HP TouchPad Buying/Hunting thread

[shawn79]

i just bought it for cheap, will open it when i get home

[parm104]

Originally Posted by dangonay

Why buy one? Why not just have a few "loaners" that staff can take home for a couple days to try out?

It seems stupid to me that an employee should be spending their own money to learn about a product they sell for a company, just so they can make that company more money.

I wanted to fail your post but out of respect to you, as I've bought/sold to you in the past, I'm not going to. However, as already mentioned, your suggestion is ridiculous.

It isn't mandatory for employees to purchase the Touch Pad. Those who wish to own one, will buy one and will get a great deal on it. The option is there for people who are interested in buying new gadgets and want to save money on them. If an employee wishes not to buy one, they simply don't have to.

Loaners wouldn't work at all. They company would end up losing money on them rather than making. It's not like working at a car dealership where they lease the car to an employee and then make it a demo model. They can't do that with these TouchPads. They would instantly lose so much money on them nationwide by making all these Touch Pad's demos. What if something happens to the TouchPad while in employee possession? Who's responsible for it? Who will bite the bill when it gets damaged or lost or stolen? It simply doesn't make sense. I don't know of any companies that provide "loaner" products to their employees so they can try them out. At least not with computers.

There are many different options that employees can use to learn about products. They can play with the demo, read reviews online, call the REP to ask questions...However, if you buy the product, you're more likely to push it towards customers, IF you are satisfied with it.

And obviously 1000's of Best Buy/Future Shop employees are NOT complaining about this promotion. If it was something they felt was a rip off, they wouldn't buy them. Yet at the same time, they're all sold out in stores and were sold out online at both Best Buy and Future Shop. Something must be working with these employee incentive, don't you think? I'm sure you would buy one with the promo if you had the chance...

[dangonay]

^ Sounds like a shitty company to work for, IMO.

As Jmac said, at his store customers are "expected" to purchase a major product and then return it within 1-4 weeks (as per return policy). What do they do with a used product that's been returned? Sell it at full price or sell it reduced as open box? And what if the item gets lost, stolen or damaged while in possession of the employee who "bought it" as it was "suggested" they do? Let me guess, they're stuck with it. If that happened to me I think I'd be calling the Labour Board.

Maybe BB or FS don't loan items out but I know of lots of companies that do. They have insurance to protect against losses and get a tax write-off on the demo units.
Posted via RS Mobile

[Carl Johnson]

H-P discontinues webOS handsets, tablets

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Hewlett-Packard Co. said Thursday afternoon that it plans to discontinue operations for its webOS devices, such as the Pre wireless handsets and TouchPad tablet. H-P HPQ -7.33% announced the move in the final hour of trading on Thursday, along with preliminary results for its third fiscal quarter. The company said it will "continue to explore options to optimize the value of webOS software going forward." The company acquired the webOS mobile operating system when it bought Palm Inc. last April in a deal worth $1.2 billion in cash. The TouchPad went on sale last month to tepid reviews and has seen disappointing sales since the launch, according to various media reports.

Source: H-P discontinues webOS handsets, tablets - MarketWatch

[Carl Johnson]

Just another dead end product like RIMM's playbook. I wouldn't want it even if it's free.

[Jsunu]

Originally Posted by Carl Johnson

H-P discontinues webOS handsets, tablets

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Hewlett-Packard Co. said Thursday afternoon that it plans to discontinue operations for its webOS devices, such as the Pre wireless handsets and TouchPad tablet. H-P HPQ -7.33% announced the move in the final hour of trading on Thursday, along with preliminary results for its third fiscal quarter. The company said it will "continue to explore options to optimize the value of webOS software going forward." The company acquired the webOS mobile operating system when it bought Palm Inc. last April in a deal worth $1.2 billion in cash. The TouchPad went on sale last month to tepid reviews and has seen disappointing sales since the launch, according to various media reports.

Source: H-P discontinues webOS handsets, tablets - MarketWatch

Jesus... sad to see webos go like that. It just needed the right backing and software support

[!MiKrofT]

Damn. That was fast. They just screwed everyone that bought one of these.

[Ch28]

Good to know I still have a week to return this.

Everybody in the office is furious over this.

[roastpuff]

What - the - heck?!

Completely stupefied and kinda sad. It had potential.

And yes, I'm just going to go and return mine now...

[bcedhk]

gonna keep mine just for web browsing and checking e-mail at home / traveling.

