Considering upgrading through Best Buy instead of AT&T.

So here it is again- the end of my 2 year contract. I have had many versions of the iPhone since they launched in 2007 and instead of upgrading from my iPhone 4 to the lackluster iPhone 4S, I am deciding to shake it up. I am going to go the route of android.
More specifically the Galaxy Note. It was meant to be. It even comes out on my birthday. It's a Phablet. Just like I always wanted.
But I digress.
A friend told me about the awesome promotions going on through bestbuy. The $50 gift card (already signed up for it.) and the free case that comes with the galaxy note if you preorder it.
It is clearly the better deal to go through best buy, but I guess I have a few questions:
1. Can I preorder the phone at the store or do I have to do it online? I would like to be able to use the $50 gift card towards the phone (As it says I can in the fine print) rather than waiting for the gift card to arrive.
2. I am not the account holder (my mother is.) but I am an authorized on the account. Should I have her come with me or do I just need her info?
3. Does best buy typically get the phones in stock on the Release date (In this case the 19th) or later than that?
Thanks for reading.

'manufacturer warranty = from manufactr so is same no matter seller of item. buy item, it comes w manufacturer warranty, whatever it is. period.
protection plans are a best buy (or competitor store) warranty. if you like terms, fine, if not, dont add it to order. stores will still take yr $ -- and you can still buy items at sale prices advertised. salesperson earns lower commission is all.
cell carriers also offer own protection plans, fwiw. your call to add to your plan -- or not.
any or all of above may be considered a ripoff or added value, your call. but are addititonal to sale of item poster is considering.
prices on phones on bestbuy generally are NOT a ripoff, when we purchased ours was handled well, from moving address books etc to new phones to setup email accts, to not messing up the plan we wanted...
also, bestbuy will take the Sprint upgrade discount right off the purchase price, so you walk out the door spending less/ get taxed on a lower price. most other places make you mail in a Sprint rebate form and wait for weeks/months to get a check in the mail.

Similar Messages

Upgrading with Best Buy

Hey guys one question this last time, if i upgrade with Best Buy is there any faults or anything else associated with it? Before i attempt to get an ally phone..or something free

When you upgrade through a third party, be aware that you are signing, effectively, two contracts ... one with Verizon, and one with the retailer. Read carefully, know the limitations and restrictions that go along with the retailers "deal", and if you can live with that, then get the deal.
Many times you cannot make ANY changes to the plan for 6 months (increase minutes, add texting, etc...) or swap phones on the line without getting slapped with the ETF. As long as you are aware of and OK with what you are agreeing to, Best Buy may well be your Best Buy . . .

Update XBOX Live Contract payment method through Best Buy

I have XBOX Live Gold Membership I bought on contract through Best Buy when I bought my XBOX console. I no longer can use my console because I get a message that states my payments are not up to date. I need to update my payment method for the membership. I had done so on my XBOX account to no avail. XBOX says I need to update it through Best Buy because theat is where I bought it. I called Best Buy and was told that everything is fine and payments are being made. Maddening. How do I resolve?

Hi mjabja,
Not being able to access Xbox Live would certainly make playing online difficult, let alone accessing your Gold membership benefits. I'd be frustrated too if I found myself in a similar situation.
Because the Xbox 360 Entertainment for All plan is administered and billed by Microsoft, Best Buy is not able to make any modifications to your subscription or update your method of payment -- we do not have visibility or direct access to these records. Full details on the program and billing FAQs can also be found here. The best advice I can give would be to follow up with Microsoft using one of the contact methods listed on that page to see what options might be available.
Let us know if you have any other questions.
Aaron|Social Media Specialist | Best Buy® Corporate
Private Message

Volume Mixer savings not saved in vista on DV3 model 3510 bought through best Buys

I have a dv3 and Iv3e tested this on other units in best buy. The volume mixer refuses to save its settings through a reboot. For instance if you set the internet devices at 50% volume they wont be saved through a reboot. I cant get an answer how to save these settings. Some of the other hp model laptops dont have this problem. Please help on this as Ive googled it and come up empty. How can I save the volume mixer settings in vista????

people complaining about problems installing an office over another office are (dare i say it) stupid. it makes absolutely no sense installing one over the trial version. just uninstall the trial and you'll be fine. every single time.
as for problem with uninstalling mcafee (or any other antivirus, for that matter, just download the uninstaller from the software company e.g. http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100507 for mcafee.
that said i believe you get to choose if you want mcafee and/or office when you go through the inital boot, the "on-screen instructions"
you can slow down the odd via power manager
and thanks for the tips on changing the reg to have the user profiles somewhere else!
T400s - 2815RW1 + Win7 Ultimate
Don't pm me for help! That's what the forum is for. Also, Google's nicer than me. Ask him.

