Verizon sends letter, $25 gift card to patient Droid Incredible buyers
By Donald Melanson 
posted July 1st 2010 2:48PM
posted July 1st 2010 2:48PM
Still haven't received your HTC Droid Incredible due to that AMOLED shortage? Then it looks like you'll soon be hearing from Verizon, if you haven't already. Android Central reports that the carrier has begun sending letters to all customers still waiting for their phones that apologizes for delay, and informs them that they'll soon also be receiving a $25 Verizon gift card as a little thank you for their patience. As for when you'll actually receive the phone itself, however, Verizon is only saying that if your order date was June 28th or prior, you "may experience an additional delay of up to 7 business days."
[Thanks, Jacob]
[Thanks, Jacob]
A downside of new technology. Shortages.
@corylulu if you have to take customer satisfaction cues from VERIZON, you blew it.
@corylulu
Verizon has a short delay and they give their customers $25.00. Apple sells a $200-$300 w/2 year contract defective device that can't make calls WHEN YOU HOLD THE PHONE and they won't dole out a penny. Bring on the CLASS ACTION!!!!
@trippedout
I have been on Verizon for years and have hated them for years but in the last year or so they have been doing a lot of things right.
@corylulu
The upside of a classy company.
@mickjagger My device isn't defective, at all, but this is a fantastic move from Verizon. Colour me extra impressed with them.
@JXCGunrunna
Yes, from the day I read about them aligning with Google, Verizon has really shocked me in a lot of ways. This doesn't make me think they are benevolent in any way, just that they are practicing smart business.
I've noticed even though I pay a little more for their plans, I do get better service in stores than I ever did with AT&T (and I was with AT&T for several years before the Cingular crap). It just shows Verizon is smart enough to put their money to work in the long run. I guess that's one of the reasons they have the largest subscriber base.
@mickjagger http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/01/atandt-apple-sued-over-iphone-4-antenna-issue/
@JXCGunrunna
The must be letting the fios devision take over.
@JXCGunrunna
interesting. i , too, have had verizon for years and have never had a problem with neither their customer service or signal. i recognize they didn't have "good" phones up until a year or so ago, but i always figured a cool phone was useless without good service. but now-a-days, good service (customer and data) and good phones...i'll be sticking with big red for a while :)
@mickjagger
$25 *Verizon* Gift Card, not $25. So that means some overpriced cases and bluetooth headsets from their store.
Still better than nothing...
@corylulu
AT&T would have never done that...p
@beatsandmelody
Or that they gobbled up regional carriers to become the largest carrier
@ThreeDee912 or $25 towards extra/extended battery and a charger cuz with the incredible you WILL need 'em.
@JXCGunrunna
I have been "stuck" on Verizon as well because all the rest of the family is on Verizon (free cell to cell). I use to hate them because their software manipulation on every single phone. But with the new smartphones that has changed for me...
I still would like the convenience of swap phones on the fly just changing the SIM card tough.
@mickjagger OK, just stop - they LEARNED this sort of thing from Apple. Lowered the price of the iPhone? OK, Apple gives early $599 adopters $100 gift card.
Check who has higher customer satisfaction. Apple does that sort of thing correctly, even if it's to make up for silly production flaws. This antenna issue is being looked at very closely and Apple will figure out some sort of answer. It won't be as simple for Apple as a $25 gift card, I'm sure.
@corylulu
THIS IS HOW A COMPANY IS SUPPOSED TO SHOW ITS CUSTOMERS THAT THEY CARE.
I hope El Jobso is paying attention...
@mickjagger
The lawsuit, oh it has been brought:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/01/apple-att-class-action-la_n_631993.html
@aaronaut
I'd go to Ebay before Verizon for that...
Scratch that, I'd go to Ebay before ANY retailer.
@ThreeDee912 Yes, and you'd think Apple/AT&T would offer something like this too so the iPhone 4 frustrated users could buy a pathetic bumper to avoid the signal loss. VZW/DROID/HTC FTWinny-Win-Win.
@hey buddy
"Check who has higher customer satisfaction. Apple does that sort of thing correctly, even if it's to make up for silly production flaws".
If by "correctly" you mean tell the customers there's no real problem in the face of evidence to the contrary, then yes, Apple is top notch.
"This antenna issue is being looked at very closely and Apple will figure out some sort of answer. It won't be as simple for Apple as a $25 gift card, I'm sure."
I'm sure it is. In the meantime, customers are being told it's their own fault, and to hold the phone differently.
We'll see how well customer satisfaction holds up before this debacle.
@ThreeDee912
Yep It still wouldn't be enough for a signal improving bumper
le sigh
@aaronbustillos
fire le missles!!!
@doug But I am le tired.
@Joseph375
Try le 5 hour energy shots
So I'll be able to use this gift card in the store. Can I pay my wireless bill with it?
@SeattleJeremy Yep, Verizon uses Visa cards. Good as Cash anywhere that takes Visa.
@FriarNurgle
SWEET!
I still have one in stock.. WIN :)
We got 2 of the yesterday at work...I think we had ordered them about 2 1/2 weeks ago.
@doyoucompute
I wonder what the time frame for this is. I ordered in May and had to wait 2.5 weeks. But I haven't received a letter. Is this just for people who had to wait 2 weeks in May? Really?
@Jakejd
By the, I meant them and by them I meant the phones. I do love it so far.
@Jakejd I ordered over 6 weeks ago. :-(
@Jakejd
Dern, I meant "wait 2 weeks in June."
@doyoucompute I ordered mine on June 12th and still haven't gotten it. I called last week and they said expect it to be shipped July 7th. Then they tried to sell me a case for it.
Maybe we get preference because we have a fairly significant business account. Man I feel like a jerk posting this from my new incredible haha.
$25 gift card for people who purchased a phone for $200 when it's currently being offered (as upgrade) for $50 to some. Nice.
+1 for Verizon for smartly making themselves look good at an opportune time.
This. This is customer service.
Are you watching Apple? THIS is how you treat your customers when there's an issue with your products that is affecting your loyal customers.
@Araman Keep in mind that this is htcs fault not verizons
It would be like at&t giving out free bumpers
@Araman
these arent customers yet..they are potential customers! Nice job. People are seeing the light
@Nintendoftl The principle is the same. If there's a shortcoming, you rectify it if you want high customer satisfaction. I don't care who is shorting what, the phone makers and the carriers are one in the same to most people, so one or the other needs to step up and make things right. I mean, HTC might be behind the credit, but is funneling it through Verizon, we don't know for sure, but whoever is doing this, it's spot freaking on.
@Araman
Just wait longer. It's not a big deal.
-Steve
@Nintendoftl Actually, it's Samsung's fault. They're the ones that aren't producing the AMOLED screens fast enough.
Also, when does the paragraph below the image refer to "Verizon" as "Verizion?"
@Nintendoftl Samsung produces the screens, so it isn't HTC's or Verizon's fault.
@Mirage749 Did i make a typo and right verizION? If i did thats what i get for writing about chemical bonding inbetween engadget on my ipod
Damn Engadget, you seriously are getting slow with articles. yet another article I sent in 2-3 days ago and just now getting to it.
You guys use to always be on top of things. :(
@EggoEspada
Maybe they didn't get your message until they switched their phone to their right hand