Originally Posted by jtlapp:
I'm planning to start visiting Sprint stores tomorrow (Monday) around 10am CST. They should have some answers by now. It's the home stretch.
What questions should I ask them? I'll chat with them about the Palm Pre itself, but I'm more concerned the logistics of the launch. We might compare our answers to see if things are getting more consistent.
Here are some questions I can think of:
(1) How much interest are you getting in the phone? How many units are you expecting this weekend? When do you think you'll sell out? Are different stores getting different numbers of phones, according to expected demand?
(2) Who is eligible to purchase the phone? Anyone? New customers or customers adding new service only? Premier customers? Premier customers who still have a year left on their current contract?
(3) Will you be having a launch party on Friday the 5th? What time? Who's invited? What happens if someone shows up who is not invited? Will anyone else in the area be having a June 5th launch party?
(4) What time will you be opening on Saturday morning? Will you be opening even earlier for Premier customers or other specially-invited customers? What happens if someone shows up who is not invited?
(5) Are you keeping a list of people who want to buy the phone this weekend? What are you doing with that list? When benefit does a person on that list receive? Can you put me on the list?
(6) May I put a deposit down on the phone now, to reserve one for me this weekend? Is there anything I can do to improve my odds of getting a phone this weekend? (Note: This is not an offer to bribe!)
(7) Will you be issuing a mail-in rebate, or will you be applying the rebate at purchase time in the store?
(8) Will you be offering the Total Equipment Protection Plan for the phone? What benefit will it provide in the case of the Palm Pre? What will it cost?
(9) I understand that you have to activate the phone before I leave the store, but is it also a requirement that the Palm Profile be set up before I leave? Do you have any suggestions for how I prepare my online accounts prior to activating a Palm Profile?
(10) May I see the phone? May I play with it? Will you demo it for me? Have you had time to play with it? What do you think of the phone?
Am I missing any important questions?
Are you seriously going to drill them for an hour with all these questions and expect them to sit there and have a full on interview with you?
And for your question #7, why would they have a rebate in the first place if they were going to give it instantly at POS?