Droid X pre-order from Best Buy

[Garemlin]

+1 They put your deposit on the gift card since it locks many people in and they do not return gift cards so even if you do not get the phone you will be spending $50 at Best Buy.... Shrewd thinking on their part.

So you either use the gift card towards the phone and still shell out another 150 OR you spend 200 on the phone and then spend the gift card on more merchandise from BB. either way they get you for a min of 200...

Oh so that is how they are working it. Are you sure??? I assumed by putting a deposit down that takes away from the balance due. That is usually how preorders and deposits work. I put $50 down which would leave the remaining balance of $149.99. Use the $50 gift card when it comes in taking it down to $99.99. I thouhgt the $50 was an extra perk. If what you are saying is true then I'll just take the damn card back and cancel my preorder. Fuggum

It is exactly how it works as they did the same thing with the droid. Though you actually have a pre order and will have stock in hand on launch vs. havng to order online. You will be paying 199 regardless.

Should you decide to return the gift card good luck. Typically have a no return policy on gift cards and you will need to go to customer service and talk to one of the store managers.

Though I dont see why it would bother you anyway. 199 is 199 whether you order online or continue with your pre order at BB

I asked the guy if I changed my mind could I cancel and return the card. He said yes. And the only reason I did it through BB is because I thought I was actually getting an extra $50 off. I'd personally rather deal with VZW direct than BB.

Like I said the way a preorder/deposit usually works is you pay it and then pay the balance due when it is released. Guess it doesn't work that way with phones.

 

[soulpatch]

Thanks for the answer i have been with verizon for over 6 years

Then you should qualify for the $100 NE2 like I do though I think I have been with VZW for closer to 10 years now..... god its been a long time...

 

[JhankG]

Oh so that is how they are working it. Are you sure??? I assumed by putting a deposit down that takes away from the balance due. That is usually how preorders and deposits work. I put $50 down which would leave the remaining balance of $149.99. Use the $50 gift card when it comes in taking it down to $99.99. I thouhgt the $50 was an extra perk. If what you are saying is true then I'll just take the damn card back and cancel my preorder. Fuggum

It is exactly how it works as they did the same thing with the droid. Though you actually have a pre order and will have stock in hand on launch vs. havng to order online. You will be paying 199 regardless.

Should you decide to return the gift card good luck. Typically have a no return policy on gift cards and you will need to go to customer service and talk to one of the store managers.

Though I dont see why it would bother you anyway. 199 is 199 whether you order online or continue with your pre order at BB

I asked the guy if I changed my mind could I cancel and return the card. He said yes. And the only reason I did it through BB is because I thought I was actually getting an extra $50 off. I'd personally rather deal with VZW direct than BB.

Like I said the way a preorder/deposit usually works is you pay it and then pay the balance due when it is released. Guess it doesn't work that way with phones.

Yup, I preordered my original Droid through Best Buy as well and that is how it works. I have no idea about getting a refund on the gift card if you change your mind, but I am positive that you will still pay $199 no matter which way you do it. The benefit that Best Buy is offering is basically a guarantee of getting the phone when it launches, nothing else.

 

[soulpatch]

Oh so that is how they are working it. Are you sure??? I assumed by putting a deposit down that takes away from the balance due. That is usually how preorders and deposits work. I put $50 down which would leave the remaining balance of $149.99. Use the $50 gift card when it comes in taking it down to $99.99. I thouhgt the $50 was an extra perk. If what you are saying is true then I'll just take the damn card back and cancel my preorder. Fuggum

It is exactly how it works as they did the same thing with the droid. Though you actually have a pre order and will have stock in hand on launch vs. havng to order online. You will be paying 199 regardless.

Should you decide to return the gift card good luck. Typically have a no return policy on gift cards and you will need to go to customer service and talk to one of the store managers.

Though I dont see why it would bother you anyway. 199 is 199 whether you order online or continue with your pre order at BB

I asked the guy if I changed my mind could I cancel and return the card. He said yes. And the only reason I did it through BB is because I thought I was actually getting an extra $50 off. I'd personally rather deal with VZW direct than BB.

Like I said the way a preorder/deposit usually works is you pay it and then pay the balance due when it is released. Guess it doesn't work that way with phones.

