That was two weeks ago... from the CEO of HTC. So if they did in fact ship, they're probably sitting in an HTC Distribution center in the US by now.
Thunderbolt - Best Buy Availability/Pricing/Ordering Discussion
- Thread starter Phil Nickinson
- Start date
That was two weeks ago... from the CEO of HTC. So if they did in fact ship, they're probably sitting in an HTC Distribution center in the US by now.
Can an employee of Best Buy please tell me how you verify if a person is eligible for an upgrade on Verizon? I want to use my annual upgrade. I am eligible at Verizon but the Best Buy upgrade checker tool does not show it. The tool only shows my standard 2 yr date. Will you still be able to sell to me under these circumstances?
-Frank
-Frank
prakash99
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- Aug 15, 2010
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As far as I know Best Buy does not do annual upgrades. They just do 2-yr upgrades. If u want to use your annual upgrade option you have to go to a VZW store. When you do annual upgrade you don't get the extra credit that you get with NE2
NOTE: I am NOT a BBY employee.
Yeah, I know that NE2 is a seperate program. My NE2 date is in May, but I don't want to wait.
Guess I'll return the TBolt pre-order gift certificate. When they sold that to me they made no mention of not honoring the VZW annual upgrade.
-Frank
azdmelani
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- Jul 16, 2010
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BB doesnt honor NE2 either. Only vzw corp stores handles the annual upgrade. They should have given you that info before you preordered.
Everyone keeps mentioning NE2, but I never mentioned that. I know they don't handle NE2 and I'm not qualified for it anyway. But, you're right, they should have mentioned when selling me the gift card for the TBolt pre-order that they would not actually ever sell me a TBolt.
-Frank
Well that is not good news...I specifically asked that question and was told YES.
Some stores will honor a NE2 credit, but according to VZW they are under no obligation to do so.
What "not good news" are you referring to, the NE2 or the annual upgrade?
-Frank
You guys are talking about two different things.
NE2 credit is when upgrading after 20 months on a two year contract. NE2 credits are $30, $50, or $100.
An annual upgrade is when upgrading after a year within a two year contract. When you do an annual upgrade you will not get your NE2, and will have an upgrade fee of $20.
I'm not sure if Best Buy honors either program.
I'd recommend buying from VZW if you want to make sure you get your NE2 credit OR if you are doing an annual upgrade.
NE2 credit is when upgrading after 20 months on a two year contract. NE2 credits are $30, $50, or $100.
An annual upgrade is when upgrading after a year within a two year contract. When you do an annual upgrade you will not get your NE2, and will have an upgrade fee of $20.
I'm not sure if Best Buy honors either program.
I'd recommend buying from VZW if you want to make sure you get your NE2 credit OR if you are doing an annual upgrade.
I'm eligible for NE2 - have been since Nov. I asked about that specifically and was told yes.
When I went in to my local Best Buy I was told they can't do anything with the Annual Upgrades those are through Corp stores only but as long as the date is up they can do the NE2, but they are not allowed to move any dates due to issues with phone / service.
There really is not reason to buy at BB imo. All these credits and such are a hassle because they vary with each store. If i didn't work there, i would buy at VZ. Even if BB got the TB a week early. Not to mention i prefer verizons insurance over BB BTP on phones. Because with VZ you can call and just have them ship you a new phone easy. Best buy, not so simple.
I was told by BB that with VZ, they send you a refurb'ed phone while BB gives a new phone. I've never had to make a claim before so wasn't sure if he was blowing smoke or not.
The only reason I would buy from BB instead of VZ is that BB has guaranteed me the $249 price if by some chance the phone comes out @ $299. Also, I was really wanting BB's buy back program. I definitely think the TB will be outdated a year or so from now and I'll be looking for the latest and greatest phone (again).
If you're looking for a reason to "sell" as to why buy at Best Buy, here it is.
VZW has discontinued the NE2 upgrade and the early annual upgrade with all new contracts. What these programs used to do was to allow you to purchase a heavily discounted (subsidized) phone after either 12 months (annual upgrade) or 20 months (NE2). What Best Buy is offering with its Future proof "Buy-Back" program is a way for you to essentially get a heavy discount if you decide to upgrade after 6 months but before 24 months. Fifty percent of the Best Buy suggested retail will be approx $375 on the Thunderbolt, for instance. So, even paying retail to upgrade to another phone within 6 months will be kinda like the old VZW annual upgrade and/or NE 2 program). You cannot get any of this with VZW anymore. And, yes, I know that the annual upgrade is intirely different than the NE2 program.
Even though the free Buy-Back promo is gone, the $60 to get into the mobile phone Buy-Back program isn't so bad, considering that with Verizon there is no possibility at all of any discount in less than 2 years after this purchase.
The above is why I would like to buy at Best Buy. But since I'm doing an annual upgrade, I can't. Boo-hoo.
-Frank
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Good reason. Buy back is a good program. But for anyone like myself who keeps their phone in good condition, you could always sell on ebay for near full retail as brand new like i do lol. I sell as brand new and just put in the description "only used once, then decided to get an iphone" very believable lol.
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