MandM

Questions

I know Sprint has a $35 restocking fee if you are returning the device within the 14 days for a different one or returning it but from what I read on other forums Sprint also has a $35 restocking fee even if the phone is defective and you want to get the same phone. Is this correct? Anyone with any experiences?

Does Best Buy charge a restocking fee to return the phone or to exchange it if it is defective within the 30 days?

Also Sprint's return policy is 14 days but Best Buy's return policy is 30 days? What about from days 15-30, will your contract be able to returned to upgrade status with Sprint if you return the phone at Best Buy?

mms1946

Thanks for the info. I bought my EVO 4g from them and am pretty happy with the service. I have no plans of leaving Sprint and will hold on to the phone for the full contract.

MandM

I called Sprint and they said the $35 restocking fee is only if you do not like the phone or want to switch to a different phone. If it is defective or having issues you do not have to pay the restocking fee and will be given a new phone.

I also called Best Buy and they said that you only have 14 days to return the phone if you want to go back to your upgrade status on your Sprint account but you get the full 30 days if you are having an issue with the phone.

DISCLAIMER: Don't take my word for it but this is just what I was told over the phone.

mms1946

Update: I cancelled my order and used bankofamerica.com/additup to buy the phone from wirefly. I'm getting it for $158 after tax + I'm getting $50 back from BOA. The phone will end up costing me about $109.

Covert_Death

wanted to add my WONDERFUL experience here... pre-ordered at my BestBuy just now, #1 on the list...

$200 starting price
-$50 phone freedom (had to sign up earlier this year)
-$50 for UPGRADING on SPRINT at BestBuy (best buy / sprint combo exclusive)

$0 down-payment (chatted up the manager and he bypassed the requirement for money down)

= $100 day of pick up + potentially $50 for giving them my EVO if i feel like it (will probably go across the street and give it to sprint for $70)

= total cost $30-$50 out of pocket!!!!

feels good haha

marctronixx

There is no need to put money down when doing a best buy preorder for this device.

Covert_Death

agreed, although the system usually requires it but the manager i was speaking with was able to get around it using a simple code and manually entering the order number... very nice

marctronixx

Yes, I should clarify that bby is waiving a down payment for this device. Anyone who wants to pre order this particular handset through them will have the down payment waived.

Just want to clarify so it's clear to others who may be thinking about it but may not have the bread, etc..

Orion

Hold up! So you automatically get -$50 for upgrading at BB?

Sauske

No, they just don't charge a down payment for pre-ordered phone. When it releases you pay the full price of the phone!

Rose4uKy

What is this $50 for upgrading on Sprint at Best Buy deal? I am getting the 50 dollar phone freedom and I was told I didn't have to put $50 down today but I did. So I will end up owing another $100 on May 18th. But I see your getting phone freedom and another 50?

Covert_Death

for upgrading at best buy, with a sprint account, yes

LINKS:
HTC EVO Trade-In ISO Offer

and this deal (not sure if its the same deal, reworded or another deal for the LTEVO only...
All Mobile Phones with Plans Mobile Phones : HTC_EVO_4G_LTE_Mobile_Phone - BestBuy

and last but not least, Phone Freedom
Phone Freedom

UNSCleric

No, Best Buy is only charging $150 for the phone, no matter what.

$50 Best Buy gift card offer

Pre-order the HTC EVO 4G LTE and get a $50 Best Buy gift card when you activate the phone.*
The HTC EVO 4G LTE boasts an amazing 8.0MP camera and authentic Beats Audio sound.
*Requires a 2-year agreement
with Sprint and activation through Best Buy. Gift card code will be e-mailed within 1-2 business days of phone ship date.

Covert_Death

they are charging $200 though, just to clarify your statement, your INITIAL charge is still $200 (if no other offers applied) and then AFTER you pay 200, a day or two later you will receive a $50 BB card

Rose4uKy

Well I joined the phone Freedom and the phone is 200 but phone freedom people get a 50 dollar gift card right then when they pick up there phone to use towards the price of the phone making it 150. I was also told there's another deal where you get a 50 dollar card to use later for accessories. But the other person getting another 50 off for upgrading from Sprint using best buy I think is for trading in an old Evo 4G you get 50 bucks maybe that's it.

Orion

That's pretty awesome! But I'm not trading my old EVO in though. That thing is an antique. Lol

UNSCleric

Yeah, that's true, the initial charge is $200. In my head it makes it $150 to me, but I realize now that it might be important for some people to realize they're being charged and getting $50 back in the form of a gift card a couple days later.

