I heard from a customer representative of Verizon that Verizon will not carry the Blackberry Passports.

[Last_Word]

I think Verizon needs to release a public statement regarding their decision instead of keeping loyal customers on the edge of their seats, as other reliable sources have indicated that Verizon will sell Passports, however the devices will not be on display in the stores, but available to buy and pick up from their Verizon stores eventually. If Verizon can't release a statement to carry Blackberry Passports by the time AT&T launches Passports, I will assume that Verizon no longer cares about the needs of their clients and take my business elsewhere. The clock starts now.

[AlejandraPatinoRealto]

  Totally agree with you.

[DickLewis]

Most Verizon reps in the stores haven't a clue. They are so keen on pushing Android or iPhone, that most are not familiar with BlackBerry models at all. Until BlackBerry is given some respect from Verizon, it will stay that way.

[rcschnoor]

DickLewis wrote:

Until BlackBerry is given some respect from Verizon, it will stay that way.

It is not respect which Verizon needs to give. It is sales which people must generate in order to get the respect. Respect for a device is normally equal to the number of sales it generates. The more sales, the more respect it will get from the sales staff.

[DickLewis]

So I have to repeat myself. To sell, merchandise needs to be in the stores and on display.

Customers are not read minders. Verizon sales rep push other brands and haven't a clue about BlackBerry.

That is the fault of Verizon Wireless for the way reps are trained. 'Nuf said.

[rcschnoor]

BB has been around for quite some time and at one time was probably the MAJOR player in the smartphone market. It is NOT Verizon's fault they fell out of favor with their large user base. When/if the brand ever gains the widespread acceptance it once had, it will have the respect it deserves.

Until that time, I am sure it will receive the respect it deserves.

BB used to be in the store and on display. In my area, they still are in stores and on display. That does not make them sell any more units. It is not unreasonable for Verizon to remove devices which don't sell from their stores/displays IF the units don't sell. This is customary practice in the retail world.

A niche product deserves niche visibility, regardless how large a following it USED to have.

When/if BB increases their sales, the store/shelf space will be there.

Can anyone say Palm OS????

[DickLewis]

At the behest of repeating myself. Stock and display will most certainly help sales.

Will it be millions, not likely, but loyal BlackBerry customers deserve to see phones in stores.

BTW, comparing to Palm OS is like apples and oranges. BlackBerry and BB10OS are a superb combination, Palm OS was definitely not.

[rcschnoor]

DickLewis wrote:

At the behest of repeating myself. Stock and display will most certainly help sales.

Will it be millions, not likely, but loyal BlackBerry customers deserve to see phones in stores.

BTW, comparing to Palm OS is like apples and oranges. BlackBerry and BB10OS are a superb combination, Palm OS was definitely not.

The choice of whether or not the sales generated by the shelf space alloted is best decided by the entity providing the shelf space. I think the choice of what shelf space goes to what phones in a Verizon store is best determined by VERIZON.

No one "deserves" to see any specific phone in a store. The STORE decides who gets to see what in their store.

At the behest of repeating myself, if the demand is there Verizon will allocate the shelf space.

[DickLewis]

You're just being argumentative and not one bit of help at all.

Don't believe you even own a BlackBerry, sound like an iPhonatic.

Post what you want, all done with this thread. If you don't think all Verizon customers don't "deserve"

great treatment, then you are on the wrong planet.

Unsubscribing, all through with this moronic thread.

[rcschnoor]

You are correct, I don't currently have an active BB but have had them in the past and that one sits ready in my desk drawer if I ever need a replacement phone and would like to switch back to BB. Currently, I use android but thanks for asking. I have tried the BBs ON DISPLAY in my local Verizon store and have decided against them in favor of other platforms.

DickLewis wrote:

f you don't think all Verizon customers don't "deserve"

great treatment, then you are on the wrong planet.

Never said this, don't think it. "Deserving" great treatment and doling out shelf space dependent on device sales are 2 completely different things.

[BluejayChip]

Personally...I think Blackberry is done with the whole cell phone store thing...

1.  Blackberry is a niche product.

2.  Not sure how many they have sold from their shop blackberry site, Amazon, etc.  But they did sell over 200,000 Passports in the first 6 hours of launch.  It has sold out in every country they have subsequently launched.  They only need 240,000 for the device to be profitable (selling direct).  Numbers won't be known until the next earnings call since it's a public company.

3.  Selling this way...mitigates risk of inventory write offs when carriers buy large quantities...then don't sell them....then send them back to Blackberry.  Shelf Space doesn't really matter...and trying to change the behaviors of the mostly 20 year olds comprising sales staffs in these carrier stores isn't going to change.  Cost BB $800M on the Z10.

