Best Buy Says iPhone X Costs $100 Extra at Full Price Because Flexibility Sometimes 'Has a Cost'

[840quadra]

I worked next door to them in Richfield for a year I spent in MN ... really sad to see what they've become. They built that campus to be a huge build they could grow into. I think when they moved in they occupied one full building of the two, and I don't think they ever ended up moving into the second. And it's purpose-built as a corporate campus so it's not like they could lease out the other half. I kinda feel like that's what's going to happen with Apple Park if Apple doesn't get their stuff together and grow. But yeah, that Minneapolis campus is sad, and I would talk to many of the employees at lunch and they were just miserable. And this was 10 years ago when the company was just off their huge growth spurt. I can't even imagine how bad the morale is now that they've closed hundreds of stores, had massive layoffs, and the outlook for the company is not good.

Some of what that company does just baffles me to be honest.

One of the odd things the did was close one of their really early stores, that had a great following, and was across from Southdale Mall (one of the first enclosed malls in the world), in Edina. Yeah the store was small, but it was cheap to power / operate, and had great sales (from what I hear from BB employees I know). It was also one of the last locations in their old style, which wasn't large, and FAR more efficient for us shoppers to bop in and buy something.

Whenever you go to their mini Apple Store, their staff doesn't really know the products, they push the wrong devices, and give terrible advice. Not sure why they can justify passing on extra costs to their consumers when they aren't the best shopping experience for iPhones these days.

 

[Kaibelf]

Flexibility has a price. And stupid business decisions paired with media coverage has severe consequences.

 

[ksnell]

That’s some capitalist logic for you.

Yes, and the other capitalist part will be when the market corrects itself. You can already see in the forum that Best Buy lost sales because of this.

 

[iJandro]

Yet they don't offer the T-Mobile phones or SIM-Free iPhone 8. So for $100 more I wouldn't be able to get the phone I ordered direct from Apple. But I bet if they have iPhone X stock they will sell all they've got at the $100 premium.

Actually, I think they did/are offering a SIM-Free version: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-iphone-x-64gb-space-gray/6009470.p?skuId=6009470

 

[69Mustang]

I guess I'm lucky. My Best Buy has to "come correct" or get no money. Competition is a great thing. In an approx 3 mile radius I have Best Buy, Fry's, Microcenter (my favorite), Staples, and Office Depot.

 

[Ryonkd]

That’s some capitalist logic for you.

and because of capitalism, you can choose not to shop there.

 

[Skiefire]

The convenience of "buying" from Best Buy? More like using them as a storefront for amazon.

Remember when they had a fake internal website, that showed higher prices, so if you did try to price match the store with bestbuy.com their staff would pull up the fake version and show you it wasnt any cheaper? Because that was fun.

 

[1369281]

Best Buy is actually a great store. It is the last major brick-and-mortar retailer for electronics. They will even price Amazon. Not sure where all of the hate is coming from. I hope they continue to be profitable so I can have another place to view electronics in person or grab something I need right away without having to wait for UPS or FedEx to deliver it.

 

[Westside guy]

If people will pay it, then BB can charge it.

Yup - it's called the free market. If you don't want to pay their price, go somewhere else.

If there are young millennials confused by this idea, think of it as "surge pricing".

(Let's see... who else can I insult here?)

 

[Pipper99]

“they are able to get a phone the way they want at Best Buy“ LOL! Can I get the iPhone X with Windows Mobile installed?

Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce...

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

If I was running Best Buy I would have added a $350 surcharge. Why not? Car dealerships do it all the time to popular models. People will pay it. Just have to wait for the best time to do it. This was it.

 

[Syk]

that's because they are amazon's show room. everyone does this. go to Best Buy, look at item, open iPhone, order that item from Amazon, walk out of Best Buy.

