Pre-Order through Costco

[rayden8]

I tried searching all the threads here and didn't find one about the Costco offer. I was about to go through BB, but is anybody going this route? I've never bought a phone through Costco, but with some of the credits they are giving, it sounds like a great deal. I'd love to hear positives or negatives of going this route:

Big Savings on Cell Phones - Offering Plans from Verizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint.

 

[chickweedblur]

I did Costco. I think it depends on whether you have a trade and what Best Buy/Samsung was willing to credit for it. I think it's $550 for and iPhone 8 which is crazy. My S8 was $300 - solid. I would have gone BB since it was $300 for my S8, another $100 credit and the earbuds promo. I hate selling phones on my own anymore. Ended up doing Costco since I am going out of town and BB will only hold it for 5 days.

Costco is actually a very good if you don't have a trade or are ok selling it on you own. $230 total GC & the same earbud deal. So if you think about it, for me it's $130 better than BB so as long as I get >$170 for my S8 I am break-even to better. You have to want/need the Costco GC though - we are there 3-4 month so it's fine. Process was easy, and the order already shows up pending if I log into my Verizon account.

 

[rayden8]

I'm surprised more people aren't doing this option, but I just put in the order this evening. Here's a few things to note:

• You get $230 in gift cards (might be a couple months after receipt)
• Unlocked versions aren't an option
• Nothing is due until the phone arrives in store and you pick it up on 3/8
• You still get the buds promo
• Monthly financing ( i did verizon) is the only option)
• They don't do trade-ins

As was said by chickweedblur, if you don't need to trade-in your current phone, this is a great option, and for me, the $230 in GC and the buds made this an easy choice, and I'll get more selling my phone privately (bundled with accessories) anyway.

 

[Adam Frix]

The wireless vendors that contract with Costco sell contracts. They don't sell phones. Wireless Advocates is someone's local in-store wireless vendor, but they're not mine.

And every vendor does his own thing.

Notice that the link you showed, didn't show anything for T-Mobile unless you walk in the store.

I have to say, my local Costco got me one helluva deal on my S9+ last May, only a couple months after it was released. But it looks for all the world like the samsung.com offer comes out better.

Yeah, they all sell monthly contracts. But at least with T-Mobile, you can simply call in right after you get the phone and pay off the contract with no penalty. So it's just like buying it. My S9+ last May ended up being $648 all up all in out of pocket when the dust settled.

 

[cohoman]

I'm surprised more people aren't doing this option, but I just put in the order this evening. Here's a few things to note:

• You get $230 in gift cards (might be a couple months after receipt)
• Unlocked versions aren't an option
• Nothing is due until the phone arrives in store and you pick it up on 3/8
• You still get the buds promo
• Monthly financing ( i did verizon) is the only option)
• They don't do trade-ins

As was said by chickweedblur, if you don't need to trade-in your current phone, this is a great option, and for me, the $230 in GC and the buds made this an easy choice, and I'll get more selling my phone privately (bundled with accessories) anyway.

Don't you need to start a new line with a carrier to get the $230 Costco gift cards? That's what I was told at my local Costco.

 

[tgseaver]

Don't you need to start a new line with a carrier to get the $230 Costco gift cards? That's what I was told at my local Costco.

It says single line new or upgrade activation. What is upgrade activation?

 

[DLIVINGS]

It says single line new or upgrade activation. What is upgrade activation?

I believe it's if you're upgrading your phone, for example from a S8 or 9 to an S10

 

[rayden8]

Don't you need to start a new line with a carrier to get the $230 Costco gift cards? That's what I was told at my local Costco.

No, I didn't do a new line and just did an "upgrade", which basically involved the kiosk guy logging into verizon and initiating a phone upgrade. When the S10+ arrives on 3/8, I'll just go in and complete the process.

 

[chickweedblur]

Exactly. As long as you have a line that is eligible for an upgrade = phone paid off, the deal is what it is. As I said above, with Verizon it showed pending immediately - as if the whole thing was done at a store or online.

 

[MsKate]

This will be my third phone thru Costco. In the past, they've also provided a little travel charging pack when you buy your phone through them. Yeah, getting the GC takes a little time, but the staff has been incredibly helpful. They also had phones out to try before our BB did, which was cool.

 

[cohoman]

I checked the Costco web site and those Gift Cards were available for certain carriers. AT&T didn't offer a $230 GC, only a BOGO free offer. AT&T in general doesn't seem to have good offers lately (from my observations).

 

[anon(9842641)]

Costco still promising free buds ... Any idea?

 

[blopez24]

I checked the Costco web site and those Gift Cards were available for certain carriers. AT&T didn't offer a $230 GC, only a BOGO free offer. AT&T in general doesn't seem to have good offers lately (from my observations).

AT&T rarely does. They usually always screw you offering you a bogo but one needs be a new line which sucks.

 

[rayden8]

Costco still promising free buds ... Any idea?

The ads I've seen look like they do offer them through 3/7 pre-orders. It looks like the GiftCard offers were extended to 3/7 as well for some of the carriers like VZW

 

[anon(9842641)]

But i see some news saying buds are out ... I dont know if we get buds or 130$ gift cards

 

[anon(9842641)]

Never ordered through costco before.. How soon can we expect the device.. Tmobile used to deliver it 2 or 3 days before launch date .. No idea about costco though. Eagerly waiting

 

[rayden8]

Never ordered through costco before.. How soon can we expect the device.. Tmobile used to deliver it 2 or 3 days before launch date .. No idea about costco though. Eagerly waiting

I expect to be picking mine up in store on Friday

But i see some news saying buds are out ... I dont know if we get buds or 130$ gift cards

It should be the same as any other buds promo, whether you end up with buds or samsung credit

 

[MsKate]

Never ordered through costco before.. How soon can we expect the device.. Tmobile used to deliver it 2 or 3 days before launch date .. No idea about costco though. Eagerly waiting

You should get a phone call from them on Thursday or Friday. My location usually sets up appointments.

 

[MsKate]

I got my shipping notice from Verizon. Will arrive at Costco tomorrow by 4:30.

Anyone else?

 

[rayden8]

I got my shipping notice from Verizon. Will arrive at Costco tomorrow by 4:30.

Anyone else?

Got my notice for Friday arrival (3/8) by 4:30