Best Buy Buy-Back Program

[RkyMtnHigh]

Just an FYI for those interested in the Buy-Back Program offered at Best Buy and other places. Very in-depth article showing why they are banking on you screwing something up, and how they make more money off of you when you purchase it. It was "free" for awhile, but now it costs.

Again, it's just an FYI, but good reading...

Red Tape - Digging through dirty details of those gadget buy-back programs

 

[IAmSixNine]

Interesting article. Thanks for the post.

 

[error4o4]

Been saying this from the day it came out, read the small print and you'll be amazed.

The only one out there that is not a complete rip off is the Radioshack trade-in program. You occasionally get some great values with zero catch. (Evos being traded for like 90-140$)

Of course its better to sell it on craigslist , etc... but its great for the lazy / no time crowd.


The idea that you have to *PAY* them to get money back is just silly.

 

[Mikey47]

Got it for free when purchasing my evo, how can that not be good?

And if you are on the yearly upgrade track with sprint using it on phones isn't that bad of an idea.

On another note, I find it interesting that bb is being sued over this program. All because some other company came in and offereds to run a pilot of the program for them? How can that be? Sounds like that other company shouldn't have let the cat out of the bag about what their service was before telling bb.

 

[RkyMtnHigh]

Got it for free when purchasing my evo, how can that not be good?

And if you are on the yearly upgrade track with sprint using it on phones isn't that bad of an idea.

On another note, I find it interesting that bb is being sued over this program. All because some other company came in and offereds to run a pilot of the program for them? How can that be? Sounds like that other company shouldn't have let the cat out of the bag about what their service was before telling bb.

I said it was free for awhile, but now it costs money. If you upgrade every year, it's not that bad other than paying sales tax THREE times, and if you lose the receipt, original packaging, or if it is damaged in the LEAST, it can very quickly wind up costing you more for the purchase than what you'll get back. The article is also very clear about what will happen if you are a single day late (more like if UPS is a single day late...25% off of the worth) Plus, with it being an in-store credit they are guaranteed you will spend more money in their store. I hope you have a painless encounter when you upgrade next, but as stated, they are banking on you screwing something up. there's not a store on the planet that is going to give you something for nothing. they would go out of business if they did since they run such a low profit margin.

 

[project.in.process]

i also do not like this program.
a lot of people overlook the fact that it is not beneficial UNLESS, as you've stated, you have yearly upgrades.
if you don't--you get back X% towards the full retail price of that phone you want after you just traded back your used phone.

Craigslist/Swapper/Ebay all the way.