DROID Bionic And Accessory Bundle Costco Discussion Thread (Including Q&A from YankeeDudeL)

[jboku]

@Jboku. I am hoping on the rare chance that the wireless advocates at costco will let me exchange the bionic. Not that im not totally happy with the Bionic from my OG Droid. Just want to be on the uo and up for a phone that will last another 2 years. I am alittle jaded at this Bionic since it fell out of my pocket 11 inches onto a rubber coated floor and the orientation sensor broke!

I hear you there. I came from the OG droid too and am looking for this phone to last me 2 years and not give me as much grief as my old droid did towards the end. It never hurts to try, but at least to get a new bionic before the 90 days are up if yours broke ;p.

I know I will be tempted to do the same when the Prime / Vigor or Razor-HD come out ;p.

 

[YammyMonkey]

I picked up the Bionic this weekend from the Costco in Littleton, Colorado & they are (or maybe were) doing a mail-in rebate for the whole package. No big deal.

Using the upgrade on another line at the kiosk was a lot easier than doing it online when I had to use my upgrade to get my wife a new phone few months ago.

 

[jrtf83]

Any idea how long we'll wait for the accessory bundle mail away?

 

[jboku]

Any idea how long we'll wait for the accessory bundle mail away?

I sent my mail in rebate for the accessory bundle yesterday and was told it would take up to 2 weeks.

 

[MechGator]

So does anyone know if the Nav dock and/or desk charger included in this great deal work with the Otter Box Defender or Commuter series cases for the Bionic? Still waiting on my bundle and haven't been able to find any answers anywhere on this. Thanks!

 

[jonathansullivan]

Any idea how long we'll wait for the accessory bundle mail away?

Was told a week or 2, the form said 30-45 days. I am currently at 3 weeks...still waiting.

I sent my mail in rebate for the accessory bundle yesterday and was told it would take up to 2 weeks.

Unless something has changed - good luck.

Anyone do the FULL REBATE (ALL ITEMS) Receive it yet?
If so - is it trackable on the website?

 

[YankeeDudeL]

Any idea how long we'll wait for the accessory bundle mail away?

I really don't know for sure. When it was just the battery shortage, I was told that more would be ready to go by Oct 17th or something like that. I'd imagine they'd start to get shipped out to the depots shortly thereafter, and sent out a couple days later.

 

[Jeffery]

So does anyone know if the Nav dock and/or desk charger included in this great deal work with the Otter Box Defender or Commuter series cases for the Bionic? Still waiting on my bundle and haven't been able to find any answers anywhere on this. Thanks!

Nope, I have them all and the case is incompatible with the accessories from the CostCo bundle.

 

[jonathansullivan]

Just received my "FULL ACCESSORY" kit today.

The dock came with a power cable, but the external charger did not. Am I supposed to use the docks or was there supposed to be one for each?

 

[Theshape]

Just received my "FULL ACCESSORY" kit today.

The dock came with a power cable, but the external charger did not. Am I supposed to use the docks or was there supposed to be one for each?

It only comes with one. The battery charger has a plug so you can piggy back the battery charger to the desk dock

 

[YankeeDudeL]

Just received my "FULL ACCESSORY" kit today.

The dock came with a power cable, but the external charger did not. Am I supposed to use the docks or was there supposed to be one for each?

It only comes with one. The battery charger has a plug so you can piggy back the battery charger to the desk dock

Bingo bango. At least when I was told the 17th, they were dead on. lol

 

[jonathansullivan]

Bingo bango. At least when I was told the 17th, they were dead on. lol

Not bad man! Thanks!

 

[jboku]

So with the rumors of the possible drop of the bionic from verizon stores coupled with my current bionic issues covered here: http://androidforums.com/motorola-droid-bionic/431046-bug-bad-phone.html...

I am going to take back my bionic to Costco before my 14 days expires and wait for the Razor or nexus. My only question is can I still do it? I sent in for my free add-ons in the Costco package but have yet to receive them. Will they still let me bring back my phone?

 

[dave1812]

So with the rumors of the possible drop of the bionic from verizon stores coupled with my current bionic issues covered here: http://androidforums.com/motorola-droid-bionic/431046-bug-bad-phone.html...

I am going to take back my bionic to Costco before my 14 days expires and wait for the Razor or nexus. My only question is can I still do it? I sent in for my free add-ons in the Costco package but have yet to receive them. Will they still let me bring back my phone?

You are misinformed! You have 90 days to do an exchange or refund, at Costco. I've got the paperwork in front of me to prove it.

 

[jboku]

It was stated multiple times on this forum and by Costco that you have 14 days to return the phone but 90 days to replace it w/ the SAME phone. It's tricky wording I know but that's what it comes down to.