Can i JUST buy mountain lion at best buy instead of having to download the other two before?

yeah thats my question.

No.
But, you also don't have to download any others.
If you don't already run 10.6, you'll have to buy that from the Apple Store on DVD.
Then, you only have to download Mountain Lion, if you Mac is compatible: http://www.apple.com/osx/specs/
Actually, I suppose it is possible you might find a copy of Snow Leopard in a Best Buy with really low sales volume.

Verizon 20$ data pack offered only through best buy?

when you check the verizon iphone 4s on bestbuy.com it says it requires and data pack of at least 20$. but if you check the verizon website it says at least 30$. is this just more false iphone 4s advertising or should i expect to get a 20$ data plan if my phone ever comes in?

This is a promotional plan being offered by Verizon, $20 for 300MB. Limited time to add this feature.
Dan K. | Mobile Specialty Stores
Any opinions expressed in this post are those of
the author and do not represent Best Buy Co., Inc.

Verizon phone upgrade at Best Buy?

I was wondering that since im on a family plan and am not the" Primary Line" will the person who is the primary line have to come into the store with me when i get my upgrade?

Ok, this what I can tell you from experience:
In a 'Family Plan' there is an 'Account Owner', the person whos name is on the bill, basically the primary line. There could only be one Account Owner, but you can switch to any other number on the line. Then there is an 'Account Manager', who can do almost anything the Account Owner can do. I only know one restriction so far: If the Account Manager wanted to have their own line, they have to get permission from the Account Owner or the Account Owner have to be there to start it. There could be more than one Account Manager in one family plan. If you are not either one of these people, you can't do alot. You can't get Techincal Support inside a VZW store, change the plan, pay the bill, and recieve an upgrade. Getting an upgrade is 'signing a new contract', and you can't make account changes without one of these people.

Best Buy Associates lied about protection plan through Geek Squad

I finally have the time and energy to re-address the ongoing issue that I am having with Best Buy and their geek squad. Before the Thanksgiving holiday of 2013, my sister came to visit me from Virginia. She is currently in the military and came home for a final visit before a 9 month deployment. She was in a need of a new phone, so being the loyal Best Buy customer that I am, I took her to Best Buy and signed up for a new 2-year agreement so that she could update her phone. The rep was nice enough to explain that there was a Geek Squad protection plan that I could purchase through Best Buy that would cover the phone if ANYTHING were to happen to the phone. I was told that I could just bring the phone in and they would either fix it or replace it. Previously I would always get my insurance from my cellular service provider, but this Geek Squad protection seemed like a great deal. I was satisfied with my purchase and the Geek Squad protection, and returned later on in the week to purchase a new phone for my Mother as an early Christmas gift, and I was sold the EXACT same Geek Squad protection.
Every month over the next several months, there was $20 dollars deducted from my account, $10 for my sister’s phone and $10 for my mother’s phone. My sister had since been deployed overseas and had an accident with her phone where it is completely un-responsive. Feeling fully confident that we had insured the purchase and that Best Buy would uphold their end of the bargain, I had her mail her phone back to the United States.
I took the phone to Best Buy and explained that the phone is not powering on and that I was covered under the Geek Squad warranty. To my complete surprise, I was informed that I was misinformed. The Geek Squad agent told me that the Cell phone group was misinforming customers and that in fact the protection information that was relayed to me, not once, but twice was the incorrect information. This is a big issue because I was given this false information twice and I have been clearly misled.
I was given a number to the Geek Squad line. I called and explained the situation and the woman basically said that there is nothing that she can do, so I inquired about a refund of the money that I paid for the protection plans. The rep stated that she would put a case in. When the case was settled, I received $20 dollars for the current month. I paid for the insurance for more than one month, I paid for 5 months. After the $20 dollar refund, I decided that instead of continuing on with the back and forth, I would just keep the insurance that I had been misled about. So I called back. Low and behold, just a few days after the initial call, I was informed that they could no longer assist me because I had dropped the insurance. I was given a corporate number who told me they couldn’t assist me and that they didn’t know why I was given their number. I went around the entire loop again and was referred to the store manager, who left a VM that I would need to contact the geek squad 1-800 number.
Just as this is a long letter, imagine the time and energy it took to go through this entire process. Lying and misleading loyal and faithful customers is bad enough, but to know that when my sister who is serving our country overseas, and who has been doing so for the past 7 months will come home to a phone that doesn’t work is very upsetting. I was tempted to let this situation go but being a loyal customer to Best Buy should mean something to the store and to the management. If I am a future best buy customer will be dependent on how Best Buy handles this situation. Customers shouldn’t be lied to and mislead.

