What is the differerence between buying at a VZW corp. store and Best Buy?

[macjazzy]

Is Best Buy a reseller? Will I lose my New Every 2 discount?

Will I lose preferred customer status with Verizon( have been a customer for over 10 years) ?

Are the plans different?

What are the downsides/upsides to buying from Best Buy? I have only ever used a corp store for my phone purchases and tech problems.

 

[Maximaniac]

I'm interested in knowing this too. bump

 

[tropper]

From what I know not much cept the price of the phone

 

[BadPeekSell]

Best Buy sells the phone for $199 with a 2-year contract... so what's different there?

 

[Mohawk3]

Best Buy sells the phone for $199 with a 2-year contract... so what's different there?

Best Buy doesn't make you pay 299 and wait for the rebate like Verizon does.

I stopped at Best Buy today and the rep said that they are an authorized retailer for Verizon wireless.

I wanted to know if we replaced one of the phones in our family plan, if we would just extend our existing contract or if they were like wirefly where it appears that it is not just a simple extension of the contract (I think you have to sign up for one of the plans they (wirefly) offer).

 

[BadPeekSell]

I have an e-mail from VZW showing $199 with new contract (rebate is applied automatically at the time of purchase), so I don't see any difference in pricing between BB & VZW.

 

[sbrashear]

From experience, Best Buy will honor your upgrade date. I'm upgraded two lines. One and Eris and one a Droid, both of which, at the time were less than the Verizon store and VZW online. The Eris was free and the Droid was $100. I cannot be sure if they honor NE2 though as neither of my lines were eligible for that.

They also have different customer abilities (I guess is the best way to describe). Yesterday my Eris bricked. I took it to a VZW corporate store and they were going to replace it (still under warranty), but were out of stock, so instead of driving another 20 miles to another corporate store, I stopped by the BB where I bought the Eris. While it was still under warrant, they could not replace it with another phone. They were going to have to send it off. So, I drove to another corporate store and they were able to replace my Eris on the spot.

 

[macjazzy]

They told me in the store that for my NE2 money I had to call VZW and tell them I bought a new phone and they "should" apply the money towards my bill.

The BB employee did not sound very confident though, and could not explain exactly who I should call or whether he knew it would work or just thought that the way it works.

 

[JustinD2473#IM]

All of the VZW policies will apply at Best Buy.

I just got home from my Best Buy and bought my Incredible on my Verizon 1 Year upgrade and still got it for $199.

 

[Groucho]

The big issue is what happens when you have a warrenty issue. As others have stated BB will usually not replace a defective phone on the spot. VZW Corporate stores cannot accept defective phones sold on-line so I am surprised they will replace a phone from Best Buy.

 

[droidrob3]

Best Buy DOES NOT honor New Every Two discounts from Verizon. Best Buy's price is $199 for a two year contract. Verizon price is also $199 for a two year contract, but only if you purchase online thru Verizon's website. On top of that, Verizon will also apply whatever discount you're eligible for from your New Every Two plan. My total was $99 after the instant rebate and my NE2 discount, which Best Buy will not include.

 

[seancredible]

.....best buy, is a "third party" retailer for verizon, they WILL NOT extend the NEW EVERY TWO discount, because they are giving the phone to you REBATE FREE.......otherwise, go to the verizon store and you can save up to $50 more(new every two), but you have to wait 4-6 weeks.....to get that $100 back(rebate)......soooo....
Best Buy-$199 with no new every two.
Verizon-$150 and you have to wait 4-6 weeks to ultimately get this "Incredible" price!
I went to best buy, greattttt experience and would recommend them to allllll.......plus, grab their Black Tie Protection, only $10 a/month and your "smart phone is covered, no matter what".....directly from debit/$10/month.....ok bye guys.......

 

[Nephilim13]

I just picked mine up from the Best Buy in State College,PA (WE ARE...) Anywho, got the free 2gig SD card with it, and they offered me a warranty through their geek squad that is $10 a month, but no deductables and guaranteed a new phone for replacement instead of a refurb, that was the selling point for me

 

[dr.duct_mossburg]

Being a Verizon Wireless employee, my answer is nothing.

