Google finally launched its own line of smartphones last year with the Pixel and Pixel XL, ending the years of partnership with different manufacturers for Nexus-branded devices. The Pixel and the Pixel XL, with top-of-the-line specifications and offering the best of Google and Android, have received overwhelmingly positive reviews, at least for those who are able to get their hands on them.
A recent report revealed that Pixel and Pixel XL stocks at Verizon, which holds the exclusive rights to the smartphones among carriers in the United States, are currently exhausted, with customers forced to wait until March for the supply of the devices to be replenished. Even the Google Store is routinely sold out on the smartphones, and even more so for the Pixel XL.
Customers who are not willing to wait until March to purchase the Pixel and Pixel XL, however, have an alternative option through online retailer Amazon.
Google Pixel XL Being Sold On Amazon
The high demand and low supply for the Pixel and Pixel XL is the perfect combination to drive up the prices of the smartphones, and for eager customers, they would agree to pay a premium on top of the retail prices of the devices to acquire them as early as possible.
Amazon, in an official listing and not one coming from a marketplace seller, is selling the Pixel XL smartphone, but at almost exorbitant prices. The 32 GB model of the larger of the two Pixel smartphones is being sold at $919.99, which is over a hundred dollars more than the retail price of $769. Even more outrageous, however, is that the even more elusive 128 GB model of the Pixel XL is being sold at just over $1,500, which is nearing double the retail price of $869.
At the very least, Amazon is offering free shipping for customers who bite at the overpriced Pixel XL smartphones, though that is a very minor consolation compared to the extra cash that will be spent on the devices.
Google Pixel XL Supply Crunch
While the high demand and low supply for the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones will lead to expectations of higher prices from retailers aside from Google and Verizon, the prices that the devices are listed in Amazon are pretty ridiculous.
Google has so far done a horrible job in shipping out the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones to customers, hurting what should be terrific smartphones. The larger Pixel XL, however, presents a worse supply crunch compared to the smaller Pixel, as according to the online tracker of NowInStock.net, the Google Store has not had the 128 GB model of the Pixel XL in stock since Nov. 30 of last year, which is almost two months ago.
When Google was asked regarding the lack of availability for the Pixel and Pixel XL, a spokesperson replied by stating that the company is aware of the inventory issues for the smartphones, with the demand exceeding Google's expectations for the devices. Google is doing its best to replenish stocks for the smartphones, but no clear schedule was revealed.
