Thunderbolt - Best Buy Availability/Pricing/Ordering Discussion

[Chris Kerrigan]

It's another individual store releasing that information. I'm not saying that takes away from it's credibility, but I find it pretty amusing that individual Best Buy stores are putting this info out before the company as a whole is.

 

[juskrs51]

I agree. I wonder how fast it will be retracted/deleted. haha

 

[DirtMcGirt]

How is the Buy Back thing at Best Buy going to work? Do we get the buy back amount on the retail price (ie, $599 or whatever it's going to be) or for me because I'm a new customer, will they discount the phone when I upgrade on the $299 or $249 price?

 

[Kazer]

How is the Buy Back thing at Best Buy going to work? Do we get the buy back amount on the retail price (ie, $599 or whatever it's going to be) or for me because I'm a new customer, will they discount the phone when I upgrade on the $299 or $249 price?

From what I've read, you could buy the TBolt with a new 2 year contract for $249, then using the buy back program get ~$299 back (assuming it's $599, BB bases the buy back amount off the full retail price) within the next 6 months. But since you won't be eligible for an upgrade until at least 20 months into your contract, you'll have to buy your next phone at full price so that $299 (best buy gift card) you'd get from BB isn't really a good deal (and you can typically sell your devices for more on ebay or craigslist).

 

[htowngator]

From what I've read, you could buy the TBolt with a new 2 year contract for $249, then using the buy back program get ~$299 back (assuming it's $599, BB bases the buy back amount off the full retail price) within the next 6 months. But since you won't be eligible for an upgrade until at least 20 months into your contract, you'll have to buy your next phone at full price so that $299 (best buy gift card) you'd get from BB isn't really a good deal (and you can typically sell your devices for more on ebay or craigslist).

Exactly

 

[66dude]

Talked with the BB in Monaca, PA. They said that the TB will be released "second or third week in February". They also said that the price will be around 200 dollars, and that there is an $18 activation fee that VZW charges. Oh, and the NE2 $30 credit I have will also be honored, just like what the BB in Cranberry, PA said. They also felt that data pricing will remain at 30 bucks per month for both 3G and 4G.

 

[whatsadroid]

supposed to be monday right?

 

[upz3]

supposed to be monday right?

Doesn't look like it anymore: http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc-thunderbolt/58967-tbolt-delayed-no-eta-glad-i-didnt-put-deposit-down.html

 

[Edwill86]

BB might be in some trouble..... they have been telling ppl the 14th and now VZW is saying they have delayed the lunch until who knows when.

Thunderbolt Launch Delayed by Verizon, 4G Mobile Hotspot as Well? - Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog

BS!!

 

[ncbryan]

Same story....Different Day....Different Phone....I can understand everyone's excitement over the release of the TB. I am excited myself, but we should have all expected this from VZW. After all, have they ever released a phone as expected based on rumors? NOT!

 

[dominick_7]

Can anybody confirm 100% whether or not Best Buy will allow you to sign a one year contract on Verizon?

Also, does anybody know how phone numbers are assigned to you? I am currently at school in Santa Barbara, but I live up North. I plan to start a new plan and get the Thunderbolt, and I want a new number. Do they give you the number based on your address you are putting on the account, or based on where you are signing up for it?

I asked this when I went in to pre order the HTC Thunderbolt, they said Best Buy cannot do 1 year contracts, only Verizon can. Only Best Buy is offering pre orders for the Thunderbolt while Verizon is only pre ordering for the iPhone. For the other questions it seems only some Best Buys have a system where they can apply the NE2 credit to your device, others can't for some stupid reason. I received my NE2 credit from the one by my house, but when I had a bad experience with a manager there, I returned the Droid X I bought that was defective and went to another one farther away and they couldn't apply my NE2 credit to my new Droid X replacement.

 

[dominick_7]

Same story....Different Day....Different Phone....I can understand everyone's excitement over the release of the TB. I am excited myself, but we should have all expected this from VZW. After all, have they ever released a phone as expected based on rumors? NOT!

Seems that they always push release dates up for one reason or another.

 

[Noble.Four]

How is the Buy Back thing at Best Buy going to work? Do we get the buy back amount on the retail price (ie, $599 or whatever it's going to be) or for me because I'm a new customer, will they discount the phone when I upgrade on the $299 or $249 price?

Think about it this way. You sign a new contract, get the phone for 249 and sign up for the replacement program. In six months, you return it to best buy and get half retail price (300) as a gift card. You can then get a new phone off contract (600) but you have a gift card which will knock it down to 300, roughly the same as contract price. You can repeat this every six months.

Pretty much it's ideal for those who like to have the newest thing, and have the money to pay about contract price for a phone every six months.

Even better would be to sign a one.year contract at Verizon and get the.phone from them. Sell it on eBay or something, use the money to go towards a retail price phone at best buy. Then do the process I listed above all the same. Except, in six months, you get a new phone at contract price, and six months from then, your contract is up and you can get a new phone essentially for free, by renewing your one year at Verizon, selling the phone you get, and returning your other phone that you got from best buy to them for half retail. Combined, enough to get a new phone from best buy essentially for free and start the process over.

Involved, I know. But its my diabolical plan to always have the hottest android device on Verizon without breaking the bank.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[anon(157335)]

Think about it this way. You sign a new contract, get the phone for 249 and sign up for the replacement program. In six months, you return it to best buy and get half retail price (300) as a gift card. You can then get a new phone off contract (600) but you have a gift card which will knock it down to 300, roughly the same as contract price. You can repeat this every six months.

Pretty much it's ideal for those who like to have the newest thing, and have the money to pay about contract price for a phone every six months.

Even better would be to sign a one.year contract at Verizon and get the.phone from them. Sell it on eBay or something, use the money to go towards a retail price phone at best buy. Then do the process I listed above all the same. Except, in six months, you get a new phone at contract price, and six months from then, your contract is up and you can get a new phone essentially for free, by renewing your one year at Verizon, selling the phone you get, and returning your other phone that you got from best buy to them for half retail. Combined, enough to get a new phone from best buy essentially for free and start the process over.

Involved, I know. But its my diabolical plan to always have the hottest android device on Verizon without breaking the bank.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

OK, here's my question then: While Best Buy is now offering this service for free, at some point you will have to start paying for it, right?

 

[Nitros7]

OK, here's my question then: While Best Buy is now offering this service for free, at some point you will have to start paying for it, right?

yeah its like $50 up front.

 

[SpaceHippie]

OK, here's my question then: While Best Buy is now offering this service for free, at some point you will have to start paying for it, right?

If you get it when you buy the phone, it's free until the 26th. If you try to get it after that, it' gonna cost you. Once you have it, theres no monthly plan or extra payment for it.

 

[shaddix]

Well since that document showing the TB Delay came out I decided to go to best buy and preorder. The guys there told me the 14th so I'm gonna hold them to it!!!!!!

 

[amotter]

Would you buy the Samsung 4G if it came out first...even though it is with a different carrier? They are announcing price and possibly target date on the 13th.

 

[shaddix]

After using my ATT captivate for a few months and a few old samsung phones back in the day I will never touch a samsung device again.

 

[Forgetful]

Well my BB said Late feb or Early March they expect the phone