They cant since VZW is not doing a pre order. They are not allowed to sell anything nor do they have it in their computer as of yet. So they get around that by tendering one a gift card.

LOL VZW gets the money anyway. They are a reseller for VZW and make money not from the phone or plan sale but instead with you getting accessories and their Geek Squad phone protection plans.

Do as you wish but I know I would rather have one on pre order since VZW will not be taking pre orders. If they do not get it in and have it for me at 9 am then I will go get one at the local vzw store if I can.

 

[soulpatch]

The benefit that Best Buy is offering is basically a guarantee of getting the phone when it launches, nothing else.

Thats not true. Phones are given out on a first come first server basis with BB so if you are in the top five to put down a deposit then you shoudl be good but in giving you a gift card for your deposit money they side step the liability to have a phone for you on launch day......

 

[him]

Also what plan are you guys choosing that will allow you to get a cheapo phone for 10 bucks? I have the basic plan for 49.99. the first family plan is 69.99...

If you already have a family plan (other than unlimited minutes), it only costs $10 to add a 3rd through 5th line to it. I'm getting a family plan anyways, so I'm asking to plan such that I can get mostly-subsidized phones in less than 2 years from now. So what I'm thinking...

Me and my wife become new Verizon customers for Droid X (July 15, 2010) with 2x 2-year contracts on a family plan with 2 phones. Then when the Droid Q comes out on July 15, 2011, I can add it as a new line (+$200 for phone and +$10/month for new line and +$30/mo for data), replace my Droid X with a dumb phone (-$30/mo for no more data), swap phone numbers (free?) and I essentially pay $120 ETF to ride out the second year of that contract with the dumb phone and no data. This way I don't have to pay full retail nor the $350 ETF.

If that's not possible, should I look into getting a 1-year plan instead? Or is that even possible? How much of a premium do 1-year contracts generally come at? Again, I'm just trying to figure out how Verizon works, so muchas gracias for the help!

Unrelated...
I now have a Droid X reserved for me at Best Buy and a second one reserved at a Cellular Connection store that specializes in Verizon Wireless. Interestingly, the Cellular Connection guys say they can give it to me for $269 - $100 MIR and even cut me a deal on accessories (I apparently educated them quite a bit on the DX and accessories, specifically the multimedia dock and car dock, which they know are fairly hefty-priced accessories from the original Droid). I don't know which one of the two I'm getting, but I like to have a backup plan and options, and this gives me both. I'm sure neither of them will have issues with too many DXs in stock, so I don't feel bad for over-reserving...

Alright your plan seems pretty full proof now. I think i may have to do the same just have a dumb phone with the cheapest plan on it. Wonder how the phone number will change.

As for accessories i am getting case, dock, and car mount on the same day. Loved having it with my droid. Oh yeah and a case.

 

[gar]

Will I be able to cancel the preorder if I end up not wanting to buy it? I'm not sure if I should go with this, Droid 2, or save a lot of money with the Inc/Droid. Going to be using it with PagePlus's cheaper plans. I'm assuming it'll work given how the current Droids on Verizon work.

 

[soulpatch]

Depends on your store really. Normally they do not return gift cards so you would be locked to spend $50 at BB unless the manager was willing to let you slide. Though then again you could just use the $50 to get your accessories from the store should you get your phone elsewhere OR use the $50 giftcard towards the purchase of one of the other droid phones there like the Inc, Droid 2, or original Droid.

Though honestly if your gonna wait for the Droid 2 in Aug/Sept you might as well wait for Droid Pro IMHO.... Thankfully my second line will be up in time for it....

 

[JhankG]

The benefit that Best Buy is offering is basically a guarantee of getting the phone when it launches, nothing else.

Thats not true. Phones are given out on a first come first server basis with BB so if you are in the top five to put down a deposit then you shoudl be good but in giving you a gift card for your deposit money they side step the liability to have a phone for you on launch day......

You'll notice I said basically a guarantee. If you preorder early on the first day that they allow you to, it shouldn't be an issue. They will go down the list for preorders and set a phone aside for you. I did this with the Droid and had no problems and I don't expect to have any when I pick up the X on the 15th. They still had preordered Droids for people a week after it was released because the people had not picked it up yet.

