Costco Bionic Help

[anon(49997)]

It sounds like you work for Wireless Advocates.

No, I just used to enjoy feeling safe making purchases in good faith with confidence if it was a bad choice I could return it without hassles or restocking fees. Now those options are hard to find.

Being an investigator and listening to people brag about being dishonest burns my ......

 

[Icon]

So if I bought the phone on contract from you guys, would I have to use another upgrade to exchange the device for free, or would I just get the phone without using another upgrade?

No you would not have to use another upgrade to exchange for the bionic

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk

 

[tmacfan4321]

No you would not have to use another upgrade to exchange for the bionic

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk

I guess that I'm making a trip to Costco later this week.

 

[Stang68]

• Costco's cellular dealer is contractor they allow to operate in the store for their members.
• You can only do a Verizon discounted upgrade through them if you are in your 20th month. I don't know about the other carriers.
• If you are in your 20th month and eligible for the discounted device upgrade their price on a phone will be cheaper than the Verizon online discounted price. And you will get some free accessories like Car Charger, Leather Case, and so on according to what they are doing at the time.
• You also benefit form a more flexible return policy but be sure and read it thoroughly.

You guys doing the upgrade just to return it are the kind that ruins it for the rest of us. Kind of like what happened to stores like Circuit City because people would buy a 60" TV before the Super Bowl to toss a party with and return it under their "No Questions Asked " return policy.
All you have to do is just wait. To brag about a lowlife thing like that publicly is confusing to me. I would be ashamed to admit it.
The policy is to help an unhappy or dissatisfied consumer out of a product. Not to pacify an impatient person that wants to play around.

So when you can no longer find a vendor that offers a return policy as good as Costco's any more remember just why. The day will come I'm sure.

I'm using an option I have at a store I pay a membership fee to shop at. Nothing wrong there. I bought the Charge, am not crazy about it, and plan on trading it in for the Bionic. Yes, I'm a HUGE lowlife lol

 

[mylasthope]

I'm using an option I have at a store I pay a membership fee to shop at. Nothing wrong there. I bought the Charge, am not crazy about it, and plan on trading it in for the Bionic. Yes, I'm a HUGE lowlife lol

Lol. Sounds like an unhappy or dissatisfied customer to me.

Besides, if it were not for the policy, I would not advise buying any phones at Costco. Their prices are significantly higher than other vendors, especially when you take tax into consideration.

My question was never answered. =(

 

[Icon]

Lol. Sounds like an unhappy or dissatisfied customer to me.

Besides, if it were not for the policy, I would not advise buying any phones at Costco. Their prices are significantly higher than other vendors, especially when you take tax into consideration.

My question was never answered. =(

First of all your wrong. Our prices are better then most places, in most situations. That Charge you bought for $249.99 is $300.00 elsewhere.

Second of all, I did answer your question. If you exchange the phone, your 90 days WILL NOT start over again. It ends 90 days from the original purchase date, regardless of how many times you exchange it.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk

 

[mylasthope]

First of all your wrong. Our prices are better then most places, in most situations. That Charge you bought for $249.99 is $300.00 elsewhere.

Second of all, I did answer your question. If you exchange the phone, your 90 days WILL NOT start over again. It ends 90 days from the original purchase date, regardless of how many times you exchange it.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk

Compared to retail stores, Costco is cheaper. However, Costco is not cheaper than online retailers.

I understand that the 90 days won't start. My question was if it would be prudent to pay an additional $41 dollars (prorated fee + activation fee) to cancel the line I opened and open another line next Saturday, giving me 11 additional days to exchange the phone.

 

[DolfanCole]

You should check your contract and paperwork. From what i understand, their return policy on phones is 30 days for an exchange and only 14 days for return. I just got a Fascinate for my wife and thats what I recall.

Also, Verizon is the only one that will do the NE2 discount.

As you all have noted. I'm just correcting my mistake. I went and rechecked my paperwork, and it is indeed 90-days for exchange. The 14-days for return is still accurate though.

 

[ChuckG73]

So let me get this straight....Costco will allow someone to buy a phone and within 90 days will take the phone back in exchange for another phone? What is the catch? So I could go in next month and buy a phone, and if the Bionic comes out in say 79 days, I walk in say I want to exchange and it is that easy?

Please explain...

 

[Icon]

So let me get this straight....Costco will allow someone to buy a phone and within 90 days will take the phone back in exchange for another phone? What is the catch? So I could go in next month and buy a phone, and if the Bionic comes out in say 79 days, I walk in say I want to exchange and it is that easy?

Please explain...

The only catch would if the phone that you are exchanging it for, is more expensive, you would pay the difference. But honestly that's not a catch, that is only common sense. I do not recommend doing it though, your only going to piss off the reps that work there. This policy is awful, and we complain about it everyday. People like the OP know the policy and take complete advantage of it. Its annoying because it is a waste of inventory. Device that are in perfect condition are being returned just cause they can. It costs WA alot of money, and Costco alot if money when this happens...and I guarantee they have taken notice. So the people like the OP will ruin it for the people who actually have issues with their devices.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk

 

[DolfanCole]

Hey guys,

I bought a Charge at Costco last Tuesday. I'm hoping to use their 90 day exchange policy to change it out for the Bionic (assuming it comes out within 90 days from last tuesday). However, 90 days from last Tuesday is August 22nd. Do you think the Bionic will come out by then? If not, I have the option of returning it since I'm still in the 14 day trial period and reopening a line Saturday, thereby giving me until Sept 2nd to exchange the phone. However, this would cost me an additional $41 bucks to do (prorated charges + $25 activation fee). What would you guys recommend?

