Best Buy offering DROID pre-orders as of today, automates the mail-in rebate
In the best sort of tradition, Best Buy Mobile has gone for a repeat of its Palm Pre offering and is offering the $299 Motorola DROID at $199 thanks to the automation of a mail-in rebate you'd have to actually "mail in" if you were to purchase the handset straight from the carrier. Best Buy also seems to be the first place to offer pre-orders of the phone, so if you're worried about a sell out or just generally averse to affixing stamps to things, Best Buy appears to have you covered.



















Do want. Anyone wanna buy my Sprint Touch Pro? Of course you don't, LULZ.
Good move Best Buy.
I wish I could get this phone right now. Ugh. At least by me having to wait...it gives more opportunity for better phones to arrive. =]
Lets wait for the X3 next week. It wouldn't be crazy to think about the X3 coming to AT&T as the first Android in their lineup. They have good ties with SE. (that's of course if you don't want it unlocked)
I hate mail in rebates proportionally to the dollar amount. $5 ones I don't mind. I kinda miss $100 ones though for the typical 4-6 week turnaround.
It will take 2 weeks, 3 at the most to get the MIR back.
Or if you buy at Best Buy, like this article says, you can pay $199 out the door and not have to wait on a rebate.
I'm pretty sure you can't buy it from Best Buy and put it on Verizon with out signing a boost contract.
Best buy in my area does tmobile, boost, virgin mobile, sprint, att, and verizon/alltel
VZW,
That just seems like an unneeded exchange of 100 compared to just going into Best Buy. The actual Phone stores need to get with the program here.
I have *never* received money from any mail-in rebates I've turned in. I don't trust them.
lalondegeoffrey comment is super ghey.
You're "ghey" for actually using the word "ghey"
How old are you, 13?
It seems that I will still wait for a full review. Although DROID looks awesome, I want to know about battery life and and what a day of performance entails.
Hear, hear. The little hands-on stories just tease us.
How many mAh is the battery? Isn't it over 1400?
^^^
It's oooover NIIIINE THOUUUUUSSSAAAAAAAAAHHHHNNND!!!!!!
Silly N900, the mAh are OVER 9000!!!!!
I kid, I kid.
Dang you Steve. Beat me to it.
Does anybody have a link to prove this? I can't find it.
I would like to know the same thing.
you see that blue word "READ" at the end of the post?
that's usually where you should look...
Next step: Bring DROID to a Canadian carrier!
Sweet! I know where I am going on my lunch break
Where, the Internet?
You know, oldschool face-to-face with another person... That's so 90's...
But it would help if the Droid offer shows actually at BestBuy.com, because is nowhere to be found...
This article was horribly written.
So this mean through Verizon you have to fill out and mail in the rebate, and through bestbuy you just need $199 cash?
If you order it online from VZW they'll take off the rebate automatically, or so I'm told.
Hey pot.....quit talking about the kettle....
Busted. =-)
:-J : Why don't you have a seat?
OK, point me down if you like, but I cannot find anywhere on bestbuymobile.com where to pre-order a Droid. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Its a mystery. Dammit, i want to order this phone.
According to the article, it's doing pre-orders in store. No mention of online pre-orders.
"Best Buy® Mobile Offers Pre-Sells of Motorola DROID in Stores Beginning October 29"
preordered mine at the bby next store on my lunch break. Was told there was ALOT of interest yet i was the first one to ask if there was a preorder! sweet! guaranteed next friday!
Your comment is all "ghrey"d out.
@Level 5:
ghey - Usurping the traditional term GAY to take the homosexual meaning out and leaving in the lame.
(Urban Dictionary)
This may be a stupid question...is the $199 (after rebate) the price for a two year contract extension? Or can I purchase this through best buy for $199 (after rebate) without any contract extension/new-every-two upgrade/etc. ?
i would like to know the same thing. I THINK i'm willing to shell out the retail, but my upgrade is in March 2010 maybe they will cut me a break ;)
....
nah i doubt it :(
It is a stupid question.