Hello CM2014,
Staying in touch with family members is difficult without a phone, even more so when a loved one is overseas. It was very nice of you to make sure your sister had one while on deployment, so I can imagine your frustration if we denied her request for service when you brought in her mailed phone for repair. I’m not sure of the exact reason as to why this might’ve happened; however, there are a few reasons why a Rapid Exchange repair underneath her Geek Squad Protection (GSP) plan wasn’t an option.
With Rapid Exchange, a damaged or non-working phone should be sent out for service. To save our customers valuable time, a service order is simultaneously created from our service provider to ship out an already repaired phone. These phones go through a rigorous refurbishment process to make sure that a customer receives a phone meeting its manufacturer’s standards. If a smartphone is damaged though, we do request that a $149.99 deductible be paid to receive a repaired phone. This fee will also be applied should service be needed after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired. You are limited to three claim submissions after which the plan would be considered fulfilled.
Our GSP plan should cover any hardware issues with the phone along with liquid spills or damage such as a cracked screen. Please know that it wouldn’t cover products that have been submerged, dropped from extreme heights, or have been run over by or fallen from moving vehicles. Having said this, our associates should be fully explaining why a phone was rejected for service, and I’m sorry if this wasn’t the case. If you don’t me asking, what was wrong with your sister’s phone?
To see how I may help with this, I pulled up your account using the email address attached to your forum profile. I did notice though that the GSP plan is underneath a name other than your own, and due to our Privacy Policy, I’d be unable to discuss the situation at hand. Please have the owner of the phone and plan create a forum profile and private message me with their contact information so that I may see what options we may have available from here. To send me a message, please have them sign into their profile, and click on the button in my signature below.
Thank you for posting,
Alex|Social Media Specialist | Best Buy® Corporate
Private Message

The Difference Between Going Through Sprint Directly or Best Buy

I was wondering if anyone has any feedback about buying cellphones from Best Buy as apposed to going through the provider. I just got done with a Sprint chat where the person kept warning me that "Independent Distributors are not Sprint. They can add fees." She would not directly comment on Best buy when I asked her.
The reason I ask is because the HTC Hero is so much cheaper through best buy, $79, as apposed to $149, through Sprint. I am a current Sprint customer and eligible for the full 2 year discount. I don't want to change my pricing plan or anything. I just want to upgrade my phone and renew my contract.
Will I be able to take the phone into Sprint to be serviced, like I have in the past? I like the experiences I have had using my Sprint insurance.
Thanks for any feed back in advance.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

While authorized retailers can add fees, BB does not. The only thing you will be charged is the $18 upgrade fee, which is charged by Sprint. They just don't want you to buy from BB, because they know how much cheaper it is.
Now, you mentioned that you want to purchase the Hero. Keep in mind that this phone does require an Everything Data or Everything Data Share plan, so if you are not currently on one of these plans, this phone will require you to switch.
Yes, you will be able to go into a Sprint Repair Center for servicing, and continue your Sprint insurance coverage.
I'm not sure if you're aware, but BB does offer their GSBTP plan for cellphones. On the Hero, it would be $10/mo., which can be cancelled at any time. It does not have a maximum number of claims per year, or a deductible, whereas Sprint has a max two claims per year and a $100 deductible per claim. The GSBTP plan covers mfg. defects, dust, heat, humidity, power surge, normal wear and tear, and drops and spills not due to negligence or abuse. Average turnaround time is 2-4 weeks, and BB does offer a basic loaner phone for a $150 deposit.

