Chances it comes out before the VZW holiday return period?

Slim to none and slim just left town

 

Slim to none. They are going all out with BOGO deals to get the most sales before Christmas. If you were the CEO of Verizon, would you want the cost associated with tons of returns? No way. 3rd or 4th of week of January is my prediction. Verizon is a business, and they want to maximize profits.

 

I second this. After reading everything that VZW has going on I am betting, betting only mind you, that it comes out after Jan 15th.

 

but just to confirm...

i just used my New-Every-Two credit on an Eris a couple days ago. If we get solid confirmation on a January launch for the Passion, I could return the Eris before the 14th, pay a $35 restocking fee, and re-use the NE2 on the Passion, when it comes out, correct?

 

If your old phone is still in working condition you can return the new one before the 14th, re-activate your old phone and it you'll still be able to use your credit in the future.
I lost my phone once, went to verizon and used my New-2 credit to pick out a new one, then found my old phone a couple days later. They took back the new phone and reset my credit.

 

Technically its 42% as the return cut off is the 13. But if I was the Verizon guy in charge of when it came out and I knew people were trying to game my system by getting loaners hoping to exchange new phones for the Passion when it came out I would make the launch date the 14th or 15th just to put it so close but out of reach of the holiday return date.

 

I think we often overestimate the internet hoarde and their impact on sales. I doubt that a ton of Droids would get returned for the Passion, enough to dent Verizon's inventory system. That being said, I still think they strategize based on spacing out phones beyond the 30 day return period. I mean, it does cut down on the predicted return rate. However, sales numbers are a dynamic thing. They simply peak at release time and with special offers while they're steadily adding numbers on a daily basis.