$199 (after rebate if purchased at VZW) with a 2-year contract.
A smartphone with that type of power for $199 (after mail-in rebate)? Surely you jest sir OR you are overseas. In either case, no. Full price is most likely in the $500-600 range.
I cannot find it either. And CNET (*cough*) also said yesterday you could preorder but just provided a link to the Droid page. So far after talking with Verizon type people I have not found a way to pre-order or "get in line."
I wish people/writers who make such a claim would provide an actual direct link, not a link to the Droid page or something vague like that.
If you read the title of the linked article properly, you'd see that the pre-sell is ONLY in stores right now, so no online links as yet:
"Best Buy® Mobile Offers Pre-Sells of Motorola DROID in Stores Beginning October 29"
Depending how good this phone actually is....I will have to see what Apple offers this summer and then make a life changing decision. Finally there is a competitor to the iPhone. I love mine and I love Apple. This will have to make Apple step its game up. The company has changed the game several times...Does it still have the magic. If not, I will still support Apple but I will have to get a new phone.
The good thing about competition is the innovation that will come out of it.
Tikiteko...you still suck.
I hate dealing with mail-in rebates as well.
The pre-order $199 deal at Best-Buy is with a 2-year contract as well right?
My question is if I'm needing to jump on a family plan with someone who is on verizon already, could I buy the phone at Best-Buy and take it over to Verizon to activate it and handle the account stuff?
You cannot buy this phone for $199 without signing up for a 2-year agreement. Why would you go to a Verizon store to have them add you to an account? You know they activate and add to accounts at Best Buy.
coolant8 - yes homie, I know that. Just because it's a meme doesn't be that it's not A - stupid, and B - still spelled wrong.
Sorry if this is a repost, but I cannot find it anywhere. It'd be nice if someone provided a direct link to said pre-order form. CNET (*cough*) even said you could pre-order it but then provided a link just to the Droid homepage. Thanks. If anyone gets the actual no-kidding link, please post.
I've talked with several Verizon type people so far and no one has been able to tell me anything useful about preordering.
Go to a Best Buy store. That's all there is to it, no online preordering either at best buy or vzw.
And what is that "*cough*" crap? I can't believe you wrote that twice.
Preorders are in Store only. $50 dollar deposit, and you get a gift card to put toward the purchase of the phone (or anything else)
automated mail in rebate means they just make u pay 199 upfront? or u pay 299 and they just automaticly trigger the send this person 100 dollar visa card?
@coolant8: It's an incredibly stupid word, none-the-less.
Customers who purchase the smartphone at Best Buy Mobile can avoid the hassle of mail-in rebates with instant savings applied at the point of purchase. The phone will retail for $199.99 with two-year activation
NEVERMIND!!!!
Can anyone tell me the unsubsidized/non-2 year contract price of this phone?
What kills me is that ordering online through VZW makes the rebate "instant" and you'll just have to pay the $200 AND you can request overnight shipping.
I don't want to go back to Big Blue (haven't stepped foot in one for 2 years and proud :D) just to get a phone on Big Red.
On a related note - does anyone have any gum? or possibly some spare IBM machines? ;)
I plan on switching from TMobile to Verizon when this phone comes out. Will going to a Verizon store give me less hassle than going to a 3rd party store like Best Buy?
No, Best buy pretty much has Verizon reps in the stores... I've bought almost all my phones from BB, and the process is smooth...
If you know what phone you want, call the corporate number. The people in the call centers are always sooooo much more helpful...they're not the sketchy, slimy, cell phone salesman type. Not that everyone in the Verizon store is...but I've gotten in way more arguments in the store than on the phone. That's usually with service, though.