Why I refuse to buy anything from Best Buy, ever again.

Let me just preface this by saying that I have always defended brick & mortar stores. I enjoy being able to go into a store and compare the look and feel of items. I enjoy being able to talk to someone at the store regarding the items and their experiences. I used to shop at Best Buy for this; however, due to a recent experience I can say I will never set foot into a Best Buy again. This post is more of a warning to people who may consider purchasing from Best Buy, what they can expect to receive in terms of salesmanship, customer service and general experience if they encounter issues.
We were purchasing a new refrigerator and decided to make our first stop Best Buy. There was an open box Samsung refrigerator which we liked. After exploring various refrigerators, we spoke to a sales rep about it. We asked questions about why the item had been returned, if it would be cleaned prior to sale (it was very dirty inside) and how long it had been used before it was returned. We were told it was returned simply because it was too large for the space, that it would be cleaned and it was only used for a week or 2. After debating, we decided to purchase the item. I previously had a Best Buy credit card, so they were able to look up the account info since I no longer have the card.
Fast forward 3 weeks (we were moving and scheduled the delivery out a bit) and the refrigerator comes. The item comes just as dirty, if not worse, on the inside. Also, it arrives with 2 broken shelves and a broken kickplate. Since we needed some form of a refrigerator for our daughter's formula, we plugged it in and planned to use it. I immediately called Best Buy 800 number to schedule a return and the purchase of another refrigerator. We worked through the 800 number and a supervisor at the store to schedule the return and a new purchase. We were informed that it would take 7-10 days for the item to be delivered. They stated that we could use the current one until the new one was delivered... which was great, until later that night we found out that the fridge was not cooling at all. I contacted the 800 number again to see if, due to the circumstances, we could bumped up on the priority of the delivery. I was greeted by a very rude woman who said no.
Needless to say, we purchased a new fridge later that night from Lowe's who delivered it the very next day. I called Best Buy (again) to cancel the order and have the old fridge returned - so the story should end here.
But it gets better!! (Or worse?) The warehouse people screwed up and the return/refund was not done properly. This has led to the credit card company now stating that we owe them money for an item which was returned. I have no receipt since all of this was done over the phone. Citibank (another terrible company) refuses to contact Best Buy to confirm that the item has been returned. Best Buy refuses to contact Citibank to let them know that the item has been returned. Both companies (but this for is for Best Buy) have absymal customer service and refuse to put the customer first and take it upon themselves to resolve the issue. For 2 months I have attempted to get the money refunded and wasted at least 10 hours on the phone.
As I started this post off this is more of a warning than anything. The issue will be resolved soon, I've had to get a new card issued from the bank and the local store will refund my money (they have to have an actual card to refund the money, but they don't need one to purchase the item? Uh, seriously?) We are going to be looking for other appliances soon (as well as other electronics) and I will never purchase from Best Buy again. Amazon and Lowe's is where I will purchase all appliances from in the future. Their customer service blows Best Buy out of the water, their prices are better and they have more knowledgeable staff.

Hello kmschmehl-
I cannot truly express how sorry I am to hear about your total experience with the delivery and subsequent return of this fridge. It certainly sounds as though Best Buy has put you through the ringer and I can absolutely understand your disappointment and anger with us.
While it sounds like some aspects of the purchase and delivery were at least adequate, any opportunity that we had to show you why you should purchase from Best Buy went by the wayside. However, Best Buy is not in the business to provide merely adequate experiences and I am saddened that this is the best we could summon for your purchase. We are capable of better than what we showed you.
I’m glad to hear that you have finally been able to get the assistance you needed to get this refund resolved and make you whole again. In addition, I do hope that you are enjoying the fridge you purchased at Lowe’s. I certainly wish that it had been a Best Buy fridge in your kitchen instead, but I can understand why you chose to go with another retailer.
It sounds like the store has you in good hands once your card arrives and I believe that the reason they need the physical card is that the credit card company requires it to be physically scanned for returns. Hopefully you will not run into any further issues with this refund and it’s my hope that sometime in the future, you might grant us another chance at your business. I will be sending you a Private Message with some additional details as well. To check your Private Messages, please log into the forum and click on the envelope in the upper right hand corner.
Please let us know if you run into any further concerns.
Sincerely,
Bill|Senior Social Media Specialist | Best Buy® Corporate
Private Message

