So I'm in the market for a new cell phone and plan through Verizon. Considering I don't want to spend much more than $50, $70 or $80 at the very most, I figured I was pretty much limited to something like the RAZR. The Samsung A990, for example, is $350 - $50 = $300 on Verizon's site. But on BestBuy.com, it's $350 - $300 = $50. How in the hell can it be a $250 difference for the same phone? Or am I missing some catch at Best Buy?
Why are phones so cheap at Best Buy?
- Thread starter archcommus
- Start date
My guess would be that the price at Verizon's site is without any sort of commitment. With Best Buy though you're likely signing up for a 1 or 2 year commitment.
Whoozyerdaddy
Lifer
- Jun 27, 2005
- 19,216
- 1
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BB probably gets a reabate from Verizon. Or, they get a cut of the subscription. Or they are counting on a nice big VIR check at the end of the year.
Either way, BB isn't losing money on the deal.
Either way, BB isn't losing money on the deal.
Nope, according to Verizon's site the $350 price tag for that phone is WITH a 2 year service contract.
Best Buy's prices are usually with a NEW line of service or an add-a-line, not a straight contract renewal or no contract option.
They may have an additional contract for you to sign so that if you cancel within 6 months, change your #, or downgrade your plan in such a manner that BB does not get your commission then they reserve the right to force you to bend over and take it in the back.
No, the Verizon price is also only with a 2 year contract. The Best Buy price is with a 2 year contract. Regardless of how much I pay for my phone, I'm going to be paying $50/month cell phone bills for the next two years.
are you a current verizon customer?
the BEST deals always go to new customers, meaning those who are signing a brand new contract with verizon. they want to hook you in with cheap deals, which is what best buy is offering. just re-upping your contract does not mean you are a new contract, you are an existing customer, and you won't get all those huge deals.
the BEST deals always go to new customers, meaning those who are signing a brand new contract with verizon. they want to hook you in with cheap deals, which is what best buy is offering. just re-upping your contract does not mean you are a new contract, you are an existing customer, and you won't get all those huge deals.
I am a current Verizon customer, but only with pre-pay, no contract or plan, so I believe I could still get the "new customer" deals. I really don't know if that's a stipulation with the offer, though. It says from the very beginning of the process that you pay $49.99 today, and it even gives you the option of entering a current number from any carrier to transfer, meaning you could be with Verizon already.
Okay, so it says in the terms at Best Buy that you agree not to replace any current existing Verizon plan with your new plan, in other words, a new customer. The thing is, I am with Verizon right now, but it's only pre-pay, no contract, I've never had a contract with them, and a Verizon representative I talked to was pretty sure that Best Buy would have no way of seeing my pre-pay account with them already. So maybe I could do it? What do you think?
If you want something even cheaper, you should try Amazon or Wirefly - I don't know what they have for Verizon, but their prices on T-Mobile and AT&T are really good.
Raduque
Lifer
- Aug 22, 2004
- 13,140
- 138
- 106
The A990 is an extremely expensive phone, especially for something that's been EOLed already. Honestly, I wouldn't buy one, unless you absolutely have to have a high-resolution camera with you at all time, and can't carry a real digital camera for some reason.
Edit: BBuy can offer deeper discounts then VZW (the price online is the same price you'd get at a direct/corporate store as well) because they're indirect agents. They usually have far more restrictive contracts then a regular VZW contract. Things like "Must keep originally purchased handset on account for 180 days or will pay $xxx handset change fee" and "Cannot cancel for 12 months or will pay $XXX etf, in addition to carriers ETF"
Edit2: Lots of VZW phones fit your criteria. Almost every phone thats $100 has a $50 discount online, or a $150 phone with a $50 discount. The RAZR, KRZR, LG 8300(great phone), Chocolate, heck the LG 9400 is $99.99 for new activations and even comes with a MEK and 2gb memory card.
Edit: BBuy can offer deeper discounts then VZW (the price online is the same price you'd get at a direct/corporate store as well) because they're indirect agents. They usually have far more restrictive contracts then a regular VZW contract. Things like "Must keep originally purchased handset on account for 180 days or will pay $xxx handset change fee" and "Cannot cancel for 12 months or will pay $XXX etf, in addition to carriers ETF"
Edit2: Lots of VZW phones fit your criteria. Almost every phone thats $100 has a $50 discount online, or a $150 phone with a $50 discount. The RAZR, KRZR, LG 8300(great phone), Chocolate, heck the LG 9400 is $99.99 for new activations and even comes with a MEK and 2gb memory card.
Well, I already bought it, heh, but I did so before reading your post. But I don't think it would've changed my mind anyway.
Yes, BB has further restrictions on their contract agreement. But I'm fine with them. I won't be canceling this plan within 6 months, and even if I'm not 100% happy with the phone, I'm sure I'll just deal with it and keep it, as long as everything functions as it should and I can use it where and how I need to.
As far as the other phones you listed are concerned, I really dislike the RAZR, sort of dislike the KRZR, and definitely hate the Chocolate. The LG 8600 and 9400 are a bit more expensive, and the 8300 is okay. Just a very basic looking phone that didn't get me very excited to spend money on it. I wouldn't have gotten the a990 if it was going to cost $200 or $300, but I got it for only $50 so that's a pretty good deal. As far as the camera goes, I don't take pictures much at all, definitely not enough to warrant spending even $150 on a cheap digital camera, so I'd like something that takes good enough pictures to satisfy my needs when I do need to take one. A 1.3 MP might've been enough for that, but the 3.2 can't hurt, and should let me avoid buying an actual camera until I get out of college.
Should be arriving Tuesday, hope it's good.
Yes, BB has further restrictions on their contract agreement. But I'm fine with them. I won't be canceling this plan within 6 months, and even if I'm not 100% happy with the phone, I'm sure I'll just deal with it and keep it, as long as everything functions as it should and I can use it where and how I need to.
As far as the other phones you listed are concerned, I really dislike the RAZR, sort of dislike the KRZR, and definitely hate the Chocolate. The LG 8600 and 9400 are a bit more expensive, and the 8300 is okay. Just a very basic looking phone that didn't get me very excited to spend money on it. I wouldn't have gotten the a990 if it was going to cost $200 or $300, but I got it for only $50 so that's a pretty good deal. As far as the camera goes, I don't take pictures much at all, definitely not enough to warrant spending even $150 on a cheap digital camera, so I'd like something that takes good enough pictures to satisfy my needs when I do need to take one. A 1.3 MP might've been enough for that, but the 3.2 can't hurt, and should let me avoid buying an actual camera until I get out of college.
Should be arriving Tuesday, hope it's good.
Maybe I am missing the point but if you were dissatisfied with it wouldn't it be because it is not functionally or not working the way it is supposed to.
By functioning the way it should and being able to use it where and how I need to, I mean as long as nothing is broken and I can use it as a phone whenever I need it. I'm saying I wouldn't return it just because I disliked a certain usage aspect or feature implementation.
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