Thunderbolt - Best Buy Availability/Pricing/Ordering Discussion

[vzwuser76]

I don't think we have any reason to believe Best Buy is getting the phone first... ?

Verizon is not going to let a flagship phone not be available for purchase upon launch within their ~2200 stores across the country.

I talked to a BBY salesman and he told me that it was a BBY exclusive and that Verizon would not be selling it at all. I called Verizon and they said they would have it when it launches, the same as BBY.

 

[htowngator]

IMO main diff is whether you want 2yr or 1yr contracts especially if VZW is planning on axing the rebate plans

 

[az30]

My friend is a manager at BB mobile and when I bought my DX from him, he added me to the Black Tie Protection plan. He said, for $10 month, the insurance will cover everything and anything, including: water damage and cracked screens (VZW doesn't). There is no deductible versus VZW $89 or whatever it is. You will receive a new phone versus a refurbished one.

If you're in the NOVA/DC/MD area, PM me and he will help you out.

Btw, I hope this is a good first post haha.

 

[iceman64]

IMO main diff is whether you want 2yr or 1yr contracts especially if VZW is planning on axing the rebate plans

Verizon does not have the mail in rebate any more per se, what they
are doing for example: buy a phone from vz for $299 with a $100 mail
in rebate old policy. The new policy from vz, buy the phone $199. So in detail
is like having a instant rebate without saying its a rebate. So they lower the price
by $100! So the new policy is better for us!!

 

[Chris Kerrigan]

Verizon does not have the mail in rebate any more per se, what they
are doing for example: buy a phone from vz for $299 with a $100 mail
in rebate old policy. The new policy from vz, buy the phone $199. So in detail
is like having a instant rebate without saying its a rebate. So they lower the price
by $100! So the new policy is better for us!!

Good riddance, too. I hated that mail-in and Debit Card rebate stuff. It's actually the main reason I got my Fascinate over at Best Buy and not through a Verizon Corporate store.

Definitely one of the better decisions Verizon has made as of late.

 

[DolfanCole]

I dont know if bb has asurion insurance(I know they have black tie service) but it hasnt been $50 for a smartphone for a longtime. My Dinc used to cost $89 but verizon just changed it to $99. Not happy about it being $100 but at least it's not $200 like the iphone.

Also check out SquareTrade's warranties. Much cheaper than Asurion and there's typically a 30% off coupon around that you can use. Didn't use to cover water damage, but I think it may now.

 

[Johnly]

I have always had good luck at best buy, but I have always had good luck with the rebate card too

 

[Chris Kerrigan]

I have always had good luck at best buy, but I have always had good luck with the rebate card too

Heh. I used to work at Walmart and people would come in and want to use them, and I'm telling you, 75% of the time they never worked, even if there was enough money on the card.

But I'm glad it worked for you.

 

[Johnly]

Heh. I used to work at Walmart and people would come in and want to use them, and I'm telling you, 75% of the time they never worked, even if there was enough money on the card.

But I'm glad it worked for you.

I have gotten 6 or 7 so far, all have been flawless

 

[Johnly]

They expire quickly, and if one piece of info is wrong, they don't ship right, so the margin of error is alive and well.

 

[douglaswilson]

Best Buy will not honor a one year upgrade. I think only Verizon will.

 

[Chris Kerrigan]

Best Buy will not honor a one year upgrade. I think only Verizon will.

That's correct. Best Buy only does 2 year contracts, at least with Verizon, anyway.

 

[edoublediz]

It's ludicrous because they will lose sales. Period. I won't go into a Best Buy to buy the phone, because A) I hate Best Buy, B) I hate sales people and C) I hate Best Buy sales people (no offense to anyone that works there -- I just don't need a $100 HDMI cable no matter how many benefits you tell me gold plating has). Therefore, if it's only available in Best Buy, Verizon just lost my sale. Not good business for a corporation that is looking at the opening day bottom line to prove they are kings of 4G. How is this so confusing?

dude! wow! you know it is very easy to say, no thank you i already have all of the accessories i need at home, i just need the TV. I f-ing love BB. I spend at least $10k a year there buying TVs for clients when in pinch or just because sometimes they have what i need cheaper than disty. i have never, ever had someone try to force anything on me. if you state the above, what in the hell are they going to say back to you? grow a pair and show some assertiveness when you go in. Also, i started buying from BB mobile when storm was released then Inc for me and feature phone for wife. they have been nothing but helpful every time. not to say that VZW is not helpful when i stop in. to be honest, i have never been to either and have anyone no more than me. ever! to most it is simply a job, as a hobbiest, MOST here have more knowledge about any given phone and its features. even after the phone comes out.

 

[Raptor007]

While I respect that everyone feels Verizon is going to let their "flagship" iPhone roll on for weeks unabated, you need to really see the big picture. They already stopped taking any more pre-orders. They literally are pooping money with the fruit phone.

They don't have to market it, promote it or do anything. So they can very easily start promoting their 4G ThunderBolt and get people hopped up for that and 4G network. They are all about raking in the dough. Based on my 15 years of with Verizon I can say its go, go, go with the money.

 

[edoublediz]

The rumor is that BB will be the exclusive third party retailer to start with, not the only retailer period. In other words, Amazon and other non-VZW stores won't get it release day -- only BB. To think VZW won't have it in their own stores on the day it's released is ludicrous. That's like FOX advertising the Super Bowl on FOX for several months and throwing a multi-million dollar roadshow and press conference for it, then having the first quarter on CBS. Not gonna happen.

it is actually nothing like your scenario because there has been zero dollars spent on any advertizing campaign, they have barely acknowledged it exists until recently and havnt even given a date for its release. dont get me wrong, to not have it available in VZW store, doesnt make much sense as far as customers walking in for new phone not knowing what the hell is out and possibly being good candidate for 4G phone or Bolts features. To be honest that cant be that many people in a ten day period. lets face it the most people that will buy the Bolt know about it now and are dying for it as we speak.

 

[Raptor007]

I'm swiping my wifes upgrade now and when she is ready for a phone I will use one of the other lines, we have enough between modems and phones

 

[edoublediz]

sunday pre-orders?

HTC ThunderBolt Presales Superbowl Sunday | Android Community

 

[zero neck]

i like how they start that article with "word on the street"

 

[Raptor007]

I can say I had very positive experiences with Welcome to WenneCorp! they purchased both mine and my wife's iPhone 4's a couple of months ago and I sold my DInc and iTouch 4G in prep for the TB launching. Quick, easy and they use PayPal.

 

[I am Fake Jesus]

they have to. cause everything about this phones release an price is complete mystery lol. idk why verizon wants to torture us.