Best Buy Gift Card Reserve Offer FAQs

Best Buy Gift Card Reserve Offer Registration Period 2/2/2014 – 2/15/2014 FAQs
How does the Best Buy Gift Card Reserve Offer 2014 work?
Reserve a $50 Best Buy gift card from 2/2/14 at 12:00:01 a.m. CT to 2/15/14 at 11:59:59 p.m. CT.
Get it when you buy a new cell phone with 2-year agreement at a Best Buy store or Best Buy Mobile specialty store during normal store hours from 2/2/14 to 12/31/14 or at BestBuy.com from 2/2/14 at 12:00:01 a.m. CT to 12/31/14 at 11:59:59 p.m. CT.
Where do I sign up?
Visit Gift Card Reserve Offer by 2/15/14 CT and follow online instructions to register your e-mail address and the cell phone number or landline phone number (excluding voice-over-Internet phone numbers) you plan to activate with the purchase of a qualifying cell phone. A Mobile Phone Specialist at a Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile specialty store can also complete the registration process for you. You must be 18 or older (except AL and NE, 19 or older) to participate.
Am I locked into anything? What is my commitment?
There is no commitment at all. If you register by 2/15/14 CT and then activate a new cell phone with a 2-year agreement for your registered phone number at Best Buy by 12/31/14 CT, you'll receive a $50 Best Buy gift card. If you don't activate a new cell phone, the offer simply goes away at the end of the year. Offer is not valid on prior purchases (including the exchange or return of cell phones purchased before registration).
How do I know if I successfully registered?
You will receive a confirmation e-mail at the e-mail address provided at time of registration.
Is there a limit to the number of phone numbers I can register?
You may register up to 5 numbers on your family plan. Each phone number may only be registered one time for the Best Buy Gift Card Reserve Offer 2014.
Is there a limit to the number of gift cards I may receive through Best Buy Reserve offers?
There is a limit of one gift card per registered phone number, regardless of the number of Best Buy Gift Card Reserve Offers in which that phone number is registered. Not valid with any other offers.
Which carriers are eligible for this offer?
Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Sprint cell phones with a 2-year agreement are eligible.
How will I receive my Best Buy gift card?
Activating Your Phone In Store:
If you plan to purchase and activate your cell phone at a Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile specialty store using your registered phone number, you will receive a $50 Best Buy gift card after handset activation during checkout. When purchasing your cell phone, the Mobile Phone Specialist will inform you of all offers for which you are eligible. To receive your $50 gift card, you must choose Best Buy $50 Gift Card Reserve Offer. The gift card may be used toward your cell phone purchase or any other future purchases in store or online with no expiration date.
If you plan to place a Store Pickup order for your cell phone at BestBuy.com using your registered phone number, and then activate your cell phone at your selected Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile specialty store, you will receive a $50 Best Buy gift card after handset activation during checkout. To receive your $50 gift card, you must select Best Buy $50 Gift Card Reserve Offer on the Promotions & Offers page that appears near the end of the online purchase process. The gift card may be used for future purchases in store or online with no expiration date (it may not be used toward your cell phone purchase).
If technical difficulties prevent gift card issuance during checkout, you will receive your gift card via e-mail with instructions on how to download your gift card. The gift card must be downloaded within 90 days of the date of the e-mail, or it will be forfeited; and may be used for future purchases in store and online with no expiration date (it may not be used toward your cell phone purchase).
Activating Your Phone Online:
If you plan to purchase and activate your cell phone at BestBuy.com using your registered phone number, you will receive an e-mail 3–5 days after handset activation with instructions on how to download your $50 Best Buy gift card. To receive your $50 gift card, you must select Best Buy $50 Gift Card Reserve Offer on the Promotions & Offers page that appears near the end of the online purchase process. The gift card must be downloadedwithin 90 days of the date of the e-mail, or it will be forfeited; and may be used for future purchases in store and online with no expiration date (it may not be used toward your cell phone purchase).
If you plan to place an Instant Ship online order for your cell phone at a Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile specialty store using your registered phone number, your activated phone will be shipped directly to your home, and you will receive an e-mail 3–5 days after handset activation with instructions on how to download your $50 Best Buy gift card. When placing your order, the Mobile Phone Specialist will inform you of all offers for which you are eligible. To receive your $50 gift card, you must choose Best Buy $50 Gift Card Reserve Offer. The gift card must be downloaded within 90 days of the date of the e-mail, or it will be forfeited; and may be used for future purchases in store and online with no expiration date (it may not be used toward your cell phone purchase).
How do I redeem my Best Buy gift card?
Best Buy gift cards are subject to Best Buy Gift Card terms and conditions.
Will my Best Buy gift card expire?
There is no expiration date on your Best Buy gift card. However, if download instructions for your gift card are delivered via e-mail, remember that you must click on the link in the e-mail to download your Best Buy gift card within 90 days of the date of the e-mail, or the gift card will be forfeited.
What happens if I return or exchange my cell phone?
If you return your cell phone, for any reason, your gift card will be forfeited. If you exchange your cell phone for another cell phone, your gift card will remain valid.
Where is this offer valid?
This offer is valid in the 50 U.S./D.C. (excluding Puerto Rico).
For complete details, see full Best Buy Gift Card Reserve Offer terms & conditions
Jesus|Senior Social Media Specialist | Best Buy® Corporate
Private Message

