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?
Checking Instagram and #fenix5 it seems more small running stores are getting them, limited amounts at Fleet Feet Sports in Tulsa now in stock. Couple others I haven't heard of either.
Checking Instagram and #fenix5 it seems more small running stores are getting them, limited amounts at Fleet Feet Sports in Tulsa now in stock. Couple others I haven't heard of either.
So after I saw your post, I called my local Fleet Feet Sports and the owner said he had not planned on ordering any Fenix 5 units because he said didn't think they would sell, but that I was the third person to call regarding the F5. He said that he was going to "call in the morning" (I assume Garmin), and order two. He would expect them by Friday, "since its only just Kansas City". I gave him my number to please call me if this actually happens. I'm afraid that he probably doesn't really know what he's up against.
Why do Garmin release a few here and there? Doesn't it add to seller charging at a much higher crazy price?
Garmin is very strong in protecting their MSRP price. If a retailer gets units from Garmin and marks them up they won't get units again, same thing if they mark them down. I suppose people will buy them and put them on Ebay for a fortune though.
Some people including DCRainmaker believe that part of the reason Garmin slow rolls these high end watches is to protect themselves from production line problems. They are concerned a flaw could be discovered in the first wave of watches and don't want to be on the hook for fixing / replacing a large number of expensive watches so a slower rollout and careful watch (pardon my pun) for any reported problems and flaws the first few weeks of availability before full production ramps up (and also seeing which SKUs are most popular so they know what to make) helps protect them. I personally think its a weird way to operate but until it affects their bottom line of who is willing to pay for these I doubt you'll see it change. The Fenix 5 only has one real competitor in Suunto for the high end do everything fitness watch and frankly its not a strong comparison and Garmin knows it, so if you want something slick like the Fenix most are just going to have to wait.
Garmin seems to limit the price, so everyone uses the same price (but the seller may offer discounts on that). If the first run isn't that large, it kind of make sense to spread them around so people can get them, and not just through a big retailer, but their local place., where people can see it before buying....
Garmin is very strong in protecting their MSRP price. If a retailer gets units from Garmin and marks them up they won't get units again, same thing if they mark them down. I suppose people will buy them and put them on Ebay for a fortune though.
Some people including DCRainmaker believe that part of the reason Garmin slow rolls these high end watches is to protect themselves from production line problems. They are concerned a flaw could be discovered in the first wave of watches and don't want to be on the hook for fixing / replacing a large number of expensive watches so a slower rollout and careful watch (pardon my pun) for any reported problems and flaws the first few weeks of availability before full production ramps up (and also seeing which SKUs are most popular so they know what to make) helps protect them. I personally think its a weird way to operate but until it affects their bottom line of who is willing to pay for these I doubt you'll see it change. The Fenix 5 only has one real competitor in Suunto for the high end do everything fitness watch and frankly its not a strong comparison and Garmin knows it, so if you want something slick like the Fenix most are just going to have to wait.
Now where is my 5S?
Cotswold just told me that all Fenix 5 preorders are still mid-April
Dafuq. The first post makes sense regarding to cotswold gettng their batch later.
I guess garmin wants to avoid trouble they had when launching F3 back in 2015, lots of gps issues and they had to replace many units.
Dafuq. The first post makes sense regarding to cotswold gettng their batch later.
I guess garmin wants to avoid trouble they had when launching F3 back in 2015, lots of gps issues and they had to replace many units.
Garmin should do that with adequate quality control .. not shipping out a few units to unsuspecting customers who may or may not receive a item with manufacturing defects.
Further, since Garmin allows authorized retailers to take preorders, it should also fulfill those preorders prior to shipping units to your mom and pop running stores, and selling them at marathons. What is the purpose of preordering if it doesn't get you priority for receiving a device.
I have preordered many Apple devices and always received them promptly upon release of the product .. not sure why Garmin doesn't honor the same preorder practices.
Garmin should do that with adequate quality control .. not shipping out a few units to unsuspecting customers who may or may not receive a item with manufacturing defects.
Further, since Garmin allows authorized retailers to take preorders, it should also fulfill those preorders prior to shipping units to your mom and pop running stores, and selling them at marathons. What is the purpose of preordering if it doesn't get you priority for receiving a device.
I have preordered many Apple devices and always received them promptly upon release of the product .. not sure why Garmin doesn't honor the same preorder practices.
Not sure my pops would go into a running store in the first place but i completely agree with you.
