Thunderbolt - Best Buy Availability/Pricing/Ordering Discussion

[ShaggyKids]

If anyone from Verizon, HTC, or Best Buy are reading this by chance, please give us something. We'd be much obliged. Thanks.

I doubt I'll believe anything I hear on these boards or any place else regarding this. I prolly will only believe an actual VZW price post on their site or a tv ad. If I were going to get mine at Best Buy I'd have to see it in print. There's to many rumors and "my buddy said" or "I just talked to a VZW rep" and we all know that what you get from them is conflicting information and that's it. This phone is a big expense, at least for me, especially when you figure in plan cost that hasn't even been confirmed yet. So, as much as I want it, I have to keep my feet on the ground in order to keep potential disappointment to a minimum. I have to keep telling myself that I may still be using my Storm1 for a long time yet.

 

[ShaggyKids]

Lol, I wouldn't go that far. We KNOW this thing is coming sometime this month at least.

True and supposedly it used to be a March launch so it's already better than that. I can't get to excited anyway because if it launches any time before 2/28 I have to wait for that anyway cuz that's my upgrade date.

 

[SpaceHippie]

You guys should expect the TB to release on the 14th at BB. We haven't heard of anything changing. The manager would have let me know. I can't pre order since im an employee so they told me to come in before they open the doors and theyll get me on. They've been keeping me posted on news.

They said the phone WILL launch with skype, that won't be a problem, and the rumors of BB having it first are variations. Some verizon stores will not have the TB on launch day due to high iphone demands so the BBs in the area will have first dibs. But BB didn't sign some agreement to get it first. They still aren't sure about the full retail price because they sometimes mark it up.

There won't be an additional charge for 4G because 4g is not available in enough places to justify the extra cost. Verizon is also trying to lure sprint users by advertising 4g at no extra cost. There has not been alot of marketing for the TB because the release is so close to the iphone, they know the iphone is a bigger selling point.

So no ground breaking news. Nothing is official. But from the way things are shaping up, if something big was going to happen, we would have known about it by now. I can't wait until i get transferred to mobile. Then i'll know this stuff first hand. Rather than having to ask lol.

 

[SpaceHippie]

True and supposedly it used to be a March launch so it's already better than that. I can't get to excited anyway because if it launches any time before 2/28 I have to wait for that anyway cuz that's my upgrade date.

Are you buying from Verizon or BB? If Verizon, call them and tell them you want your upgrade moved up so you can get the iPhone. Then on the 14th you change your mind and go with the TB.

 

[ShaggyKids]

Are you buying from Verizon or BB? If Verizon, call them and tell them you want your upgrade moved up so you can get the iPhone. Then on the 14th you change your mind and go with the TB.

LOL! wouldn't that just chap their butts thinking they have another iPhone customer only to have me buy a TB. Thanks for the suggestion. I was actually thinking of going to my VZW store on launch day wanting to take a look at the TB. Figured a little drooling and a few "oh I wish I could get it today but ... " would prompt the clerk to "oh we can fix that." Ya know the old "customer with money in hand" can work magic thing.

Buying from VZW, I don't see the point in driving all the way to my closest BB (about 30mi) when I have a VZW store about 6 blocks away or could order online and have it delivered to my door. Unless someone knows something I don't know as to there being some benefit in getting it from BB?

 

[SpaceHippie]

No real benefit except for the Buy back program and the instant rebate.

 

[jd10984]

I'm leaning towards getting it from best buy due to the buy back (the fact that its free for 3 weeks and just having the option incase I decide to use it is nice.) Needless to say I am going to go in there a little after they open and pre-order to be on the safe side.

 

[mlpjunior]

I'm leaning towards getting it from best buy due to the buy back (the fact that its free for 3 weeks and just having the option incase I decide to use it is nice.) Needless to say I am going to go in there a little after they open and pre-order to be on the safe side.

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.

 

[dajogejr]

You guys should expect the TB to release on the 14th at BB. We haven't heard of anything changing. The manager would have let me know. I can't pre order since im an employee so they told me to come in before they open the doors and theyll get me on. They've been keeping me posted on news.

They said the phone WILL launch with skype, that won't be a problem, and the rumors of BB having it first are variations. Some verizon stores will not have the TB on launch day due to high iphone demands so the BBs in the area will have first dibs. But BB didn't sign some agreement to get it first. They still aren't sure about the full retail price because they sometimes mark it up.

There won't be an additional charge for 4G because 4g is not available in enough places to justify the extra cost. Verizon is also trying to lure sprint users by advertising 4g at no extra cost. There has not been alot of marketing for the TB because the release is so close to the iphone, they know the iphone is a bigger selling point.