Hello SeanK_,
Buying a new phone is an exciting time. I'm always looking forward to the time when I can upgrade to the latest and greatest model. It sounds like you've been through a difficult time upgrading yours, and I'm truly sorry for the frustration you have experienced. I would be happy to help you get this sorted out.
Using the e-mail you registered on the forum, I was able to locate your details along with the order. I will need to look into this further, and once I have more information I will send you a private message. To view your private messages, please make sure you are logged into the forum, and click on the envelope in the top right hand corner.
Thank you for posting here on the forum, and I will be in contact as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Maria|Social Media Specialist | Best Buy® Corporate
Private Message

Preorder Best Buy

If I preorder the iPhone 6 through Best Buy, do I still qualify for the $200 trade in? I have an iPhone 4 currently.

In our town we have two retailers which are literally blocks mile from each other; Verizon Wireless 76 Dodge St., 01915 and Verizon Wireless at 136 Dodge St., 01915. I'm sifting through the VWZ website to better understand the promotion and to better understand given the information shared at "Verizon Wireless 136 Dodge St....".
I've been a customer of VWZ for years and have opted not to go to 76 Dodge St. given the years of poor customer service experience at that particular location and return to 136 Dodge St given their great customer service. Now I read your posting as I comb through the readings to learn more about the promotion to help better understand who, what and under what circumstances you are eligible to receive the promotional upgrade.
I only went to the store today given the VWZ website did not allow me to change my plan to from nationwide to single place and pre-order the phone. My frustration mounted when I went to the store I was at today stated VWZ "misinformed the public..." and the $200 upgrade really should really have read, "...receive up to a $200 refund..." -- that is, I would only receive the cost of the appraised value of the iPhone 4S which is only know after I submit the item to VWZ. Here I read this post which you indicate it's only available at "Verizon Wireless" which leaves be baffled - does this include authorized retailers who print receipts stating "Verizon Wireless, 136 Dode St... or what? The only reason why I remained with VMZ (it wasn't for the customer service), was the promotional offer and the new single plan being offered. If this is not the case, I like to void this order (which I won't be surprised I'll be charged) and start shopping around at other carriers. I admit this promotional offering is very clear with no clear indication on who, what and under what circumstance you are eligible and the cost you will encounter.