You can however possibly make a big enough fuss or gets someone who is newer and pull off the 90 for a different phone but I am not going to chance it.

 

[dave1812]

It was stated multiple times on this forum and by Costco that you have 14 days to return the phone but 90 days to replace it w/ the SAME phone. It's tricky wording I know but that's what it comes down to.

You can however possibly make a big enough fuss or gets someone who is newer and pull off the 90 for a different phone but I am not going to chance it.

No you are incorrect. I'm not going to reprint the entire agreement, but it clearly states you have 90 days to return the phone for refund. the 14 days is about service plans, which isn't applicable if you continue to be a Verizon customer. geez man, it's not that hard to read and understand the agreement. (this will be the last time I discuss this with you)

 

[jboku]

No you are incorrect. I'm not going to reprint the entire agreement, but it clearly states you have 90 days to return the phone for refund. the 14 days is about service plans, which isn't applicable if you continue to be a Verizon customer. geez man, it's not that hard to read and understand the agreement. (this will be the last time I discuss this with you)

Sorry not trying to irritate you just stating what multiple people at Costco said... 14days to return the phone, 90 days to replace it with the same phone. :/.

 

[YankeeDudeL]

No you are incorrect. I'm not going to reprint the entire agreement, but it clearly states you have 90 days to return the phone for refund. the 14 days is about service plans, which isn't applicable if you continue to be a Verizon customer. geez man, it's not that hard to read and understand the agreement. (this will be the last time I discuss this with you)

If you haven't read through, I'm a WSE for Wireless Advocates who operate the kiosk inside of Costco, and I'd like to help clarify this for you.

First thing to understand is that we piggyback our carrier's return policies. Verizon and T-Mobile give you 14 days to return the phone you purchased from us for either a diff phone, or to go back to your old phone (the one you're upgrading FROM) and get your upgrade back. Both Verizon and T-Mobile allow you to return the phone for the same phone for up to 30 days in the case that the phone is defective. This allows you to get a phone you know is brand new, and not a refurbished phone. AT&T will give you up to 30 days to exchange the phone for a different phone or to go back to your old phone and get your upgrade back.

What Costco does is extend the return policy from 30 to 90 days. You can exchange the phone for the same phone in the event the phone you purchased from us has a defect. If you simply want your money back, yes, you can for up to 90 days. However, AFTER 14 DAYS YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR UPGRADE BACK. Therefore you can return the phone and get your money back, but if you try to buy another phone you will pay full unsubsidized price (not the upgrade price) for it.

As a Verizon customer, you will have to satisfy 20 months of your contract before you can upgrade again. So if you return the phone on the 90th day after purchase, you will get your money back, but you will NOT be able to upgrade again for 17 months after that.

I hope this helps you to better understand. I'll be glad to answer any other questions you may have.

 

[jboku]

hey yankee,

I am probably going to return my bionic and wait for the Nexus since I've been having issues with my hardware. My 14 days is up this Friday. What i want to know is what do I do about the mail in rebate? Can I cancel it? Do I have to have it in hand when I return the phone? It has not come in the mail yet :/.

 

[YankeeDudeL]

hey yankee,

I am probably going to return my bionic and wait for the Nexus since I've been having issues with my hardware. My 14 days is up this Friday. What i want to know is what do I do about the mail in rebate? Can I cancel it? Do I have to have it in hand when I return the phone? It has not come in the mail yet :/.

If it hasn't been processed yet, it should get cancelled once it is changed in the system. I'm not sure, however. I'm looking into it for you.

 

[xmr405o]

If you haven't read through, I'm a WSE for Wireless Advocates who operate the kiosk inside of Costco, and I'd like to help clarify this for you.

First thing to understand is that we piggyback our carrier's return policies. Verizon and T-Mobile give you 14 days to return the phone you purchased from us for either a diff phone, or to go back to your old phone (the one you're upgrading FROM) and get your upgrade back. Both Verizon and T-Mobile allow you to return the phone for the same phone for up to 30 days in the case that the phone is defective. This allows you to get a phone you know is brand new, and not a refurbished phone. AT&T will give you up to 30 days to exchange the phone for a different phone or to go back to your old phone and get your upgrade back.

What Costco does is extend the return policy from 30 to 90 days. You can exchange the phone for the same phone in the event the phone you purchased from us has a defect. If you simply want your money back, yes, you can for up to 90 days. However, AFTER 14 DAYS YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR UPGRADE BACK. Therefore you can return the phone and get your money back, but if you try to buy another phone you will pay full unsubsidized price (not the upgrade price) for it.

As a Verizon customer, you will have to satisfy 20 months of your contract before you can upgrade again. So if you return the phone on the 90th day after purchase, you will get your money back, but you will NOT be able to upgrade again for 17 months after that.

