Best Buy Preorders?

[Y2Dre]

Okay, thank you so much for all that information!!! Bummer that I missed out on the Phone Freedom promo back in February, but at least I know up front now that I won't be getting $50 off the phone. And I feel a lot better about the pre-order. Still think it's odd that they don't require money, but hey, if I get the phone, it's really ideal!

/Kevin

Good luck, Kevin. Don't forget that if you have an OG EVO to turn in, you might be eligible for up to $100 off...still nothing to sneeze at!

 

[prapoza07]

I'm a Best Buy Mobile employee so maybe I can shed some light on the preorder situation...

Yesterday (5/6) my store received promotional signage for the EVO 4G LTE preorder marked to be displayed today (5/7) which reads "Reserve Yours Today". The signage also indicates that customers purchasing the Evo with a 2 year agreement will receive a $50 BB gift card. My impression was that the gift card will be activated after tendering the phone transaction so it most likely cannot be used on the purchase of the phone itself.

I think the confusion of the Best Buy Mobile employees that many of you spoke to today is based on the fact that we received no preorder processing instructions for the EVO LTE as we typically do for big phone launches. The ONLY thing I've heard of the preorders is from the signage we received, which is unusual since we are typically emailed instructions several days beforehand. It appears that someone in corporate dropped the ball on that one.

If you do preorder from a BBYM typically we charge a $50 deposit but since no instructions were given, I can see why that deposit was waived for several of you. Paying the deposit does not make you any more likely to receive the phone on launch day. Inventory of the EVO for any given store will be based on the number of preorders that particular location receives. So if the distribution center has 500 EVO's to allocate to the stores it services, a higher proportion will go to stores with more preorders. When the stores receives the phones, preorders will automatically be pulled and reserved for the customers based on the order of the preorders. You will receive an email indicating if your phone is ready to pick up on launch day.

As far as the OG Evo trade in program, that promo runs until 6/2 so if the EVO LTE is released before then you should have no problem getting that promo (which only works with a 2 year agreement, not with handset only). So essentially if you trade in your OG Evo (any condition), you'll get the phone for $149.99 plus a $50 gift card which CAN be used on the purchase of the phone.

The phone freedom promo (if you signed up in February) specifically said that it cannot be stacked with other promotions, but since the promo comes in the form of an instant gift card (and not as a discount on the price of the phone) it can most likely be used on the purchase of the LTE based on the discretion of the BBYM manager.

Hope this helps. I'm not working till Wednesday so in the mean time more specific preorder instructions will probably be distributed to employees.

 

[commonplace]

Best Buy's web site finally has information about the pre-order:

$50 Best Buy gift card offer
Pre-order the HTC EVO 4G LTE and get a $50 Best Buy gift card when you activate the phone.*

You can order it online now for $199.99 plus tax (if applicable). No mention of a release date. I'm still going to wait and do it in-store, I think.

I just really, really wish they (Sprint, Best Buy, anyone at all) would say exactly when it's available. Normally it wouldn't matter but the possible release date (18 May) falls during my out-of-state vacation... argh! I just want it as quickly as I can get it, but I don't want it waiting for pickup in California when I'm in Kentucky -- or vice versa!

/Kevin

 

[MNofsinger]

I just went into one of the Best Buys here in Louisville and did my preorder. Everything went fine even though I am not due to upgrade until June 1st. However I just got back to work and checked the e-mail on my phone. I got an email saying that my phone is preordered and that the order total is $699.00.... I called and the sales person said that this is normal.... Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[commonplace]

I'm a Best Buy Mobile employee so maybe I can shed some light on the preorder situation...

What about pre-ordering at one location for pickup at another location? Is that possible? Thanks for sharing your insider information!

/Kevin

 

[rajamahal]

I just went into one of the Best Buys here in Louisville and did my preorder. Everything went fine even though I am not due to upgrade until June 1st. However I just got back to work and checked the e-mail on my phone. I got an email saying that my phone is preordered and that the order total is $699.00.... I called and the sales person said that this is normal.... Has anyone else experienced this?

You're probly going to get charged full price, since you are ordering before your upgrade eligible date. You need to get Sprint to change the upgrade date and reorder or wait until June to order.

 

[Y2Dre]

I'm a Best Buy Mobile employee so maybe I can shed some light on the preorder situation...

Yesterday (5/6) my store received promotional signage for the EVO 4G LTE preorder marked to be displayed today (5/7) which reads "Reserve Yours Today". The signage also indicates that customers purchasing the Evo with a 2 year agreement will receive a $50 BB gift card. My impression was that the gift card will be activated after tendering the phone transaction so it most likely cannot be used on the purchase of the phone itself.

I think the confusion of the Best Buy Mobile employees that many of you spoke to today is based on the fact that we received no preorder processing instructions for the EVO LTE as we typically do for big phone launches. The ONLY thing I've heard of the preorders is from the signage we received, which is unusual since we are typically emailed instructions several days beforehand. It appears that someone in corporate dropped the ball on that one.

If you do preorder from a BBYM typically we charge a $50 deposit but since no instructions were given, I can see why that deposit was waived for several of you. Paying the deposit does not make you any more likely to receive the phone on launch day. Inventory of the EVO for any given store will be based on the number of preorders that particular location receives. So if the distribution center has 500 EVO's to allocate to the stores it services, a higher proportion will go to stores with more preorders. When the stores receives the phones, preorders will automatically be pulled and reserved for the customers based on the order of the preorders. You will receive an email indicating if your phone is ready to pick up on launch day.