Bestbuy employee's tend to screw accounts up because they have a lack of knowledge (not in all cases), but they do have all the carriers to sell and are expected to know knowledge on all of them so this is sometimes the reason.

Indirect retailers sometimes have more time to spend with customer's as the direct stores are generally swamped with customer's.

in the first 30 days, best buy or watever other retailer you bought the phone from is responsible for swapping out, exchanging or returning your device, and we will not do it at a direct store.

I would steer clear of Authorized retailers. If you want to buy indirect, best buy and a premium retailer is really the only other way I would go.

You have authorized retailers, who basically maintain a minimal standard with Verizon, then you have Premium retailers who maintain high standard's with verizon, from good numbers, satisified loyal customers, and knowledgeable employees.

 

[dr.duct_mossburg]

.....best buy, is a "third party" retailer for verizon, they WILL NOT extend the NEW EVERY TWO discount, because they are giving the phone to you REBATE FREE.......otherwise, go to the verizon store and you can save up to $50 more(new every two), but you have to wait 4-6 weeks.....to get that $100 back(rebate)......soooo....
Best Buy-$199 with no new every two.
Verizon-$150 and you have to wait 4-6 weeks to ultimately get this "Incredible" price!
I went to best buy, greattttt experience and would recommend them to allllll.......plus, grab their Black Tie Protection, only $10 a/month and your "smart phone is covered, no matter what".....directly from debit/$10/month.....ok bye guys.......

Are you by chance drunk? lol

Another good insurance option if you don't want to go with Verizon's assurion is Protect cell.. $70 for 1 year, $119 for 2.

 

[droidrob3]

...otherwise, go to the verizon store and you can save up to $50 more(new every two), but you have to wait 4-6 weeks.....to get that $100 back(rebate)......soooo....
Best Buy-$199 with no new every two.
Verizon-$150 and you have to wait 4-6 weeks...

... or buy online thru verizon's website and have the rebate applied instantly then wait 2-3 days for shipping (or free overnight using code FREEOVERNT if its still applicable)

does the $10 charge per month protection coverage from Best Buy have a deductible? if not, sounds like a pretty good deal! but anyways, have fun with your new phone!

 

[thevoiceless]

What is the difference between the different outlets to a non-VZW customer? My family is on AT&T now, pretty much ready to jump ship for Verizon, but I'm not sure what the easiest route would be.

 

[jared916]

i bought from a BB(a storm) and then they gave me a phone that had already been activated because a year later i went in for a replacement to verizon store and they told me this. but on the plus side they messed up and gave me a 1 year contract

 

[dr.duct_mossburg]

What is the difference between the different outlets to a non-VZW customer? My family is on AT&T now, pretty much ready to jump ship for Verizon, but I'm not sure what the easiest route would be.

read my response above

i bought from a BB(a storm) and then they gave me a phone that had already been activated because a year later i went in for a replacement to verizon store and they told me this. but on the plus side they messed up and gave me a 1 year contract

That's why I say avoid authorized retailers and aim for premium. chances are with a blackberry you may get a used one anyways. Even from a direct store. Easy way to tell is to look at the box. If the UPC is labeled over another UPC then it was returned, Sent back to the manufacture, they recertified it and sent it back to us.

 

[Mohawk3]

... or buy online thru verizon's website and have the rebate applied instantly then wait 2-3 days for shipping (or free overnight using code FREEOVERNT if its still applicable)

does the $10 charge per month protection coverage from Best Buy have a deductible? if not, sounds like a pretty good deal! but anyways, have fun with your new phone!

The best buy plan does not have a deductible and includes one free battery replacement. I am thinking about getting it for my wife's incredible. My droid has a warranty through squaretrade.com, but I think I will only be covered for my purchase price of the device, which they would give me through paypal and if my phone is accidentally damaged, I will have to pay a $50 deductible (No deductible if phone issue is not related to accidental damage) . On the plus side, I got my two years of coverage for only $61 after taxes.