The gift card for trading in your Evo 4G, if you choose to go that route, would be instant though, so then it would be just $150.

Rose4uKy

Ok I gotcha an extra 50 for your EVO plus a 50 dollar best buy card. Well I'm happy with the phone freedom and getting the phone for 149. I'm selling my 3D plus accessories for 250 I hope on Friday. But then it's use an old non smart phone for a week. :-( The other 50 dollar gift card you get a couple days later doesn't come off the price of the phone but the phone freedom 50 dollar one does.

Last edited by Rose4uKy; May 7th, 2012 at 06:22 PM.

simcha

I really liked my experience with Best Buy when I purchased my Photon 4G last September. I did get all the bells and whistles but I got the Photon when it was at special price of $99. By "all the bells and whistles" I mean that I got the "Buyback plan" and the "insurance." I seem to remember all of it being a good deal. I paid for 24 months of insurance up front and I received a discount on the insurance for that. They told me that if I upgraded before 24 months, that I'd get the unused portion of my insurance money back, or I could just apply it to the next phone. I thought the Buyback plan was a good idea. It should make getting my next phone a cheaper proposition, I hope.

Anyway, looking back at it, I'm not sure I should have gotten the insurance. I'm not sure if it's worth it and I've read many articles stating that you could just use your homeowners insurace to cover your mobile phone and if you purchased your mobile phone with a credit card, some cards will insure the phone automatically. These articles state that any insurance on a mobile phone is a waste of money. I'm still not sure.

I'll be interested to see what happens when I use the buyback plan to upgrade to my next phone. Maybe I should have just gotten the buyback program and not the insurance?

If anyone has any thoughts on this conundrum, let me know.

__________________
Happy LTEvo owner. When do I get to play music with everyone?

Sauske

If $150 is the full price that's what you will have to pay! But there's no down payment.

2strokenut

Is sprint offering any deals? I was talking with customer service today and they were saying something about a 50 dollar rebate or something. I wasn't really listening I just wanted to preorder my Evo lol

Sauske

Nope, just $199.99 as usual!

kanyewest

u guys know u can sell ur OG EVO on craigslist for about $150... posted mine today and i was able to sell it with no problem. so i guess i pay $50 plus tax... and if i go the best buy route (getting the $50 gc in mail) I only pay tax.

jadamuah1573

getting mine from wirelessmarketplus.com. 149.99 + 9.99 shipping for upgrade. free shipping for new contract

Last edited by jadamuah1573; May 9th, 2012 at 12:25 AM.

LatinP

The Sprint store, my bother gave me his old non-working iPhone 4 walked into a Sprint store they gave me a 160 dollar trade in recycle value for a phone I got for free. Getting my LTE Evo for 40 bucks = ) (plus tax).

__________________
- Current HTC Thunderbolt user, near future HTC Evo 4G LTE user! Apple what?

EasyEEE

Ok...

======================================

Phone Freedom

I had signed up for Best Buy Phone Freedom: http://www.bestbuy.com/phonefreedom

Allegedly get a $50 Best Buy Gift Card after activiation: Gift Card Offer FAQs

=====================================

Best Buy site claims if you pre-order, you will get a $50 gift card upon activation.

HTC EVO 4G LTE - BestBuy

======================================

Save $50 when you upgrade to any new phone that works on the Sprint network, plus score a $50 Best gift card when you Trade In your gently used EVO 4G.

HTC EVO Trade-In ISO Offer

======================================


So ... think any of these things can be combined? I know some of the text says it can't...

Hoenstly, would be kind of BS (i.e. not special lol) if they didn't honor the Freedom thing on top of the pre-order gift card.

Anyone work at Best Buy? All so confusing .. heh

EarlyMon

This may be helpful, not sure...

EasyEEE

Thanks for the move. Started seeing the same stuff I posted on second page of this thread after I posted. Had searched for a BB specific thread. My bad.

About to drive down to BB and find out. I am sure they will be clueless, but, worth a shot.

At a minimum, it should be $50 for pre-order, $50 for trade-in, $50 for Freedom...

My step-son did pre-order yesterday in another city/state. They only mentioned the Freedom.

