ElGreenField,
I don't know who told you that, but other people who have inquired have been told pre-orders are still on schedule for delivery (not to be shipped out) on the 19th. The main website still lists the "8/19/16" as the "deliver by date", not the ship date. There is no reason for a delay as Verizon already has the phones in stock and ready for shipment. T-Mobile has already been confirmed for shipping out their carrier versions of the phone today. If Verizon Wireless doesn't ship out the phones prior to the 19th they are going to have a ton of people canceling their orders and going elsewhere (including competitors) to get the phones, and that's the last thing Verizon wants. Besides being an issue for the Samsung Promotion which is time sensitive and limited in quantity it would also be a PR nightmare for Verizon.
Other people who have pre-ordered phones in the past from Verizon say this false information happens every time there is a release. Someone who doesn't know any better says the "delivery date" is the "ship date", and people get worked up. Not one of the people who have pre-ordered in the past, and chimed in has said they their devices didn't ship out until the release date. They've all stated that the phones shipped out at least two days before the release date.
If your phone doesn't ship out two days prior to the 19th (aka Wednesday 8/17/16) then I recommend you call Verizon and tell them if they can't guarantee that they are going to get it to you by the 19th your going to cancel your order with them, and get it elsewhere.
