Buying EVO at bestbuy?

[cabbie]

So lets say that the rumors are true and Bestbuy will let you pre-order EVO. I've previously gone through Sprint stores everytime and also added insurance to my plan that way. What does BestBuy do that is comparable? I remember back in the stone age when I bought a 300-cd changer there, I got a protection plan that was basically an up-front fee for X amount of years (not month to month) that I had to use a couple times when the product failed. What are the advantages of using bestbuy and that system as opposed to the sprint store?

/curiosity

 

[Caloy]

Don't quote me on this, but I think Best Buy would pretty much do anything a Sprint Store does short of repairing them on site.

I would go anywhere, including online to get the best deal and convenience.

 

[parvusp]

if you buy from best buy you don't have to mail in the rebate. They will give you the discounted price with the rebate and then mail the rebate themselves later. So that if a phone is 199.99 after mail in rebate you don't have to pay 299.99 mail in that $100 rebate. You just pay 199.99 up front. I don't know too much about the insurance though.

 

[Gekko]

i believe Best Buy Mobile offers a "white glove" product protection insurance plan for smartphones which is similar to the Sprint Store plans - although i am not a fan of such plans due to the economics.

 

[Stolirocks]

I was told by a BB mobile employee that you can buy a Geeksquad maintenance plan for 9.99/month and you bring it to them if your phone dies or whatever. They send it out for repair and give you a loaner phone untill yours is repaired which usually takes less than a week.

 

[cabbie]

$9.99 a month is comparable to what i pay through the sprint store, so that is good news. I hear the geeksquad is pretty incompetent but if they can manage to ship it off for repair without screwing it up then I can feel good about going to bestbuy for EVO if thats where it becomes available first

 

[ashtx07]

I was told by a BB mobile employee that you can buy a Geeksquad maintenance plan for 9.99/month and you bring it to them if your phone dies or whatever. They send it out for repair and give you a loaner phone untill yours is repaired which usually takes less than a week.

Yea I used to work at best buy and buy all my phones from there. I love the fact that there is no mail-in rebates. I will def be pre-ordering this phone just to make sure that I get it asap. The protection plans are similar to sprint's except one covers water damage and one doesn't. Sorry I forgot. The only thing with the best buy protection plans is that they give you a loaner phone and that doesn't nec mean that you're going to get a phone equivalent to the one you have and while they are usually quick about getting the phones back that they sent off, sometimes it does take a while. If I remember if it takes longer than 30 days they just give you a brand new phone. They give you store credit so sometimes if a new phone came out you can just put the money to that.

 

[reallynotnick]

Do people really like this protection plans and think they are a good idea? I have had my iPhone for 2 years and it has been with me 24/7 and dropped all over and even kicked across pebbled ground face down. I don't use a case and it only has some scratches but nothing that affects day to day use, heck the screen was perfect until I kicked it face down after it feel to the ground (the scratches aren't even noticeable unless the screen is totally clean and it is off and you are reflecting the light at it looking for them).
I can't see spending $240 over two years to protect my phone, I feel the only time my phone would break would be in some sort of freak accident that wouldn't be covered by a warranty anyway.

 

[ashtx07]

Do people really like this protection plans and think they are a good idea? I have had my iPhone for 2 years and it has been with me 24/7 and dropped all over and even kicked across pebbled ground face down. I don't use a case and it only has some scratches but nothing that affects day to day use, heck the screen was perfect until I kicked it face down after it feel to the ground (the scratches aren't even noticeable unless the screen is totally clean and it is off and you are reflecting the light at it looking for them).
I can't see spending $240 over two years to protect my phone, I feel the only time my phone would break would be in some sort of freak accident that wouldn't be covered by a warranty anyway.

Well I've found it to be worthwhile... like i've dropped my Pre in water twice and had it replaced. I would have had to buy a phone outright or downgrade to my crappy katana if I hadn't had the insurance.

 

[cabbie]

ive found it worthwhile too. its a personal choice but I appreciate the peace of mind knowing that my phone, which is instrumental to my productivity, be protected. Ive never had to use my phone insurance but I always get insurance on electronics and have thanked my lucky stars more than once that I had coverage on other things when they crap out.

