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Best Buy Details

Been reading this thread for a while, registered to be able to see links, now it's time to contribute! No breaking news, just wanted to share my Best Buy experience, especially for any of you who are trying to get the Buy Back program free-enrollment extended due to the delays.

Given that today is the last day of free Buy Back, and knowing that many of you were able to work out an extension with your local stores, I gave it a try. On the phone with the "main" Best Buy number this morning, I was instructed to go to the store and work out an extension with the manager, and that it would absolutely not be a problem to extend the program for me since I pre-ordered.

At the local store however (Awatukee, AZ), both the mobile manager and GM (so he said) told me no. The GM went so far as to say that he was not willing to work anything out with me because he "could get fired" and that "Best Buy wouldn't be the great electronics retailer that we are today" if they gave extensions or refunded the price of the Buy Back program. The other gem I loved was the "I could sell you a $10,000 TV for $1, but I'm not going to." K...:rolleyes:

I got back on my phone (store employees would not contact customer service on their phones for me) and they spoke with the manager, who still refused to assist me though he was being told to work something out. Finally, I was transfered to Customer Relations, who agreed that it was fair to extend the program, as when I had pre-ordered the TB, the free enrollment was a selling point. They are sending a gift card in the price of the Buy Back program to use anytime the TB is released. :)

So - if your local BB is not cooperative in extending the free buy-in, this may be the way to go. I have nothing against BB, I shop there quite frequently - needless to say, that particular BB has lost my business once that TB is in hand.



Funny because I took back a gift that was given to me a few weeks ago that I haven't opened in hopes of getting store credit towards the TB. The customer service rep told me she couldn't do a store credit refund because they no longer carried the item (even though their website says the product is available and stocked for in-store pick-up). I've tried to avoid BB as much as possible, but every now and then I'd purchase from them (which is the case with the TB), but I think this incident has completely turned me off of BB, besides I'd rather do my shopping at Newegg.com
 
Funny because I took back a gift that was given to me a few weeks ago that I haven't opened in hopes of getting store credit towards the TB. The customer service rep told me she couldn't do a store credit refund because they no longer carried the item (even though their website says the product is available and stocked for in-store pick-up). I've tried to avoid BB as much as possible, but every now and then I'd purchase from them (which is the case with the TB), but I think this incident has completely turned me off of BB, besides I'd rather do my shopping at Newegg.com

That's the only way we don't take stuff for returns or store credit, is if it's discontinued in the store inventory system.
 
As far as I am concerned the people at the best buy where I placed a preorder are idiots. I stopped in today to look at the Xoom and while passing the mobile section figured I would ask about the thunderbolt and see what type of response I got. I told the gal that someone at Best Buy left a voice mail for me late last week about it being delayed and ready to pick up on Monday the 28th. She said (with a big smirk on her face) 'no that is not true anymore', they will not be available until March 10th at the earliest but it may be even later.

I asked why its been delayed again and her response was that HTC is having production problems. She didn't even mention Verizon and put all the blame on HTC. That was a new one on me as everything other people reported are that it has nothing to do with production but rather other issues with the phones that they are working on with updates.

I understand it's not Best Buy's fault, but that does not mean they cant handle it much better. They should have a consistent message directed from the top so at least they speak with one voice. Thats just basic business 101. Nothing will piss off people more than getting a different response to the same question each time it is asked.
 
Not worth a lot, lol....kinda sucks to hear ya know?

Yeah, true. But I'd add that this particular store has always held the line for VRZ and has never even given a hint of speculation on when the phone launches. I bet they have been threatened with a slow painful death if they even speakith of the phone that shall not be named...
 
Hope I'm not being paranoid, but I'm beginning to worry that I might end up on some Verizon t-bolt do not sell list or something for my untempered remarks about all this. :cool:
 
Yeah I stopped by a Bestbuy in Portland, OR. Said Thunderbolt had been delayed till March 10 because of battery problems.

Really hope he's wrong though.
 
Hope I'm not being paranoid, but I'm beginning to worry that I might end up on some Verizon t-bolt do not sell list or something for my untempered remarks about all this. :cool:



We all talked about it last week in our secret meetings, we don't feel you're being paranoid...
 
We all talked about it last week in our secret meetings, we don't feel you're being paranoid...

:) see...

Not to mention I just asked Dominos when they could deliver a pizza for me and the dude said its tba. I can't help but feel I'm being singled out!! :D
 
Don't trust any word from bb employees at this point. This coming from a BB employee, lol

I completely agree, when customers asked us for release dates at CC, we would look it up on the internet unlocked terminal at Customer Service and the first few links on google is what we used

i would always try to go further in depth because i would always try to be the customer while helping them.