NEVER GET YOUR CELL SERVICE FROM BEST BUY

Never again will I get my cell service through Best Buy, here's why.
In Nov of 2012 I decided to change my cell service to AT&T. I went to the ATT store and to Best Buy in South Nashua, NH to investigate the price plans and cost of the phone. I was going to buy a Samsung Galaxy S3, (top phone at the time) everthing was exactly the same at the two stores except for one thing, the insurance. The insurance from BB had unlimited claims, a lower price and no deductible. The sales agent from BB noted the process worked as follows "You bring your phone in, we ship it out to be fixed and give you a loaner phone. The loaner phone will not necessarily be a S3 but one that is equal to it." This is what other friends of mine had told me too, and that was the reason I went to check out Best Buy. Since everything was equal I decided to go with Best Buy ONLY BECAUSE OF THE INSURANCE OFFERED.
Now, March of 2014 I have a problem with my phone and it needs to go in for repair. I'm still under contract with Best Buy. I wait in line for at least an hour (did you know that you need to call ahead to make an appointment? I do now.), I tell the customer service guy my problem and he prepares the phone to be shipped out. Then he brings out the loaner. It's a Pantech P7040, a ghetto version of a black berry from 5 years ago. Not an Android phone, not a smart phone, not anywhere even close to what my Galaxy S3 is. I made note of this fact to the gentleman and he said it was the best they had for loaners. I then informed him that I USE my phone for work. Numerous apps in there that I really use EVERY day at work. I travel and my phone's apps are super important. We had some discussion about this situation that I would now be in and how the salesman informed me that I would be given a comparable loaner if I ever need to bring my phone in when they were selling me the service plan. This guy told me they used to do that but don't do that any more. I said that this does not weigh very favorably with my choices of whom to use to when renewing my contract. He told me that he didn't care. It's not his rules.
I realize that you don't make the rules you only follow them but still, the salesman told me (and apparently many other people are complaining about this at BB) that I would get a "comparable loaner" to my phone. The customer service guy said that they stopped that policy back in November or December of last year. I told him that I realize policies change to maintain efficiency but I bought a specific service and they need to honor what they sold me. You can't sell a service and then not give the customer what you sold them because you no longer like that policy, you can change the policy with the new contracts you sell if you want. He told me "If you read the entire contract, it doesn't say it anywhere in there that they will give you a loaner phone." Ya that's fine, but the salesman told me they would, that's an oral contract and is binding in a court of law. He then told me that they didn't have to give me a phone at all. (That didn't help this situation) I then informed him that if I had come in here and was told that I would not have a phone for a week "I would #$@% explode!", "Considering the fact that I was told I would get a comparable loaner, and then told that I wouldn't get any". I also asked that since I was traveling when my phone broke, could I call ahead to the store to have them order a replacement that I can pick up when I come home. "No, we have to see the phone first and send it out."
My repaired phone or possibly a replacement might be available by Wednesday. However, I leave for work again on Tuesday so I'm without my smartphone and stuck with this ghetto junker for over a week until I get back. This is not the service that I was sold and this is not the service that I was expecting. This wasn't one rogue salesman lying to customers to get sales, it was the company's policy to inform customers that they would get a comparable loaner phone. BB is liable to honor their oral contract with their customers. I would like my money back for the the service contract. I will NOT be back to BB to renew my cellular service. My intentions are to inform others that Best Buy salesmen will tell you what you want to hear in order to make a sale.

Hello,
I was quite disheartened to read about your experience in seeking repairs for your Galaxy S3. It sounds like your visit was less than ideal with the long wait and a store representative who was less than sympathetic. We strive to provide superior service and I very much regret that we didn't live up to that goa, or to your expectations of us.
The loaner cell phone program and Geek Squad Protection (GSP) are separate things. Any of our customers were permitted to take advantage of a loaner phone if they needed one even if they did not purchase GSP. While some stores still have phones that can be provided as loaners, you were informed correctly that the program was discontinued last year. If you wish, you may obtain a prorated refund for GSP by visiting a Best Buy store with your original GSP purchase receipt.
I'm disappointed to read that this experience may influence your future shopping destination. It is my hope that you will one day give Best Buy another chance to win you over. Please know that I'm grateful that you wrote to us about this.
Sincerely,
John|Social Media Specialist | Best Buy® Corporate
Private Message

