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iPhone 3G Now Available At Best Buy

walala said:
I've asked this before, but...

Can you buy the iPhone at Best Buy with Best Buy gift cards? Because I have a few cards there worth about $100
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You can use them for the phone itself, but if a deposit is required for your service, that will need to be paid with a credit card - according to what I was told previously.
 
emaja said:
You can use them for the phone itself, but if a deposit is required for your service, that will need to be paid with a credit card - according to what I was told previously.
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Imagine the face of the employee when you tell me you wish to get an iPhone and the $100/month contract and pay all in advance with 26 $100 gift cards. I love paying big things cash, the money frenzy gives the seller some extra motivation to go down with the price.

I don't want, need or have a credit card, by the way. There's absulutely no security in the system, everything you buy with it is tracked and you pay more for the same things. If you get mugged and have no cash on you, only a credit card, it's more likely to get stabbed by an angry aggressor than if you gave him all your money.
 
I buy everything on credit card, because there is absolute security in the system. I don't care if 'everything I buy is tracked' and I pay less for the same things.
 
Best Butt sells Iphone, we lose 3G..coincidence?

How cool is that huh?

in MD, I lost 3G today...when I switch to 3G, I get "no service" been using Edge since this morning...

Obviously Att can't handle the volume, but they keep pushing iphones every where..
I heard, next red cross will be giving away 3G iphones for free :eek:

Oh and Ihop is also next? order 2 pancakes and 2 eggs, get a free 3G iphone?
 
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In Columbia, full bars.
 
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eyephone said:
I miss compUSA.

At the apple "booth" in the compusa stores, there was a dedicated apple sales person at all times, answering questions, and wearing all apple clothing, etc. It was very professional.

In New Orelans now that the compusa is closed, the BestBuy is the only resource for apple. The store has a nice kiosk set up for apple displaying their most popular consumer products, but no one sales person is stationed. This makes for a real head ache when asking questions, as most BB sales people avoid the apple kiosk, and stay around the HPGATEWAYCOMPAQDELL computers because there are only limited questions that these potential buyers may ask. I.E. "where does the cd's go?"

I am wondering if the Apple Kiosk in BB will house the iPhone, or if the bland cell counter will be diluted for once.

This all makes me feel like as Apple gets a larger fanbase, their products may become too mainstream and once apple sees that they can sell a cheaper more bland product in retail stores.......... well you know how this rant ends.
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at my best buy in northeastern Wisconsin there is a dedicated apple consultant (works for apple) who used to work for compusa. Only certain (usually larger) best buys have them.
 
VoR said:
I buy everything on credit card, because there is absolute security in the system. I don't care if 'everything I buy is tracked' and I pay less for the same things.
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How do you think credit card companies make money then?
 
MrCrowbar said:
I don't want, need or have a credit card, by the way. There's absulutely no security in the system
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Ever try to get your bank to do a chargeback on cash? Try telling them you lost a $100 bill and want another re-issued to you. Good luck.

With a credit card when it's lost or stolen I've twice gotten it replaced and charges reversed. I don't pay any fee for my cards. The banks issue the cards on hope that you are dumb enough to run up a bill you can't pay off so they can hit you with 21% interest. Simply pay the bill and the cards are free forever.

Don't need one? Have you ever tried to rent a tool at Home Depot or rent a car with no CC. You'd need a cash deposit. I would have had to bring in $4K in cash to cover that pneumatic demo hammer I rented a while back. How to you reserve airline tickets without a CC? What if a disk drive fails under warenty. With a CC seagate will ship a replacment before they receive the failed unit. I could go on ....

How do you think credit card companies make money then?
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As I said, they hope you run up a bill you don't pay off and carry a balance forward to the next month. If you do then they have sold you and expensive load.
 
MrCrowbar said:
How do you think credit card companies make money then?
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Simple...off the people who don't pay off their cards every month. For those of us who do pay them off, there is no interest and usually a 1-5% rebate on everything we buy. Also off the 1-3% fee they charge merchants for accepting cards, but almost no merchants(in the US) will charge you more for using a credit card. The few that I've come across, I just use cash or shop elsewhere, simple.

