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-- POLL: Upgrade if Handspring offered an "upgrade" price? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=8702)

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Originally posted by Usonian
Well, then I guess Palm Computing, HP, Casio, and Compaq, TRGPro, and Sharp just lost you as a customer too... they don't offer trade-ins or upgrades either
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__________________
-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Okay, I give...

Alright, so it's a bad idea.

So, let's all go out and spend full price the next time we need to upgrade Microsoft Office, PhotoShop, or some other pricey software package. Just forget about that initial investment.

I just think it would be a good marketing gesture. I don't want something for nothing.

Nokia did it for its customers, offering a small rebate for its current customers. The money was small, but the idea helps breed loyalty.

Technology companies should try new ways to help hold their cutomers. Is it any wonder many people don't want to invest their money, because "... the technology will be too old in a month..."

I'll fork out the cash for upgrades, because I enjoy the toys. But there is nothing wrong with the original idea.

Those of you who agree, write Handspring. Those who don't, ummmm, don't

There's nothing wrong with the idea, but there is a big difference between calmly stating an idea once on a public forum (which most users read more than one post and are going to get your idea) than posting the same idea over and over and over and over and over swearing you'll never buy Handspring products because they're obviously not supporting their customers. I'm not advocating a restriction of our 1st ammendment rights, I'm merely asking people to think things through before they fume.

P.S. I think it's rather obvious reading this thread that most everyone would think rather well of Handspring to offer a trade-in program, but they are by no means obligated to do so in order to keep their customer base. All they have to do is make the best product at the best price.

[Edited by dick-richardson on 10-23-2000 at 12:28 PM]

__________________
-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

bnjacobs:

I think your idea is OK, but you can't compare it to Software or Phone companies.

Companies can offer software upgrades at lower prices because there isn't the overhead of manufacturing a physical product. Wireless companies can give you free phones...you're paying them every month.

Now, maybe that's the approach a PDA company could take. You pay $25 (or whatever) a month and you get the latest, greatest PDA and wireless service package every year.

These plans appeal to people, but, in reality, you tend not to save any money at all...you are just stretching out the payments.

Ultimately, Handspring doesn't need to offer this, because they have a great product at a great price. Period. It's simple business. Why give something away for free when people are more than willing to pay for it.

Finally, I don't LIKE this mentality (and I mean this broadly, not specifically toward you, bnjacobs). US society is already INCREDIBLY wasteful. We consume more products per capita than any country in the world four-times over. Be happy with your PDA. Don't be in such a hurry to throw it away. That '96 car of yours still runs fine. You DON'T need new tennis shoes every 4 months, the cell phone you have is just fine, etc. etc. (there's my little moral speech for the day )

__________________
We're all naked if you turn us inside out.
-David Byrne

$100 Rebate on Prism/Platinum

Guys just to let you know that today I called OmniSky and they suprised me with a great offer. I am considering OmniSky wireless service for my VDX and they told me that the SpringBoard Module they sell works only on the Prism/Platinum handhelds. To my surprise they also informed me that if I get a new Prism/Platinum they will send me a check for $100 if I buy their modem within the next 30 days of the purchase of the handheld. This $100 rebate is in addition to the $200 rebate they currently offer for the wireless modem and service holiday bundle.

Today I had the opportunity to use the OmniSky service in a Palm V device from a friend and I can tell you that is awesome!!! I was chatting with my Yahoo Messanger friends wirelessly from a restaurant.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
AM

Three views.

I've been reading this thread with some interest as of late.

First, I think that there has been a thick air of hostility in this forum recently. I guess its a left over from the flame wars about screen protectors.

As for the thread topic, agreed, there are three schools of thought.

(1) "Handspring really doesn't owe us anything. No one else offers rebates or loyal customer incentives, why should they?"
(2) "Handspring owes us everything. And if we don't get the rebate that we so richly deserve, we'll leave them. They're a horrible company for not doing this."
(3) "Handspring doesn't owe us anything. We don't have a right to or deserve anything. But it would be nice, as a marketing gesture and also as a investment in their market share and continued foothold in the PDA market. As I suggested earlier, they could donate or sell the trade-ins to an academic institution to being some loyalty in a new generation of potential customers."

As for my comment on #1, I do not argue it's validity. Just it's wisdom. But if they chose this route, and it seems they have, so be it. My VDX is still a great unit and I plan to keep Handspring in mind for my next purchase.

As for #2, I personally think that we in America have a warped understanding of the difference between rights and privileges. I can't agree that if Handspring doesn't do this nice gesture of customer attention, that they are a horrible company or that they don't care about their customers. Let's look at their recently released balance sheet... come'on folks, they are still not doing well. Even with a great product. Maybe they just can't afford this program at this time.

So I think that while it would be nice, I stand in the #3 corner... I can't agree that if people don't do what you think is your God given right... that you should throw rocks at them. Come on folks. Is the Visor a better unit than Palm's offerings? Sure. And has that changed because of their policy on no trade-in rebates? No.

Case settled. Next topic?

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Pocket PCs, Palm... next victim, MS Windows!

I'm with option #3 too.
It sure would be nice...but I see their point if they won't...

Hey they are out there to make money, not to pamper us (unfortunately )

Let's all just save up, sell our Vdx on Ebay and hope you get a good price for it...

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<IMG WIDTH="200" HEIGHT="50" SRC=http://www.visorcentral.com/images/visorcentral.gif> VisorCentral Discussion Moderator
Do files get embarrassed when they get unzipped?

The ironic thing about how heated this discussion has come for some is that a quick check of eBay shows Visor Deluxe units in good condition are selling for an average of $225 or so. (Which is insane in itself--some people are bidding over retail on new units there.) Every bid was over $200 except for one at $197.50.

At any rate, you can take a little time and put together a nice eBay ad, and sell your VD for a mere $75 under the cost of a Platinum.

The time to place the ad and to pack up and send the unit to the new buyer is not dramatically different than what it would take to fill out a trade form and send your Visor back to Handspring.

I'm not negating the trade-in argument, just pointing out that at alternative exists NOW that's at least as good, and in many cases financially even better.

__________________
Denny Atkin / [email protected]
Editor-in-Chief, Handheld Computing Magazine / www.hhcmag.com

ebay=upgrade path!

Yes, it would have been great if Handspring had an upgrade path, or if they at least told us that they were planning on a color version. But the next best thing is ebay! I got $200 bucks for my Blue Visor Deluxe and I had used it for a year. Not a bad deal and it was in excellent condition. If you are still figuring out what to do with your deluxe and thinking about upgrading, ebay might be an option for you.

Tamim