HP Website Hints at Additional TouchPad Inventory
Could there be more TouchPads on the way?
Perhaps you're one of the lucky ones who managed to snag a $99 HP TouchPad before every store in the country sold out. However, it's more likely that you're one of the not-so-lucky ones who found out about the sale just a couple of hours too late (or were thwarted by jittery online stores and limited inventory) and didn't get a TouchPad at all. For the disappointed, all is not lost, because there may be more TouchPads!
HP has put a notice up on the HP TouchPad landing page thanking customers for their interest in the device and informing them that the device is completely sold out. But while some stores are listing the device as 'discontinued,' HP's notice says the company is 'temporarily' out of stock.'
Due to the significant price reduction, we experienced overwhelming demand for the product and are temporarily out of inventory. Please enter your email address below to be notified if we have stock available.
Entering your email address throws back a thank you notice that exchanges 'if' for 'when'.
Thank you. We will contact you via email when the product becomes available again.
Sure, it's not a definite promise that more TouchPads will go on sale, but it does suggest that HP may be having second thoughts about axing the device. What started out as a fire sale to flush all remaining inventory out of retail channels as soon as possible soon turned into a feeding frenzy. The tablets are now selling for up to $300 on eBay (32GB model) and Craigslist users are willing to pay $200. We'll keep you posted on the status of any upcoming TouchPad inventory. Would you buy one if they became available again at the discounted price?
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CNN had an article about the fire sale, an HP rep said another shipment was being brought out of storage this week. We'll see I guess.
This shows what consumers want from a tablet. A great feature set BUT around ~£100 price tag.
Oh H3LL yeah!! $99 and $149??? I can't believe I missed the first wave, but then I was at work.
I'll agree with everyone. I think $100 made it a no-brainer for a lot of people. I think (as evidenced by the Craigslist and ebay sales) that people would even pay a little more for a decent tablet.
Here's hoping I can get my hands on one (or two).
I'm going to wager that any remaining TouchPads will cost at least twice as much as last week's wave did. HP might seem like they haven't a clue what to do with their company lately still bow down to the "Almighty Dollar." (They have to for their shareholders.) HP would be seriously mistaken to let any remaining inventory sell for $99, especially when TouchPads are already being re-sold on auction sites for $300+.
It isn't that "decent" with WebOS but once you drop the price enough, modders will work on them and get them to be as functional as a normal tablet with Android installed. This is what happened with the first netbooks that were severely underpowered, and it's also what happened with less functional tablets like the Nook Color and Archos. All of these companies need to realize that the average tablet user is the average "Apple consumer", so there really isn't a lot of market space for tablets that are trying to do the same thing. There IS however still plenty of room for cheaper tablets that can still do the same sorts of things.
If this works HP is genius. The only way into the tablet market dominated by Apple is to offer a decent product at a cut rate price, even a loss. Everyone that is getting one of these for $100 will be happy as hell with them unless they simply don't work at all. So they will get good press, market share, and word of mouth sells. For this to work HP has to play it down or investors would be pissed off.
If this works HP is genius. The only way into the tablet market dominated by Apple is to offer a decent product at a cut rate price, even a loss. Everyone that is getting one of these for $100 will be happy as hell with them unless they simply don't work at all. So they will get good press, market share, and word of mouth sells. For this to work HP has to play it down or investors would be pissed off.
Yep... I knew there was a plan all along. Why else would a company make more of a product that they deemed as unsuccessful.
"Aww, this spaghetti is so TERRIBLE *Inom nom nom* Who would make *nom nom* such crap on a plate?! *nom nom, gains 10 more pounds*"
EnriqueForbes is a moron, penny auction sites are a rip off, pay 60 cents for one penny vote, that LED TV you think you got a great deal on cost people around $3768, local best buy sells it for around $1000, sounds like a smoking deal to me, lack of common sense! I was able to get my hands on 2 of the Tablets, did some minor upgrades and downloads, was able to make it run faster, not log files, and it would great! Not to mention its pretty easy to overclock these without problems!