If i wanted info from a sales associate i would want the right info too, so thats why i would try to put myself in the customers shoes
everyone else that did such research for dates for customers when i was either off or not available to help, would be like "uh, i have no idea *curlying there hair with there finger, chewing there gum like a cow* lol (i don't over-exaggerate on that one bit either lol
 
i read in another forum that the poor battery life is due to the hardware and this device should have been left 3g only. this was not from a random poster but an andmin and good friend of miami's. if this device came out tomorrow i wouldn't get it. i will wait a week or two even. i would suggest others doing the same.
 
i read in another forum that the poor battery life is due to the hardware and this device should have been left 3g only. this was not from a random poster but an andmin and good friend of miami's. if this device came out tomorrow i wouldn't get it. i will wait a week or two even. i would suggest others doing the same.

Do you have a link?
 
Given that today is the last day of free Buy Back... So - if your local BB is not cooperative
OMG! What a pain in the ass! I am very mad about losing the free buy-back promotion, but it isn't worth $60 to me (the regular price of the mobile phone buy-back program) to go through what you did.

Pisses me off, none the less.

-Frank
 
Been reading this thread for a while, registered to be able to see links, now it's time to contribute! No breaking news, just wanted to share my Best Buy experience, especially for any of you who are trying to get the Buy Back program free-enrollment extended due to the delays.

Given that today is the last day of free Buy Back, and knowing that many of you were able to work out an extension with your local stores, I gave it a try. On the phone with the "main" Best Buy number this morning, I was instructed to go to the store and work out an extension with the manager, and that it would absolutely not be a problem to extend the program for me since I pre-ordered.

At the local store however (Awatukee, AZ), both the mobile manager and GM (so he said) told me no. The GM went so far as to say that he was not willing to work anything out with me because he "could get fired" and that "Best Buy wouldn't be the great electronics retailer that we are today" if they gave extensions or refunded the price of the Buy Back program. The other gem I loved was the "I could sell you a $10,000 TV for $1, but I'm not going to." K...:rolleyes:

I got back on my phone (store employees would not contact customer service on their phones for me) and they spoke with the manager, who still refused to assist me though he was being told to work something out. Finally, I was transfered to Customer Relations, who agreed that it was fair to extend the program, as when I had pre-ordered the TB, the free enrollment was a selling point. They are sending a gift card in the price of the Buy Back program to use anytime the TB is released. :)

So - if your local BB is not cooperative in extending the free buy-in, this may be the way to go. I have nothing against BB, I shop there quite frequently - needless to say, that particular BB has lost my business once that TB is in hand.

What# did you call? The manager here in tucson told me absolutely not. When asked why no one called me to notify me of the delay she said people could go online to find out it would not be out on the 14th. Im done with bb after the tb comes out.
 
Tried to get as much info as I could..



8:10 PM Nick: Thank you so much! How can I help you out today?8:10 PM

Huty Dert: Yes the screen on my HTC thunderbolt flickers

8:10 PM Huty Dert: do you know what could be causing this?

8:12 PM Nick: No. As it has not yet been released, so we have no reviews.

8:13 PM Huty Dert: Well do you know when it will be released so I can get this fixed!

8:13 PM Huty Dert: Its very annoying

8:14 PM Nick: No, The HTC thunderbolt has not been released to the public at this time, and no release date has been set.

8:14 PM Huty Dert: Do you have any clue at all?

8:15 PM Nick: THe device is not available to the public yet, how would Anyone know?

8:16 PM Nick: I would call HTC if you can.

8:16 PM Nick: Only they will know.

8:16 PM Huty Dert: I would love to but my phone (HTC ThunderBolt) screen flickers and wont work right so how would I be able to call them?

8:17 PM Nick: Usa a different device

8:18 PM Huty Dert: Ok i have 1 more question though.. Why would you do preorders then not help out the people that did pre order?

8:19 PM Nick: "" this chat will be monitored and recorded for quality purposes"" How did you purchase this Un-Released Device? Any Pre-release distrubition from HTC will also include a Support number.

8:19 PM Huty Dert: ebay

8:20 PM Huty Dert: My brother pre ordered when will he be getting the phone though?

8:20 PM Nick: Then I would contact the Seller for the Pre-release distrubition Support number.

8:20 PM Nick: I do apologize, but there has not been a Release date Officially announced yet.

8:21 PM Huty Dert: Then why would you take pre orders you must know something!

8:21 PM Huty Dert: Pre order on 2/13

8:21 PM Nick: Pre-order means you get a device in the order it was pre-ordered when it is released, no date has been set, just the spot in "Line" to get the device.

8:22 PM Nick: He will recieve it before regular sales start.

8:22 PM Huty Dert: What if it never comes out?

8:22 PM Nick: As preorders are filled before walk in customers

8:22 PM Nick: You would have to ask in store for the policy on that situation should it happen.

8:23 PM Huty Dert: ok thanks for your help

8:23 PM Nick: Well, hopefully I covered everything you needed help with, Is there anything else I can help you with today?

8:23 PM Huty Dert: yeah one more question

8:24 PM Huty Dert: one more chat person on here said that the phones were actually sitting at warehouses ready to ship.

8:24 PM Huty Dert: Is that fact?

8:24 PM Nick: I do apologize, but there has not been a Release date Officially announced yet. Untill it is, we have no stock information available.

8:24 PM Huty Dert: ok
 
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