Best Buy offering DROID pre-orders as of today, automates the mail-in rebate
By Paul Miller 
posted Oct 29th 2009 10:03AM
posted Oct 29th 2009 10:03AM
posted Oct 29th 2009 10:03AM
The percentage of returned gadgets that have nothing wrong with them.
Of the $13.8 billion worth of returned products in 2007, only 5 percent were because gadgets were actually broken, according to a 2008 study.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
That would be so cool... if I didn't have a New Every Two to help offset the cost more. Between the Rebate and NE2, I'll be paying $99 for the Droid (after rebate)... Sorry BB, automating the rebate doesn't offset the additional C Note of savings.
JayMonster - the $199 price tag from verizon is after rebate, not before. So bestbuy is offering the same price without having to mail in the rebate.
I just talked to Verizon. They said you can get the NE2 at BBY. I am headed there this morning.
BBY does not support NE2, so you're in for a big disappointment. That rebate is only valid if you buy it from a corp. store.
I preordered today. I verified before hand that it would be available with the NE2 discount.
Actually, BBYM (at least my store) price matches to the lowest price, including the NE2 discount. It's all about market share. If you want the lowest overall price, print out the page where your price is listed, take it in and they should match the price. Beats the hell out of messing with mail-in, non-guaranteed rebates.
My BestBuy stopped the pre-ordering on Sunday. Have to wait until stock arrives to get one now. Also, they will not do the NE2.
I pre-ordered mine at BB also. Verified with store manager that while BB doesn't honor the NE2 discount, they *will* price match whatever your end cost at VZW would have been.
So $149.99 out the door for me.
I guess it doesn't apply if you're do for 2y upgrade?
Is there a link to this pre-order?
I called my BB and they don't know anything about a preorder yet. I also cannot find it online.
none of my local best buys know anything about this yet. They probably haven't sent word down to the trenches yet.
Just got a call back from best buy. At least in one store they are now aware they are preselling them :)
It's a $50 deposit.
:) :) :)
you can not use your new every 2 at Best Buy, Verizon customer care is a joke, they said the same thing to me and I called 5 best buy mobiles and they have confirmed that you can not use your new every 2 with them. Best Buy can only do a 2 year qualified upgrade. So no one year renewals, no new every two. And it's because Verizon is a cheep company and want customers to only work with their retail stores (even though you have to wait 45 min to speak to a moron) I'm spending the extra money at Best Buy... Or going with the hero cause I'm sick of their crappy customer service. You have to go into the store and put $50 down on the droid.
Lol their customer service is a LOT better than Sprint or T-Mobile.
Indianapolis Castleton store says... "call back tomorrow" They did not have the preorders available yet, but he knew that they were getting them, and that they would probably be ready tomorrow. No other details at this time.
UPDATE: Indianapolis - West Carmel store says the same thing. "Can't pre-order until stock arrives. I'm hoping it's on the truck tonight. Check back tomorrow"
They also confirmed that the new every two credit WILL show up in their system, and the discount will be applied. He also didn't seem to have a problem with me wanting two of them.
If you have a problem with the device, do you have to get back to best buy or can you go to a verizon retail store?
yea no BB in San Francisco knows of this yet either.. hopefully they will by the time i get out of work.
droiddroiddroiddroiddroiddroid. just found i get a 15% corporate discount at verizon. droiddroiddroiddroiddroiddroiddroid >.
what's "new every two" doesn't contract just end "every two"?
It's a Verizon program where you can get anywhere between $30-$100 extra credit for waiting to get a new phone after 2 years.
I went to my local BB, and they didn't know anything about it yet.... Go figure.
I called another one and got more info though. Looks like it's going to start this evening (10/29). The mobile manager was at a meeting where they were getting all of the info and paperwork.
It's still better than waiting in line at the VZW store!
I just went to my local BB as well, they said they haven't received the preorder papers as of yet, no ETA as of now either.
The Devil is always in the details, I have been reserving my Judgement about the Android OS until now. The Droid OS limitation has been exposed. And this will be its death kneel until it is resolved. The 512mb rom is limited to 256mb for app storage. Let me repeat that for laymans, you only can install 256mb worth of apps! The 16gig micro sd does not and will not suport app storage. Oh boy, Google we have a problem! http://androidandme.com/2009/10/news/google-fails-to-address-app-storage-issue-with-droid-and-android-2-0/
Well that may be true, but only for a small amount of time. I'm sure by the time we install 256MB of apps we will have a hack to root the phone, create, mount, and install apps to an ext2 partition on the sdcard - as is with the G1, MT3G already.
am i the only one that is bothered by a keypad that's not centered with the screen?
I currently have an LG EnV2, and the keyboard is a little left of center from the screen as well. It's really not a big deal, I don't even notice it (in fact it wasn't until I read your comment that I thought about it).
I just filled out my pre-order form. I did this at the Best Buy on 23rd St in Manhattan. They said I was only the 2nd person to pre-order!
I work at best buy mobile... this phone will be hot buisness
BB Store in SF (Harrison Street) has the pre-order forms. You have to purchase a $50 BB gift card, and that holds a phone for you. I bought the gift card; I'm going to see what the price ends up being; he said it'd be $180.... I had assumed I could get it for $100 if ordering from Verizon since I'm eligible for new every two, but not sure they will have stock! You don't have to buy the phone if you decide to get it elsewhere, you are just stuck with the gift card, which is fine by me.
For those with New Every 2 credits... be aware... and be careful.
As of February 15th of this year, the New Every 2 on Smart Phones (and all "high end" phones) went from $100 to $50 (http://support.vzw.com/faqs/Wireless%20Service/faq_new_every_two.html?grp=1&faq=3). Now my contract was 2 years ago (Dec 2007), however when I logged into Verizon's site, and looked at the upgrade on my phones, it showed a credit of $50.
I had to argue with the CSR and have a supervisor called before my account was credited for the other $50. So, especially if you are going to go through a 3rd party (like Best Buy), I would ensure what the New Every 2 credit amount is before starting the transaction.
Anyone know what the reatail price is going to be? Its my only option because I was tricked into buying a tour.... I hate verizon reps.
According to @DroidDoes, "...With no contract the device will be at $559.99"
DroidDoes
To answer everyone who asked this question - Droid will be available for purchase online a little after midnight - say 12:30 am on the 6th.
from the DroidDoes twitter
just passing along info :)
Testing post
Altamonte Springs, FL Best Buy Mobile is taking pre-orders with a $50 deposit! The pre-orders will continue from now through the 5th of November.
Just went to BB in Union City, CA. Paid the $50 deposit, got the gift card, but they charged me TAX on it! Called up and complained to Customer Service, and they told me to go into the store to get it back. Customer Service gave me a refund on the tax. The people at the Mobile counter didn't know how to override the tax and told me at least one other customer had been charged tax. Hope they fix that problem quickly!
Must... not... switch... to... Verizon! Arrrrghhhhh! These 'Droid phones might just be worth getting ripped off by Verizon's rates.
Hey, i work @ the best buy on harrison and we've done multiple preorders since thursday. If you would like one come on down and see us.
Do you actually need to go to a specific Best Buy Mobile store or will any old Best Buy do?