Plan A: Keep Costco phone (90 days ends on Aug 22nd).

Plan B: Return current Costco phone; open new line on June 4th (90 days ends on Sept 2nd and I pay an additional $41).

Adding a line is more than the $41 'cause it'll also be an additional $10/month (on family plan) for 2-yrs. So, I'd say go with Plan A. And if it comes out after Aug. 22, then you can sell the Charge and buy the Bionic at retail. The real difference then would be the difference in what the Bionic is at retail and what you could get for a relatively new Charge. Do you think that the difference would be less than the $41 + $240 ($10/mo for 2-yrs) = $281? If so, then Plan A makes more sense, plus you're not tied into another contract for another line.

 

[DolfanCole]

The only catch would if the phone that you are exchanging it for, is more expensive, you would pay the difference. But honestly that's not a catch, that is only common sense. I do not recommend doing it though, your only going to piss off the reps that work there. This policy is awful, and we complain about it everyday. People like the OP know the policy and take complete advantage of it. Its annoying because it is a waste of inventory. Device that are in perfect condition are being returned just cause they can. It costs WA alot of money, and Costco alot if money when this happens...and I guarantee they have taken notice. So the people like the OP will ruin it for the people who actually have issues with their devices.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk

Very much reminds of the old policy on TVs where you could return it and basically upgrade years after you bought it. I know of quite a few people who took advantage of that policy, and I'm sure is the primary reason it no longer exists.

 

[mylasthope]

Adding a line is more than the $41 'cause it'll also be an additional $10/month (on family plan) for 2-yrs. So, I'd say go with Plan A. And if it comes out after Aug. 22, then you can sell the Charge and buy the Bionic at retail. The real difference then would be the difference in what the Bionic is at retail and what you could get for a relatively new Charge. Do you think that the difference would be less than the $41 + $240 ($10/mo for 2-yrs) = $281? If so, then Plan A makes more sense, plus you're not tied into another contract for another line.

It would only be $41 because I would cancel the line I already opened since I'm still in the 14 day trial period. I currently have 3 lines with Verizon, all of which are in the 14 day trial period. How the exchange would work:

I return the charge to Costco (line #3) and cancel it during the 14 day trial period (costs me $25 activation fee + prorated fees = $41). I would then open a new line of service that would replace the line I just closed. Thus the 90 day exchange period would then be extended an additional 11 days, giving me more of a cushion for the Bionic to come out. Do you think it is worth $41 for the extra 11 day cushion?

 

[DolfanCole]

It would only be $41 because I would cancel the line I already opened since I'm still in the 14 day trial period. I currently have 3 lines with Verizon, all of which are in the 14 day trial period. How the exchange would work:

I return the charge to Costco (line #3) and cancel it during the 14 day trial period (costs me $25 activation fee + prorated fees = $41). I would then open a new line of service that would replace the line I just closed. Thus the 90 day exchange period would then be extended an additional 11 days, giving me more of a cushion for the Bionic to come out. Do you think it is worth $41 for the extra 11 day cushion?

Oh, okay. Didn't catch that part.

Everything I've seen/heard seems to point towards a mid to late August release of the Bionic. Maybe it's sooner, maybe it's delayed again. You never really know. If I were a betting man, I'd bet that it would be no later than late August, although maybe after Aug. 22. And you're basically thinking about buying an additional 11 days for $41. Tough call. I don't know the best answer or advice.

I think it's wrapped up too in how much you value getting the Bionic. We don't know much about it now that it's been "revamped". So, it's hard to put too much into something so unknown. Personally, I'm leaning heavily towards the GSII as my next phone. While we don't know even if it's coming to Verizon for certain, it's much less of an unknown than the Bionic. And it's an incredible device.

 

[mylasthope]

Oh, okay. Didn't catch that part.

Everything I've seen/heard seems to point towards a mid to late August release of the Bionic. Maybe it's sooner, maybe it's delayed again. You never really know. If I were a betting man, I'd bet that it would be no later than late August, although maybe after Aug. 22. And you're basically thinking about buying an additional 11 days for $41. Tough call. I don't know the best answer or advice.

I think it's wrapped up too in how much you value getting the Bionic. We don't know much about it now that it's been "revamped". So, it's hard to put too much into something so unknown. Personally, I'm leaning heavily towards the GSII as my next phone. While we don't know even if it's coming to Verizon for certain, it's much less of an unknown than the Bionic. And it's an incredible device.

Haha. Yeah, I know what you mean. Since I paid at least $50 more at Costco than I would have at other retailers, I would be pretty bummed if I can't swap it for a Bionic, which makes me feel like I should pay the $41 for the extra 11 days. However, I'd be at even more of a loss though if I were to spend an additional $41 only to have the Bionic come out after the 90 days. =(

GSII is a beast of a device; I would definitely choose it over the Bionic if it is 4g capable.

 

[Friend-O]

GSII is a beast of a device; I would definitely choose it over the Bionic if it is 4g capable.

Ditto.

 

[delco714]

not just a beast, gs2 is a beautiful, slim device

 

[mylasthope]

not just a beast, gs2 is a beautiful, slim device

it's a beastiful device

 

[Castor Troy]

beastiful...good one

and I do agree.

 

[Hand_O_Death]

But what are the chances that Samsung would release a GSII on Verizon with LTE when they just released the Charge???