Best Buy Cancels Galaxy Fold Preorders For Lack Of Release Date

Although Samsung promised to announce a release date for the Galaxy Fold sometime soon, a retailer has decided to prioritize their customers and decided to cancel their preorders for the said device.

In an email sent to its customers, Best Buy said it is canceling all preorders of the Galaxy Fold smartphone and is offering to notify those who are still interested in the device if and when it becomes available. The electronics retail company said this is because the Korean tech company hasn’t announced a release date yet.

Specifically, Best Buy said that “hurdles have led Samsung to postpone the release of the Galaxy Fold, and Samsung has not provided a new release date.”

“Because we put our customers first and want to ensure they are taken care of in the best possible manner, Best Buy has decided to cancel all current pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Fold,” it said.

What Samsung said

Previous reports revealed that Samsung’s first foray into the foldable smartphone scene wasn’t what it expected. The tech company sent review units to some media establishments so that writers can describe how its features and functions.

Instead of getting rave reviews, Samsung received bad news: many Galaxy Fold devices became inoperable in as little as two days after being taken out of the box. Many Fold smartphones had flickering displays. One review unit in particular suddenly went black sometime after a bulge appeared.

Samsung recalled all these devices and looked into the matter “personally.” The company then said the problems were caused by debris making its way into the hinge, or by removing the protective layer above the display.

After Samsung reviewed the devices, the company’s CEO DJ Koh went public to announce that the company is close to a final decision on the smartphone, and "will not be too late" in releasing it.

A new announcement

Now, in a statement sent to The Verge, Samsung said it will announce a new release date for the Galaxy Fold in the upcoming weeks. Further. Samsung said it “values the trust our customers place in us and we want to thank them for their patience and understanding.”

Those who preordered the Galaxy Fold through Best Buy but had their preorders canceled can still opt to be notified about future updates for the smartphone.