Why does Best Buy sell over retail?

[famoussasjohn]

Call corporate. Do it in their presence. THey love that. Then buy the phone price matched, open it on the spot, and return it. Say you need another color. They will love that more.

They sell open box at 10% discount FYI

I've yet to see Best Buy do open box on phones, let alone iPhones. When I worked at Best buy for returns of cell phones, they were sent back to the manufacturer instead of back to the floor.

 

[unagimiyagi]

Because Best Buy is a bunch of crooks.

They should be shut down if what I heard is true: go into one of their terminals in store to their site, and the price is higher than what they advertise elsewhere.

Selling ABOVE retail at an established, large, national company is unbelievable. It's more characteristic of a pawn shop.

 

[Zorn]

I've yet to see Best Buy do open box on phones, let alone iPhones. When I worked at Best buy for returns of cell phones, they were sent back to the manufacturer instead of back to the floor.

This is correct for all phones except iPhones. They are the only ones to print an open box tag, I guess because they are often so popular and in shorter supply. When I worked there we always sold the open box iPhones pretty fast, it's usually the only way to get a discount on an iPhone beyond the contract price.

 

[lordofthereef]

I've yet to see Best Buy do open box on phones, let alone iPhones. When I worked at Best buy for returns of cell phones, they were sent back to the manufacturer instead of back to the floor.

Source: my wife is manager at a Best Buy

They're doing open box phones, at least at her store.

EDIT: I asked her for some instructions
Go on bestbuy.com, select "stores", choose the store you want, select "open box and clearance", select "shop this store", filter by what you are looking for (in the case Cell Phones, then Apple).

 

[jimmirehman]

my guess is its to deter people from buying the phone outright. BestBuy would rather rack up new line and upgrade activations instead.

 

[Zorn]

Selling ABOVE retail at an established, large, national company is unbelievable. It's more characteristic of a pawn shop.

This statement is somewhat misleading given that you are referring to post-paid mobile phones, a market in which virtually no one is buying at retail price. The vast overwhelming majority of customers are buying these phones with a contract, where the price would be the same as everywhere else. This is just done to discourage people buying a hot new short supply phone at retail, where the store won't make money and stock is now depleted for customers who would be buying on contract.

If you owned a store would you just shrug your shoulders and sell out your inventory at full price when you weren't making more than maybe $10? Doubt it

 

[famoussasjohn]

This is correct for all phones except iPhones. They are the only ones to print an open box tag, I guess because they are often so popular and in shorter supply. When I worked there we always sold the open box iPhones pretty fast, it's usually the only way to get a discount on an iPhone beyond the contract price.

I would expect them to send them back for sanitary reasons alone. I left there when we began carrying the 3G and 3GS and rules were different then and we were sending them back to Apple so it's been a while . Do they offer it at a discounted rate with a 2 year agreement too or just the full retail?

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Source: my wife is manager at a Best Buy

They're doing open box phones, at least at her store.

EDIT: I asked her for some instructions
Go on bestbuy.com, select "stores", choose the store you want, select "open box and clearance", select "shop this store", filter by what you are looking for (in the case Cell Phones, then Apple).

That's a good source . Looks like things have changed since the last time I worked there. May have to check with my store to see what they've got. May pick up a back up phone.

 

[Zorn]

I would expect them to send them back for sanitary reasons alone. I left there when we began carrying the 3G and 3GS and rules were different then and we were sending them back to Apple so it's been a while . Do they offer it at a discounted rate with a 2 year agreement too or just the full retail?

It gets marked with a discounted price based on full retail. But if you buy it on contract, your sales person can usually translate the discount to whatever your price comes out to. In the very beginning when it's a hot model and sold out, the discount for open box may only be $5-10. After the demand dies down, it's usually about $50 off.

 

[lordofthereef]

I would expect them to send them back for sanitary reasons alone. I left there when we began carrying the 3G and 3GS and rules were different then and we were sending them back to Apple so it's been a while . Do they offer it at a discounted rate with a 2 year agreement too or just the full retail?

10% off whatever you end up paying out the door. If your upgrade is $200, shave off $20. That's how they are marking at wife's store.

 

[MacKid1983]

I've been emailing back-and-forth with Best Buy customer service and someone from the Best Buy mobile back office told me in an email that they don't do price match Full retail value of mobile phones with any retailers. And that also they don't price match with AT&T Verizon or T-Mobile or Apple because they are not their competition. They are their partners.

So I sent an email back stating that that information is not listed in writing in the Best Buy price guarantee policy.