And at least with the Tour - if you bought it online or over the phone they would automatically give you the mail-in rebate instead of you having to mail it...and that also means you don't have to pay tax on the extra $100 (which in Chicago equates to about $11).
I'm always really paranoid so i always preorder (almost exclusively games) but I have a company discount this time around so i have to get it through work. WOOT! can't wait until next Friday.
HTC already messed up by saying no HD2 with android now just waiting to see Sony's announcement on Nov3rd. If it isn't about Rachel, Verizon her I come.
Am I the only one that thinks that phone is ugly?
Yes. You are the only one.
No you're not...
As an iPhone owner I'd take the Touch Pro 2 over this fugly pos anyday. And not just because the TP is from HTC. It actually looks better than this crap...
The Android OS on it may be the best thing on the planet (I doubt that though) but there's no way in hell I'm gonna buy a phone with such a shitty design.
You call it a piece of sh*t and then crap in your post yet have no basis and haven't even used the damn thing. Just wanted you to realize how worthless your opinion on it is. Even if you think it's ugly - that doesn't mean anything about its quality.
OK folks...just talked with Best Buy (she actually told me, "no" then was kind enough to call me back to tell me she just got email confirmation).
You have to go into any Best Buy Mobile store (including Best Buy "regular" as long as they have a mobile section within the store...so that's just about every Best Buy I've ever heard of) and they require a $50 deposit. Max limit is 5 phones. They cannot do any of this over the phone or online so as the coach from Revenge of the Nerds would say, "MOVE IT!"
did you get anything about retail from them? i know best buy usually has a higher retail price.
I guess I'm waiting for Friday and hoping they don't sell out. Best Buy just told me they no longer can match the new every two deals which means if I pre-order and get it at Best Buy I'm losing out on the $50 upgrade discount.
I went to my bestbuy and the woman there basically just told me to get lost. She said i have no paper work for that phone. And told me to call bestbuy mobiles line. I hate when people done even try to help.
Having both iPhone 3GS and MyTough, I don't really see an improvement in anything, just how I don't see an improvement in any new iPhone / O.S release.
To both Apple and Google, something new, like seriously, NEW.
Seems to be quite a bit of hype surrounding. Will it be a sellout.
Wondering if bloggers will bring in the numbers. We felt same about pre. N look what happened there.
Is it me, or does New Truth sound like Rorschach?
Thinking so. Must be obvious troll. Laughing behind computer.
Very true, I remember the Pre hype haha, but this is Android!
And any launch sale numbers( for any product ) are, of course, due to bloggers haha.
nice demo
http://www.youtube.com/user/verizonwirelessTV#p/a/u/2/aaxo9g2GYSk
Yesterday called....it wants its link back.
But I haven't seen the customer impression vid before...so thanks!
Going to purchase your phone at Best Buy Mobile won't give you a hassle vs. going to a Verizon store. Reality it's less of a hassle because you don't have to wait for a mail in rebate. As far as getting the phone at Best Buy and then taking it to Verizon, the phone has to be activated in Best Buy. They can add a line to an existing account, sign you up for a new account or upgrade your current one.
Question. Will this completely replace an iPod touch?
Extreme success relies on this happening.
Is it possible to apple the New Every Two discount at BB?
No, but they might be able to orange something else for you.
You can't compare the iPod touch to the DROID, two different products. One's a PMP and other is just software basically.
meant to say apply, not apple.
Can i do a 1 year contract through Best Buy Mobile? It usually costs $30 more for the 1 year, but well worth it in my opinion.
I am curious about this as well. I have a one year upgrade available, though on a 199.99 2year phone I have no idea what that would cost.
I don't know if it is "official" either but it is noted in my Verizon account (I believe it may be, I switched to Verizon last Sept).
Can best buy do 1 year upgrades?
This article is not true. I called Best Buy Mobile and they said "THE PHONE IS NOT AVAILABLE". Obviously, the press release is erroenous
Your wrong. I stopped by my local Best Buy (normal store), after work and pre-ordered it. Got my pre-order form, and $50 gift card.