ChrisA brings up a great point: How in the world do you buy a plane ticket without a credit card? Perhaps your parents buy it for you with their credit card. In that case, I would see your point. You don't need a credit card, because your parents have one, but don't worry, you will. At the very least, you can get yourself a debit card that can be used in places that cash can't. (for example: iPhone purchase)
 
Spies and Used Car Salesman

Errr, what about those MS agents that was recently planted at BestBuy? I bet they were really placed there to steer customers away from the iPhone and iPods....
 
I know they make money by charging the seller a fee, which 99.9% of the time isn't passed on to me.
My purchase is guaranteed, and I get cashback, and all sorts of fine print extras like a year extra warranty on consumer electronics - how much does apple care cost again?
Why, how do you think it works?
 
curbyourdesign said:
I was in Best Buy yesterday checking out the iPhone and the rates seemed off. The lowest plan they advertised for the FamilyTalk was the 700 plan, the 550 plan was no where to be found. However, when you go to an at&t store or online it shows the 550 plan. Let me know if anyone has come across the same plans at best buy.
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Thats what Best Buy does they screw you. They manipulate what they offer until its completely in their favor. PS good luck trying to get your phone set up with a best buy employee.
 
slapppy said:
Errr, what about those MS agents that was recently planted at BestBuy? I bet they were really placed there to steer customers away from the iPhone and iPods....
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Yeah and I bet they have a chip implanted in their head with the real tapes of the moon landing.
 
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Yep, saw them in Best Buy today. I did notice that there wereno large lines for them so either they are sold out or everyone around here that just had to have theirs as early as possible has already gotten one.
 
pacohaas said:
Simple...off the people who don't pay off their cards every month. For those of us who do pay them off, there is no interest and usually a 1-5% rebate on everything we buy. Also off the 1-3% fee they charge merchants for accepting cards, but almost no merchants(in the US) will charge you more for using a credit card. The few that I've come across, I just use cash or shop elsewhere, simple.

ChrisA brings up a great point: How in the world do you buy a plane ticket without a credit card? Perhaps your parents buy it for you with their credit card. In that case, I would see your point. You don't need a credit card, because your parents have one, but don't worry, you will. At the very least, you can get yourself a debit card that can be used in places that cash can't. (for example: iPhone purchase)
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A couple things..

When a retailer accepts credit cards, EVERYONE pays for the cost (3%-5% typically) for accepting these cards. It is against the VISA merchant agreement to charge more for customers to use their cards (This takes away the 'penalty' imposed on the customer). So, the retailer raises prices so that overall, the customers who pay with cash subsidize those who pay with credit.

On a side note, you'll notice that if you live in California (im not sure about other states), you can't pay your utility (electric/gas/water) with a credit card because the government won't allow the overhead to be rolled into the rates for all customers, and the companies aren't allowed to directly charge the customers the 'overhead'.

You will notice that you can pay your cable bill with a CC, since they aren't regulated and are free to rip customers off for as much as they can.

It is also against their agreement to have a minimum purchase amount. (Tell the liquor store you're going to report them next time they tell you that you cannot use your credit/debit card to pay for that candy bar instead using your ATM card and being charged the $.45 they want to rip you for).
 
TalkAboutApple said:
Radio Shack would be a much better fit. They've been selling cellular since it was a rocket science in the 80's, and for the most part the salespeople are quite knowlegeable.
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I absolutely agree with you on this one... For a much maligned retail store, I have found time and time again, the people who work at Radio Shacks are mostly well informed and are REAL GEEKS who are truly interested in the products they sell.

Not like at a BB where your average HS or College student doesn't even want to be there, let alone learn about the items they sell. (No offense to those FEW Best Buy employees who actually KNOW what their doing) :)
 
This is going to be great.

When you have a problem with your phone:

Best Buy: You'll have to contact AT&T for that --->
AT&T: You'll have to contact Apple for that --->
Apple: You'll have to contact Best Buy for that --->
Satan: Welcome, BB, AT&T and Apple
 
MacBass said:
Granted, despite having to deal with the incredibly "helpful" employees at Best Buy stores, it's nice to see that the iPhone is available where there isn't necessarily an AT&T store nearby.

I still won't get an iPhone until the price for the plan drops significantly enough for me to be able to afford it, because after all, it is just a phone with some extra gadgets, and my current phone is working out pretty well for me.
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When have cell phone rate plans dropped, ever?
 
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