Thunderbolt - Best Buy Availability/Pricing/Ordering Discussion

[djcyph]

ok so my Best Buy visit today was a HUGE fail....

it started off so well too....i was first on their list...the guy goes, we are getting it on the 14th would you like to be the first appointment of the day..i said sure....he did note that in bold text it says this is subject to change and i said i knew already and mentioned the 28th....

i then said what about the buy back program, he said don't worry it was definitely extended to the 26th and u should have it by monday...i said what if it does come the 28th am i screwed out of it..he said he would enroll me anyways for free since i was there today...so, so far so good on my end...then he looks up my account...

i thought my account was family plan but apparently it was turned into a business account by account owner which i did not know....well apparently best buy is not allowed to sell to anyone business accounts

any BB employees out there can def confirm this? i called VZW and the dude said we dont know BB practices and i told him they said it was VZW policy and he didnt know.....but according to him when BB releases it, so will VZW


ahhhh this waiting game **** and lack of info is getting a little ridiculous

 

[jd10984]

We don't even have an official release date. How do you know that Best Buy will have the Bolt in stock by the time the free buyback period ends?

Don't get me wrong, I really like the buyback program in concept. I just won't be doing it, because I want a 1-year contract. If the rumored pricing holds true (2-year @ $249, 1-year @ $329), I think the 1-year price is actually a bargain for those of us who plan to get new devices every year regardless, especially since Verizon is nixing their early upgrade policy.

Edit: Thought I should point out that Best Buy's press release regarding the buyback program states that it will only be free thru Feb 12, so the Thunderbolt will obviously miss that window.

No, thats for all regular items.. The deal for cell phones ends feb 26th.

 

[Comineeyeaha]

I think this same guy mentioned his Fascinate was $80 or something like that? You could sell a used one on Ebay for >$200.

You should probably go back and read that again. I bought my fascinate on January 7th for 50 dollars, also got a case, and the total was 85. I returned it before my 30 days were up and got exactly what I paid for it back, and I still have my upgrade available. If I had sold the phone on eBay and gotten 200 for it, then I'd have to pay probably 400 dollars after that to buy it. The way I did it, I will walk in on the 14th (or whenever) and give them my 85 plus about 170 more. Its cheaper for me this way.

 

[UvaWiseGuy#CB]

Verizon Wireless: Verizon Store - Best Buy Mobile then click on the thunderbolt picture in its own box half way down the page to get to Best Buy has the demo stuff you refer to.

 

[mlpjunior]

I wonder if they are still trying to decide whether or not 4G data will be an additional charge.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[PJnc284]

just got back from Best Buy and it definitely still shows Feb 14th in their system as the hard launch date but says that it could change. No info on data pricing though

 

[thedeceiver]

I wonder if they are still trying to decide whether or not 4G data will be an additional charge.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

I doubt it. This is a logistical/operational hold up. They have known how much they were going to charge for a while. Remember, they have to code their systems, train their reps, etc. It's not a decision they make at the last minute.

They are probably in a situation where they want everyone focused on delivering the iPhone successfully. No one will care about Thunderbolt delays or it being a cluster. But the iPhone? That will get press.

 

[I am Fake Jesus]

yea i have no worries about the change of pricing for montly rates. but i just want info for our sakes on the phone we want. its funny, the same iphone4 could get announced for sprint today. then tmo at one of these events, an both would be crazy news to the masses of media an normal consumers. an btw i dont no why apple doesnt just do that in the first place. but i see it happening one day. we have enough knowledge about this device to love it, but we know nothing about when we can get our hands on it. sad.

 

[htowngator]

You should probably go back and read that again. I bought my fascinate on January 7th for 50 dollars, also got a case, and the total was 85. I returned it before my 30 days were up and got exactly what I paid for it back, and I still have my upgrade available. If I had sold the phone on eBay and gotten 200 for it, then I'd have to pay probably 400 dollars after that to buy it. The way I did it, I will walk in on the 14th (or whenever) and give them my 85 plus about 170 more. Its cheaper for me this way.

Nevermind. I was thinking of the trade-in program.

 

[FutureTBoltOwner]

HTC Thunderbolt Confirmed Official Release Date | Egglets News

I found this article claiming that HTC has confirmed the 2/14 release date, but I'm hesitant to believe it cause I can't find anyone else reporting this. Anyways figured I'd share, and let everyone else have a look and come to their own conclusions, but for me Ill be hesitant until verizon reveals, or its in my hands

 

[SpaceHippie]

droid_life Droid Life
Verizon is so sneaky. New Tbolt ad.

Huh? Where!? Anyone see it?

 

[FutureTBoltOwner]

droid_life Droid Life
Verizon is so sneaky. New Tbolt ad.

Huh? Where!? Anyone see it?

I see that to on droidlife, so I went to youtube but see nothing

 

[pheatton]

Any idea on the full retail price?

 

[anon(141115)]

Any idea on the full retail price?

$599

 

[French]

Search for Verizon in YouTube...it's the 2nd video (after the Verizon iPhone video).

 

[Nitros7]

Dose it concern anyone that this is in Spanish?

 

[kicks]

Not sure if anyone else mentioned this, but according to the best buy rep I spoke with today the 12th being the last day for the buy back program only applies to non-phones. Phones have the buy back program free through 2/26/2011

 

[SpaceHippie]

BMX says 629.99

 

[Chris Kerrigan]

Dose it concern anyone that this is in Spanish?

Nah, Verizon does all kinds of crazy hidden advertising spoofs. Remember the Droid X ad? It had all of those links to things like the DroidLanding twitter account that flashed on the screen for a whole half a second.

 

[Chris Kerrigan]

HTC Thunderbolt Confirmed Official Release Date | Egglets News

I found this article claiming that HTC has confirmed the 2/14 release date, but I'm hesitant to believe it cause I can't find anyone else reporting this. Anyways figured I'd share, and let everyone else have a look and come to their own conclusions, but for me Ill be hesitant until verizon reveals, or its in my hands

I'd stay true to your hesitation. Random site, no one else is reporting, and the article cites zero sources. They're just trying to draw traffic.