Here's your proof http://i37.tinypic.com/e6ymn8.jpg
I just reserved mine at Best Buy. I purchased the $50 gift card and they took down my name and number and said I was the 19th reservation. They will have it on Friday.
So, will verizon offer a pre-order as well? Or will it just be a free-for-all on Nov 6th?
Lucky for best buy I dislike rebates even more than i dislike best buy
Two questions...
1. What is the price without contract?
2. I just purchased a Rouge and BB last week (online). What is the easiest way to exchange for both these Android phones?
Probably take them in to your local VZW store and pay the $35 restocking fee for each (you have to pay it online as well, in store should be faster)
Also, the price without contract according to the official droid twitter is $559
Your username sounds more "ghey" to me ayt geoffrey?. I just can't believe best buy is doing this "cut-throat" competition again. I mean, what could the reaction of other "tech-markets" that 9 days before the judgment day (11/6/09) someone is selling droids already.
anyway, you gotta LOVE the specs of the droid. (got to give credit for BGR and engadget, for one of the few people who ever "rip" the droid phone before its official unveiling to the publ-market)
detailed sources + official (hi-res) pics coming from motorola site: http://pinoytutorial.com/techtorial/motorola-droid-official-release-on-november-6-for-199-with-contract/
another SOWEET offer BestBuy :D
Just called my local BB. They said this won't be available until after launch? That makes no freaking sense whatsoever! How can you pre-order after launch? WTF?
I have never bought a phone from best buy, was wondering if they apply my new every 2 discount, I have one for $50 for this renewel. Does it work the same as it does with verizon?
Typically they have access to the same systems VZW reps/stores have. If there are any problems they usually call a special VZW rep from the store...
So after being impatient and not being able to wait until 12pm EST (lunch) I decided to take an early lunch and head to Best Buy for my Droid pre-order. Upon walking in the mobile manager informed me that I was the first person to pre-order the Droid from that store and it would require a $50 deposit which is then put onto a Best Buy gift card. She then told me that once the phone is released to just bring in the receipt and the gift card and pay the remaining amount for my phone. All in all the experience was no hassle what-so-ever and everything seemed to be in order. This is the first time I've ever bought any phone and/or phone accessories from Best Buy instead of an actual Verizon store and I must admit that I left feeling satisfied.
I have a buddy whom works for a Verizon store in Orlando, FL. and he said that they were not going to accept a pre-order process directly from them. As to whether or not this holds any validity, only time will tell.
please can someone tell me if this is better than the N900... if they hadn't of been been delayed I'd have bought one already... now this comes out... ?!?!
we need a roundup.
I wonder if Bestbuy matches the my 50$ discount as a VIP
So... if I want to get this phone, immediately, as fast as possible, with the lowest risk/highest certainty, which is my best option:
1) Go to the local Verizon store at opening on 11/6 and take care of it in-person, and hopefully walk out with the phone
2) Go to a Best Buy and pre-order today
3) Order on-line from VerizonMobile.com at 12:01am on 11/6 (or as soon thereafter as it's actually available on-line)
I'll be having my current number transfered from AT&T, which is a complication that perhaps could screw up the process or create a delay? My fear with going to the Verizon store is that they might simply not actually have it there. If that were the case, I guess I'd immediately order it on-line from Verizon.
If by pre-ordering it at BestBuy, they were going to ship it on 11/5 for arrival on 11/6 at my office, then I'd go that route, but I'm doubtful that's the case, and I'm even more doubtful that the rubes working at BestBuy would know or give an truthful answer on whether that's how it will be managed.
What I really want to avoid if possible is receiving the phone via shipment on Saturday. I really really want the phone in-hand, and activated with my AT&T number transfered, on Friday, if humanly possible. Is that even possible?
I recommend just pre-ordering from Best Buy and then walking in on 11/6 and picking it up.