On a side note, the email order I got from my step-son said,

Order Total: $699.99

Ooof. Only 3 of my 4 phones are upgradable - was hoping to maybe use some of the discounts and whatnot to offset a 4th. Though, doing my math, if $150 off each phone (prays), and was ready to spend $200 for each, totalling $800.. and only pay $150 for 3 phones ($50 each), and maybe get $150 off the 4th that isn't eligible for discount savings, bringing down to $550 for that phone.. would be $700 for all 4 phones ... lol shrug. Probably not worth it for the 4th.

Anyway, thanks again.

Edit: Anyone know if you buy off contract, will Best Buy still give various discounts and gift cards? Ie one line is not eligible for discount upgrade, but if it's $550, and pay that for the line that isn't upgradable, will best buy still cough up various discounts and gift cards if I re sign for2 years?

Last edited by EasyEEE; May 9th, 2012 at 11:57 AM.

ren857

Apparently, certain offers CAN be combined. The $50 trade-in-EVO plus $50 for upgrading a sprint phone = $100 off. Press Release is below...

Purchase your new EVO 4G LTE by July 7th and get $50 Best Buy gift cardAndroidGuys

Last edited by ren857; May 9th, 2012 at 12:29 PM.

EasyEEE

Yes, you can combine all for $200 off.

At Best Buy now, just read internal email. Will post pic.

Last edited by EasyEEE; May 9th, 2012 at 12:31 PM.

Covert_Death

i was aware of getting $50 off for giving them my OG EVO but i WASN'T aware that ONTOP of that they give you $50 store credit....... that makes this upgrade free lmao...

freaking love best buy

EasyEEE

Exactly. Best Buy rep couldn't believe it. He clicked the links from that email and it went further in detail... And what I read said yes, possible to get $200 in total gift cards and discounts.

Can you read ok? Took with phone at Best Buy. Have full email, but there.img much more to it.

drexappeal

Just wanted to break this down into pieces and give a little more foundation behind the discounts that are shown on the pic:

$199 upgrade/new account price for LTEvo
- $50 for purchasing the LTEvo at launch
- $50 Trade in of original EVO 4G
(This won't apply to all Sprint phones, just original EVO owners that decide to trade their phone in)
- $50 Trade in AND purchase of Sprint phone
(not necessarily specific to LTEvo purchase, just applies to any Sprint phone trade-in and purchase)
- $50 Phone Freedom Gift Card
(From what I understand, a person would've had to pre-register for this a few months ago when it was being offered...which I did, but not sure everyone has)

Assuming everyone trades in their original EVO and had pre-registered for the Freedom Gift Card, then yes, the potential savings is $200. That said, not everyone that'll be getting the LTEvo will be trading in the original EVO. It's also been mentioned that an original EVO sold on ebay or through Craig's list could still net a good amount of money, so it may be more worthwhile for people to sell the original EVO that way vs. taking the $50 credit from Best Buy.

Also, even with the $200 gift card, keep in mind that this doesn't mean the phone will be completely "free." It would still require payment of taxes and fees, as well as the Sprint activation fee. But for a launch, this is the best discount I've ever seen for a superphone...ever. In essence, people would get $100 discount from just trading in their original EVO to purchase the LTEvo. $100 for the original EVO is a decent price, especially if that is only for the phone (e.g. no sd card, no charger, no instructions, no box, etc...).

I thought I got a good deal on my Photon getting price matched down to $99 after launch, but this is an even better deal than that! Too bad the original EVO is still being used on one of my secondary lines. I'd jump on this in a heartbeat.

__________________
For those that don't have the SGS3, but want pop-up video
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gpc.myweb.hinet.net.PopupVideo#?t=W251b GwsMSwxLDIxMiwiZ3BjLm15d2ViLmhpbmV0Lm5ldC5Qb3B1cFZ pZGVvIl0

Stubby1

Wirefly friends and family is where I got mine for $119.99. Must use the friend and family site. Best way is to google it and use that link.

MandM

So I preordered the EVO LTE at BB. I know they mentioned you get a $50 gift card, they weren't sure if it could be used towards the purchase of the phone or given after activation. I guess that answers the question.

But your telling me, that if I trade in any Sprint phone, my old POS phone I am using now they will give me a $50 discount in addition to the other $50 preorder gift card that could be used towards the purchase of the phone? I find it hard to believe they are going to give me $50 for trading in my flip phone when I go to pick up the EVO LTE.

This is what I found on the BB website

HTC EVO Trade-In ISO Offer

"Savings not valid in conjunction with other offers."

drexappeal

I honestly don't know.

