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Best Buy Details

bp328i said:
But it was not just certain Best Buy employees that put out a nation wide ad showing the Thunderbolt as "New" and not coming soon. Best Buy had to get the date from somewhere in order to run todays ad. That type of ad is not something you run just because.
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I hear what you are saying and I have no clear answer. What I do think happened was that VZW intended to release the 14th. BMX had said that they were trying to push up the date from his March estimate. Then VZW had some issues which caused the "internal" delay. Now BB being the "Exclusive Retailer" probably still ran the add fully knowing that it was going to be delayed. I can not imagine WHY Best Buy would even say a date until VZW publicly did so first. IMHO Best Buy, regardless of ads they had prepared etc, should have even said ANYTHING until VZW did so, FIRST. Kinda like GM announcing they are buying Ford and Ford changes all their signs to GM before it is even announced. May be a bad analogy but I think you get the point.
 
This whole release thing has me flashing back to my days as an Alltel customer. Watching everyone else parade around with their shiny, new Treos while I was holding on to the Kyocera monstrosity which was brand new to Alltel but a year or so behind everyone else. It's frustrating as hell. I just hope this beast is all it's cracked up to be.
 
Verizon of course gave best buy a date. They also said not to make it public in case it gets delayed. Which it obviously has.
 
Hi there,
I just found this forum and appreciate Jay's willingness to share his knowledge at BB. Here are 2 more data points from the San Francisco Bay area:

1) I went into the Verizon corporate store today (2/20) and they had no idea when the TB would be ready. "We don't know and we typically only know the day before." They didn't know anything about the pricing, the data plans, etc. When I questioned them about the potential inventory, they said typically, they have 100 in stock, but can depend on the launch forecast. She told me if I showed up on the launch day (I told her I wouldn't be able to do that until after work), I should be able to buy one and take it out of the store that day. They don't have a waiting list set up.

2) I went to the BB a couple of blocks away, again on 2/20. They only had the $249.99 price of the phone (from the ad in the paper), but didn't know the price of the data plan or the presumed launch date. They had also heard rumors of 2/24 or 2/28, but had not heard anything officially. They told me they had 12 pre-orders so far.

The sales guy said they should have a good quantity on hand, but the best advice was the call the day before. He said that we would see more advertising, etc. with the confirmation date. I also asked about the shell coverings; they did not have them in stock, but he showed me the area they would likely be. He also said BB mobile guys are not on commission, so any of them would be more than happy to help me without being territorial about it.

One other thing: The Buy Back program is free until the end of the month 2/28, so you don't need to worry about not getting it.

What I'm planning to do: I'm an AT&T customer, off contract, so I'm waiting patiently to see how much the 4G data plan is and how much the overall voice/data package will be. I'll be watching the papers and word on line for the launch date. Then assuming the pricing is $39.99 for the voice portion and $29.99 for the unlimited data portion (rumored to the be same price as the 3G data plan), that would be $69.99/mo and $249 for the phone with a 2 year Verizon contract. I would purchase the Buy Back program (free until the end of the month) and perhaps get the $9.99/mo Black Tie Geek Squad protection program.

The Black Tie program protects the phone from accidental damage (dropping it or spilling), battery replacement, power surge repair, and any "lemons" that may occur outside the 30 day window. You can cancel this program at any time; it's month to month.

Hope that helps.

Bring on the TB! ;-)
 
jhsu123 said:
Hi there,
I just found this forum and appreciate Jay's willingness to share his knowledge at BB. Here are 2 more data points from the San Francisco Bay area:

1) I went into the Verizon corporate store today (2/20) and they had no idea when the TB would be ready. "We don't know and we typically only know the day before." They didn't know anything about the pricing, the data plans, etc. When I questioned them about the potential inventory, they said typically, they have 100 in stock, but can depend on the launch forecast. She told me if I showed up on the launch day (I told her I wouldn't be able to do that until after work), I should be able to buy one and take it out of the store that day. They don't have a waiting list set up.

2) I went to the BB a couple of blocks away, again on 2/20. They only had the $249.99 price of the phone (from the ad in the paper), but didn't know the price of the data plan or the presumed launch date. They had also heard rumors of 2/24 or 2/28, but had not heard anything officially. They told me they had 12 pre-orders so far.

The sales guy said they should have a good quantity on hand, but the best advice was the call the day before. He said that we would see more advertising, etc. with the confirmation date. I also asked about the shell coverings; they did not have them in stock, but he showed me the area they would likely be. He also said BB mobile guys are not on commission, so any of them would be more than happy to help me without being territorial about it.

One other thing: The Buy Back program is free until the end of the month 2/28, so you don't need to worry about not getting it.