 

[mattroman246]

Big retailers are truly stupid

 

[garycoleman2]

I hate Best Buy. When they had iPhone 5s 16gb for $125 with 2 year contract last year black friday, they listed the retail price as $700 and that made me pay more taxes. The real retail price of a 5s 16gb is $650.

 

[Mahler12x]

God, it seems Best Buy is the best bet to get Plus at this point, but man, it looks like you'll have to pay a premium for that. $50 is nothing to scoff at either.

Oh well, I'll try and get a manager to match using my sweetest kindest voice and maybe I'll get lucky.

I remember doing a price match on a TV with them once and the manager was kind of a dick about it.

 

[ziggo]

Best Buy price matches, you can ask them to price match with Apple without giving them that extra $$$.

Actually it depends on the store, when it comes to phones it is a slippery slope. We were under STRICT orders not to price match iPhone 6's over launch weekend for ANY reason.....

 

[ziggo]

You think thats bad? They have phones like the LG G3 that sells for $569 retail but best buy will sell them for $799 out of contract. They obviously want to force people to contracts. How about phones like the Nexus 5 that sells for $399 for the 16GB model and they sold it for $799 out of contract? $50 isnt that bad of a charge when you consider it, but still crappy that they charge the extra.

I don't know which best buy you went too but we've NEVER sold a Nexus 5 for $800 off contract.

 

[jmxp69]

I stopped using Best Buy years ago because of their consumer unfriendly policies. They'll reap what they sow. Vote with your wallet.

 

[Starfyre]

Cell phones are a little bit tricky when it comes to with contract pricing. Generally with other products, they do a good job price matching, just no coupons on top of that. Generally i find that everything I want in the best buy store is generally overpriced compared to the online best buy store and pretty much begs for price match with amazon to make it consumer fair.

 

[mpayne2k]

I've yet to see Best Buy do open box on phones, let alone iPhones. When I worked at Best buy for returns of cell phones, they were sent back to the manufacturer instead of back to the floor.

I bought my iP5 two years ago on open box at Best Buy. Got a screaming deal too. They listed it at 10% off, it was 64gb White and when I completed my upgrade on contract with subsidy, they ended up charging me $199 (-10%) instead of $399 for 64gb!

 

[caramellhoney]

God, it seems Best Buy is the best bet to get Plus at this point, but man, it looks like you'll have to pay a premium for that. $50 is nothing to scoff at either.

Oh well, I'll try and get a manager to match using my sweetest kindest voice and maybe I'll get lucky.

I remember doing a price match on a TV with them once and the manager was kind of a dick about it.

How when best buy is not even selling the 6P or taking orders?
I called my local best buy and they said they might start taking orders in October and they may offer a gift card with your order since that's what their doing with the iPhone 6 now.

 

[ant the ninja]

I buy my phones through them for their warranty. I pay 10 bucks a month for full peace of mind, which is why I do not use a case.

I was a little ticked I couldn't pre-order the 6 plus through them so I am still waiting. I remember when I bought my 5s last year I was able to track one down on the website but now for the plus it just says "coming soon". Very Strange.

 

[famoussasjohn]

I bought my iP5 two years ago on open box at Best Buy. Got a screaming deal too. They listed it at 10% off, it was 64gb White and when I completed my upgrade on contract with subsidy, they ended up charging me $199 (-10%) instead of $399 for 64gb!

That's an awesome deal! Didn't find any of them online, but may check the store to see what they've got.

 

[Truefan31]

I hate Best Buy. When they had iPhone 5s 16gb for $125 with 2 year contract last year black friday, they listed the retail price as $700 and that made me pay more taxes. The real retail price of a 5s 16gb is $650.

Damn just occurred to me yeah you'd pay more taxes by them raising prices. Dick move.

 

[MacKid1983]

Call the Best Buy corporate Executive Resolutions office at (612) 292-0100, get them involved. Gently mention "Attorney General", if they get snippy.

I called them and they helped me out tremendously.

 

[unagimiyagi]

This statement is somewhat misleading given that you are referring to post-paid mobile phones, a market in which virtually no one is buying at retail price. The vast overwhelming majority of customers are buying these phones with a contract, where the price would be the same as everywhere else. This is just done to discourage people buying a hot new short supply phone at retail, where the store won't make money and stock is now depleted for customers who would be buying on contract.

If you owned a store would you just shrug your shoulders and sell out your inventory at full price when you weren't making more than maybe $10? Doubt it

Good point, but I believe that Best Buy has been guilty of doing this to more than just phones.

 

[erzhik]

Who buys phones at best buy? Why do you do it people? Video games, yes go for best buy. Everything else? F no.