I'm just basing my breakdown on how that picture reads. To me, purchase of a LTEvo gets a $50 gift card (maybe this is after purchase...which is very possible). The additional $50 discounts, by the way I read it, I don't see any mention of a smartphone (which, it's quite possible that there are other details that aren't shown on that picture). Nontheless, you've got me thinking on a completely different level now because I do have other Sprint phones that I'd love to trade in and get a $50 credit to apply to a new Sprint upgrade.

Who knows if that picture that was posted is authentic and it's possible that any and all limitations to those additional discounts are not shown on the pic (which is a probable scenario).

EarlyMon

OK, so even if not applicable to other offers (no double-dipping, in other words) - are you guys saying that if I trade in my Evo, I can walk out of Best Buy with the LTEvo for $50 + (the fees I'd have to pay anyways)???

EasyEEE

If you signed up for Freedom, it would be fees only
The pic I took was from Best Buy email. Says $150 in gift cards and $50 discount.

I didn't look into the trade in too much. The links in the email I provided gave much more information. The way we read it at Best Buy, in my situation, was, yes, I will get 150 in gift cards and 50 off.

Sorry i dont have the expanded Best Buy diacussion, but what i read, Some, if not all, the gift cards canbe used towards the purchase.

EarlyMon

Ok, I'm not a Best Buy customer, so as the man said in the Chronicles of Riddick, "Break it down like you're talking to someone educated in the penal system."

So, if I sign up for this Freedom-whatever deal - does that cost?

There has to be costs, right? I can't figure out what I'm missing.

Tommydaniel

It was a deal they had going a few months ago, enter your info online and next time you upgrade you get $50, it has since ended.

Wait...That may be something else. I am so confused with that offer lol So I have to trade an EVO to get $50 plus $50 or could I just upgrade and get $50? I also have buyback on my Epic, that would count as a trade right?

Last edited by Tommydaniel; May 9th, 2012 at 03:54 PM.

EasyEEE

Sorry, was in a meeting and typing with my phone.



Best Buy had a program earlier this year that if all you did was provide your phone number and email address to their web site, you would be eligible for a $50 gift card if you purchased a new phone from Best Buy by the end of 2012.

You can no longer sign up for this program. I signed up as there was zero obligation and no reason not to. Check your emails, you may have.

Here is more information:

Phone Freedom: http://www.bestbuy.com/phonefreedom

Phone Freedom FAQ: Gift Card Offer FAQs


Now ... onto today's press release found here:


RSS Content - BBY.com

Today, Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) launched a pre-sale for the new HTC EVO(TM) 4G LTE from Sprint and announced a special offer - customers will receive a $50 Best Buy gift card when they purchase the device at any Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile standalone store or online at BestBuy.com. The offer runs through July 7, 2012.

And ... from SAME press release:

HTC EVO(TM) 4G Trade-In: Save $50 towards any new Sprint device when you trade in your gently used EVO 4G, plus score a $50 Best Buy gift card. This offer runs through June 2.


I don't know about trading in any other Sprint Phone. I have only read the above press release and this:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Mobile-Phones/HTC+EVO+Trade-In+ISO+Offer/pcmcat271700050019.c?id=pcmcat271700050019


All added up - "POSSIBLE" $200 in savings.


When I read the expanded information from the links in the email, it spoke about how to use the gift cards (1 or maybe all 3, I didn't read everything) towards the current purchase of the phone.

The picture I posted states,

" ... they will GET a $50 gift card to use towards the purchase!"

Then goes onto say, "to get up to $150 in gift cards and $50 in savings when they purchase the HTC EVO 4G LTE"


So --- anyone heading down to Best Buy for this deal -- ask them to read the email that came out today. Article ID 40917 published Wednesday 05/09/12.


I will scan the printed email when I get home.

Last edited by EasyEEE; May 9th, 2012 at 03:59 PM.

MandM

"- $50 Trade in of original EVO 4G
(This won't apply to all Sprint phones, just original EVO owners that decide to trade their phone in)
- $50 Trade in AND purchase of Sprint phone
(not necessarily specific to LTEvo purchase, just applies to any Sprint phone trade-in and purchase)"

Those 2 are the same thing. I called Best Buy. Only the Evo can be traded in (no other Sprint Phone). The Evo is the only phone that gets the 50/50 deal. So you can't just trade in any Sprint phone and get a $50 credit.

For those trading in the EVO it will be 50 for pre-order, 50 for EVO trade-in, plus another 50 for Evo trade-in, plus 50 for phone freedom. So you have to preorder the phone and have registered for phone freedom to get the full $200 off. Whether or not they will all be used towards the purchase of the phone or some will be gift cards after the phone is activated they are still not sure.

