• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

pros/cons of buying from sprint or best buy?

textbook7

Lurker
I was wondering what the difference was buying from best buy as opposed to right from a sprint store. I know that you get an instant rebate at best buy, but can you still get the same sprint insurance from best buy? any other differences you guys have noticed? Thanks.
 
You can still get insurance, but you may need to call Sprint and add it on afterwards. The downsides I can think of is that you may buy Best Buy's extended warranty thinking you are getting insurance, and that it may be harder to return the phone under warranty at a third party vendor than at a corporate store.

That being said, I did need to exchange the phone I got at Radio Shack due to a bad port, and had no problems.

Also, I'd say make sure your Sprint store is corporate, I can't say I've ever had a good experience at an authorized Sprint vendor.
 
I bought my EVO at Best Buy on launch day. Then I called Spring to add insurance. At Best Buy they will try to sell you their Black Tie insurance, but you don't have to buy it.

After the first OTA it bricked. I just took it to an official Sprint store for a replacement, I didn't have to return it to Best Buy. If I had wanted to do a 30 day return, I would have had to go to Best Buy, but since it was a warranty replacement they let me do it at Sprint.
 
I used to work at best buy so here goes an explanation. If you are a rewardzone member buy from best buy, at least in my area they are offering tons of stuff for buying an android phone. Since you can buy the insurance through sprint do not buy their GSBPT but I will list the pros and cons of it.

Pros: Any Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile can take the phone in. (If BBY buys Radio Shack there will be tons more BBYM)
Due to the fact that All of Best Buy's service plans are backed by third party insurance companies if BBY goes under the plan still works.
If you bring in your phone 4 times you will get an upgrade for comparable technology, but since phones are subsidized comparable tech will be well above the subsidized price.
Don't need to keep your receipt.

Cons: If you do have to bring your phone in, in some cases I have seen customers using loaner phones. (Though I think they changed this, I would ask them when you buy the phone if you go from bby)
Some people at best buy can be idiots and it takes forever to get what needs to be done, some of that also has to do with some of their procedures.

With that being said I do not think phones are worth buying a protection plan on, if it breaks with hardware it will do it within a year and is covered by manufactures warranty. But you do not get treated any differently when calling customer service if you buy your phone from sprint or a third party.
 
Thanks for all the responses. Looks like I'm gonna try to get one through Best Buy and get Sprint's insurance. Now I just need to find a Best Buy that has them in stock.....
 
Back
Top Bottom