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Options/opinions on where to purchase the EVO 4G LTE

For those that went the Best Buy route, can anybody confirm what the actual price came out to with the gift card discounts?
 
drexappeal said:
For those that went the Best Buy route, can anybody confirm what the actual price came out to with the gift card discounts?
Click to expand...

well I got mine for around $149 OTD

$199
-$50 gift card
-$50 discount (not sure what this one was but Emilio hoked me up)
+$9.99 (protection plan)
+$29.99 (buy back plan - this one is actually worth it)

I did not trade in my OG EVO (they said another $100 for that if I would) since I'll either be selling it on craigslist for more then that or give it to my wife
 
The above is not typical,

If you signed up for phone freedom, take 50 off (this is expired as of February)
If you traded in an evo brand phone, take 50 off
There should be a 50 off Gift card for activating.
 
For those that traded in their original EVO, was it just the phone (e.g. no charger, no memory card, no instructions, etc.)
 
I got all discounts.

$50 gc for pre order.
$50 discount for trading in and getting sprint phone.
$50 gc for trading in EVO 4G.
$50 gc for phone freedom.

They reduced trade in value by $5 for each of my 3 phones because I didn't have chargers and reduced one to $35 or $40 because of scratched screen.

All discounts and gift cards taken off purchase price.

It did take some doing on the pre-order gift card. Rep claims other rep did it wrong. She looks at me and says, "He did it wrong, so, not sure what I can do." I said, "Well this sign (I took off display) says $50 gift card for pre-order. So make it happen." She got manager, and then I had to pay $310ish and then they gave me back $160ish in cash. Morons. lol

I got black tie insurance for $10 (first month) and $30 (one time) for buy back. Plus tax on those items only. So for 3 phones I paid $120 for Black Tie star and buy back.

All 3 with Black Tie Insurance and Buy Back, and the reduced trade in for 3 chargers I didn't turn in and reduced trade in for scratched screen, walked out door paying $150 after taxes.

My step got the $50 discount for his shattered screen EVO 4G that worked.. But didn't get the GC part because of shattered cracked screen.

On a side note, she had to re-do my plan, which means I need to call in and get my military discount. I need to call and have them remove the activation fees anyway.
 
So you guys had to pay $30 for a phone buy back program and then they took another $5 off for lack of charger and then $40 off for a scratched screen which means that if they 'gave' you $100 trade-on that they really only gave you $25 for your Evo 4G. Factor in sales tax (not ra profit to them but certainly a cost to you) and you're down to nearly nothing for your trade. It's clever the way they juggle around the numbers a lot to confuse people but it's not a very good deal IMO. I will order a couple phones from Wirefly for $140ea w/free shipping & no sales tax and then sell my phones on CL for at least that considering I've got some accessories and such. Net to me is going to be free for two phones w/o any fees to pay a year in advance, no sales lines while in-store and no BS. I order phones and they show up in a couple of days and then once I make sure I've got everything off my old phone and that the new phones are going to work I sell them on CL for all the money. I don't think you guys got an awful deal but I just think you're doing an AWFUL lot of free advertising for Best Buy right now for nothing. I'm sure some will try to disagree with this but it's in the numbers. Even if you don't get docked for a charger or scratches you're still only getting $70 at most for a phone that's easily still worth twice that amount with a minor amount of extra work. IMO it will take less work to list my Evo 4G and meet someone on the way somewhere then it will take to deal with the schlep rocks that wear the Best Buy blue.
 