[FN-2199]

HP TouchPad, HP’s webOS wonder has failed to make a mark on the market. In spite of the webOS “potential”, quick updates that fix the initial issues on HP TouchPad, multiple discounts, and even a $100 price cut, HP TouchPad sales are low, low, low. This information comes from AllThingsD, a reliable blog run by The Wall Street Journal.

As reported on AllThingsD, a Best Buy insider informs them that the top US retailer had ordered 270,000 HP TouchPad units thinking they would sell like hot cakes. Till now, post discounts and coupons, Best Buy has only managed to sell 25,000 TouchPads. That’s less than 10% of the stock. Another person with access to Best Buy’s HP sales numbers calls this figure “charitable” as it does not account for units customers brought back to store for refunds.

Apparently Best Buy is very disappointed with HP’s product and is unwilling to pay for the HP TouchPad units sitting at their stores, consuming expensive space. They have asked HP to take the units back but HP is asking the retailer to have patience. There’s news that a senior HP executive, possibly executive VP Todd Bradley, may come down to Minneapolis to discuss the matter with Best Buy executives.

Other retailers aren’t doing any better with HP TouchPad either. Even after a $120 discount on the tablet at Woots, only 612 units were sold. Walmart, Fry’s and Micro Center aren’t seeing a lot of movement either. Analyst Rich Doherty, head of the Envisioneering Group says that HP’s “wildcat pricing moves” on the TouchPad are prompting consumers to hold on for what happens in the next few months. They’re clearly expecting the price to fall further and it may well happen as things stand.

Will HP’s webOS licensing plans make things any better for HP? Maybe. But as far as the HP TouchPad goes, customers don’t want an OS that will become remarkable down the line; they want software that is awesome right now.

Wait for the holiday season. Lots of tablets will be toeing the $300 line, if only for retailers to offload slow moving inventory.

Best Buy Numbers for HP TouchPad Sales Are Dismal, WebOS Fails to Impress
Posted via RS Mobile

[parm104]

LOL! Dangonay is completely missing the point...What is shitty about the company? Are you under the impression that employees are obligated to purchase this product? They're NOT LOL. No one has even told a single employee to go buy them. The employees found out about the promotion through their daily news feeds at work and the promotion is through HP...It has NOTHING to do with Future Shop or HP policies. I don't think you understand how employee incentives work...They're NOT MANDATORY and they are a BENEFIT to the employee.

Explain to me how being able to purchase a product at more than 1/2 off it's retail value is a BAD THING? LOL, your assessment of saying it's a bad company to work for is ludacris lol. Like I said, would you not want to buy products at discount prices from your work? If yes, then what exactly are you arguing here?? LOL What is the down side to this? Even management got in on this deal because it was so good. It has NOTHING to do with Future Shop or Best Buy policy. We get the same type of promotions from LG sometimes and Bose. You'd rather spend regular price on Bose products?? I don't think so.

And the whole idea of why HP was doing this (as I suggested, for better marketing through employees who work at retail stores) was a SUGGESTION! I'm the one who made it and it was a suggestion that makes complete sense from a marketing stand point. It has neither been confirmed or unconfirmed. You should really learn to read posts before you make wild assumptions that are completely FAR from the truth lol.

As for anyone who thinks because the tablet is discontinued it makes it a bad product...For $100...can you find a tablet that's better than this? I can't even find a picture frame with the same screen size and wifi for $100 which is what I will end up using this for if I don't end up liking the features...

[Ch28]

Originally Posted by parm104

allthatshitbyyou.txt

Everybody that I've talked to @ CHQ today has already said they're returning their touchpad not because the support is dying but the fact that HP blatantly fucked us over.

[shawn79]

returned it

[parm104]

Originally Posted by Ch28

Everybody that I've talked to @ CHQ today has already said they're returning their touchpad not because the support is dying but the fact that HP blatantly fucked us over.

Ya i agree with you there. They shouldve been upfront with people buying the Touch Pad. But it all depends on your usage. Many people may still have a use for it without needing support. Ie: browsing, videos, music, picture frame.

[dangonay]

Originally Posted by Jmac

It's pretty much expected at my store that employees should purchase any major launch product (I've purchased and returned the Playbook, Transformer, and iPad2; still undecided if I'll keep the TouchPad or not ... My last day is next Thursday, then onto Power Engineering for much more $$$) and return it after 1-4 weeks of use. That way we can gain actual knowledge of the product and we are able to help customers if they come in with questions instead of just redirecting them to a 1-800 number.

Originally Posted by dangonay

As Jmac said, at his store customers are "expected" to purchase a major product and then return it within 1-4 weeks (as per return policy).

Originally Posted by parm104

LOL! Dangonay is completely missing the point...What is shitty about the company?

