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As someone who ended up on the three-week backorder list, there was quite a debacle. Mostly around Google's inability to communicate, both internally and extern

As someone who ended up on the three-week backorder list, there was quite a debacle. Mostly around Google's inability to communicate, both internally and externally. Their staff is inconsistent at best about anything beyond toeing the party line, which is "they'll ship when they ship". Because they aren't communicating with backordered users, and they're not providing any way to pre-order, they've completely blown this holiday shopping season (just as the article predicts). The Apple way through this would be to berate us for being impatient, but at least they'd be talking. And they'd certainly be taking emails and cash now for phones later.

jacquesm 14y ago
> Mostly around Google's inability to communicate, both internally and externally. What else is new? Google communicates more on HN with its users than anywhere else... To the point where if you have a serious problem with google you are more likely to reach adequate support by posting a rant here than by going through the normal channels. Google just simply doesn't get support. I doubt they ever will. So you approach them like the weather: use what's good, ignore what's bad, forget about interacting with it in a way that will change it. Whatever falls out of the sky that is worth it for you you can use, but you can never count on it and you can't expect to complain when it does not work in a way that it will get resolved to your satisfaction.
micampe 14y ago
> The Apple way through this would be to berate us for being impatient, but at least they'd be talking. And they'd certainly be taking emails and cash now for phones later. When you order something from Apple you get charged only when it ships.
- alanctgardner2 14y ago
  Yes, but you capture credit card information. Google has restricted their runway of guaranteed sales to the end of the month. Once they charge everyone on backorder's credit card, then they need to go through another cataclysmic round of sales. Rather than keeping the system open, giving realistic estimates and letting people hand over credit card details ahead of time.

jacquesm 14y ago

> Mostly around Google's inability to communicate, both internally and externally. What else is new? Google communicates more on HN with its users than anywhere else... To the point where if you have a serious problem with google you are more likely to reach adequate support by posting a rant here than by going through the normal channels. Google just simply doesn't get support. I doubt they ever will. So you approach them like the weather: use what's good, ignore what's bad, forget about interacting with it in a way that will change it. Whatever falls out of the sky that is worth it for you you can use, but you can never count on it and you can't expect to complain when it does not work in a way that it will get resolved to your satisfaction.

micampe 14y ago

> The Apple way through this would be to berate us for being impatient, but at least they'd be talking. And they'd certainly be taking emails and cash now for phones later. When you order something from Apple you get charged only when it ships.

alanctgardner2 14y ago
Yes, but you capture credit card information. Google has restricted their runway of guaranteed sales to the end of the month. Once they charge everyone on backorder's credit card, then they need to go through another cataclysmic round of sales. Rather than keeping the system open, giving realistic estimates and letting people hand over credit card details ahead of time.