Best Buy $99 UNLESS you are buying 2

[cheri703]

I just called the nearest Best Buy and asked about the $99 deal. I was told that if you are signing up for a family plan, only ONE of the phones is $99, the other would be $179.00.

Anyone done/tried this? Is everyone only buying one of them? I need two, and I don't want to basically pay for almost 3... (99+99=198, 99+179=278)

Any suggestions on how to get them both for $99? The guy told me that I'd have to sign up for 2 separate lines (2 credit checks, etc) if I wanted them both at the discounted price.

I am not pleased with this news. Just thought I'd give a heads up to anyone else thinking they'd get two phones for $99...

 

[TF1984]

I'm with you. I received an alert via RSS on email that Best Buy dropped the price to $99.99. I had purchased a new Hero 2 weeks prior at 179.99, so I went back to collect the difference.

The guy told me you can only get the $99.99 on each NEW CONTRACT with plan of 69.99 or better. Since I added a third line with 2 year contract, it was no go.

I think it's bogus, either offer the deal or don't but forget about the knitpicking on which lines are stand-alone or not. A two year contract line is a 2 year contract line, no matter how you look at it.

 

[drawing infinity]

sounds like you guys are getting played. i work at radioshack, not best buy, but i sell the same phones they do. if you sign up for a family plan, that counts as 2 new lines of service. you get the new 2 year price for each phone. also, there is only one credit check done per ssn. the system comes back with how many lines you're approved for. say you had a credit check and were approved for 3 lines. you could start all 3 lines with the one credit check - there isn't a seperate check for each line.

as far as adding the third line, you also signed a new 2 year contract when you added it so you get the new 2 year price.

 

[TF1984]

sounds like you guys are getting played. i work at radioshack, not best buy, but i sell the same phones they do. if you sign up for a family plan, that counts as 2 new lines of service. you get the new 2 year price for each phone. also, there is only one credit check done per ssn. the system comes back with how many lines you're approved for. say you had a credit check and were approved for 3 lines. you could start all 3 lines with the one credit check - there isn't a seperate check for each line.

as far as adding the third line, you also signed a new 2 year contract when you added it so you get the new 2 year price.

Unfortunately the Best Buy website outlines exactly what the CS Rep told me. 179.99 for upgrade or add-on, 99.99 for "new Sprint Account" and minimum 69.99/month plan. They are lowering the price since they make up the difference in "new line credits", think about it, anyone wanting a new sprint account with a Hero will (should) go to Best buy rather than sprint store, so the potential for new business is huge.

Regarding radioshack, you guys don't even sell the Hero, so unfortunately that little fact doesn't matter. Plus, this is a Best Buy exclusive special price, and Best Buy absorbs any loss there would be. It's not Sprint giving it to them for a 99.99 deal.

 

[azub]

I went to the local Best Buy and spoke to the rep about the $99 Hero price being only for new Sprint customers, she quietly told me to come back on Black Friday and it will be offered to existing Sprint customers. But I cannot find anywhere that this is the case

 

[cooolone2]

Plus, this is a Best Buy exclusive special price, and Best Buy absorbs any loss there would be.

What Loss? Do you know what the unit cost is to Best Buy? What the kick back is that Sprint defers to Best Buy for each contract signing or renewal? I get a kick out of the "LOSS" statement that is thrown around so easily... there is NO associated LOSS with the equipment because those costs are more then made up for in the monthly plan revenue generated by the equipments use.

I just point this out because my last phone took a dive and when while waiting for the replacement the Sprint Store owner sold me this line, "you know this costs Sprint $250 per phone!!!" I laughed at him and added the monthly insurance cost to the life of plan costs for him and he got quiet real fast. He thought he was doing me a favor...

So anyway... I have 4 phones costing me approximately $4,100.00 over the term of contract excluding taxes, surcharges, tariffs, etc., please tell me what loss?

I just read an article too about revenue generation by the smatphones and Sprint actually is leading the bunch on revenue per user... Nice

hehe... No flaming, just trying to enlighten your post.


Oh, btw, I have gotten the price on "EACH" phone in the past... Just do each phone one at a time. Do one phone then go back and add a line, lol, it should work!

Regards!

 

[TF1984]

What Loss? Do you know what the unit cost is to Best Buy? What the kick back is that Sprint defers to Best Buy for each contract signing or renewal? I get a kick out of the "LOSS" statement that is thrown around so easily... there is NO associated LOSS with the equipment because those costs are more then made up for in the monthly plan revenue generated by the equipments use.


Regards!

No Offense taken. And OBVIOUSLY they aren't taking an actual loss, but retailers have set margin scales that are supposed to be met on each individual product they sell. This would be profit after all other costs are incurred such as logistics, product loss, defect, inventory loss, etc. etc. etc the point being that any margin under that target would be made up for in the sheer volume they anticipate in selling the phone lower than any other source.

Of course they make a ton of money, who doubted that?

 

[AmericanHero]

I started a new family plan for my Wife and myself. We signed up for a new 2 year contract. We both chose the Hero phone and paid 179.00 a piece for them. A week later they went on sale and I was able to price match both phones at 99.00 a piece. It took about 5 minutes at the customer service desk. No problems here.

Jack

 

[Kevii]

HTC Hero for 29.99 with new activation LMK if you guys wanna know

 

[cheri703]

I had initially asked about getting one and then getting another about a week later, the guy said that even then, it'd be the "add a line" price ($179.99).

I am curious about AmericanHero, did they do it with no issue? or?

Kevii: I don't know what LMK stands for, but I'm curious about your $29.99 claim...

 

[AmericanHero]

They did not even question it at all. Smiled and said have a nice day.

 

[acm2117]

$99 lol i payed $0.99 for my hero and the same for my wifes palm pre. Got ot through a sprint business sales guy. Pm me and i will shoot you his #. You do need to be switching from a different carrier and not just upgrading

 

[cheri703]

I found a possible way to get them to do it. I went to best buy's site and put in the info like I'd be ordering 2 with the family plan, they came up as $99 for BOTH. I printed out the page, plan to bring it in with me and expect a price match. If anyone else is needing two of these, then try that, let me/us know if it works!