I think you're the one missing the point. Jmac said what his company expects and I quoted him in reference to my post.

In Jmacs example it seems like the company is taking advantage of the employees. Training is something that should be done on company time and the employee should be getting paid for it. By having an employee purchase a product (with the intent of returning it) so they can use it at home the company is essentially having the employee "train themselves" on their personal time. Not only that, but the risk is also placed on the employee as anything that happens to whatever they bought would be their responsibility.

To me that's a shitty way to run a company by putting an employee in that position.

[hypediss]

Secretly im happy that hp is abandoning the production of webos devices and looking to license it instead...

always hated hp products - imo they're all sack of shit that breaks less than a year

[Oleophobic]

your respect lasted one post

[Manic!]

So since it's discontinued were can i get one cheap?

[LiquidTurbo]

Sorry if I'm newb but what's does this mean that they're not supporting it. No more apps? I mean if it becomes insanely cheap would it be worth to get one to use at PDF viewer web browser, etc?
Posted via RS Mobile

[parm104]

Originally Posted by dangonay

I think you're the one missing the point. Jmac said what his company expects and I quoted him in reference to my post.

In Jmacs example it seems like the company is taking advantage of the employees. Training is something that should be done on company time and the employee should be getting paid for it. By having an employee purchase a product (with the intent of returning it) so they can use it at home the company is essentially having the employee "train themselves" on their personal time. Not only that, but the risk is also placed on the employee as anything that happens to whatever they bought would be their responsibility.

To me that's a shitty way to run a company by putting an employee in that position.

I think this is where our miscommunication is...You probably MEANT to quote him but you ACTUALLY quoted me...And my point was that we are not expected to purchase these products as employees for training. We purchase these products because we want them and we get good pricing on them.

[!Aznboi128]

time to get one... in 30-40 years it'll be

2008-2011 that's a short os life time

[Jmac]

Originally Posted by Jmac

Loss Prevention, for one ... No corporate LP department for any major retailer would ever sign off on that ... Also, every retailer has a return policy, so it's not as if you can't simply use it for a week or two and then return it.

It's pretty much expected at my store that employees should purchase any major launch product (I've purchased and returned the Playbook, Transformer, and iPad2; still undecided if I'll keep the TouchPad or not ... My last day is next Thursday, then onto Power Engineering for much more $$$) and return it after 1-4 weeks of use. That way we can gain actual knowledge of the product and we are able to help customers if they come in with questions instead of just redirecting them to a 1-800 number.

Well, HP just made my decision really easy.

Fucking assholes ...

[Jmac]

Originally Posted by dangonay

I think you're the one missing the point. Jmac said what his company expects and I quoted him in reference to my post.

In Jmacs example it seems like the company is taking advantage of the employees. Training is something that should be done on company time and the employee should be getting paid for it. By having an employee purchase a product (with the intent of returning it) so they can use it at home the company is essentially having the employee "train themselves" on their personal time. Not only that, but the risk is also placed on the employee as anything that happens to whatever they bought would be their responsibility.

To me that's a shitty way to run a company by putting an employee in that position.

Training DOES get done on company time. For those who chose to go, we got paid to go to HP's webOS training seminar in Victoria (where HP fed us well at Boston Pizza, gave away a ton of prizes, and gave us all gift bags. Staples also paid $0.52/km which is like $60 to travel to and from Victoria on top of the 3 hours of pay for actually being at the event, half of which was spent eating and chatting.), the HP Rep came and gave us a "demo day" in the store, as well, where he spent the day demoing it for the employees and customers, and the company provides an online training module that employees get paid to do at work (though it's, unfortunately, not an obligation on most products), but if you want more hands on experience, the company isn't going to pay you for dozens of hours in the store to play with every new device that comes out. We would never actually sell anything if that's the case since we get new products in all the time ...

And the company doesn't expect it, OUR store expects it; and, again, they're not obligated to, but it makes the customers happier, their jobs easier, and their bonuses greater (we get bonuses for winning internal contests, sales to budget, profit to budget, customer satisfaction, LP audits, etc.). Having better product knowledge than the competition/other stores gives us an advantage in 3 of those categories, 4 if there happens to be a contest involving that product).

I'm not going to say Staples is an awesome company or anything, but I wouldn't say it's shitty. It's the only sales job I've had where I can actually tell the customer the truth and I have the freedom to recommend products that actually suit the customer instead of just ramming whatever is most profitable down their throats.

[Ronin]

I love that this thread started on the 16th and then the product is basically dead two days later.