Buying a phone from Best Buy - pros and cons please
I would like to ask for honest opinions on buying a Cingular phone from Best Buy.
I have been waiting on the Nokia 6102 which is supposed to be at Best Buy tonite - new shipment. I have waited and waited for the Cingular store to get them and while I know its not the reps fault, I have been waiting months and am tired of waiting. Every week they think its coming, and obviously it hasn't. Plus its free at Best Buy. My current phone is really poor and I am tired of not being able to talk on it.
My sister has bought other phones from there and has been pleased. She does recommend the insurance from them though just in case you have trouble later.
I plan on getting it within the next 24 hours, maybe even tonite. I would app...
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I have been waiting on the Nokia 6102 which is supposed to be at Best Buy tonite - new shipment. I have waited and waited for the Cingular store to get them and while I know its not the reps fault, I have been waiting months and am tired of waiting. Every week they think its coming, and obviously it hasn't. Plus its free at Best Buy. My current phone is really poor and I am tired of not being able to talk on it.
My sister has bought other phones from there and has been pleased. She does recommend the insurance from them though just in case you have trouble later.
I plan on getting it within the next 24 hours, maybe even tonite. I would app...
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If you are in the Van Nuys, CA area I have the phones in stock at my store today, they were delivered about 10 minutes ago. Are you a new customer or an existing customer? Most times Best Buy will not sell to existing customers, unless it's at full retail.
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I am a 'migrating' ATT/Cingular customer. I am told I will have no penalty, will be able to keep my number, just switch for a new 2 year contract.
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If you are eligible, that is correct. I am not sure if Best Buy will be able to help you in this case, too be safe, go to a Cingular store.
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I have been told by two Best Buy people that they do migrations and its not a problem. Plus the phone is free.
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OK, WARNING!! Don't expect them to service you after you leave the store. Once a phone is sold a Best Buy it is sold, they don't ever want to see you again unless it is to buy another phone or other Best Buy items. Trust me you are better off buying at a store, it is a much better experience.
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He is right on that. But free is better than the 89.99 (i think thats 2 year commit price), and honestly if you ever have problems with your phone customer service is always there to help you, same with all of us here on phonescoop.
A lot of us... have access to many things that could benefit you. 😉
A lot of us... have access to many things that could benefit you. 😉
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Just found out the Nokia 6102 is free after Best Buy's "Get Connected" rebate. This means you must have the service for at least 6 months before you can mail in the rebate and get your money back. You pay up front and then get the money back about 9 months later (if at all, 6 months to mail-in and about 3 to get the check in the mail (if you get it at all).
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This is not true at the Best Buy in Springfield, Missouri. The phone was FREE, no rebates, no payment up front, nada. It is "INSTANT SAVINGS" with a two year contract. I was able to migrate from ATT, keep my number, with a new 6102 phone, absolutely free. Quick and easy and I have the same 30 day time frame to return the phone if I wish. 🙂
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If you are a Former AT&T customer, you must go to the store to migrate your service or call in to order. Best Buy and any other third party dealer absolutely cannot under any circumstances migrate your number. They will only set up a brand new service with a brand new number and if your old service is under contract, you will be charged the early termination fee if you cancel it because you have another number now. They cannot move your number from Former AT&T to Cingular. Go to the store. If you have a sponsorship through your employer then you can still order through the store, but your new phone will not be activated for 24-48 hours. Do not go to best buy to migrate your current wireless number. They can't do it, even though they will pro...
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That is NOT true. I migrated my ATT service to Cingular, no extra charge and a free Nokia 6102 phone. I kept my phone number too.
Absolutely NOT true that you cannot do it at Best Buy. I did it last week. No problem. I signed a new 2 year contract which I was going to do anyway. Plus frankly I had a small problem with my first Nokia 6102 and they exchanged it for a second phone the next day and there was no problem with that either.
I would have gladly got the new phone at the Cingular store, but I have waited for months on the promise that 'the 6102 will be here next week.' Never happened. And they still don't have the phone. I could not wait any longer. My Samsung phone was dying.
Best Buy did have the phone for fr...
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Absolutely NOT true that you cannot do it at Best Buy. I did it last week. No problem. I signed a new 2 year contract which I was going to do anyway. Plus frankly I had a small problem with my first Nokia 6102 and they exchanged it for a second phone the next day and there was no problem with that either.