Best Buy may no longer be my first choice

My husband and I purchased a dishwasher about a week ago. We were able to snag a deal on the delivery and installation for 19.99- or so I thought it was a deal. I did receive a call, several actually, about the delivery time and date, which is for today. After speaking with Geek Squad after my intial purchase, I was told I would receive a call yesterday to confirm my installation time for today. I did not receive a call, so I called Geek Squad this morning. After being placed on hold for over 15 minutes, I was told that my installation was cancelled for today because the installer was injured last night. Optimum did not find out until after 9 p.m. last night, so that is the explanation they gave me for the no call. I'm not sure why I wasn't notified first thing this morning. I was then told by the Geek Squad rep that I would receive a call within 10 minutes to reschedule. 30 minutes later, no call. I call back. Put back on hold for another 30 mintues while Geek Squad reached out to Optimum. Was told that they would not be able to install today (which is totally unacceptable), and that they could install June 5 (which is even more unacceptable). My husband had to take off work today to be available for the delivery and installation today, now that the installation is not going to happen today, that requires an additional day off work with lost wages. It is not my responsibilty to accomodate Optimum and their inability to meet deliverables. I want to know how we will be compensated for loss time at work for Optimum (ultimately BEST BUY's) issue.
As of now, we still do not have a time for install. I was told I would have to wait until up to 9 p.m. tonight to have an installation time. How am I supposed to give adequate time to my employer to let them know I need to take a day off?
It is very disheartening that the inability for a company to take responsibility may sever my relationship as a consumer.
Extremely disappointing and going further I will definitely rethink purchasing through Best Buy.

Good afternoon Bree4892,
It is regretful to hear that the technician was injured so late the night before your appointment. I do hope that he is okay. That being said, it certainly should not be difficult to reschedule your appointment, and I am terribly sorry to hear that it seems to have caused such a hassle for you. Unfortunately, same day appointments when rescheduling are often not possible, but of course we do prefer to offer it should it be available.
Using the information you registered with the forum, I was able to locate your dishwasher purchase and work order for the delivery and install. I’m happy to see that we were able to successfully deliver the dishwasher yesterday, as that was completed by our own agents. Due to the type of installations needed, sometimes we must use 3rd party entities to assist in the installation.
That being said, I have reached out to our support team to research the issue with getting you rescheduled, as it appears this has yet to be completed. As soon as I have more information in regards to your appointment, I will make sure to reach out to you right away! In the meantime, your patience is greatly appreciated. If you should have any questions at all, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Tasha|Social Media Specialist | Best Buy® Corporate
Private Message

BEST BUY DELIVERIES ON MONDAY AND WEDNESDAYS ONLY

I again talked to someone at the my local Best Buy store about the status of my Phone 5. I was told again that they have not received any Sprint or Verizon Phones. The next time I should check is this coming up Monday Sept 24 or Wednesday Sept 26th; these are their next delivery dates. The only reason I went through Best Buy is because of their Phone Freedom program they advertised in January and February of this year. I am so disappointed with this whole experience. This is my fist and last time pre-ordering. I will not ever go through this experience again with Best Buy. I will order directly from my carrier.

tpack37 wrote:
I again talked to someone at the my local Best Buy store about the status of my Phone 5. I was told again that they have not received any Sprint or Verizon Phones. The next time I should check is this coming up Monday Sept 24 or Wednesday Sept 26th; these are their next delivery dates. The only reason I went through Best Buy is because of their Phone Freedom program they advertised in January and February of this year. I am so disappointed with this whole experience. This is my fist and last time pre-ordering. I will not ever go through this experience again with Best Buy. I will order directly from my carrier.
You are incorrect sir. Stores can receive trucks on any day except sunday. My store receives trucks on different days @ different time. You guys really gotta be patient.
I am a member of leadership at a Best Buy store. I deal directly with the Customer Service aspect of the business. Customer satisfaction is my #1 priority. All posts are my own opinion and do not reflect the official views of Best Buy, unless otherwise stated.

Considering upgrading through Best Buy instead of AT&T.

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