Tommydaniel

Meh, if I decide on this of the GSIII I will end up getting $279 for the Epic Touch(BB Buyback program), plus $50 from the freedom thingy, woot woooott.

MandM

The Best Buy I pre-ordered at is still telling me they are unsure if the $50 gift-card with the pre-order would be used towards the purchase of the EVO LTE. They said that it might be given after the transaction and activation and might only be used to purchase accessories or something else in the future. I don't trust them. I will definitely be printing a copy of the email that you post when I go down there to pick it up.

EarlyMon

Let's see if I have this straight.

I didn't do the Freedom thing.

I do have an Evo to trade.

I pre-order and buy by June 2, and I either pay $100 and get a $50 gift card, or I get to apply that to the purchase and I get it for $50 (to me, those are the same thing, I can always use printer supplies or something).

Am I on the right track??

Questhate

I originally pre-ordered from Sprint, but after spending about half an hour on the phone with them, I was able to cancel it.

I went over to Best Buy to put in my pre-order through them. There seemed to be some confusion about how to handle the pre-orders. The manager insisted to the employee that was handling my transaction that she needed to take a deposit from me. The employee had to pull up the internal email in the pre-order system that states that the deposit is to be waived for EVO LTE orders to satisfy the manager.

I did not know about the Evo trade-in, but I will certainly be doing so when I go in to pick it up. Although, given how confused the employees seem to be (especially the manager), I'm wondering if it'll be less hassle to just order through wirefly.com and then trading in my Evo 4G to Sprint for $70. Wirefly is advertising that they're waiving Sprint activation fees. That would be about $80 + $8 or so in tax for me. At least going that route means I won't have to deal with giftcards and arguing with customer service for my deals.

EasyEEE

Way I read it ... if you pre-order.. get $50 gift card. Trade in EVO 4G, get $50 discount, and ANOTHER $50 gift card. Bottom line for you would be $50.

As I mentioned, I'm not 100% sure the gift cards can be instantly applied towards the purchase of the phone - though the attached email definitely states at least the one for pre-ordering can be. And that there are special instructions to make it happen.

However, if you are getting multiple phones, maybe pay for one at a time, using the gift cards on the next.

Attached is the main email. I scanned to jpg so I could cut out names.

Again, the BOLD items linked linked off to MUCH more expanded information. I wish I had got THAT information. As I said, I am pretty sure I read most if not all the gift cards could be applied towards the phone... and that they are all combineable.. as again is mentioned in the attached email.

The rep was a little shocked at first by the email. His co-worker agreed that it read all were combineable.

We read and talked for awhile, and he saw no reason I couldn't get all the gift cards for my phone that isn't due for an upgrade ... especially since I would be paying more out of pocket for it. My son pre-ordered his on my account in another city and state yesterday. I wasn't able to order one on my line, but used his number in the BB computer again to pre-order 3 to my local store. Rep said the pre-orders aren't tied to the number. So he could see no real reason why I wouldn't get the $200 giftcards/discounts for my non-upgradeable phone. S, if in fact the phone is $550 off contract.. doing my math, I will get 4 EVO 4G LTE's (3 upgradeable, 1 not) for $350... as long as I re-signed my non-upgradeable line for 2 years.

I also said to him, so all that's left is activation, and he shook his head no.. I didn't get much further into that. Does BB charge activation?



More pictures below, though, not much more information.

Attached Images

	BB1.jpg (296.0 KB, 269 views)
	BB2.jpg (226.3 KB, 15 views)
	BB3.jpg (93.4 KB, 12 views)

Last edited by EasyEEE; May 9th, 2012 at 07:01 PM.

marctronixx

this is how the terms read for this. AFTER the transaction is completed, you will get a code into your e-mail that you can use later.

Orion

Ok this should be simple but I'm reading so many conflicting scenarios here. I'm going to take a crack at this....

1. I didn't do that freedom thingy....so no $50 for me.
2. I'm keeping my OG EVO....so no $50 for me lol.
3. If I preorder, I get a $50 giftcard and can I use it towards the phone?

That's all I need to know. Thanks.

Lol Earlymon beat me to it.

Last edited by EarlyMon; May 9th, 2012 at 05:33 PM. Reason: (thought these two posts belonged together :) )

EarlyMon

I think everyone does the activation fee - it's a pass-through from the Sprint contract stuff.