I think it will be good to have one central place to have the latest news people here about the updated release date. DCR said it looks like early March. The garmin site says 5-8 weeks but thats the default time on all new products. Everywhere I read it says "By end of Q1" which is the end of March. Rei still doesnt have it listed yet either. Has anyone heard anything more specific?
Sounds eminently sensible. I'm sure other vendors like Clever Training will be doing the same (i.e. not publicising a fixed date - even if they know one - in case their initial allocation is small).
It looks like Clever Training has updated their website so it says "Expected: Early April" instead of "Expected: Late March." I wonder if that applies only to new pre-orders or also to previously made pre-orders?
I got the pretty much the same email last week as I did the prior week from Clever Training:
We just wanted to send you our weekly courtesy update concerning your Pre-Order of the Garmin Fenix 5. We are still on track to begin receiving the Fenix 5 units the end of March. We will continue to have weekly updates as we get closer to that time frame regarding order fulfillment dates.
I emailed them to confirm that this was the full Fenix 5 series including the Sapphire version. Their response was:
Thank you for reaching out. This update is for all models of the Fenix 5.
Was bored this AM so I called / contacted a few placed re: availability.
Summit Racing: (yes they sell Garmin devices) put me on hold while they called Garmin. They are not getting anything until mid April
Clever Training: still says end of March (I bet they get a few units in mid March though) They did not say this and I am basing it off previous experience with them.
B&H: They are still saying March 16th for the 5 in sapphire and non sapphire. 5X and 5S are mid April for them.
I have a pre-order in for the 5 sapphire with Clever Training and with B&H. Whomever ships 1st wins! B&H told me today they still expect to ship my order by the 16th..
It's available for Pre-Order now on the REI.com Website. Not every variety of the models. They claim the 5s (haven't checked the others) will "Ship within 30 days".
Hi everyone! Registered just to say I heard from Highly Tuned Athletes here in Oz and they're getting their first orders next week! Paid up the balance and waiting now.
Just heard back from the official Garmin Australia distributor (who initially had March the 3rd as the release date) and they've been now told the expected entry date to Australia is early May. Much to my dismay as I'm going overseas for 2 months first week of May :(
I had a previously horrible experience with Highly Tuned Athletes. Turned out they were not an official Polar reseller and what I had purchased was a grey import. Polar Australia was willing to honour my warranty but then said nope, not if you purchased from Highly Tuned Athletes. And Highly Tuned Athletes flat out said they didn't care and wouldn't honour my warraty, so I swore never to buy from them again. I'm just going to assume it is the same with Garmin and they don't hold official/local stock. You might not care, but it's something to consider.
I was chatting with Cotswold Outdoor around 1pm UK time and they told me they are expecting to receive their first shipments next week from Garmin, but they don't yet know how many they will be getting, and there is still a risk Garmin might still delay, so all in all its looking very likely they will begin shipping them out to us from next week but they can't guarantee anything still yet until they have them in hand.
Good news. I chatted with cotswold wednesday, then they didnt have any update. Ball seems to be getting rolling.
Confirmed purchase in Hong Kong today.
My mate got the sapphire 5 in Black.
I was surprised after it was posted in this thread that there were any left but it seems they still have some in stock.
