B&N, OnSale run into HP TouchPad inventory issues, cancel orders

HP TouchPad

Over the past few days customers have been rushing to buy HP TouchPad tablets with prices as low as $99. The tablet wasn’t a particularly good seller when it launched in July for $499, but at under a hundred bucks, the deal seems to be too good for many people to pass up.

Unfortunately retailers have had a hard time keeping the tablet in stock, and it’s sold out nearly everywhere. HP says more units will be in stock soon, but it’s not clear how many TouchPads are left and how long they’ll be available.

Meanwhile, some customers that thought they had picked up TouchPads for bargain prices are finding out their orders have been canceled. Apparently both OnSale and Barnes & Noble took orders for more tablets than they had in stock. In fact, Barnes & Noble customers with canceled orders have already started a petition which has more than 250 signatures so far.

While many are complaining that retailers should have had inventory systems in place that stopped taking orders as soon as the item was sold out, I’m not completely shocked to see this happen. My guess is that any inventory systems these stores do have normally just fulfills orders on a first come, first served basis… and if the store runs out of stock the seller just orders more. Unfortunately that won’t work this time since HP has discontinued the TouchPad and there won’t be any more units available.

Update: Barnes & Noble is sending out $20 eGift cards to users who had their orders canceled.

HP TouchPad

Buy from$276

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key specs
reviews • 81
prices

Form factorTablet
Operating systemPalm webOS
Screen size9.7 inches
Storage typeInternal storage (16 GB, Flash)
Maximum battery lifeUp to 8 hours
Dimensions9.45 x 7.48 x 0.54 in
Weight1.63 lb
Discontinued08/18/2011

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HP webOS 3.0

Posted on Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011, 11:33 am by Brad Linder

http://twitter.com/thDigitalReader Nate the great

Brad, OnSale changed the link:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/onsale/hp-touchpad-update/10150261173761008
Anonymous

Just wanted to remind the author about his statement: ” Unfortunately that won’t work this time since HP has discontinued the TouchPad and there won’t be any more units available.”

All the ecommerce websites do know upfront especially B&N that they can not get more inventory. Than in the first place why did they still accept the orders knowing the fact. It is because they are so careless and not service oriented.
http://www.liliputing.com Brad Linder

My point is that these systems usually work automatically. But you’re right… someone should have paid attention and intervened more quickly.
qwerty asdf

Wow onSale is the company that was selling through Amazon? See I knew that didn’t sound right, Sunday afternoon onSale Amazon was still selling $99 Touchpads and I thought that didn’t seem right, there’s no way they would still have them in-stock. I stayed up until 4am refreshing the order page on HP.com on several computers until one order finally went through. I actually felt pretty stupid when I saw Amazon still had them nearly 12 hours later. Guess I lucked out!

Can’t trust sellers on Amazon obviously, I’m surprised there’s no complaints regarding the cancellations on their Amazon feedback but perhaps customers have to wait until the original estimated shipping date.
http://equinejointsupplements.blogspot.com mauricio

The information is very interesting.

I might buy it.
peter

We need to unite together, and vote a representative, go to BBB to charge onsale.com
Arif Sheikh

I ordered Sunday afternoon from OnSale and the funds from my bank
account were deducted/placed on hold. Yesterday, Wednesday, I received a
cancellation e-mail from Amazon (whom I hold equally responsible for
the fiasco) saying that OnSale had been out of stock when I placed the
order. This to me is absolute rubbish. OnSale employees must have taken
advantage of the price arbitrage which to me is illegal. One of us needs
to file a law suit against both OnSale (a PC Mall subsidiary) and
Amazon. Let’s do it folks! Keep those cancellation e-mails handy!
Guest

You can’t leave feedback on canceled orders. I just got off the phone with them. Whats really sad is the Amazon is “fixing” the feedback by not allowing feedback on cancelled orders. How can I trust ANY seller on Amazon? OnSale could have made this right. they have access to almost unlimited refurbished iPad1 inventory. How would have this played out if they “upgraded” all those orders to a Refurbished iPad1? They would be all over the news in a GOOD light.
yup

http://www.groubal.com/onsale-screwed-me-out-of-my-touchpad-2/
Abs

They wont simply cancel orders because it would break their terms with Amazon. Apparently it is against the contract with Amazon to sell items you do not have possession of! They are trying to scrounge items up from wherever they can to fill as many orders as they can. I spoke with an Amazon rep and she was shocked to learn that they had oversold so many items through them. They knew nothing about it until I pointed her to this page. Amazon can do nothing to them until they start cancelling massive amounts of orders (thereby admitting what they did) or until the orders start going past their arrival dates, at which time they will begin to breach their contract. I have an Amazon rep that is watching my order for me. You can call them also at 206-922-0865. They are extremely helpfull. Copy this message and paste it on other sites because onSale deletes all of the messages I put on here. Truth hurts I guess.

B&N, OnSale run into HP TouchPad inventory issues, cancel orders

HP TouchPad

HP webOS 3.0

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