OstrichSaK said:
So you guys had to pay $30 for a phone buy back program and then they took another $5 off for lack of charger and then $40 off for a scratched screen which means that if they 'gave' you $100 trade-on that they really only gave you $25 for your Evo 4G. Factor in sales tax (not ra profit to them but certainly a cost to you) and you're down to nearly nothing for your trade. It's clever the way they juggle around the numbers a lot to confuse people but it's not a very good deal IMO. I will order a couple phones from Wirefly for $140ea w/free shipping & no sales tax and then sell my phones on CL for at least that considering I've got some accessories and such. Net to me is going to be free for two phones w/o any fees to pay a year in advance, no sales lines while in-store and no BS. I order phones and they show up in a couple of days and then once I make sure I've got everything off my old phone and that the new phones are going to work I sell them on CL for all the money. I don't think you guys got an awful deal but I just think you're doing an AWFUL lot of free advertising for Best Buy right now for nothing. I'm sure some will try to disagree with this but it's in the numbers. Even if you don't get docked for a charger or scratches you're still only getting $70 at most for a phone that's easily still worth twice that amount with a minor amount of extra work. IMO it will take less work to list my Evo 4G and meet someone on the way somewhere then it will take to deal with the schlep rocks that wear the Best Buy blue.
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Where are you getting the $5 off and $40 off? Sorry, just walked into this thread and didn't see that's why I am asking. Also the $30 for the buyback if for the new phone, which for some(those on family plans with people who don't use their upgrades) like me it's well worth it.

When I trade in my Epic Touch I will be getting $279, plus the $50 freedom plan thingy.
 
Tommydaniel said:
Where are you getting the $5 off and $40 off? Sorry, just walked into this thread and didn't see that's why I am asking. Also the $30 for the buyback if for the new phone, which for some(those on family plans with people who don't use their upgrades) like me it's well worth it.

When I trade in my Epic Touch I will be getting $279, plus the $50 freedom plan thingy.
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People were saying that they were getting deducted for trading in phones w/o a charger and then a guy said he get deducted another $35-$40 for his screen being scratched. This is exactly my point... so many numbers by the time you leave you don't even know what all the charges and credits were for.

I don't get what you're saying about it's a good deal for you because you have a family plan. Help me understand how that's any different.
 
OstrichSaK said:
So you guys had to pay $30 for a phone buy back program and then they took another $5 off for lack of charger and then $40 off for a scratched screen which means that if they 'gave' you $100 trade-on that they really only gave you $25 for your Evo 4G. Factor in sales tax (not ra profit to them but certainly a cost to you) and you're down to nearly nothing for your trade. It's clever the way they juggle around the numbers a lot to confuse people but it's not a very good deal IMO. I will order a couple phones from Wirefly for $140ea w/free shipping & no sales tax and then sell my phones on CL for at least that considering I've got some accessories and such. Net to me is going to be free for two phones w/o any fees to pay a year in advance, no sales lines while in-store and no BS. I order phones and they show up in a couple of days and then once I make sure I've got everything off my old phone and that the new phones are going to work I sell them on CL for all the money. I don't think you guys got an awful deal but I just think you're doing an AWFUL lot of free advertising for Best Buy right now for nothing. I'm sure some will try to disagree with this but it's in the numbers. Even if you don't get docked for a charger or scratches you're still only getting $70 at most for a phone that's easily still worth twice that amount with a minor amount of extra work. IMO it will take less work to list my Evo 4G and meet someone on the way somewhere then it will take to deal with the schlep rocks that wear the Best Buy blue.
Click to expand...

No ... Not at all what I said.

For me ...

$200 for phone.
-$50 for Pre-Order
-$50 for Phone Freedom
-$50 for Trading in Evo and getting Sprint phone.
-$50 for Trading in Evo
-------------------------
$0.00 Owed - Free

They TOLD me they were going to take off $5 of the "Trading in Evo" entry (and only take off $45 for that "Trading in Evo") because I didn't have a charger.

They also said because one phone had scratches, the trade in value was going to be $30 for the "Trading in Evo" entry vice $50. The $50 discount would still have applied.

However, I just looked at receipt, they gave me full value on everything. No deductions for missing charger or scratch.

The Black Tie Insurance is $10 a month, no deductible.

The $30 Buy Back guarantees me $225 back when I upgrade in 18 months.

I didn't pay for the phones and yet I will get $225 back when I trade it in.

So, yeah, $195 profit in 18 months guaranteed. Can I get more in 18 months? Possibly and probably.

