SPV M5000 in shops

[Guest SimonEgg]

Popped into my local orange shop on Saturday, they had had the phone on sale but had sold out that morning! They had the prices etc. for upgrade (I have SPV M1000 on 200 minites £30/month) and they quoted £199. They wouldn't shift. Told them o2 is £139.99 etc with more minutes and so on. Rang Orange to say I was leaving and disconnections said they would do a deal (they weren't specific but I got the impression it would at least match o2) but as they hadn't got the phone at Orange Direct they could actually offer me one....................

[Guest 73bugcab]

Where do you live?

[Guest Wizard]

I've called Orange's "I'm leaving Orange" team four times this morning and am hearing different stories. One guy said the phone isn't available from them yet, but will be eventually. The other three all told me that it was a business phone and I needed a business account. One said that to get a suitable account I'd need fifty handsets (!), and another told me that she couldn't even give me an upgrade price until she'd converted my account to a business account (which I'll only do if the upgrade price is right - go figure).

I've been with Orange for ten years now and I would quite like to remain a customer to avoid the hassle of learning all the foibles and quirks of a new operator, but with O2 dangling the HTC Universal in front of my eyes at £140, Orange are about to lose a customer unless they get their act together.

I'm going to call a local Orange shop and see if they have any more insight.

Wizard

[Guest Wizard]

OK, so the local Orange shop say they don't have any, and won't ever have any as "it's a business phone" (I see a picture forming...), but I should try calling an Orange business store. So I called one of them in London and was told that anyone should be able to get an upgrade to an M5000 in a store that has them in stock, but they don't currently have any. He said that the business stores are the only ones that will stock it because "we're the only stores that will sell any".

Orange, if you're reading - please provide us with an easy and reasonably priced upgrade path. I am keen to avoid moving network, but this phone works well for my lifestyle and I will do what I need to do to acquire one, including moving to O2.

Wizard

[Guest SimonEgg]

I have got a business account so I didn't ask that question. I live in the West Mids, they had a peice of paper in the shop with all the upgrade prices depending on what tarriff you were on. I think the guy said (after phoning Orange) I was band 4 hence the £199.99

Edited October 24, 2005 by SimonEgg

[Guest grey]

I too have been calling Orange Business Support and a few of the local Orange shops, nobody knows at present the release date of the SPV M5000 as it is still "In review" don't get wound up by these guys on here making out they will be the first to get there hands on this, lets wait and see if they can back up what they are saying with some proof!!!! Mind you why Orange seem to take longer than any other network to release their handsets beats me.

[Guest dazza12]

Because they apparently test them for longer. However, judging by the original SPV, the E200 and the M2000, they didn't test them well.

Regarding the release date, both the Executive office and the business channel state it's going to be available 'by' the 1st November (in other words, any time up til then). It's probably going to be available in stores before then, as Orange will be delivering stock ready for the launch.

[Guest No5]

My post on the other thread in Pocket PC Main:

I've also been trying to update to an M5000. Each time I enquire at a shop or direct with Orange, I get a different answer:

Crawley, Croydon, Redhill shops (last week): "beginning of October"

Orange (last Friday): "mid-October, but some shops already have them. No, I have no way of knowing which shops have them."

Oxford St Business Centre (Saturday): "We're the first to get new phones. No, we have no information about the M5000. No, we have no way of checking stock at other branches".

Bluewater (yesterday, Sunday): "end of November"

Redhill (today): "I'm the regional manager, so I get to hear the latest news. I was expecting them last week."

Orange (today): "I have no information".

Today I rang and asked Orange for a PAC code for one of my accounts. When the friendly lady (funny how you can get to talk to someone only when you're about to change network!!!!) asked for my reasons, I pointed out that Orange are always months behind other networks in releasing handsets, that Orange refuse to provide technical support (long saga with a P800....), and that Orange can't even give an accurate statement to their loyal customers and/or retail outlets. She agreed with everything I said!

I'm now going through the process of working out which of T-Mobile and O2 I should switch to.......

[Guest alaistair]

I posted in one of the other threads a while back. My company are switching about 40 phones from Vodaphone to Orange. All going for SPV C500s, but about 4 or 5 M5000s. We got the C500s a couple of weeks ago. But according to our account manager (today)....its the week of the 24th for the M5000s as well (ie - anytime up to firday before they're released).

So I guess I'll just sit tight till the start of next week (boy is my old E200 knackered :?: )

[Guest grey]

I spoke to O2 a few moments ago who offered me a free XDA Exec on "best for Bussiness Max" £63.83 a month, no free insurance though. I nearly ordered it but was then told delivery would be between 10-14 days and you could only order this from them direct on the phone the stores apparantly don't have stocks. So it seems I am no better off and if I sit tight and wait I may get it sooner from Orange as when they do become available they will be able to send it next day delivery!!

[Guest No5]

All of the O2 (and T-Mobile) stores in the towns mentioned in my previous post have Exec/Pro sets - Redhill O2 had 48 Execs in stock today and said they were selling slowly......

[Guest Larnsky]

I've never been told that its for Buisness customers only, i know when i was waiting for the M1000 to come out they said it was for buisness only, and then when it was released i got it on a normal contract.

According to the Orange magazine it will only be stocked in Orange Buisness Centre shops..... but that doesn't mean its only for buisness customers!

It's clearly not out today, just hope its out before the end of the week! ;)

[Guest Wizard]

I finally spoke to a guy at an Orange business shop and he said he'd looked into it and could confirm that no, they don't have any in stock, no they don't know when they're going to be out, but also that he couldn't see anything suggesting it is only for business customers.

My guess is that the M5000 is available for corporate customers to upgrade to, but has not yet been more widely released.

Hopefully soon...

Wizard

[Guest eggedd2k]

spoke to our orange business account manager yesterday. apparently orange customer services and sales find out about new phones being available every monday. never during the week. he said it wont be this week coz they'd know about it already and there's apparently been no mention of it at all yet and he thought it would be at least 2 or 3 weeks yet.