There seems to be a lot of confusion at the moment regarding the situation at the NFS. I just spoke to the general manager just a moment ago. I explained the situation that I need the N900 by this coming Saturday at the latest because I am departing on holiday for a month on Sunday. I checked with him that if I put down a deposit/pre-order would I receive it on Friday. He said the official release date is Friday 4th December and that I would definitely receive the device on that day. However he said if they get the delivery late that day it may be moved to Saturday morning at the latest.

That's nice to know, however knowing earlier experience with NFS and their "next week" estimates, I wouldn't get too excited... Time will tell.

If the pattern follows, then on or before the 4th of Dec you will receive an email from MPD saying expected stock 16th Dec.

Amazon has already sent this email out to it's customers.

The launch is obviously in some serious trouble.

Oh dear .. oh dear and so this madness goes on...

As I have been a member of the Consumer Action Group Forum for many years and have a @consumeractiongrup email and I have sent an email of complaint from my consumergroup email address n the hope it "may" get read (including links to this thread) and I have also sent an email to Nokia too. This email addy got a problem I had with Sky more promptly dealt with but I aint confident it willhave the same impact with good ole MPD.

For you guys who ordered the N900 months ago, its an absolute disgrace. For me (I ordered 2 weeks ago or so..) I will be waiting, not 2 weeks but however long it takes them to sort the back preorders out (IF they actually have any orders left to despatch after this fiasco !!) and probably by then I can walk into the CPW and just get one there and then...

I must admit I have not cancelled but I am seriously considering my options mainly on the basis of if this is the customer service prior to delivery of the phone, whats it like after if you have any issues??.. I hate to even think...

If am honest I aint in a mass hurry to get the phone and I can appreciate and understand problems with stock etc... my main gripe is, not one email at all to explain that the handset will be delayed due to stock etc..

I no longer wish to use the chat function (for wha its worth MPD, its as much good as a chocolate firguard) and as far as calling you... why not save yourself a phone bill and just disconnect your line, I can never get through and on the one ocassion I have (after waiting and waiting and waiting and ......) I spoke to a rude, blunt and very unhelpful person. Towards end of the call he simply said,
" you wanna complain? then put it in writing... bye" but before he put the phone down I said
"This company needs a training issue addressed - let me share it with you, simply two words - "Customer" and "Service", perhaps you can pass that on to your manager ?.."

"Will do" he answered .."bye"

A damn disgrace if you ask me, NEVER will I buy from this company again..
Rant over...

Decided not to wait until the 4th - I've just e-mailed MPD to cancel my order and followed up the e-mail with a fax just to be on the safe side.

Shame, cuz I was looking forward to the N900, but I just can't be doing with dealing with a bunch of total amateurs any more.

Not sure what I'll do handset-wise instead, but it's lunch time, so I might have a wander round Brighton and see what's on offer. My plan 'B' was the Samsung i8910, but I'm not sure I fancy the idea of another Symbian device...

Anyway, good luck to those that decide to hang on for MPD.

Carphone warehouse (phone) say 'N900 has only just been announced- we have no idea when we will get stock but it probably won't be before christmas'.

by a thread, but still hanging...like you, the Samsung i8910 was a possible second choice, but I've heard that the web browswer is a bit sluggish and it would also mean going on contract with Orange (not too keen on them looking at their prices). What other phones do people recommend if the N900 isn't going to work out for us?

As soon as I hear that any of you guys have received your newly placed orders through NFS on contract I'll be cancelling my order with MPD so keep us informed

Only other alternatives are the Milestone and HD2... both are lame.

I know this has been done to death on here- but can you clarify- if I ordered on contract from NFS, does that mean I'd have to go instore and pick it up or do they send out?