Google Nexus 7 shipping cock-up enrages fandroids

'My face will spontaneously combust if it doesn't arrive today'

By Paul Kunert, 19th July 2012

Google hasn't cloaked itself in greatness if the number of complaints from a legion of frustrated customers awaiting the arrival of the Nexus 7 is anything to go by.

Those who pre-ordered the Jelly Bean Android-powered fondleslab from the web giant's online Play store late last month have told of shipping delays and poor communication from the vendor.

According to some, the kit was held up because the first address line on every package was replaced with Gordon House, allegedly by distributor Computer 2000 which was handling the passing of items to delivery biz TNT. Gordon House is the building where Google Ireland is headquartered – in Barrow Street, Dublin.

"I'm heading off to the Gordon House Surgery in Ealing, reckon they will have an entire skip full of Nexus 7s by the end of today," said one customer.

So far there are more than 17,000 posts across the Xda developer forums on the Nexus 7 - not all of them from angry punters but certainly a high share were venting their spleen.

"My face will spontaneously combust if it doesn't arrive today, or start glowing right in the middle in the shape of a half-eaten apple," shouted one fella in Rochdale.

"Currys are delivering my order [that I] made yesterday tomorrow evening so I don't want have to worry anymore about this Google shambles. Not sure I'll order any device off the play store again!" exclaimed a confused bod.

Another said: "I can't believe Tesco here in UK have stock and selling them for delivery or collect in store and i aint [sic] got any word for my order i feel robed [sic] now i put my money and my trust in google only to be let down like this."

Google pointed us to an update on the Nexus 7 support page, claiming that all orders of 8GB devices and orders of 16GB versions placed before 30 June in the UK will ship by 20 July. The remaining 16GB backlog will ship next week. The vendor said in a statement:

We’ve had incredible demand for our new Nexus 7 tablet and are shipping them as quickly as possible. When your device ships you will receive a notification from Google Play with a shipping tracking number. We will have all orders placed through July 13 processed and shipped soon. Orders placed after July 13 will ship according to the quoted timeframe when you purchased and we will update you with a tracking number when we've shipped. Thanks for your patience.

Google refused to explain further and C2000 was unavailable for comment. We are still awaiting a reply from TNT and should it arrive we'll update the article. ®

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