What I'm planning to do: I'm an AT&T customer, off contract, so I'm waiting patiently to see how much the 4G data plan is and how much the overall voice/data package will be. I'll be watching the papers and word on line for the launch date. Then assuming the pricing is $39.99 for the voice portion and $29.99 for the unlimited data portion (rumored to the be same price as the 3G data plan), that would be $69.99/mo and $249 for the phone with a 2 year Verizon contract. I would purchase the Buy Back program (free until the end of the month) and perhaps get the $9.99/mo Black Tie Geek Squad protection program.

The Black Tie program protects the phone from accidental damage (dropping it or spilling), battery replacement, power surge repair, and any "lemons" that may occur outside the 30 day window. You can cancel this program at any time; it's month to month.

Hope that helps.

Bring on the TB! ;-)
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Buy Back was extended past the 26th?
 
I stopped at a local Best Buy in NJ and was also told that the Free Buy Back program would last until the end of the month but as far as release dates he told me that their Verizon rep came in and told them between the 26th to the 29th. Obviously I took what the rep said with a grain of salt since there isn't a 29th day in February this year lol. He also asked his manager if they would price match my NE2 for me which he agreed to so I put down my $50. So if it releases by the 28th I'll get the TB for $199 on a 2 yr contract with an option to upgrade sooner with the buy back program. I guess we'll just wait and see what happens. Maybe Jay or one of the other Best Buy guys/gals can confirm this.
 
Darevolution said:
I stopped at a local Best Buy in NJ and was also told that the Free Buy Back program would last until the end of the month but as far as release dates he told me that their Verizon rep came in and told them between the 26th to the 29th. Obviously I took what the rep said with a grain of salt since there isn't a 29th day in February this year lol. He also asked his manager if they would price match my NE2 for me which he agreed to so I put down my $50. So if it releases by the 28th I'll get the TB for $199 on a 2 yr contract with an option to upgrade sooner with the buy back program. I guess we'll just wait and see what happens. Maybe Jay or one of the other Best Buy guys/gals can confirm this.
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Hopefull that give some official word on the extension. Btw, I think they honor the NE2 without any special manager override (but not on iPhone). I'm in the same boat, and preordered in NJ.
 
My verizon buddy said that they originally were going to release it on the 14th, which is the first time I have heard a verizon person say that, and then just told me tonight that so far the release is the 24th, and that that date came from hq. Said he works again Tuesday so he will know for sure by then cause they should be getting the phones in. So I don't know, all I know is that if it comes out the 24th then great.
 
My mind tends to forget sometimes.. but I have the Incredible and I got it on pre-order way back when. Didn't the same thing happen, we didn't know when the thing was coming out? Same discussion, same criticisms, same frustrations and HTC/VZW lambasting. As it turns out they are the best phones on the market now (imo) and maybe the best selling in the entire Verizon android line.
Why argue with success?
 
bjanow said:
My mind tends to forget sometimes.. but I have the Incredible and I got it on pre-order way back when. Didn't the same thing happen, we didn't know when the thing was coming out? Same discussion, same criticisms, same frustrations and HTC/VZW lambasting. As it turns out they are the best phones on the market now (imo) and maybe the best selling in the entire Verizon android line.
Why argue with success?
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LOL are you saying we should willfully throw ourselves into this fire every time a phone like this comes along because it will end up being a killer phone? I will agree with you, sir ;)
 
bjanow said:
My mind tends to forget sometimes.. but I have the Incredible and I got it on pre-order way back when. Didn't the same thing happen, we didn't know when the thing was coming out? Same discussion, same criticisms, same frustrations and HTC/VZW lambasting. As it turns out they are the best phones on the market now (imo) and maybe the best selling in the entire Verizon android line.
Why argue with success?
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Yeah I remember the whole Droid Incredible Fiasco, I remember it popping up on Verizon's site showing little information about it, then being immediately taken down.

It was back up a few days later and taking pre-orders, then like a week later the phones were here.

Hopefully this releases soon, so we can all enjoy. Looks like we have some pretty cool mods here, are you mods getting this phone?

Hopefully we will have a lot of custom roms before to long as well.
 
AWESOME NEWS:

Went down to my BestBuy today to put in my pre-order for a Thunderbolt. I did so, and asked when I would be able to come pick it up, and he said WEDNESDAY. That would be the 23rd.

EDIT: The BestBuy is the one in Boulder, CO on 30th and Canyon.
 
shooptek said:
AWESOME NEWS:

Went down to my BestBuy today to put in my pre-order for a Thunderbolt. I did so, and asked when I would be able to come pick it up, and he said WEDNESDAY. That would be the 23rd.

EDIT: The BestBuy is the one in Boulder, CO on 30th and Canyon.
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Yea, they also told some people the 14th so I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.
 
93WH


Right here!
 
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