But convenience is important to me. I make almost $50 an hour .. time spent screening calls, meeting someone, gas, etc is money and valued time with my son.

So ( EVO * 3 = $0.00 ) + ($29.99 Buy Back + $9.99 Insurance * 3 = $119.94) + Taxes = $146.91 ... So, end the end, I will come out $528.09 ahead - profit - in 18 months ... not counting the crazy month Sprint bill - lol
 
OstrichSaK said:
People were saying that they were getting deducted for trading in phones w/o a charger and then a guy said he get deducted another $35-$40 for his screen being scratched. This is exactly my point... so many numbers by the time you leave you don't even know what all the charges and credits were for.

I don't get what you're saying about it's a good deal for you because you have a family plan. Help me understand how that's any different.
Click to expand...

If they were only getting $100 for their phone then it wasn't the Buy Back program. The buyback program gives 50% of the FULL retail cost(not the contract price you pay) the first six months, 40% for 6-12 months, etc.

It's a good deal with those on a family with available upgrades because they can upgrade sooner than others and utilize the buyback program more.

The full retail cost of my phone at bestbuy is $699, which is why I will be getting $279 for it, which is more than what I paid. I actually didn't pay anything for Epic Touch because I traded in my Nexus S and got $200 for it.

My brother has an upgrade available which I will be using whereas my phone isn't up till next year..
 
OstrichSaK said:
So you guys had to pay $30 for a phone buy back program and then they took another $5 off for lack of charger and then $40 off for a scratched screen which means that if they 'gave' you $100 trade-on that they really only gave you $25 for your Evo 4G. Factor in sales tax (not ra profit to them but certainly a cost to you) and you're down to nearly nothing for your trade. It's clever the way they juggle around the numbers a lot to confuse people but it's not a very good deal IMO. I will order a couple phones from Wirefly for $140ea w/free shipping & no sales tax and then sell my phones on CL for at least that considering I've got some accessories and such. Net to me is going to be free for two phones w/o any fees to pay a year in advance, no sales lines while in-store and no BS. I order phones and they show up in a couple of days and then once I make sure I've got everything off my old phone and that the new phones are going to work I sell them on CL for all the money. I don't think you guys got an awful deal but I just think you're doing an AWFUL lot of free advertising for Best Buy right now for nothing. I'm sure some will try to disagree with this but it's in the numbers. Even if you don't get docked for a charger or scratches you're still only getting $70 at most for a phone that's easily still worth twice that amount with a minor amount of extra work. IMO it will take less work to list my Evo 4G and meet someone on the way somewhere then it will take to deal with the schlep rocks that wear the Best Buy blue.
Click to expand...

No ... Not at all what I said.

$200 for phone.
-$50 for Pre-Order
-$50 for Phone Freedom
-$50 for Trading in Evo and getting Sprint phone.
-$50 for Trading in Evo
-------------------------
$0.00 Owed.

They said because one phone had scratches, the trade in value for THAT phone was going to be $30 for the "Trading in Evo" entry.

They also told me they were going to take off $5 of the "Trading in Evo" because I didn't have a charger - now making it $25 for the one phone, and $45 for the other two phones.

HOWEVER, I just looked at receipt, they gave me full value on everything. No deductions for missing charger or scratch.

The Black Tie Insurance is $10 a month, no deductible.

The $30 Buy Back guarantees me $225 back when I upgrade in 18 months.

I didn't pay for the phones and yet I will get $225 back when I trade it in.

So, yeah, $195 profit in 18 months guaranteed. Can I get more in 18 months? Possibly and probably.

But convenience is important to me. I make almost $50 an hour .. time spent screening calls, meeting someone, gas, etc is money and valued time with my son.
 
Does anyone have any experience buying at full retail (off contract), particularly at BestBuy?

I ask because I have $150 in BestBuy gift certificates that have been sitting around for months. Sprint sells LTEvo for 550; BestBuy wants 700. Will BestBuy match Sprints 550? That way I can then pick up the LTEvo for $300 after I use my BB gift cert?