 

[Gekko]

12 Months x $10 = $120 Premiums Paid + Deductible
24 Months x $10 = $240 Premiums Paid + Deductible

12 Months = Upgrade for Premier Customers = ~$200
24 Months = Upgrade for Regular Customers = ~$200

Cost of replacement smartphone prior to Upgrade = ~$500

for me personally, the economics of the insurance just don't make sense. but -

1. i'm a Premier Customer.
2. i'll have my Sprint Centro as a backup.
3. i'm careful and take care of my stuff.
4. i'd rather save the $10/month and self-insure the relatively small dollar replacement risk and insure big dollar catastrophic risks.

 

[Tasmin]

I appreciate the breakdown, Gekko. I'm a klutz, and my current phone reflects that (dings and housing cracks from everything from dropping, to kicking, to the cat chewing on it). I've been thinking about insurance but I'll be a Premier customer, so maybe it won't make much sense for me. Hmmm ....

 

[cabbie]

my kitteh chews wires :-O thank goodness they haven't developed a taste for my phone! That cat would have a date with the ceiling fan

 

[neodorian]

I just pay $7/per month for TEP. It's worth it (to me) because I can do whatever I want to the phone and only pay $100 for a new one. Used to do without but since I got the Pre I'm glad I started. That thing cracks easily and they never admit that it's a design flaw even though the cracks are always in the same place. Over the year I have the phone I spend $84. Assume I replace the phone once for $100 deductible, I've basically gotten a ~$600 phone for $184. If I don't replace it during the year I am out $84.

Thankfully I get a 14% discount for working where I do so it covers the $7/month. Moving to a giant glass screen makes me think I may just keep the TEP.

 

[Gekko]

I just pay $7/per month for TEP. It's worth it (to me) because I can do whatever I want to the phone

presented without comment.

 

[neodorian]

OK, well I have to be able to get the phone for return to the company I'm pretty sure TEP covers any damage at all, even water. Not sure about your scenario though....

/million to one shot, doc

 

[Gekko]

YouTube - Seinfeld The Fusilli Jerry: Pasta Art

 

[Sassy_Lina]

Since we're on the subject of bestbuy, does anyone know if they honor the premier upgrade at bestbuy? Meaning will Sprint premier customers show up as upgrade eligible in the bestbuy system?

 

[Gekko]

Since we're on the subject of bestbuy, does anyone know if they honor the premier upgrade at bestbuy? Meaning will Sprint premier customers show up as upgrade eligible in the bestbuy system?

i'm 99% sure the answer is yes.

 

[dtokarz]

Since we're on the subject of bestbuy, does anyone know if they honor the premier upgrade at bestbuy? Meaning will Sprint premier customers show up as upgrade eligible in the bestbuy system?

Go on the BestBuy.com website and you can check your eligibility date by putting in your phone number and carrier. It will tell you when you are eligible for an upgrade. It was accurate for my upgrade on May 1st.

 

[PLand15]

For Sassy_Lina

Upgrade Checker | Best Buy Mobile: everything mobile - every point of view

This let's you see if you can upgrade or not, pretty much it shows you every line associated with the bill and tells you if you can expect an upgrade and when. Very nifty interface.

 

[Sassy_Lina]

I checked it out and yep they are right in line with Sprint. Thank you! Now I am even more excited. I will be going the BestBuy route because I am not interested in paying someone money only to have them mail it back to me 8 or more weeks later. That is crazy! Mail in rebates=ripoff.

 

[Sassy_Lina]

presented without comment.

Gekko..That right there is real serious.

 

[TECHMAN]

Ok well the best way to go is add it through homeowners INS. I pay 36$ a year for iPhone full replacement no matter what upbto 600$$. Just call it electronic coverage and give phone serial number.

 

[cabbie]

Ok well the best way to go is add it through homeowners INS. I pay 36$ a year for iPhone full replacement no matter what upbto 600$$. Just call it electronic coverage and give phone serial number.

i have done this before with an ipod and completely forgot about it. Good idea!