint then the previous devices I just mentioned. So how on earth could you not be able to have enough phones to go around to the Android faithful would be my question?

It's a black eye in the sense it will heal and google will be fine.

 

[JunBringer]

How the heck did the latest Call of Duty title sell $500 Million (that's half a Billion) worth in 24 hours? Hint - they weren't using the Play Store, that's for sure.

I lol'd

 

[sean76]

It's a black eye in the sense it will heal and google will be fine.

Android as a whole will be fine, since its available on a wide range of devices from a variety of manufactures, on a bunch of different carriers.

However the Nexus brand offered directly through Google will not!

Here's the thing, this is nothing new from Google...They have always had issues in the retail world...

The Nexus one was a huge flop, it was hard back then to order one, and there were so many horror stories with people having huge support issues with hour long hold times over the phone.

History repeated itself with the Galaxy Nexus and the stories with people having huge issues and waiting weeks for refunds for devices sent back to Google, couple that with the Verizon debacle and launch dates constantly pushed back and slew of update issues, and you have a recipe for people being ticked of.

And now here we are with the Nexus 4...jeez must I continue... Lol!

 

[Banished Angel]

Android as a whole will be fine, since its available on a wide range of devices from a variety of manufactures, on a bunch of different carriers.

However the Nexus brand offered directly through Google will not!

Here's the thing, this is nothing new from Google...They have always had issues in the retail world...

The Nexus one was a huge flop, it was hard back then to order one, and there were so many horror stories with people having huge support issues with hour long hold times over the phone.

History repeated itself with the Galaxy Nexus and the stories with people having huge issues and waiting weeks for refunds for devices sent back to Google, couple that with the Verizon debacle and launch dates constantly pushed back and slew of update issues, and you have a recipe for people being ticked of.

And now here we are with the Nexus 4...jeez must I continue... Lol!

And despite all that I am still buying a Nexus 4 and will continue to buy Nexus products in the future. Why? Because even though they might not be easy to get when they first come out the devices still represent the best of Android and get updates frequently directly from Google. I'm sorry that you are disappointed with Google and to be honest I am not pleased with this launch either, but the long term enjoyment of the phone far outweighs a couple weeks of inconvenience.

 

[sean76]

And despite all that I am still buying a Nexus 4 and will continue to buy Nexus products in the future. Why? Because even though they might not be easy to get when they first come out the devices still represent the best of Android and get updates frequently directly from Google. I'm sorry that you are disappointed with Google and to be honest I am not pleased with this launch either, but the long term enjoyment of the phone far outweighs a couple weeks of inconvenience.

See now if I agreed with you on the product being that good, then I'd say yea your right. But I don't agree on the device being worth this big of a headache. All in all, the way I see it, it's a phone that's decent, however that's lacking LTE, lacking in the video and camera department, and just as a whole is not worth this amount of headaches IMO. I'm not hating, I'm a huge Android fan, I just don't see the logic in what Google is pulling right now.

 

[Banished Angel]

I'm a huge Android fan, I just don't see the logic in what Google is pulling right now.

Well...

1. Lack of LTE. This is a global phone, not just a US launch. Most of the world doesn't even have LTE yet, let alone widespread LTE. From a global standpoint it isn't that big of an issue. Most people are also reporting average speeds of 15 - 25Mbps down with HSPA+, which is right in line with LTE speeds at the moment. If you factor in the data caps put on by carriers what does it even matter? You won't notice much of a difference between 20 and 30Mbps when loading a webpage and it's not like you can stream all day if you have a 2GB data cap. Most of the time wifi will still need to be used.

*This also works with Band 4 LTE, which is used in Canada and soon to be developed by T-Mobile here in the US.

2. The Nexus 4, Droid DNA, and Optimus G all have the Snapdragon S4 Pro, which is the fastest mobile processor in existence.

3. 2GB RAM gives this phone plenty to work with.

4. It has one of the best screens ever on a smartphone.

5. This phone will be on 4.3 (or 5.0, whichever happens first) while your GSIII will be stuck with 4.1 for the rest of its life.

6. Apple doesn't have removable batteries either, but you don't see people still complaining about it much anymore. Why? Because if it's a non-issue people buy the phone and if it is an issue people don't. They don't buy it and then complain how they hate it.


Now is the Nexus 4 the end all of smartphones? No, the iphone 5 and GSIII have better cameras and obviously many phones have LTE, expandable storage, and removable batteries. But the Nexus 4 is very high end in the areas it tries to be and for $300/$350 unlocked and off contract you really can't get a better deal. At the end of the day buy what suits you. For me, that's the Nexus 4.