So no ground breaking news. Nothing is official. But from the way things are shaping up, if something big was going to happen, we would have known about it by now. I can't wait until i get transferred to mobile. Then i'll know this stuff first hand. Rather than having to ask lol.

All of that makes 100% perfect sense. I'll laugh big time if folks go into a BB or other store and say I want the iPhone, they're sold out/back ordered...and end up walking out with a TB.
I'd laugh even harder if there was an HTC rep on hand saying...well, our TB can do this, that iPhone can't (3G voice/data, 4G compatible, 32GB of storage for cheaper, etc.)

I want this phone, but I don't want to wait.
I'm thinking of picking it up from Best Buy under a 100% new contract, using it for a couple weeks...then returning it and getting it through work (we use a Wireless Zone store for all our cell needs...).
Sneaky...I know.....

 

[upz3]

They could just sell it quietly through BB to start. Make sure that the devices are working on the network with the little marketing that will be presented. From there they will do a mass promotion on their end. No one will know the distance.

 

[mlpjunior]

I honestly just think Verizon is being smart with how they spend their advertising budget. They know that the iPhone's target consumers need a TV commercial to tell them about the iPhone. Verizon also know that blog coverage is enough to reach the early adopters, who are the Thunderbolt's target users. There isn't much financial justification for spending millions to promote the Bolt just yet.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[paulmike3]

I want this phone, but I don't want to wait.
I'm thinking of picking it up from Best Buy under a 100% new contract, using it for a couple weeks...then returning it and getting it through work (we use a Wireless Zone store for all our cell needs...).
Sneaky...I know.....

Some people have too much time on their hands!

 

[htowngator]

You guys should expect the TB to release on the 14th at BB. We haven't heard of anything changing. The manager would have let me know. I can't pre order since im an employee so they told me to come in before they open the doors and theyll get me on. They've been keeping me posted on news.

They said the phone WILL launch with skype, that won't be a problem, and the rumors of BB having it first are variations. Some verizon stores will not have the TB on launch day due to high iphone demands so the BBs in the area will have first dibs. But BB didn't sign some agreement to get it first. They still aren't sure about the full retail price because they sometimes mark it up.

There won't be an additional charge for 4G because 4g is not available in enough places to justify the extra cost. Verizon is also trying to lure sprint users by advertising 4g at no extra cost. There has not been alot of marketing for the TB because the release is so close to the iphone, they know the iphone is a bigger selling point.

So no ground breaking news. Nothing is official. But from the way things are shaping up, if something big was going to happen, we would have known about it by now. I can't wait until i get transferred to mobile. Then i'll know this stuff first hand. Rather than having to ask lol.

Would LOVE to have it at no extra cost and be available on the 14th, but right now both of those sound like a pipe dream (especially the no added cost for 4G). I would pay the $329 for 1-yr if I knew I could get early adopter status for no upcharge LTE.

IMO the skype/video calling is the best part. It'll be nice to use that with the wife or my friends.

 

[Comineeyeaha]

While I agree with you, it would be nice if they at least told us somewhere how much it will cost and when it will be released.

 

[djcyph]

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.

i dont think it matters when the TB is released for the buy back program...i think once u put the deposit down you are good to go...

look at this receipt someone posted over @ droidforums....

it clearly shows he got the buy back program

im heading over to best buy in a few..i will return with hopefully more info

 

[htowngator]

Why would anyone do buyback anyway? They are offering ludicrously low pricing on your returned phone vs. what you could get just listing it on eBay.

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

 

[dajogejr]

Some people have too much time on their hands!

Or Executives and field reps asking the same question, over and over and over again....

The more time to test, the better I can answer questions AND support my users.

 

[Nitros7]

While I agree with you, it would be nice if they at least told us somewhere how much it will cost and when it will be released.

Thats what keeps me thinking... Yeah ok this is a big phone for those of us looking to jump on the 4G band wagon but other than that your general populous is more in to the big shinny Iphone 4, so advertise the crap out of that... But why for those of us that are waiting on the TBolt are we scraping and scrounging for any scrap of news. Just seems a bit odd if its coming out in a we why not just a "hey heads up". With that said i am still optimistic for the 14th, on several occasions latly i have almost destroyed my blackberry for misbehaving.

 

[upz3]

I still believe BB will be releasing this first. It will stay quiet like it is now, get some 4G phones on the network more and more. Then Verizon will start to hype their own release for it. Some will see it from BB being on sale already but VZW will be able to get the bulk of sales.

 

[Mustang7303]

From a chat rep I just spoke with, release is still looking like the 14th (look in the VZW version of this thread for the transcript). I've got my pre-order and am so excited!