We have always sold iPhones for $50-100 more than Apple MSRP if unactivated. We do not profit if we sell the phone unactivated at the regular Apple MSRP.
https://corporate.bestbuy.com/update-best-buy-iphone-x/
We no longer have the ability to sell the iPhone X outright, as referenced above in the link.
Personal Source: My 12 years as a BBY employee, 3 in operations leadership, 3 selling cellphones directly.
[doublepost=1510741695][/doublepost]Ok... I have a question for you based on your 12 years of B.B. experience.
I have had continuous Verizon Service since 1994. It was called Airtouch back then. I deliberately pre-ordered the X and opted for ‘in Store pickup’. I went for the in Store pickup because I had no intention of leaving the Store with a New in the sealed box; Unactivated IPhone X. I stated that exact method to 4 individual BestBuy employees; on 4 separate days. 3; in conversations with reps at the 1 888 Bestbuy number. And one; in the BestBuy Store; the day before I picked up the X on November 3rd. All 4 of them had the same view. If I intended to ‘activate the X’ on my 23 year old Verizon Account; that I should get the $100 bump; back. No hesitation from any of them. I even suggested to All of them; that, ‘I dunno; you think that is a justifiable circumstance’? I told All of them, ‘I am not buying a sealed X and having it shipped to my house to sell it on EBay for a ton. I am picking it up in the Store and immediately having it put into Service. I am only paying the entire price because I just don’t feel like making monthly payments for years..
I was encouraged to not cancel my pre-order. And just go along with my plan. And simply ask for the credit when I was in Store.
The 4th BB employee I talked to actually suggested I mention her name to whoever ended up helping me on pickup day. She told me,’ If you don’t see me when you come in on the 3rd; just tell,them my name and that I said you shouldn’t have any problem.
She was there that morning and I asked her if everything was gonna work out? She said yes; but let me clear this with on more person. 10 minutes later; a guy I have never seen before; steps behind the Pickup counter and immediately asks, ‘What’s the problem’? I said; excuse me? He repeated, ‘What’s the problem? I told him my purpose. Before I even put a period on my sentence; he said, ‘Bestbuy makes NO adjustments on specifically the IPhone X. No exceptions on contract phones; period.
I mentioned the previous 4 BB reps that said, ‘No problem’. He said, ‘Well, they were all wrong to tell me what they did’.
He stated that Bestbuy makes No money on Phones that leave the Store without being tied to a contract. He said B.B. make money when they contact the Carrier and document that they sold a phone and it was assigned to a Carrier. I told him I was getting it Activated immediately after purchase. And they could walk the X right over to the Verizon Kiosk, themselves. So, right after my X is activated; than BB could contact the Carrier and make their commission; right?
He said No Exceptions.
I don’t want to draw an evil picture of this guy. He didn’t raise his voice. He wasn’t real mean. He didn’t really have any kinda Badd attitude. But one thing was very clear. He was not going to give me a credit; no matter what I said. There was No Wiggle room in this situation. He stated the Bestbuy rhetoric like he was reading off que cards.
I found this most interesting because I have been giving Lectures on Effective Communication for over 45 years.
.... On a good day; I can almost convince people that rain water comes out of the ground and goes up.
This guy assigned a ‘zero value’ to anything I had to say.
.... Now, my question. You stated that Bestbuy doesn’t make any money on an unactivated IPhone. But I was leaving the Store with an ‘Activated X’.
So how can BestBuy justify their ‘No Exceptions’ position?
They can’t. And BestBuy talks about their willingness to give their customers ‘flexibility’?
I have been a Bestbuy Customer for as long as there has been e BestBuy. If they had a Grocery Store; I would probably have BestBuy Yogurt in the Fridge.
And they are going to Punk me for $100?
BestBuy had plenty of time before the X Pre-release; to make their policy on the X; very clear and make this information easy to find and at least somewhat easier to understand. But they didn’t.
And they want to punish me for their poor handling of this Silliness.
Good job..
It’s not even about the money at this point. It’s just the principle of the matter.
