Free Phone Fridays at Best Buy

[FragDroidX]

Starting this Friday October 1st Best Buy will be offering one phone from each of the four big carriers every Friday through the month of October. The first phone up for VZW is the Samsung Fascinate. So for those on the fence or those that aren't eligable for the BOGO/BOGA this is a great time to pick up a Fascinate for free!

http://www.bby.com/2010/09/28/tgif-...-free-phone-fridays-for-the-month-of-october/

 

[hockeydave55]

Wow, perfect timing. My Early upgrade is 9-29, if I can, I will upgrade to this phone.

Here's a noob question...How does buying a phone with a new contract work through Best Buy work? I have only bought phones through Verizon directly. Do you still deal with Verizon for problems with the hardware or do you have to deal with BB? Any info would be great, Thanks.

 

[sean76]

Yup saw this on Boy Genius! Guess I'll be returning my Fascinate to VZW, and then heading to best buy for a freebie...Wonder how its going to work!

 

[SirKronan]

Yup saw this on Boy Genius! Guess I'll be returning my Fascinate to VZW, and then heading to best buy for a freebie...Wonder how its going to work!

Crap this sucks. I'd like my $200 back, and even with the $35 restocking fee it's still only $35 instead of $200 from Verizon. Here are my questions:

1. Is it worth the hassle? My fascinate is as perfect a phone as I have ever used. Fast, customized, rooted, cleaned. Exceptional. Is this worth the trouble? I mean, I'm as broke as the next guy, and I like money, but this would involve a LOT of time and hassle, and probably arguments with our CRAPPY Verizon store. (worst corporate verizon store I've ever been to in my life. People have nightmares about this place.)

2. I was able to use my wife's line for the upgrade, as my line is not eligible. Then, I was able to switch the Fascinate to my main line, without incurring another $30/month data contract. Can they do this for me in Best Buy? If so, will they even know how??

I appreciate any answers regarding this, as it's a lot of money to me, and I want to do the right thing. Anyone know anything that could possibly help?

 

[madmike283]

Yeah, nice thing for them to do... too bad for those of us early adopters that shelled out $200 on release day. I wondered if I could get them to price match since I'm within the return window, but it says that it doesn't apply to previous purchases. I reckon we're out of luck.

 

[sean76]

Well here's my plan, I'm going to call vzw tomorrow and see what they can offer me, as in credits towards my bill, or a higher rebate. If they say I'm out of luck then I'm going to call the store I got it at because I'm pretty cool with the girl, and see what she says. I'm sure they don't want to loose the deal, and I also don't like dealing with Best Buy...I'll report back tomorrow troops!

 

[Lije Baley]

No need to wait for Friday, or go to Best Buy. Amazon has been selling the Fascinate for a penny (for new subscribers) for several weeks. For the next two days, Amazon and Verizon are giving a $30 credit for each line activated for any 3G smart phone or multimedia phone. Dang, I bought two for a penny each on Saturday. No credit for me...Amazon.com: Samsung Fascinate Android Phone (Verizon Wireless): Cell Phones & Service

 

[xceebeex]

So if I bought my Fascinate at Best Buy to begin with (and am within the 30 day window) can I get a full refund for my phone?

EDIT: I saw that the article says that it is not valid for prior purchases, but does that apply to those within the 30-day return window? If I had known this many deals would come so quick after release, I would have waited.

 

[fireshaper]

I think I'm going to make the plunge this weekend and go with the Facinate this Friday. I've been holding off on upgrading and this deal might just be the one to push me.

 

[Gibbyson]

So if I bought my Fascinate at Best Buy to begin with (and am within the 30 day window) can I get a full refund for my phone?

EDIT: I saw that the article says that it is not valid for prior purchases, but does that apply to those within the 30-day return window? If I had known this many deals would come so quick after release, I would have waited.

I don't think that would quite work, since you would have to wait til after the 30 day window for it to be considered a return and not an exchange. If you return it and then get another one, its still considered an exchange, and you would be charged what you were originally for the phone.

 

[xceebeex]

I don't think that would quite work, since you would have to wait til after the 30 day window for it to be considered a return and not an exchange. If you return it and then get another one, its still considered an exchange, and you would be charged what you were originally for the phone.

That kind of sucks. I have to imagine that their terms for price match policy does not exclude things like this, so I am not sure why they wouldn't honor a price match.

If I return the phone completely and then order from Amazon, will I still qualify for the upgrade discount?

 

[esn]

Just spoke to verizon they said return it and buy at best buy I am lucky I have another upgrade to do it on .

 

[makemehavefun]

That kind of sucks. I have to imagine that their terms for price match policy does not exclude things like this, so I am not sure why they wouldn't honor a price match.

If I return the phone completely and then order from Amazon, will I still qualify for the upgrade discount?

