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Best Buy to Carry iPhone 4 at Launch
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I work for BestBuy/GeekSquad, so let me confirm that that yes, we'll be selling iPhones at launch, and there will indeed be an employee purchase hold to allow clients to purchase the entire stock for a certain period of time.
You will be able to use rewardzone certificates, store credit, gift cards, anything that would normally apply to other in-store categories.
Also the warranty that BBY mobile sells on the iPhone is pretty decent, it includes ADH (accidental damage from handling) so if you drop the phone, spill water on it or get it wet, crack the screen, all that stuff is covered under warranty.
You will be able to use rewardzone certificates, store credit, gift cards, anything that would normally apply to other in-store categories.
Also the warranty that BBY mobile sells on the iPhone is pretty decent, it includes ADH (accidental damage from handling) so if you drop the phone, spill water on it or get it wet, crack the screen, all that stuff is covered under warranty.
when something is wrong the genius bar replace the phone on the spot. does best buy do that?
With Android phones available on nearly every street corner, this is a good strategy to try to get more iPhones out there, even though they're tied solely to AT&T. If Apple keeps expanding the number of distributors, they're bound to sell more iPhones. AT&T must be happy.
That's not entirely true. While you will often times find an Apple genius who is willing to do that, (I've seen it many times myself), the Apple warranty agreement reads...
http://images.apple.com/legal/warranty/docs/iphone.pdfApple Warranty Agreement said:
BestBuy's warranty is pretty much a service/replacement plan. Meaning we will first try to "rapid exchange" the phone for you. As soon as GeekSquad checks the phone into the system, a request is generated to send a new or re-manufactured iPhone from our nearest repair center to the BestBuy store you request. This process normally takes about 2-3 days. When that happens if fulfills the service portion of your warranty contract.
If our repair center is out of new or re-manufactured iPhones then the system alerts that GeekSquad agent and then will send you to customer service to exchange your broken phone for a new one.
I normally recommend people purchase BestBuy warranties on Apple products that are capable of having the ADH warranty on them. Which are Laptops, and iPhones. Reason being, if you drop it, it's definitely covered. And you can still take it to any Apple service center to get repairs made as long as you're still within your Apple care warranty.
If you get an iPhone from BestBuy and you're still within your Applecare warranty or you find a polite Apple genius, then nothing is stopping you from trying to get a damaged iPhone exchanged. The only real difference is that BestBuy explicitly guaranties that it will either be repaired or replaced, whereas Apple says they will not repair/replace it, but normally make concessions.
Has it been officially confirmed that best buy will even carry the iphone? or is it still speculation. And if they are carrying it, any work on preorders?
Upgrades are handled as if in an at&t store. I'll be paying 299 for a 32gb iphone 4 come the 24th (assuming I get a hold of one).
Don't know about BB plan, would like to know.
Aphex3D above me is correct. You pay the same prices as you would in an ATT store. We have a proprietary application that ties in with all major cellphone providers in the US and were're able to reference your account, apply upgrades, activate new lines, terminate lines, etc.
They will check your upgrade status, and if you qualify for either a regular upgrade, or the early iPhone upgrade then you will only pay 199 or 299 for the 16GB and 32GB respectively.
Also as a side note, if you've got an iPhone 3GS that you purchased from BestBuy I would suggest immediately brining it up to the store and get a trade-in credit via our trade-in program. https://www.bestbuytradein.com/bb/
I just checked the trade-in program and you get a 269.00 gift card for a 16GB 3GS (pretty nice if you only paid 199 for it) and you get a 311.00 dollar gift card for a 32GB 3GS. I would urge anyone thinking about the trade-in to do it ASAP because the prices are going down every day. I traded in my 32GB 3GS in last week before the keynote and I got about 330.00 for it on a gift card.
Ninja Edit: I just realized by BBY Plan you were probably reffering to the warranty. I'm not 100% sure because I've got an employee discount applied to mine. I think without a discount it is about 14 dollars a month. You have the option to pay the entire lump sum for the warranty at the time of purchase. Trust me, don't do this. If your phone needs to get exchanged they will sometimes have you purchase a new warranty on a new phone. This isn't a big deal if you're paying monthly, but if you already pre-paid for a years worth you get a pro-rated refund for the duration left on the warranty; the pro-rated refund is normally off by a few months, so if the plan is 14 dollars per month you're losing about 42 dollars.
Looks like I'll be making a stop at the AT&T store before work on the 24th. It's stupid that they are prohibiting employees from buying it when we won't get the phones till that morning anyway, and its not like Best Buy loses money off employees since I have to pay the exact same as everyone else.
Whatever
Whatever
Rumor about next carrier for iPhone
FOX NEWS reporting analysts expect T-Mobile to be next USA carrier to get the iPhone. See story at http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010...hone-says-analyst/?test=latestnews#commenting.
Me, I'm predicting SPRINT will get it, and that Best Buy stores will be selling them in September, 2010. If I'm correct, your applause will be sufficient.
FOX NEWS reporting analysts expect T-Mobile to be next USA carrier to get the iPhone. See story at http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010...hone-says-analyst/?test=latestnews#commenting.
Me, I'm predicting SPRINT will get it, and that Best Buy stores will be selling them in September, 2010. If I'm correct, your applause will be sufficient.
Isn't Best Buy participating in the pre-ordering program on June 15th? Apple Stores are, as is AT&T. At both places, the phones will be ready for pickup on the 24th ---AT&T promises front-of-the-line, no waiting for pre-ordering customers. Of course, you have to pay for it when you order it, but. . .
Best Buy hasn't officially said anything about how the pre-order process will work or when it will start, but im sure they will announce something before the 15th.
Well, they certainly should. Can't believe such a mega-retailer's missing out on the opportunity. I think even Wal-Mart's taking pre-orders (tho' I'm not sure, really). Ask you phone department manager. FWIW, I'm pre-ordering at AT&T on Tuesday (15th), or maybe the Apple Store if they have the same pickup-with-no-waiting-in-line policy.
I stopped at one of our Best Buy's today & was told that I can pre-order by coming into the store Tuesday (the 15th) & placing a $50 deposit. I'll be able to pick up the phone at the store on the 24th.
*** Where is the best place to pre-order at? Or is it better just to wait in line at one of the stores and get it that day? If you pre-order, you won't get it on launch day, 24th, will you?
**I thought u had to have it shipped to you if you pre-order and aren't guaranteed to get it by the 24th. Where did you hear you can have it shipped to the store and are guaranteed to have it that day in store?
I'm not 100% sure of the retail cost because I have an employee discount applied to mine. I think it is about 14 dollars a month.
Can you share a list of stores where i can find out this phone.i want to get this opportunity for buy this phone.