Thanks!! :)
 
BenChase7 said:
Does anyone have any experience buying at full retail (off contract), particularly at BestBuy?

I ask because I have $150 in BestBuy gift certificates that have been sitting around for months. Sprint sells LTEvo for 550; BestBuy wants 700. Will BestBuy match Sprints 550? That way I can then pick up the LTEvo for $300 after I use my BB gift cert?

Thanks!! :)
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It doesn't hurt to ask, but I think your math is off. $550 - 150 = $400 not $300.
 
ren857 said:
It doesn't hurt to ask, but I think your math is off. $550 - 150 = $400 not $300.
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LOL!! Thats embarrassing! Thank you! Unfortunately, I posted that 10am and can't blame it on the alcohol. I'm just really looking forward to getting the phone and trying to work the best deal and use my BB gift cert.

But, anyway.. I'm still willing to pay that (especially since I will maintain my upgrade to use again next summer) and still trying to find out if BB will price match Sprint so I can use my BB gift cert. Anyone know about this?
 
For those that upgraded with Best Buy I have a couple of questions:

1) Were you able to use the $50 gift card on the phone purchase? The reason I ask is because several people here said that they thought you could but a girl at BB said that you don't get the $50 until you pick up the phones then they email it to you?

2) Can you pay via credit card on the site to pre-order then change your payment method at the store? I ask because I would rather pay with cash at the store when I pick it up but I can't pre-order online via cash obviously. Same girl above said that whatever payment method you used had to be left that way. Doesn't sound like anything I've ever experienced with BB before so I'm hoping this girl just didn't know what she was talking about.

3) Did you have multiple lines to upgrade and did you have any issues? The reason i ask is because the way teh website is set up you have to upgrade each one as it's own separate transaction and you can't do 2 phones per order which is lame. I would rather do a single order with multiple phones as that would be less confusing but it seems they don't let it go down like that.

4) Will it let me upgrade the two primary lines of a family plan as well as the 3rd added on line for the same price? If so I will do all three at this time.

5) My local Best Buy has said that the official release is Saturday but they expected to get the shipment either later today or first thing in the morning so I'm assuming I'll be able to go into the store tomorrow to pick them up. Anyone have any more info on this?

Thanks for the help.
 
Sorry but I can only answer #1 when you get phone in store you get to use the 50 dollar gift card off phone I did. I also used phone freedom 50 dollars and got phone for 100 bucks. Not sure but I heard if you preordered online then once it was activated they mailed you a card for later use. But since I preordered in store and i had a print out I took with me I got to use it right then and there towards phone. Only reason I went to Best Buy was to save a 100 bucks. I had never bought from them before.

OstrichSaK said:
For those that upgraded with Best Buy I have a couple of questions:

1) Were you able to use the $50 gift card on the phone purchase? The reason I ask is because several people here said that they thought you could but a girl at BB said that you don't get the $50 until you pick up the phones then they email it to you?

2) Can you pay via credit card on the site to pre-order then change your payment method at the store? I ask because I would rather pay with cash at the store when I pick it up but I can't pre-order online via cash obviously. Same girl above said that whatever payment method you used had to be left that way. Doesn't sound like anything I've ever experienced with BB before so I'm hoping this girl just didn't know what she was talking about.

3) Did you have multiple lines to upgrade and did you have any issues? The reason i ask is because the way teh website is set up you have to upgrade each one as it's own separate transaction and you can't do 2 phones per order which is lame. I would rather do a single order with multiple phones as that would be less confusing but it seems they don't let it go down like that.

4) Will it let me upgrade the two primary lines of a family plan as well as the 3rd added on line for the same price? If so I will do all three at this time.

5) My local Best Buy has said that the official release is Saturday but they expected to get the shipment either later today or first thing in the morning so I'm assuming I'll be able to go into the store tomorrow to pick them up. Anyone have any more info on this?