As far as the OG Evo trade in program, that promo runs until 6/2 so if the EVO LTE is released before then you should have no problem getting that promo (which only works with a 2 year agreement, not with handset only). So essentially if you trade in your OG Evo (any condition), you'll get the phone for $149.99 plus a $50 gift card which CAN be used on the purchase of the phone.

The phone freedom promo (if you signed up in February) specifically said that it cannot be stacked with other promotions, but since the promo comes in the form of an instant gift card (and not as a discount on the price of the phone) it can most likely be used on the purchase of the LTE based on the discretion of the BBYM manager.

Hope this helps. I'm not working till Wednesday so in the mean time more specific preorder instructions will probably be distributed to employees.

Do you know off hand if Best Buy will be carrying the HTC MediaLink? On the off chance I can't stack my offers after all, I wouldn't have an issue with using a gift card on that instead.

Thanks in advance...

 

[ecoleye]

You're probly going to get charged full price, since you are ordering before your upgrade eligible date. You need to get Sprint to change the upgrade date and reorder or wait until June to order.

Not necessarily. All BB's preorder process does is reserve a phone with your name. There's no link to your Sprint account, so you can cancel without penalty and you don't lose your upgrade status until you actually pay for the phone.

I'm eligible for an upgrade and preordered through BB and got the same email. I assume that the adjustment for the upgrade will apply once I make the purchase.

 

[rajamahal]

Not necessarily. All BB's preorder process does is reserve a phone with your name. There's no link to your Sprint account, so you can cancel without penalty and you don't lose your upgrade status until you actually pay for the phone.

I'm eligible for an upgrade and preordered through BB and got the same email. I assume that the adjustment for the upgrade will apply once I make the purchase.

Difference is they aren't eligible for an upgrade till June. Still can cancel, but not going to get the discounted price unless the upgrade date is changed by Sprint, or cancels and waits to June upgrade date.

 

[ecoleye]

Difference is they aren't eligible for an upgrade till June. Still can cancel, but not going to get the discounted price unless the upgrade date is changed by Sprint, or cancels and waits to June upgrade date.

Right. I meant to put a disclaimer in there about the June upgrade and forgot.

 

[smc333]

So I just went into my local best buy and they made me pay for a 50 dollar gift card to reserve. And I asked about trading in my evo and he said that they aren't accepting it anymore? Should I have gotten a FREE gift card like online? and the evo trade in program should apply when I go back in correct? I also have phone freedom, so hoping to pay like 50$ for this phone!

 

[smith2sc]

Just put in for my preorder at the local best buy in VA. They already had signs up promoting the preorder. Didn't have to pay anything, and got a print out and an email confirming I had reserved it w/o placing any money down up front. My sheet says the estimated arrival date is the 18th.

 

[jlo8720]

So I just went into my local best buy and they made me pay for a 50 dollar gift card to reserve. And I asked about trading in my evo and he said that they aren't accepting it anymore? Should I have gotten a FREE gift card like online? and the evo trade in program should apply when I go back in correct? I also have phone freedom, so hoping to pay like 50$ for this phone!

they aren't supposed to make you pay for $50 for the GC (no downpayment is what ive read) but you are also elligible to get the $50 BB gift card and should be able to stack with $50 mobile freedom.

 

[noah2383]

bestbuy.com preorder page is up for EVO 4G LTE.

 

[MNofsinger]

I just called Sprint concerning my Best Buy preorder. They said that I can upgrade up to 2 weeks early. Maybe the confirmation email from BB just listed the full price instead of the upgrade price... Sprint said it shouldn't be a problem....

 

[wsteske]

Just pre-ordered mine through Best Buy online. My confirmation page says the estimated delivery date is between 5/11 and 5/16

 

[WeGlobal]

So I just went into my local best buy and they made me pay for a 50 dollar gift card to reserve. And I asked about trading in my evo and he said that they aren't accepting it anymore? Should I have gotten a FREE gift card like online? and the evo trade in program should apply when I go back in correct? I also have phone freedom, so hoping to pay like 50$ for this phone!

I called my Best Buy and they told me that I would have to pay $50 to reserve as well. I'll probably just wait until launch day and take my OG EVO to BB to get the new one.

 

[jlo8720]

just preordered at the Mueller Location In Austin.

I walked in, did some paperwork (the same paperwork that you do to begin your upgrade)
was not required to put down any money
then they gave me an order confirmation (paper copy and sent to email)
expected date is 5/18 and they will hold for up to 3 days before releasing it if you dont pick up
d

didn't ask about wireless freedom or buy backs, but I have full intention of getting $50 pre order, $50 wireless freedom and will decide later on whether to do buy-back which appears to be 50+50 at the moment.

$10 google wallet credit per wirefly FWIW


hope this helps

 

[jlo8720]

BTW more info on $50 preorder avaialble on best buys twitter (i think its the twitter account for mobile) idk, i favorited them for when i need them

 

[edessl]

Went back to the Woodlands, texas store and preorder! Had to put down the $50 and got the $50 GC in return.