Yes, if it's a full return they will revert you back on your original plan and "upgrade" status; it will be as if you never upgraded. Just be sure to remind them. I've done this a couple times already since the middle of August.

 

[xceebeex]

Yes, if it's a full return they will revert you back on your original plan and "upgrade" status; it will be as if you never upgraded. Just be sure to remind them. I've done this a couple times already since the middle of August.

How long does the process take? Basically, how long would I be without a phone?

 

[JSD_NJ]

Are we sure this is for existing VZW customers and not NEW customers only?

I just upgraded to a Droid X, but for FREE I might just pay the restocking and get a Fascinate.

 

[makemehavefun]

How long does the process take? Basically, how long would I be without a phone?

It's done on the spot right then and there. Takes a couple of minutes, that's it. However, if it's done at a non-Verizon Corporate store I believe they have to call them up to convey/confirm it with a Verizon rep. Same difference basically.
When it's confirmed that you're back on your original plan prior to upgrading, you'll have your original upgrade status exactly how it was before you bought the phone. You can immediately upgrade again on the spot.

I did this on the 19th for the 3rd time since August 16th. I took back my 2nd Fascinate to the Verizon Corporate store, returned it on "DOA" status, got my cash back(no restocking fee), headed straight to BestBuy and upgraded again to the same phone within the same hour.

 

[indianajonze]

how does phone activation work at a store with android phones? will they just activate the phone and send me on my way (preferred), or will they make them give me my gmail account info to set up google interaction on the phone? i would prefer not to do the latter since i would have to give the rep my account info...

 

[makemehavefun]

Are we sure this is for existing VZW customers and not NEW customers only?

I just upgraded to a Droid X, but for FREE I might just pay the restocking and get a Fascinate.

That's a good question. I did just get $50 back the other night when I found out that they lowered the Fascinate to $149.99. If I can get all of it back I just might get myself a BT.

 

[makemehavefun]

how does phone activation work at a store with android phones? will they just activate the phone and send me on my way (preferred), or will they make them give me my gmail account info to set up google interaction on the phone? i would prefer not to do the latter since i would have to give the rep my account info...

If it's Verizon, odds are heavy that they'll insist on doing all that for you. It makes 'em feel important.

 

[OfTheDamned]

I may be joining all of you this Friday. This is just too good of a deal to pass up.

 

[chasemyaccord]

No need to wait for Friday, or go to Best Buy. Amazon has been selling the Fascinate for a penny (for new subscribers) for several weeks. For the next two days, Amazon and Verizon are giving a $30 credit for each line activated for any 3G smart phone or multimedia phone. Dang, I bought two for a penny each on Saturday. No credit for me...Amazon.com: Samsung Fascinate Android Phone (Verizon Wireless): Cell Phones & Service

I bought mine last week. I'm hoping to get the $30 credit as well. I called Amazon and I told him when I bought it and he said to wait until 2 or 3 billing cycles for the credit to appear. I even saw a few posts from other forums claiming no activation fee at the time I bought, so maybe they'll give it to us anyway.

I do think it's B.S. that I got charged for service 9/17-9/18. I bought the phone on 9/16 and didn't get it until the 21st, yet I still paid for 4 days of service.

 

[soreal]

I may take advantage of this deal on Friday. Worst case scenario is getting the fascinate, use it for a month and if I'm not happy with it, return it and grab the X instead.

 

[makemehavefun]

Something that might sweeten the deal even further for just about everybody is BestBuy's 'Protection Plan'. For just a couple more dollars a month ($10 vs. $7-8 Verizon charges for insurance, can't remember) if anything were to happen with the phone they just replace with a new one or it's equivalent, which at the moment is the DX; that was said to me by reps at both locations when I asked if they were ever out of stock on the SF.

Dropped your phone in the water by accident? They give you a brand new one without Verizon's $90 deductible. Dropped it and the display cracked? Same deal, no deductible or restocking fees. If geek squad ever does decide they're going to try to fix it, they give you a loaner phone but I can't remember which one it was.

 

[sumfknguy]

So if I bought my Fascinate at Best Buy to begin with (and am within the 30 day window) can I get a full refund for my phone?

EDIT: I saw that the article says that it is not valid for prior purchases, but does that apply to those within the 30-day return window? If I had known this many deals would come so quick after release, I would have waited.

I just called Best Buy where I purchased my Fascinate 9 days ago. They told me as long as I "would" have qualified for the "deal" and I am within my 30 return window, they will refund me the difference.. BUT!! I forgot to get the chicks name damnit!! So, I will call back and ask again and get a name..

 

[xceebeex]

I just called Best Buy where I purchased my Fascinate 9 days ago. They told me as long as I "would" have qualified for the "deal" and I am within my 30 return window, they will refund me the difference.. BUT!! I forgot to get the chicks name damnit!! So, I will call back and ask again and get a name..

Sweet, thanks for the info. Let me know if you get the same answer when you call back!