Thanks for the help.
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Rose4uKy said:
Sorry but I can only answer #1 when you get phone in store you get to use the 50 dollar gift card off phone I did. I also used phone freedom 50 dollars and got phone for 100 bucks. Not sure but I heard if you preordered online then once it was activated they mailed you a card for later use. But since I preordered in store and i had a print out I took with me I got to use it right then and there towards phone. Only reason I went to Best Buy was to save a 100 bucks. I had never bought from them before.
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Let's leave the phone freedom thing out since it's no longer available because it's just going to confuse the situation with all the #'s being discussed. So you're saying that if I pre-order online right now I will get a $50 gift card when I pick up the phone making it $150 and then I will get another one in the mail for $50? That doesn't sound right.
 
Is everyone being charge activation fees regardless of where they are purchased? Has anyone been able to get the fee waived? If I get the phone I'm going to use the BOA add it up and get the $50 cash back through Wirefly @ $149 with no tax. That takes the phone down to $100, but that buggy upgrade/activation fee is looming on wirefly.
 
falconey said:
Is everyone being charge activation fees regardless of where they are purchased? Has anyone been able to get the fee waived? If I get the phone I'm going to use the BOA add it up and get the $50 cash back through Wirefly @ $149 with no tax. That takes the phone down to $100, but that buggy upgrade/activation fee is looming on wirefly.
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I was able to get Sprint to give me a $15 credit since I had activation issues. That wasn't easy to do.
 
No I was told if you pre order online you get the card after you activate phonein the mail and if you pre order in store the card comes in your evo box to use towards phone right then. But I am not sure cause I bought in store and didn't do the online but that is just what they told me when I 1st called. But then they also tried telling me the 50 in the box was to be used later after activating for an accessory but I brought the print out and they knew they were wrong. I would call and ask Best Buy.

OstrichSaK said:
Let's leave the phone freedom thing out since it's no longer available because it's just going to confuse the situation with all the #'s being discussed. So you're saying that if I pre-order online right now I will get a $50 gift card when I pick up the phone making it $150 and then I will get another one in the mail for $50? That doesn't sound right.
Click to expand...
 
Rose4uKy said:
No I was told if you pre order online you get the card after you activate phonein the mail and if you pre order in store the card comes in your evo box to use towards phone right then. But I am not sure cause I bought in store and didn't do the online but that is just what they told me when I 1st called. But then they also tried telling me the 50 in the box was to be used later after activating for an accessory but I brought the print out and they knew they were wrong. I would call and ask Best Buy.
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Yeah it clearly states in the FAQ's that if you purchase through bestbuy.com you will receive a code via email. Conversely it says if you purchase in store the card can be used towards the purchase.
 
Rose4uKy said:
No I was told if you pre order online you get the card after you activate phonein the mail and if you pre order in store the card comes in your evo box to use towards phone right then. But I am not sure cause I bought in store and didn't do the online but that is just what they told me when I 1st called. But then they also tried telling me the 50 in the box was to be used later after activating for an accessory but I brought the print out and they knew they were wrong. I would call and ask Best Buy.
Click to expand...

falconey said:
Yeah it clearly states in the FAQ's that if you purchase through bestbuy.com you will receive a code via email. Conversely it says if you purchase in store the card can be used towards the purchase.
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So you're saying that if I go into BB today to pre-order in person I can pick it up tomorrow (release day) and I will get a $50 gift card per each phone that I can use on the phone on the spot making it $150 plus tax, right? If I order it online today to pick up tomorrow I will still get the $50 gift card but I can't use it on the phone at time of purchase, right? Am I getting all that right?
 
OstrichSaK said:
So you're saying that if I go into BB today to pre-order in person I can pick it up tomorrow (release day) and I will get a $50 gift card per each phone that I can use on the phone on the spot making it $150 plus tax, right? If I order it online today to pick up tomorrow I will still get the $50 gift card but I can't use it on the phone at time of purchase, right? Am I getting all that right?
Click to expand...
First part yes. Second part no. Second part - You order online and you will receive code via email after activation. You won't receive a gift card at all. That's the terms. Now if you can work something out with them when you pick it up at the store, is a different story.
 
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