4.  Blackberry is a phone company period.  They don't have, nor can they afford a sales force to circulate around all the carrier stores and big box stores to support and train on products.  Other companies:  (Apple, Samsung) have other products reps can support (computers, monitors, mp3, appliances, TV's, etc...

5.  Blackberry will eventually force carriers to make a choice to support their products as the EZ Pass program which allowed IT administrators to change over for low costs to Blackberry Enterprise Service for companies.  3.4 Million new licenses have been sent out since March.  Nearly 1 Million came from competitor platforms.  (This from a press release on 9/30/14).  What...is Verizon going to force those businesses to only use older legacy devices because they don't want to pony up for a CDMA model on newer technology like the Passport???  Seems really short sited on Verizon's part.

6.  Why should Blackberry try to compete the SAME WAY as Apple and Samsung / Droid when it is a niche device?  Why not see a significant revenue flow thru on handset sales directly?  Why sell to carriers phones at large discounts only to have them mark up phones...or subsidize them at higher costs to customers than buying direct?  Then send them back because they couldn't sell them...

7.  Blackberry users are a loyal group.  Truth is...they don't need commercials, huge marketing campaigns, and the like.  Might make them feel better to try and see the Passport go "mainstream"...but it isn't going to happen.  I think Blackberry has figured some things out...marketing, it's customers, distribution & production...all likely to the dismay of the little box carrier stores, and unfortunately, customers who want to buy see, test, and eventually buy a product like a Passport.

8.  Taking BBM cross platform...and the introduction of Blackberry Meetings (video conferencing)...and Blackberry Blend (a desktop software to see everything across all devices...calendars, contacts, texts, BBM's, email, etc. will also help grow marketshare.

In the end...Blackberry can be VERY viable over the next couple years.  A great operating system...Top Security...largely targeted to the workplace...and they added the Amazon App Store to their 10.3 software version to give customers more apps to choose from since their software can run Android.  I just don't think it's going to be competing the same way as Apple, Samsung, and the like.  They can't afford to...and I believe they figured out they don't need to...Their new CEO, John Chen will have that company profitable THIS quarter after far too many in the red...

Just my opinion...

[47seijar]

Unfortunately for us BlackBerry aficionados, BlackBerry's problem is their incredibly small market share, especially in the U.S. where iOS and Android dominate completely.  Limited display space is a constant battle among brands. BlackBerry just doesn't have the financial clout to earn that display space. Not when Verizon sells 50 Samsungs and iPhones for every one BlackBerry. It's just not worth the commitment by Verizon. Sad, but them's the facts.

[CasAries]

I think it is sad that paying customers some with multiple lines can not get the products they want or at the very least a straight answer about will the product be available. The reply will go the same place as the rest, the spam, junk, trash or black hole at Verizon.

[#14]

Is there some other kind of customer than a paying one?

[Loquat]

CasAries I'm sure it sucks not being able to get what you, want where you want it.  But we've all at some point felt that pain before.  I have nothing against BlackBerry or it's users...I think choice is great...it's just not the device for me. I was crying inside when Apple made the iPhone exclusive to AT&T for the years that they did.  I wanted an iPhone but I like the service I received at VZW more...so I chose with my mind rather than my heart and I stayed at VZW.  I, like many others, waited it out until Apple opened it up to other carriers.  My point is that if you want the device bad enough, and you can someone make AT&T work as your provider...then show VZW your distaste by voting with your $$$ and moving over to the carrier that has the device that you prefer.  Most carriers now are paying some sort of money to cover ETF's.  That's the best advice I can give as it doesn't seem like VZW is going to get the device you want...and if the rumors on the internet are right, AT&T has a lock on it for a while anyway...

[nicholasbranson]

The Passport actually has had a strong release with many sales. Besides, as far as demand goes, the more people who "demand" to see these phones in the stores, the better the response will most likely be. Stay strong, Blackberry fans, and keep pushing.

[Ann154]

AT&T has the exclusive for the BlackBerry Passport in the USA. http://m.crackberry.com/att-getting-exclusive-blackberry-passport-when-it-launches-usa  Don't blame Verizon Wireless for a decision made by BlackBerry.

[#18]

But Ann we all know Verizon is evil and greedy so it HAS to be their fault they are only concerned about money and want to screw over all their customers because they hate them.

[47seijar]

I'm beginning to think the Classic, rumored to be the Verizon exclusive instead of the Passport, will suit me even better. The novel design of the Passport certainly caught my eye and lit a fire under my butt, however as I've had time to cool off and look more rationally at my preferences, I'm thinking Classic is where it's at.