Best Buy prices matches and also here lately Amazon isn't really that much cheaper than a B&M since they also charge tax here now. I've started looking more on NewEgg, Walmart and few other sites.
Amazon and online ordering is handy when I don't have to leave the house or ordering things that aren't in stores but if it's just $10-20 difference. If I'm already at BB I'll just buy it then

 

[rgarjr]

what a dick move

 

[iamaydo]

apple needs to shut them down for gouging. I hate buying from them anymore anyway. Everything I have bought lately has restocking fees. They even tried to charge me $150 to return a product that didn't work out of the box.

You call a 10% price increase, gouging?! Really?!

Can we please ease up on the over dramatization?

 

[montanaco]

LMAO WHAT. Uhhh you get this same flexibility from Apple ya know...I'm dead

 

[tpham5919]

Can't blame them for cashing in but that's a low move!

 

[Braderunner]

Best Buy sucks. I won't buy anything there, even if they have a lower price, just out of spite.

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

I didn’t know Apple allowed this. I guess on one hand I’m surprised more retailers don’t jack up the prices a little bit then, but on the other hand this is super messed up that they’re selling them for more because they’re more in demand. It’s like they’re flipping the phones themselves. I’m surprised they don’t jack up the price even more and sell them at prices reflecting availability (ie keep upping the price until they sell off all units available on launch day).

It’s awfully sneaky too. I ordered from Apple and got 4-5 weeks and I read on here Best Buy still had them for November 10th, so I ordered from Best Buy, but because I already ordered as an upgrade using the Apple Store app, I couldn’t use the make payment option so I just forked out all the money upfront. I was doing it quickly and didn’t even realize that it was off by $100 per phone. Looks like I have to wait the 4-5 weeks after all =/

 

[joueboy]

People willl just get it elsewhere, then.

Or not get it at all! Teach this big companies the we owned them not owning us. This is obviously ridiculous and a scam!

 

[DanGoh]

Yes, and the other capitalist part will be when the market corrects itself. You can already see in the forum that Best Buy lost sales because of this.

Do you really believe that Best Buy won't sell what they have in iPhone X inventory for the first month, even at the higher prices? They will.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Greedy company.

 

[Syk]

MacRumors just posted an article on ebay and craiglist prices.
Like I said earlier in the thread. For those who just have to have and can't wait a few weeks.
That $100 by BB is nothing compared to the ebay/craglist prices.

Honestly if I wanted it bad enough I would pay the $100 if I woke up at 6am this morning after sleeping all night and didn't have to jump through hoops of getting kicked out of queue or not getting server connections it would be worth it.

Grandscheme of things. You're paying $1000(1100 wtax) for a phone. What $100 more at that point.

 

[euvnairb]

Thank you MR for bringing this to my attention. I preordered a 256 Space Grey from bestbuy.com last night while everyone else was dealing with the extreme slowness of Apple and ATT thinking that I was smart to place an order where there was less traffic. I totally overlooked the price until I ran into this post! I just called the online number best buy lists for price matching and talked to an operator and they are matching apple's price and refunding me the difference (w/tax)! The operator said bestbuy usually doesn't price match Apple but they "would make an exception this time." Ok, sure. So I still get my launch day iPhone X at the same price as everyone else. Just had to make an extra call.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

So, while everyone here is ******** on BB, remember that they are in the business of *making* money, not breaking even.

I don't know what Apple sells the iPhone to them for, but it sounds like it isn't much lower than list price, so for them to make money on an unlocked phone with no subsidies from Apple or a carrier, why not charge $100 more?

Where else can you buy an iPhone X? Apple (the manufacturer already making 50%+ profit), or the carriers (making huge amounts on the service) or Best Buy (making nothing unless they mark it up a bit).

Would I want to have to spend an extra $100? No, but do I blame them? Nope.

And, everyone complaining how crappy BB is, I can say that as an Elite Plus member, I've had nothing but good experiences with them. In-store CS is good, never an issue with returns, and I get rewards and great financing deals from time-to-time. They're good in my book.

 

[wigby]

People still shop there?