Google begins to charge customers for the Nexus 7, before actually shipping them!

So I ordered my Google Nexus 7 tablet on June 29th, upon ordering, Google’s ordering page clearly states that they would not charge my credit card, until the Nexus 7 actually shipped.

Here’s an excerpt:

When to expect charges

Once you place an order, charges generally post to your credit/debit card after your order has shipped, usually within a few days. Check your receipt on Google Wallet in the Transactions section of your account to see if your card has been charged or the exact date your credit/debit card was charged for your purchase.

When placing an order using a Google Wallet account, you’ll receive an automatic email from Google notifying you if there is a failed charge. You must sign in to your Google Wallet account and update your payment information within seven days. If your payment information is not updated within seven days after the card declines, your order will automatically be cancelled.

I just happened to be checking my account balance online later that night, when I notice that Google had charge my credit card for the full $224, which is now absent from my checking account, so it’s not just a “hold.” I’ve sent Google an email asking them if my order had shipped, seeing how their policy clearly states that a customer will not be charged, unless the item has shipped.

After several hours with no response—big surprise—I decided to reach out to the folks on twitter, to see if anyone else had been charged. Anthony Domanico, a writer for “Android and Me” was the first to speak up, that he too had been charged and his account, like mine, has not been updated to show that the Nexus 7 has actually been shipped.

So the question I have now is whether or not my—or anyone else’s—Nexus 7 has actually shipped. Is Google basically collecting our money before placing a massive order with ASUS to build out more tablets or have they actually shipped ahead of schedule? Let’s face it, we know this will be a big release for both Google and ASUS and while it may not produce iPad-life numbers, chances are, stock should be selling out, yet Google’s Play Store is still accepting pre-orders with no signs of a shortage.

So the ball is in Google’s court, give us a statement. Have Nexus 7′s already been shipped and if not, why are you billing credit cards prior to shipping?

Z Weaver

“Once you place an order, charges GENERALLY post to your credit/debit card after your order has shipped, usually within a few days.”

Terms that prevent absolutes are common in contracts and are so for a reason – it helps the seller (Google here) play it safe.
- http://www.techhog.com/ Michael T. Blake
  
  I could “try” to make myself believe that would be the case, but typically when something is tossed into the “generally” category for something like this, one would typically expect their item to be shipped within a few days. In this case however, I’ve been charge a full TWO WEEKS prior to my purchase being shipped. That to me is not a “generally” situation.