Umm - if you read the rest of the cnn article referenced above the sales reps basically say that while some stores sold their inventory at the $99 price tag other chains elected to return the shipments to HP for a refund (rather than go through an accounting hassle of massive consumer shipments followed by working through HP to get the difference settled up). The touchpads which HP will be putting up for sale in the not too distant future are these returned inventory shipments.
If this works HP is genius. The only way into the tablet market dominated by Apple is to offer a decent product at a cut rate price, even a loss. Everyone that is getting one of these for $100 will be happy as hell with them unless they simply don't work at all. So they will get good press, market share, and word of mouth sells. For this to work HP has to play it down or investors would be pissed off.
Yeah, that's going to work out really well for HP! Considering that their materials cost for the 32GB version is $318 + labor selling it for $150 as a "marketing strategy" sounds like an awesome idea!
Don't get too exited. HP does tank the Touchpad for good. The ones they do still sell are the lots that were returned by resellers and consumers.
If its $99 I'll buy one
This is the Most Successful Failure Ever!
Yeah, that's going to work out really well for HP! Considering that their materials cost for the 32GB version is $318 + labor selling it for $150 as a "marketing strategy" sounds like an awesome idea!
I hope you were joking there. HP has no marketing strategy (anymore), only quarter to quarter revenue tactics.
The rumor on Forbes, and some other mainstream media, has it that HP has become a target for a hostile take over by Oracle for that very reason.
I think HP is a genius and this price cut might just work. Instead of paying too much for marketing for customer adoption, why not give it to the masses by price cut. Those who got them will spread the word with positive feedback since they only got it for $99. Genius I tell you genius!
I hope you were joking there. HP has no marketing strategy (anymore), only quarter to quarter revenue tactics.The rumor on Forbes, and some other mainstream media, has it that HP has become a target for a hostile take over by Oracle for that very reason.
why would Oracle want HP?
Beautiful economics at work, the market set the value. Most people thought $500 was too much , $200-$300 seems to be the sweet spot.
That $99 price really peaked my interest.
If you link to many of the stores listed as retailers on HP's site, on the Touchpad image that used to say the two prices, it now says 'coming soon' next to each. The only difference is at Office Depot, the 16GB has a price that says $129 and the 32GB says 'coming soon'. Maybe these retailers are getting more and increasing the price a little. $129 and $179 (or even $199?).
The stores in my local town (Staples and Office Depot) still have them in stock, because they never dropped the price. (Klamath Falls really sucks) The typical buisness model of stores here will sell discontinued products to customers at full price without informing the customer.
If there is another shipment, then it most likely won't reach Canada. Bummer.
I bought one in hopes of messing around with Android or Ubuntu on it. I also considered giving it as a Christmas gift until I realized what they would say: "Cool! Can I get all those neat apps you showed me on your iPad"?
/
HP is probably dropping this model due to patent concerns from Apple. I wouldn't be surprised if they continue to sell them for $99 to liquidate the inventory. I mean, come on, the thing looks just like an iPad.
The website used to say coming soon, please check back later. I check this morning, and now it says Out of stock again. Did I miss the re-release?!
The thing about this is those bastards that tried to score many or even more than a handful to profit from them on ebay on other places. They screwed it for the average Joe in an economy where the average Joe could have used a break and get a product at a great price. Here's the big middle finger to all those doing this for a profit and HP who let them.
The thing about this is those bastards that tried to score many or even more than a handful to profit from them on ebay on other places. They screwed it for the average Joe in an economy where the average Joe could have used a break and get a product at a great price. Here's the big middle finger to all those doing this for a profit and HP who let them.
I'll definitely buy one if I can get my hands on it.
There be none left here ... sadly.
Count me in, I would even pay $200 direct from HP.com
99.00 is a perfect price
I hope HP does produce another million or so and sell them for $99 and $149 respectively. That'll teach all those greedy bastards that hogged the first bunch and hiked the price three or for times on ebay a valuable lesson. (he he).