Thunderbolt - Best Buy Availability/Pricing/Ordering Discussion

[Raptor007]

I stopped into my local BB where I did the pre-order and purchased a $200 GC as well just so I had the cash set aside. Well I returned and got a FULL REFUND. Yes they took back both GC's and I couldn't be happier.

I no longer have any funds tied up earning anyone but me interest, and more importantly the rep at Verizon (Mgr - Retail Sales) store I go to was in (I thought he moved to another store) and I will work with him instead. The only thing he has heard was the 10th, and he kept saying it over and over. Not that I doubt him, but for all I know there was a super secret probation meeting where only a select few got to attend and find out the date is March 10, 2012. Long after the world ends.

Anyways I will be getting my TB at a corp store, no more BB.

 

[AndroidJay]

I totally agree with you Raptor007, I am going to purchase the phone directly from a corp store too. I already have a $200 gift card purchased through Verizon towards the phone.

 

[azdmelani]

Got an email from BB this morning telling me to check out their 4G phone selection.

Had the thunderbolt on there, $299, national retail exclusive, coming soon.

 

[DolfanCole]

Got an email from BB this morning telling me to check out their 4G phone selection.

Had the thunderbolt on there, $299, national retail exclusive, coming soon.

Yep, me too. "4G smart phones at even smarter prices" is the email subject. Well, having the TBolt at $299 is not too smart IMO.

 

[robrecht]

Best Buy Clarifies $249 / $299 Pricing Discrepancy

Yep, me too. "4G smart phones at even smarter prices" is the email subject. Well, having the TBolt at $299 is not too smart IMO.

I agree this phone is overpriced even at $250. Best Buy will honor the $250 price for those who placed preorders according to a thread I started on the Best Buy community forum (Page 3, Post 28):

Jacob-BBY:
"Hi! I have updated information that I wanted to share.

The price will be $249.99 with a pre-order ONLY. The price without a pre-order will be $299.99. I hope this helps clarify.

Thanks for your patience!"

Jacob-BBY is the only person who actually speaks for Best Buy in that thread, but note that there is also a picture of a price tag in a Best Buy store that may also indicate that the $250 might apply for those who are new Verizon customers or those who are adding a line. Still trying to confirm that.

If you're interested, you can find the entire sordid thread here:

BBY - What will be the price of the Verizon HTC Thunderb... - Best Buy Community

 

[Raptor007]

I have given up the ghost on waiting, when it comes I will get mine, but I won't give my coin BB, no reason to at this rate their will not be a rush on the phones. People are so irritated that sure they will get them, but I think the announcement will go unheard for the first part of the day.

 

[galpdawg]

actually i was told the best buy return policy is 14 day return no restocking and 30 day return to basically exchange for a diff phone. i just bought iphone from best buy but am planning to return it within 14 days to get full refund back

 

[SpaceHippie]

The phone is 299 bucks. If you preordered, your still paying 299. Just 250 in cash and 50 in GC. Lol i hate to admit it, but the deals we run, sometimes are such BS. We have a deal when you preorder movies say it's 20 bucks. You pay 5 bucks for the preorder and get 5 bucks off the movie. Lol Your still paying 20 bucks in the end.

 

[ixse]

I will gladly pay $300 if we get to have $30 unlimited data including 4g..

 

[terrain]

Yep I am basing my buy decision on thirty dollar unlimited data plan. That is the only reason I want the thunder for lte.

 

[robrecht]

The phone is 299 bucks. If you preordered, your still paying 299. Just 250 in cash and 50 in GC. Lol i hate to admit it, but the deals we run, sometimes are such BS. We have a deal when you preorder movies say it's 20 bucks. You pay 5 bucks for the preorder and get 5 bucks off the movie. Lol Your still paying 20 bucks in the end.

That's not the explanation that Best Buy gave in this thread on their community forum:

"To be uber clear, the price with a pre-order is $249.99 plus tax. If you apply the $50 gift card from the pre-order deposit, that will be treated just like a normal gift card as tender. What I mean by this is that the gift card is applied as tender, not a discount before tax."

See Post 31 at the top of this page:
BBY - What will be the price of the Verizon HTC Thunderb... - Page 4 - Best Buy Community

 

[AndroidJay]

Yep I am basing my buy decision on thirty dollar unlimited data plan. That is the only reason I want the thunder for lte.

Me too. I have the unlimited plan right now with the 3G with the DINC. I listen to Slacker Radio and Pandora all the time. And now with that Radio Disney App, my little ones enjoy listening to that once in a while. I easily go over 5gb a month without teathering. The TB looks like an awesome phone and I have been able for an upgrade for a couple of months now.

 

[Kimmy71]

The phone is 299 bucks. If you preordered, your still paying 299. Just 250 in cash and 50 in GC. Lol i hate to admit it, but the deals we run, sometimes are such BS. We have a deal when you preorder movies say it's 20 bucks. You pay 5 bucks for the preorder and get 5 bucks off the movie. Lol Your still paying 20 bucks in the end.

Lurker finally making a post. My BB specifically told me that because I had the preorder when the phone was shown in the add at 249, that would be my price before the gift card (which i've already used for something else...LOL) They are also letting me use my NE2 credit which helps. It seems each location does wht they want. Hmmmm, nothing like inconsistency.

 

[prakash99]

The phone is 299 bucks. If you preordered, your still paying 299. Just 250 in cash and 50 in GC. Lol i hate to admit it, but the deals we run, sometimes are such BS. We have a deal when you preorder movies say it's 20 bucks. You pay 5 bucks for the preorder and get 5 bucks off the movie. Lol Your still paying 20 bucks in the end.

Best Buy Mobile website has been telling everyone that with a pre-order, the TOTAL price is $250...... We pay $200 after redeeming $50 gift card. I am going to show them the posts on their "official" best buy mobile facebook page and if they still don't honor it, I will be harassing BBY's corporate HQ.

And judging from what your Best Buy does with the movie preorders, your BBY seems to be a pretty good job ripping customers off. Hats off to your manager or whoever is in charge.

 

[DJQ7]

Thunderbolt for 299.99

The circulars from this Sunday's (March 6) paper have the Thunderbolt at Best Buy for 299.99 with contract or 749.99 regular price. See attached pic. The date is on the bottom right corner.

 

[amotter]

Best Buy.....REALLY?

 

[MyMeth]

It may be $249 or $299 I don't care I'm still getting one!

 

[Vincetybor]

I was going to post a pic from BB that has the dummy unit with the $249. add under it but I cant figure out how to do it from my dinc. But I asked them, if the price goes up to $299 and I have there flyer of there $249 will they honor the $249 and they said yes so I asked them if I could have the tag below the dummy unit and they made me a copy. I'd advise anybody that pre ordered it to do the same and if they won't do it I can scan it in and email it to ya!

 

[mrmoe110]

From what I read on Best Buy Mobile's Facebook it's $249 total if you preordered, $299 if you didn't. They posted it numerous time because so many people asked the same question. BB Mobile said the same thing every time.

 

[Cyber Warrior]

From what I read on Best Buy Mobile's Facebook it's $249 total if you preordered, $299 if you didn't. They posted it numerous time because so many people asked the same question. BB Mobile said the same thing every time.

Its the same price once you include the $50 deposit you leave for pre-ordering.