Verizon Wireless - What a Tease!

My cell phone has reached the end of its contract (and I'm tired of looking at a broken front screen), so it's off to Verizon Wireless for a new phone. I spent ten-forevers analyzing each phone, comparing features, reading reviews, before settling on the new HTC Incredible.

The HTC Incredible uses the Android operating system purchased by Google in 2005, which is a pared-down version of Linux. HTC throws a custom user interface on top of Android to present a pretty slick phone.

When I finally decided to place my order on-line, I noticed that the web site said, "Will be shipped by June 1". Okay, it's backordered, it is still a cool phone. I placed the order. Within a couple of hours I received an email that my order had been processed and that my new phone should be arriving in two to three business days. "Wow," I thought, "Maybe they just had a shipment." The next day I noticed that the credit card had been charged, so I began peeking out the window for the UPS man to bring me my new toy.

On the fourth business day I called Verizon, "Where's my phone?" It took them 15 minutes to figure out that the phone was still backordered and that I should stop sneaking peeks at the UPS man, lest he get the wrong idea.

It turns out that the email I received is part of the on-line, automated processing system; it was confirming that the transaction was approved and I had been charged. The message really has no connection to whether or not the phone has actually shipped.

So when will my phone appear? Probably in the first week of June! Am I disappointed? Sure - who likes to be teased?