If you placed a preorder, Best Buy will call you a few days before the 15th of next month and set up a time for you to come in. So yes, preordering from Best Buy is basically a guarantee.

 

[soulpatch]

The benefit that Best Buy is offering is basically a guarantee of getting the phone when it launches, nothing else.

Thats not true. Phones are given out on a first come first server basis with BB so if you are in the top five to put down a deposit then you shoudl be good but in giving you a gift card for your deposit money they side step the liability to have a phone for you on launch day......

You'll notice I said basically a guarantee. If you preorder early on the first day that they allow you to, it shouldn't be an issue. They will go down the list for preorders and set a phone aside for you. I did this with the Droid and had no problems and I don't expect to have any when I pick up the X on the 15th. They still had preordered Droids for people a week after it was released because the people had not picked it up yet.

If you placed a preorder, Best Buy will call you a few days before the 15th of next month and set up a time for you to come in. So yes, preordering from Best Buy is basically a guarantee.

You siad you did the same thing for the Droid as did I so I figured you knew it was not guarenteed.......But many others in this thread might have thought differently so pointing that out.

The store should get way more then the 15-20 phones needed to fulfill preorders but one never knows. I know when the Droid came out my BB got about 50 phones on the initial shipment...

 

[DeadlyAP1]

The benefit that Best Buy is offering is basically a guarantee of getting the phone when it launches, nothing else.

The other benefit is that BestBuy takes the $99 refund off the price right there in store instead of giving you the mail in rebate like VZW does. That way your actual initial out of pocket expense when you get the phone is $199 instead of $299 and then waiting for the rebate by dealing with Verizon directly.

 

[Garemlin]

So technically I really didn't pay for a preorder. I bought a $50 gift card and my name on a list.

 

[soulpatch]

So technically I really didn't pay for a preorder. I bought a $50 gift card and my name on a list.

Technically yes......

Though like has been said chances are you are number 1-5 on the list and they get large enough shipments to cover those. So you will have your phone on Thursday July 15...

 

[Jaxidian]

How the BB pre-order works:

1. You pay $50 and get your name on a list, as well as a $50 gift card. You can spend this card in any way you want, including bringing it in on July 15 and applying it towards the $199 price of the Droid X.
2. There is absolutely NO guarantee that they will have a Droid X reserved for you (read the fine print on the sheet they gave you with your name/address on it). Could be that 500 people pre-ordered there and the store only gets 1 Droid X - in this case you're screwed unless you're the first person on the list. However, it could be that 25 people pre-ordered and the store gets 100 phones - in this case, all 25 people will have a Droid X reserved for them.
3. While your name is on the list, you have no obligation to buy the Droid X. If you change your mind before you pick it up on July 15, the only commitment you have made is to buy a $50 Best Buy gift certificate, which is non-refundable (unless they make an exception for you).
4. When you pick up your Droid X on July 15, the price will be $199 + taxes if you begin a new 2-year agreement with NO rebates associated with the deal. I do not know how the convoluted renewal scenarios play out, so I'm not going to try to address them here. In theory, if SOMETHING happens before the end of 2010 (renewal comes up? contract ends? not sure what), then you might be eligible for a $199 price tag.
5. If you buy the phone from Verizon, the price tag is supposed to be $299 with a $100 mail-in rebate dropping the final price to $199. So Best Buy is your best bet as far as anybody knows, so you don't have to deal with that rebate.

I think this may clear up some of the confusion in this thread although it does NOT clear up any "Can I upgrade?" questions in the various unclear scenarios.

Hope this helps...

 

[zoomzoom9]

I did the pre order at best buy and am eligible for New Every Two on 07/26/2010. I should be able to get the phone for the 199 discount right

If you get the NE2 discount than they shoudl apply that as well. Depending on how long you have been a member that would mean your total will either be 149 or 99

How would you get the discount early? My NE2 is 7/21/2010 and I want my $100 discount (I'm under the old policy). I pre-ordered from BB and am planning on buying the phone full retail on 7/15/2010, then returning it on 7/21/2010 and buying it again, but this time activating it so I can the two-year price and discount. Is there a way to get it earlier?