I hope this helps you to better understand. I'll be glad to answer any other questions you may have.

You know, I remember (not sure where) reading a thread where people wanted to return a phone past their 30 days to get the Bionic. I also remember them saying that they were able to return the phone to Costco for a Bionic even after their 30 days. So I know why dave was so adament about Costco's return policy.

I was also under the impression that after 30 days and up to 90 days you can return a phone to Costco but only for the same phone but someone said that wasn't true. Someone even said they were able to return a Droid Charge on the 89th day from their purchase.

I wish I could find that thread. haha.

 

[jfoey22]

You know, I remember (not sure where) reading a thread where people wanted to return a phone past their 30 days to get the Bionic. I also remember them saying that they were able to return the phone to Costco for a Bionic even after their 30 days. So I know why dave was so adament about Costco's return policy.

I was also under the impression that after 30 days and up to 90 days you can return a phone to Costco but only for the same phone but someone said that wasn't true. Someone even said they were able to return a Droid Charge on the 89th day from their purchase.

I wish I could find that thread. haha.

That would be me. I purchased the Charge from Costco on June 18th, returned it on September 15 or something like that. I spoke with the Kiosk manager prior to purchasing the Charge about the policy, and he was onboard when I went back in to pick up the Bionic. Everything was fine.

 

[YankeeDudeL]

You know, I remember (not sure where) reading a thread where people wanted to return a phone past their 30 days to get the Bionic. I also remember them saying that they were able to return the phone to Costco for a Bionic even after their 30 days. So I know why dave was so adament about Costco's return policy.

I was also under the impression that after 30 days and up to 90 days you can return a phone to Costco but only for the same phone but someone said that wasn't true. Someone even said they were able to return a Droid Charge on the 89th day from their purchase.

I wish I could find that thread. haha.

*channeling William Shatner*

If ONLY there WAS a THREAD in which to CARRY this inforMATION in one loCATION.

Man, that doesn't look nearly as funny as it did in my head.

That would be me. I purchased the Charge from Costco on June 18th, returned it on September 15 or something like that. I spoke with the Kiosk manager prior to purchasing the Charge about the policy, and he was onboard when I went back in to pick up the Bionic. Everything was fine.

It's been known to happen. I've done it. Hell, I did it in just about the same situation. But I didn't give it to him on drop day. He had to wait until our third batch when the demand wasn't as high. I even told someone today that I might help him out if his Bionic keeps having issues past the 14 days.

See, those guys had gripes that needed to be addressed, so we acquiesce. We can stretch that policy to benefit a customer in need. And we will. However, I would expect that the Bionic launch officially cements this policy and we will be adhering quite strictly by it.

See, we never knew just how small a shipment of Bionics we were going to get in. And those that allowed those who got Charges ride a new phone for 3 months for free got bit in the tail for it, as did the company. When you return the phone to Costco, they have to return it to the manufacturer. That becomes a phone they can not make money off of. My company, Wireless Advocates, does not get reimbursed the instant rebate on that second phone. And now, us, the WSE's get to lose out on a potential sale so someone can rock a new phone every 3 months.

It's bad business, and bad economics. I fully expect WA will start cracking down on kiosks that have not followed policy, as well they should.

 

[xmr405o]

That would be me. I purchased the Charge from Costco on June 18th, returned it on September 15 or something like that. I spoke with the Kiosk manager prior to purchasing the Charge about the policy, and he was onboard when I went back in to pick up the Bionic. Everything was fine.

See I feel better now. haha. I knew I wasn't crazy!

I mean, this is probably not the norm. Costco does nice things for their members sometimes but it really does depend on who you talk to. IMO, I don't think it's worth the hassle to try to return the Bionic and get the Razr or Nexus when I'm happy with the Bionic.

 

[Beetlesauce]

Okay, first time poster here. I also got the charge on the last day of Verizon's unlimited plan on July 6th at Costco. I returned it on October 3rd. That's the 89th day. And they only had one Bionic left when I got there. I made sure I asked first if they had any Bionics left and I also did not show that the bag I was carrying contained a Charge I was about to return. That way they can't look in the computer and say, oops sorry, no more Bionics available.

When I told him that I had issues with the Charge and was returning it they were ready to start the paperwork. When I said I wanted to exchange for a Bionic, he said nope, can only exchange for same phone. I reminded him that I am a costco shopper, I knew their 90 day return policies, I pay my membership fees for that privilege, I knew WA had to abide by Costco policies and demanded to see a costco manager. He walked away to 'go get' a manager. Came back a few minutes later without a manager and said okay, they'll do the exchange for a Bionic.

And that was it. Now just waiting for the bonus accessory pack since I had to do a mail in request.