I would have gladly got the new phone at the Cingular store, but I have waited for months on the promise that 'the 6102 will be here next week.' Never happened. And they still don't have the phone. I could not wait any longer. My Samsung phone was dying.
Best Buy did have the phone for fr...
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Sorry. I was basing my reply on specifics in my Policies and Procedures as a Cingular Business account migration team rep, but I did verify that the information I have to use is not necessarily for personal or individual accounts. You're right. Most regular accounts can do this, business accounts are usually restricted depending on contract specifications determined by the business for their end users.
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I used to be a best buy wireless third party rep, and after working at a few stores and also best buy, I would say go to Best Buy to buy your phone. Just be careful though, most of the regular best buy employees are dumber than a bag of sh!t and don't knwo what they're doing. The prices at best buy are usually very good, however double check your contract when you leave just to make sure everything is in order and OK. It might be a good idea also to call customer care afterwards and make sure you're on the correct term length, plan, etc. Like I said, you're not dealing with the smartest people in the world at this place
Back when i worked there, migration customers were not considered new customers and you would get upgrade price...an...
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Back when i worked there, migration customers were not considered new customers and you would get upgrade price...an...
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I got the Nokia 6102 phone last night at Best Buy, as a migrating ATT/Cingular customer absolutely FREE. I did sign a new two year contract, but that is what I was going to do anyway. I understand what you mean about some of the sales people not being so bright, I knew more about the plans etc. But I think its was mostly smooth sailing. Thanks for your great advice on the insurance. I appreciate it very much!
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Congratulations on your new phone. Please understand that Best Buy does take money from your local agents though. If you experience any problems with the phone and Best Buy wont help you, you probably wont find the best service at another retailer either. Don't let them weasel out of the service end of the contract they gave you.
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I'm curious about what plan you signed up on when they migrated you over. They'd have to put you at a $75 or higher plan just to break even after giving you the phone for free. It just sounds a bit crazy on Best Buy's part.
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At Best Buy, the phone was free. I signed up for the 2 year basic plan, $39.99 with 450 anytime minutes, 5000 night and weekend, free mobile to mobile, rollover etc. The only thing 'extra' was the Lockline Insurance, which I asked for. There was no pressure whatsoever to buy anything else. Very cut and dried.
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That's pretty sweet then. I could probably hook the phone for free in my system on a 2Y 39.99, but I'd make crappy commission. Awesome though for your end.
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Wow, if I gave that phone away for free on that plan the store would lose $25.
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And I would lost my job for being an idiot. Come on C, people don't care about service anymore, they only care about face value (price!).
Hey, why even have Cingular Agent stores anymore, much less even corporate. Soon enough, everyone will get their phones at large, world dominating retailers such as Wally world or Best Buy, or even online.
Fine by me, I wont be around to fix the incorrect rate plans or misinformed information anymore by that time.
Hey, why even have Cingular Agent stores anymore, much less even corporate. Soon enough, everyone will get their phones at large, world dominating retailers such as Wally world or Best Buy, or even online.
Fine by me, I wont be around to fix the incorrect rate plans or misinformed information anymore by that time.
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I do my part by not shopping at Wal Mart. People may wise up eventually.
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I wont, but I'm hopeful that service will hit such a low point that people actually start to value it again.
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Stores like best buy that sell cellular service do not have to worry as much about the break even point with their cellphones as they don't sell just cellphones. They can recoup their losses on other high end electronics.
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I purchased 2 phones for my wife and I last year at Best Buy. They will able to deliver me the best deals (via rebates) than you could find at the Cingular Store. I only had to do a 1-year agreement to get the deal too. The transitioned us from Sprint very quickly and easily. I did get the replacement plan from them. It was very handy. Just recently called and told them of trouble with my phone and they sent a new phone no questions asked. So my advice is that Best Buy is the right move. If you need service for your phone you can always go to s Cingular store.
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If you do buy from Best Buy, and need service on the phone at some point in time, don't expect the reps at the Cingular store that you shunned to then turn around and provide you with anything more than a cursory level of technical service. When you pay the extra price to get a phone from a Cingular store, you are buying into a level of customer service that places like Best Buy don't provide. As a previous poster said, once Best Buy sells you the phone, they don't want to see you again, except to sell you more products. Good sales reps at Cingular stores love to see their regular customers come back, that's how we build good relationships, which in turn help us build our business.
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🙂 they don't get paid commission so they are not that pressed about sales but they also don't have the knowledge like the folks at the cingular store.
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